How to improve seedling growth from the start

When growing crops or plants, it’s important to keep your seedlings as healthy as possible. There are several ways in which you can improve and encourage seedling growth from the start – read the four tips provided below to find out how to do this.

Seeds grow better when planted together

A growth hormone called Gibberellin is responsible for the germination of seeds. When seeds are grown in close proximity to each other, the presence of Gibberellin helps to stimulate the production of other nearby seeds, especially if they are reluctant to grow – this will help to improve seedling growth from the start.

Balance nutrient uptake

Plants can reach maximum potential by using nutrients that work together to achieve peak metabolism, however, some nutrients can overpower the others, which can lead to issues with your seedling growth. Some fertilisers and soils have been developed with included nutrient technology that’s designed to stop this happening. By using products from leading suppliers like Pre-Vail, you can ensure that the correct nutrients are being delivered to your crops and plants in an optimised way. This ensures more efficient nutrient absorption, improving its performance and stabilising the plant’s metabolic system.

Time your planting correctly

It’s important to time the planting of your seedlings correctly to make sure that you get the maximum growth. If you’re planting outside, it’s generally best to plant your seedlings from April onwards, as the cold and wet weather in winter can affect them negatively. If you have a greenhouse or an indoor growing area, you can plant them earlier than this, so long as you make sure the conditions are right.

It’s best to sow your outside seedlings at a time when the soil is starting to warm up. If you’re thinking about planting crops, the best time of year to do this will depend on the type of crop you are wanting to grow. Cool-season vegetables grow best when planted in early spring or late summer, whereas warm-season vegetables grow better when planted between late spring and early autumn. By timing your planting correctly, you can ensure that your seedling growth will be improved right from the start.

Don’t overwater your seedlings

This may seem like an obvious point to make but it is very important not to overwater your seedlings. If you do, this can lead to them becoming too hydrated and you can drown them. This can be even more of an issue in cold weather (another reason it is important to time your planting correctly), due to there not being enough heat available from the sun to speed up water evaporation. It is better for your seeds to be too dry than too wet, although neither condition is recommended.