We plant nasturtium seedlings: when and how it is necessary
Compact low bushes or long hanging lashes with bright inflorescences of various colors, which bloom until autumn, are the beauty of nasturtium. It looks equally good both on a flower bed and on a balcony, and ampelous varieties will decorate gazebos and summer terraces.
Most often, nasturtium is grown in seedlings. It allows for a closer flowering time, and is also more suitable for rare varieties. There are not so many seeds in the purchased bags of seeds, and given that it is recommended to plant them in open ground, 2 pieces per hole and not all sprout, it is much more profitable to grow seedlings.
By and large, this plant will not cause much trouble for flower growers, since it grows well even with minimal care, but one nuance exists and it is associated with the timing of planting. Since the flower is thermophilic and does not tolerate frost, especially young plants, it is important to know when to plant nasturtium seedlings in order to send it to the flower bed in time.
Seed sowing time
To landing nasturtium seedlings it is better to start a couple of weeks before the moment when you plan to plant it in open ground. If the transplant is in mid-May, then the seeds are sown at the end of April.
Separately, it is worth mentioning the cultivation of nasturtium in pots, indoors. In this case, sowing seeds is possible at an earlier date, for example, in March, the main thing is that the flowers are warm and light.
Features of growing seedlings
Nasturtium seeds are large enough and covered with a dense shell, moreover, they do not have 100% germination, therefore they require preliminary soaking.
A day before sowing, it is recommended to pour the planting material with boiling water and leave it in water so that the hard skin softens and it is easier for the sprout to break through. A growth stimulant can be added to the water.
Since the roots at nasturtium fragile and often break during the transplanting process, for seedlings it is necessary to immediately pick up separate containers and put one seed in each. This will help to avoid the process of diving and additional injury to the seedlings. For the same reason, a transfer to a permanent place is done by a transshipment method. For uniform development of nasturtium seedlings and in order to prevent stretching, it must be provided with good lighting.