Sowing in a terrine

What is a terrine? A terrine is a rectangular, wide, and low-lying container. These containers are suitable for growing under cover. The specifics of sowing in a terrine: A space saver! They save a lot of space during sowing periods. The terrines are suitable for numerous and small seeds of flowers and vegetables. Earlier crops! Impatient gardeners can start sowing some seeds as early as February. The warm temperatures of the shelters will induce early and rapid growth of the plants. Flowering and harvests of seedlings made under cover will be a few weeks earlier than seeds sown directly in the ground, to the gardener's great pleasure! Transplanting: Transplanting is delicate and stressful for plants. However, it is beneficial for some of them, such as cabbages and celery. Seedlings with 4-5 leaves are buried in the soil up to the first leaf. This process stimulates root growth and strengthens the plant's anchorage, making it stronger. Risk of contamination: High seed density puts seedlings at greater risk. Diseases develop more easily and can wipe out crops in a very short time. Seeds are particularly susceptible to damping-off, a disease caused by many fungi. It can occur year-round, particularly in cold temperatures and humid soil or air, which are favorable conditions for fungal growth. Be careful not to sow too densely or thin out the seedbed. Maintain a sufficiently high temperature, ensure good drainage of the soil, and do not overwater. What to sow in a seed tray? Eggplants, peppers, chili peppers, and tomatoes are plants that are sensitive to cold and take time to germinate. Sowing them under cover will allow gardeners to enjoy their harvests sooner! Early vegetables such as cabbages, leeks, onions, lettuces, etc. are very well suited to sowing in a tray. Many herbs can also be sown this way: parsley, chives, basil, etc. Among the flowers: pansies, bidens, cleome, geranium, lobelia, sage, verbena, gaura, Sillet, etc. Sowing technique in a tray Plastic trays are sold in garden centers, but nothing prevents you from making your own tray from recycled materials (plastic box, polystyrene, etc.) previously cleaned to avoid any risk of disease. Pour a few centimeters of clay balls or gravel into the bottom of the tray, which has holes drilled into it to ensure good drainage. Germination will depend partly on the quality of the substrate. Purchased or made yourself, the sowing substrate must have specific properties: it must be healthy, draining, light, and with a fine grain size. (Link to substrate article). Fill the terrine to within 1 or 2 cm of the rim with the substrate. Press lightly and evenly with a flat object or simply with your hand. Sow seeds of a single species to facilitate cultivation and spread them evenly. Be careful not to sow too densely to limit the spread of disease. You can mix the seeds with sand or coffee grounds to help you. Then cover the seeds with a layer of potting soil as thick as the seeds. Don't forget to write the name and date of sowing on a label! Water the terrine without completely soaking the soil, the substrate would be too compact and the seeds will not appreciate too high a humidity level. Use a fine watering can or soak the container, letting the potting soil soak through by capillary action. Let it drain completely. To raise the temperature around the seeds, maintain humidity, and stimulate germination, cover the terrines with a glass lid or transparent plastic and place them in the light and near a heat source. When the seedlings have emerged, remove the lid or plastic. Make sure they have enough light; they will need it! When the seedlings have 4 or 5 true leaves, it is advisable to transplant them into pots before finally planting them in the ground. Root production will be stimulated, and the plant will have less difficulty establishing itself in its new substrate. Transplanting: In pots filled with potting soil, dig holes to accommodate the seedling. Remove it from the terrine using a dibbler to expose the roots. Place it in the hole and firm the soil around the roots. Water. The seedlings will likely wilt after transplanting, but they will recover very quickly. Hardening off: When all risk of frost has passed, and conditions are favorable, the seedlings can be planted in the ground, generally 3 or 4 weeks after transplanting. Harden them off before planting. Moving directly from a shelter where conditions are partly controlled (temperature, humidity, weather) to a cooler environment with large temperature variations would be very harsh on the plant. It is necessary to prepare it for the conditions of its new environment by gradually lowering the temperature, then taking the pots out during the day and bringing them back in at night.