Germination

When seeds are sown in small pots or trays, where they germinate and grow to a suitable size, after which they are planted at the growing site, it is called germination.

If you sow in the open air, there is a risk that birds and other animals will take the seeds, or that temperature or irrigation conditions will prevent the germination from succeeding. When sowing in small pots and providing light, adequate heat and soil moisture, the seeds germinate evenly. The fact that the pots can be moved makes it easier to create an optimal environment.

More vegetables, e.g. tomato, chili, pepper, eggplant, onion, leeks and peas can be sown indoors already in February. If you have a conservatory or a heated greenhouse, you can start even earlier. Because then you have the opportunity to put the plants out before the danger of night frost is over. This means that there are ripe vegetables early in the year - and a long season in sight.

LED growth light

If you germinate in winter and early spring, artificial light is needed. Admittedly, seeds can germinate on the windowsill in a warm room, but the plants become rickety and weak due to lack of light. When using LED luminaires, the cost of electricity is very modest. You can illuminate 60 x 30 cm for 16 hours every day for only DKK 10 per. month. So the cost is manageable.

The growth light is LEDs - red and blue, which are specially designed to breed the most common herbs and vegetables. The LED lamps are available as luminaires that can easily be hung from the ceiling or placed in a table stand.

Heating mats

Tomato plants and most common vegetables and herbs thrive best at about 15-18 degrees. If it is constantly warmer, the plants become weak because they grow too fast. The best result is obtained if it is a little warmer for a few hours during the day (20-22 degrees) and colder at night (10-12 degrees).

Chili, pepper, cucumber, eggplant, basil and many summer plants want it a little warmer - even at night.

If you have an unheated room - or a room with limited heat, it is optimal. Because here you can add a little extra heat with a heating mat under the plants. You can set a clock so that it only heats up for a few hours in the middle of the day. That way, the plants can get something close to the outdoor life for which they are intended.

But remember: Until the seeds have germinated, there may be room temperature - or maybe even a little warmer. But MOVE THE PLANTS to a colder room - or TURN DOWN the heat immediately after the plants have peeked out when it comes to tomatoes and vegetables, which usually grow outdoors.

Germination in a GrowCamp - harvest several times

When the danger of night frost is over, you can germinate your plants outdoors on the "top floor" in the GrowCamp or in the greenhouse.

Then you always have new small plants ready as soon as there is free space in the raised beds. Many sow lettuce and peas at 14-day intervals until all of August. When you germinate and make optimal use of the space, it is possible to get almost twice as many teams of vegetables each season.

Here's how:

Single-seed sowing

In single-seed sowing, one or two seeds are sown per pot. The cheap seeds are sown two per. pot. The weakest plant is removed if both seeds germinate. In the case of expensive seeds, only one seed is sown per day. pot. Then one has to come to terms with the fact that some pots remain empty because the seed does not germinate.

Broad sowing in a pot or ground

By wide sowing is meant that many seeds were sown per. pot or tray and that the plants do not thin out. When planting out in the GrowCamp, you can carefully loosen the contents of the pot and possibly. pull the roots slightly apart so that it becomes a row of plants rather than a square lump you put in the ground. This gives the plants a little better space and more light in the growing area and thus a better opportunity to develop.

Land

Most people buy seed and prickly soil instead of using their own soil from the garden. The soil must be free of diseases and without fertilizer, otherwise you will not get healthy and vigorous plants. It is also important that the soil is loose and free of stones.

Sowing

The seeds were sown at the depth indicated on the seed bags. The soil should be moist but never wet. The pots or trays are covered with lids or plastic film, which retains moisture during germination. The seeds do not tolerate drying out. Make sure that the pots are not exposed to direct sunlight, which can cause the temperature to rise sharply under the plastic. As soon as the plants peek out, the cover must be removed.

Temperature

Onions, lettuce, dill, parsley, spinach, peas, horse beans, cabbage and beets germinate best at temperatures from 15 - 20 degrees.
Corn, tomatoes, beans, chili, pepper, eggplant, melon, pumpkin and squash want temperatures from 22 - 30 degrees.

Fertilizer

Start fertilizing the water as soon as several sets of leaves have appeared in addition to the cotyledons. Start with a weak solution and gradually increase to the solution indicated on the packaging. Peas and beans themselves produce nitrogen and therefore do not need fertilizer.

Relationship between light, heat, fertilizer and water

The relationship between temperature, light, water and fertilizer is crucial for germination and growth. High temperature and a lot of light require a lot of water and fertilizer. Low temperature requires less light, water and fertilizer. In sparse light, the temperature must be low, otherwise you will get rickety and weak plants.