What to Do When Vegetables Wilt After Transplanting? Cause Analysis and Prevention Methods
When planting vegetables on a large scale, we often use the method of raising seedlings and transplanting them, which ensures a suitable planting density and a good germination and seedling emergence rate. However, when transplanting seedlings, the seedlings often wilt. At this point, it is unfavorable to the growth of the seedlings, and in order to keep the seedlings from dying, some improvements must be made. But first, you need to know the causes of the wilting. Let's take a look right away!
1. Transplanting Preparation
Disinfect the soil before transplanting, using a 500-fold dilution of 75% chlorothalonil to spray the soil. Then disinfect the seedlings; the leaves should also be sprayed with some agents to sterilize them. Use farmyard manure and do not use chemical fertilizers as base fertilizer. In order not to accumulate salt, deep plowing is needed for planting. The farmyard manure should be fully composted and fermented to avoid damage from insect eggs and pathogens, or burning the seedlings from heat released during fermentation in the soil. Using biological bacterial fertilizer can reduce disease. Plant on raised ridges to maintain good structure.
2. Points to Note
What should you pay attention to when transplanting? Be careful to choose seedlings of uniform size from the same batch for planting, and choose seedlings that do not carry viruses or pathogens. Plant on a sunny morning or in the afternoon. The planting depth should be moderate, neither too deep nor too shallow. If too deep, the roots do not grow well; if too shallow, the roots are not firmly established. However, some vegetables are suited to deep planting and some are the opposite. Loose soil requires deep planting, while heavy clay soil requires shallow planting. When transplanting, you can dip the roots in a rooting agent.
3. Wilting Symptoms
When the aboveground plants wilt, it may be caused by root rot, seedling burn, excessive moisture, seedling shock, or disease. If the fertilizer is not fully composted, it will burn the seedlings. When there is too much watering, or the soil is compacted, and it has not been long since transplanting, the roots are weak and prone to root rot. When moisture evaporates quickly, seedling shock is generally caused by a sudden clearing after a long period of cloudy weather; the temperature rises too quickly, causing wilting. Some soil-borne diseases may occur, such as Fusarium wilt, root rot, and bacterial wilt.
4. Improvement Methods
Use fully composted farmyard manure and plant on raised ridges. After transplanting, the first few waterings can be done at the middle position of the ridge height. After water accumulates, dig trenches to drain it and do not water for a short period. Set up shade nets and let the plants gradually receive light after the weather clears, which can prevent seedling shock. For diseases, disinfect in the early stage and apply medication promptly when symptoms appear later.
After vegetables are transplanted, they may wilt briefly because the roots are damaged and temporarily cannot take up enough water. They generally recover after a few days. However, if they are still wilting after several days, there may be a problem.