Setting up a nursery

Nursery

Step 1

  • Clear all weeds and grass. Dig the soil well so that there are no lumps.

Step 2

  • 1 week before planting, add a 7 cm layer of compost or well-rotted manure. Use 1 wheelbarrow full of manure for every 3 square metres. Mix into the soil. Water the bed.

Step 3

  • Soak the seeds in mixture of 50g PEARL in 20lt water just before planting them. This will prevent soil borne diseases attacking seedlings.

Step 4

  • Plant seeds in lines 2 cm deep in rows 15 cm apart. Cover the seeds with a thin layer of soil. Add dry grass as mulch. This will protect the soil and keep water in. Water the bed.

Germination

Your seeds will start to germinate after 5-7 days. Remove the grass and put a shade over the nursery bed.

Spinach germinationThe shade should be 1m high. Put grass on the top but make sure some sun light can get through.

  • Remove weak seedlings.
  • Plant them in another bed. Keep the soil damp but not wet. Too much or too little water is bad for your seedlings.

Checking soil moistureToo much water

  • Nutrients in the soil are washed away.

  • There will be less oxygen in the soil.

  • The plant will fall over and the stem will rot. The plant can die.

Too little water

  • The plant wilts.

  • The plant cannot take up nutrients well so growth is poor.