Осенняя посадка рассады: секреты успешного начала садоводства.

Planting seedlings in October is considered one of the most successful times. At this time, the soil is still moist, but not waterlogged, and the ground temperature is favorable for plant roots. Moreover, plants have enough time to adapt to the surrounding environment.

Many consider spring a preferable season for planting flowers and vegetables. However, when it comes to certain trees and shrubs, fall planting (mid-August to November, depending on the location) has many advantages.

Firstly, hot and dry conditions can harm even healthy seedlings. Fall weather, with lower temperatures, means that plants are less susceptible to stress from high temperatures. When the soil temperature is lower than the air temperature, it promotes the growth of new roots without active growth of the plant's top part. This is especially important to strengthen the root system before spring, when plants start actively growing. Fall planting allows trees and shrubs to develop their root system over three growing seasons before the heat of summer, when they are most vulnerable.

The entire month of October is suitable for planting cold-resistant plants such as apple trees, rowan, fruit bushes (raspberries, currants, blackcurrants), honeysuckle, hawthorn, as well as decorative deciduous shrubs and coniferous seedlings. Warm-loving plum varieties are better planted in spring.

Towards the end of October, many nurseries offer sales of container seedlings, and it's hard to resist buying plants at a favorable price. While there is plenty of advice online on how to choose quality container seedlings, purchases often happen spontaneously at a market. However, it's important to acquire only healthy plants. Request phytosanitary certificates and verify whether the seedlings are guaranteed to be free of dangerous diseases.

Most likely, many who bought discounted seedlings in October have faced a problem where the plants, initially healthy and planted in a raised bed with good soil and excellent drainage, start turning yellow and wilting next year. Watering helps temporarily, but eventually the plant still loses leaves and prepares to die. If you dig up such a plant, you will find that the root system retains its shape, just as in the original pot where you bought it. The roots remain tangled. In this case, it's important to understand how to avoid this issue.

Plant roots strive to expand and grow continuously. When a root reaches the walls of a plastic pot, it stops developing and tangles inside, forming a dense mass in which the roots cannot grow freely, even after planting in soil. Thin feeder roots enclosed inside such a root mass cannot receive an adequate amount of water and nutrients, leading to the plant's demise.

Proper planting technique plays a crucial role in root development. Therefore, it's important to dig a hole two to three times larger than the root mass and mix the excavated soil with loose organic material so that the roots can easily spread and grow. It's also necessary to loosen the sides of the hole, especially with clay soil. If the hole is not prepared, the planting site becomes a 'pot' in the ground, restricting root growth and causing waterlogging.

Before planting, some preparations are needed. Gently remove the plant from the pot and soak it in water for about an hour to saturate the root mass with moisture. The plant should feel heavier. Place it in water with added Trichoderma solution. However, do not soak the plant for too long to avoid drowning it.

When handling the seedling, avoid holding the stem to prevent detaching it from the root mass. The stem is more fragile than the root system. If the stem breaks off from the root mass, the plant will die.

Spread the plant on a cloth and carefully untangle the roots by unwinding thick roots by hand. If the roots have nodes, make several cuts with a sharp knife about 3 cm deep. This promotes the formation of new roots. If the roots are too thick, gently pull them out of the root mass and untangle them. Remove all damaged or dead roots. Then place the plant in the prepared hole with straightened roots and backfill as usual.

Thoroughness in planting can be the decisive factor between a healthy plant and one struggling to establish, continuing to rely on its own roots by the end of the next season.

When planting, try to position the plant as vertically as possible. Even on sloping terrain, it should not deviate more than 10 degrees from vertical.

Place the seedlings at the optimal depth. For bare-root plants, the root collar should be at ground level, and for container plants, the top of the root ball should be 1-2 cm below ground level.

After planting, firmly tamp down the soil to eliminate air pockets that may harm the roots. Immediately after planting, water the plant, even if it's cold outside. Fall seedlings still need watering, but you can decide on the frequency and amount of water. Dig a 3 cm hole and check the soil moisture around the plant. If it feels moist, watering is unnecessary. Always mulch the plants with a layer of 5-7 cm, avoiding contact with the stem, to protect them in winter.

Photo: Dmitry Lukyanov, AgroXXI.ru.