A Detailed Guide to Home Vegetable Growing Methods and Daily Management Techniques
There are many ways to grow vegetables at home. Let's use lettuce as an example to introduce the growing method. First raise seedlings: mix in 3-6 times the amount of fine sand and stir evenly, then scatter onto the soil surface. Be careful not to water too much; just keep the soil moist. When 5-6 true leaves have grown, the seedlings can be transplanted, preferably moved into a large pot together with the soil around the roots. Remove any diseased or pest-infested seedlings at any time. They can be harvested in about one month in summer and about two months in winter.
1. Sowing
Usually the seedlings are raised first. Lettuce seeds are very small, so it is recommended to mix in 3-6 times the amount of fine sand, stir evenly, and then scatter onto the soil surface. At 15-20°C they germinate in about 3-5 days. When the temperature is above 25°C, low-temperature germination is needed: soak the seeds in cold water for about 6 hours, then wrap them in moist gauze and put them in the refrigerator (about 5°C, for 24 hours), then place the seeds in a cool place and keep them moist to promote germination. The ideal soil pH is 5.8-6.6.
2. Seedling-stage management
Do not water too much; just keep the soil moist. When 2-3 true leaves have grown, thin the seedlings to a plant spacing of about 6cm.
3. Transplanting
When 5-6 true leaves have grown, the seedlings can be transplanted, preferably moved into a large pot together with the soil around the roots. For loose-leaf lettuce, the plant spacing is about 375px. Water thoroughly, first place in a cool spot for about 1 week to let the seedlings recover, then move to the balcony to receive normal light.
4. Daily management
Do not water too frequently, and remove any diseased or pest-infested seedlings at any time.
5. Harvesting
They can be harvested in about one month in summer and about two months in winter, or you can use the observation method: once they look about ready, they can be harvested.