Purslane has long been loved by gardeners. This unpretentious plant decorates the garden plot with its flowering for three summer months. Every flower blooms in the morning and fades in the evening. New buds bloom daily, creating the impression of continuous flowering. There are more than 100 varieties of purslane in nature, and gardeners, by combining varieties, get a picturesque clearing that you don’t want to leave.
Tips for growing purslane seedlings
Growing seedlings is carried out according to a general algorithm, but at each stage there are certain nuances inherent in purslane. Only seedlings grown according to all the rules will subsequently produce healthy and strong bushes that will decorate the garden plot. Advice from experienced gardeners will help with this.
Why seedlings
Gardeners know several ways to plant purslane, but consider seedlings to be the most convenient.
And there are reasons for this:
- It is possible to grow seedlings of several varieties at the same time, and then plant them in the ground according to the planned garden decoration scheme.
- Flowering will occur faster than when planting seeds directly into the ground.
- At home, it is easier to observe and care for seedlings than for seedlings in open ground.
- Sowing in open ground can cause plants to die, since even a slight temperature deviation from 10 °C is fraught with unpredictable consequences.
Timing for sowing seeds for seedlings
Seeds are sown for seedlings in early March, but taking into account climatic conditions, the timing varies. The germination procedure takes 3–4 weeks. Next, the seedlings are transferred to open ground.
Dates for sowing seedlings and transferring them to open ground:
- Moscow region – first ten days of March; mid-May.
- Middle zone - early March; mid-May.
- Urals - early March, but due to weather the dates may be shifted to April; end of May, beginning of June.
- Leningrad region - similar to the Urals.
- Siberia – March – April; the end of May.
Experienced gardeners advise choosing the timing of planting seedlings according to the lunar calendar. These dates apply to both purchased seeds and those collected independently.
Preparation and sowing
Since purslane seeds are small and difficult to plant, methods have been found to make it easier to plant seed material.
Recommended methods:
- The seeds are mixed with hot sand in equal volumes. This will not only make sowing easier, but also disinfect the planting material. When sowing, you don’t need to bother with burying each seed. Simply spread a pinch of the mixture evenly over the soil.
- If you scatter the seeds on the snow, they will be clearly visible. This point is taken into account when sowing. The soil is covered with a layer of snow. Seed material is evenly scattered on it. Then you can distribute the seeds with a toothpick.
Some gardeners advise treating the seeds with a manganese solution before sowing. The seeds are poured into a gauze bag, which is placed in a manganese solution for a quarter of an hour. Then squeeze and dry.
Before sowing, the seeds are immersed in a growth stimulator Epin or Zircon.This will increase the germination rate and strengthen the immune system. Instructions for use are included with the drug.
Priming
To sow the crop, you will need loose and light soil of neutral acidity. But it is not recommended to use fertile soil with chernozem, compost and humus.
The optimal soil for seedlings is prepared independently using one of the following methods:
- Combine 2 parts of garden soil and 0.5 part of sand.
- To 2 parts of universal soil add 0.5 part sand plus 0.5 part perlite.
In addition to these soil options, purslane experts also recommend the following composition: combine 5 parts of soil with 1 part of charcoal.
Tara
There are several options for containers for sowing, but experts advise adding one more - peat tablets. Many people like this method. Firstly, the tablets simultaneously act as containers and primers. And secondly, it will not be difficult to transfer the seedlings to open ground, since the tablets are not removed.
Instructions for sowing in a peat tablet:
- An indentation is made on each tablet.
- The tablets are placed at the bottom of the container, so that the recesses are at the top.
- Pour in warm water and leave for about an hour until the tablets swell.
- The water is drained.
- Place 1-2 seeds in each hole.
After 3-4 weeks, the plants dive, leaving stronger ones.
Watering
Before germination, the soil is moistened with a spray bottle. When the first shoots appear, the containers are placed in a tray, where water is added. To ensure that seedlings receive liquid in a timely manner, the pots must have drainage holes.
Moisturize moderately. Overwatering, which leads to the formation of fungi, is undesirable.Water for irrigation is taken clean, settled, soft. Water temperature is room temperature.
Tips from experienced gardeners on growing purslane seedlings are time-tested and will not harm the plants. With the right approach, the seedlings will turn out strong and healthy, adapt perfectly and quickly in open ground and will delight you with bright summer flowering.
