What flowers to plant for seedlings in February

Content

1 Planning flower beds
- 1.1 Annual seedlings
- 1.2 Propagation of biennials and perennials
2 Tips for choosing soil, containers and seeds
- 2.1 How to prepare the soil
- 2.2 How to choose containers and seeds
3 Seedling care
4 Features of flower care
5 Reviews

In February, the blizzards are still in full swing, and flower growers begin to work on a colorful summer show. This month is sowing time for many flowers with a long growing season. We need to plan what flowers Suitable for each specific garden, purchase soil, containers, seeds. Many beautifully flowering and popular plants can be grown yourself, instead of buying expensive seedlings at the market. But for this you need to sow flowers for seedlings in February.

Planning flower beds

A large supply of seeds in stores makes it possible to make your garden plot your own piece of paradise. You just need to know the timing of sowing various plants, and what flowers are sown for seedlings in February.

A variety of annual, biennial and perennial crops are grown as seedlings.

Advice! Small flower seeds for sowing are mixed with sand or snow.

For planting flower seedlings in February they are sometimes guided by the lunar calendar. Successful days for sowing are those when the waxing Moon passes through fertile signs - Scorpio, Cancer, Pisces.For flowers, also favorable signs are Virgo, Libra, Taurus, Aries, Gemini.

When the question arises of what to plant first, we must remember that the Shabot carnation and tuberous begonia take the longest to develop. Their growth period before flowering lasts for six months. Therefore, it is usually recommended to sow the seeds of these flowers for seedlings in January. But February is also suitable.

Annual seedlings

Plants, which in our conditions have a one-year development period, are sown as seedlings in winter so that they bloom earlier. Such crops include lush flowering petunia, zinnia, carnations, asters, phlox, verbena, marigolds, salvia, nasturtium, gillyflower, annual dahlias, Snapdragon, lobelia, begonia, ageratum, sweet pea, heliotrope and others. Many flowers grow in natural conditions for more than one year.

It will probably be easier to propagate cosmos, calendula, lavateru, marigolds, nasturtiums and other unpretentious flowers by direct sowing in garden soil rather than by seedlings.

Comment! Petunia and lobelia seeds are carefully scattered over the surface of moist soil, without covering them with soil.

Propagation of biennials and perennials

Two-year-old flowers sown in February as seedlings - daisies, viola, primrose, lupine - will be able to bloom at the end of the summer season. In August, perennial chrysanthemums and delphiniums grown from seedlings will be shown how beautiful they are in bloom. But more luxuriant flowering will take place next year. In winter, plants are sown that are grown outdoors and indoors: pelargonium, balsam, fuchsia.

Tips for choosing soil, containers and seeds

For flower seedlings, the seeds of which are sown in February, light and nutritious soil is needed.

How to prepare the soil

The soil for seedlings is prepared in the fall from leaf or garden soil, river sand and neutral, slightly acidic peat. All components are taken in equal parts. The soil is cultivated to protect flower seedlings from fungal spores and harmful insects that overwinter in the soil.

Advice! The soil for seedlings cannot be calcined in the oven: the organic matter burns out under the influence of high temperatures, leaving an infertile substrate.

Soil from the garden is steamed in a water bath for 50-60 minutes;
The soil is placed in a paper bag in the microwave for 5 minutes.Purchase ready-made soil, with the addition of minerals necessary for the proper growth of flower seedlings. Drainage is placed at the bottom.
Expanded clay, agroperlite, shell fragments, gravel, broken brick or ceramics are suitable;
Lately they have been using pieces of polystyrene foam from packaging. It is valued because of its light weight and the fact that there is air in the pores. The roots of the seedlings are additionally protected from the cold if the boxes are placed on a February window;
The use of charcoal is practical. Under its influence, the soil is disinfected and the humidity level is stabilized.

Instead of soil, other substrates are used for flower seedlings:

Peat or coconut tablets;
A mixture of sawdust and river sand in a 2:1 ratio. Then it is necessary to use fertilizers so that the flower seedlings are strong.

How to choose containers and seeds

Flowers are usually planted as seedlings in February in small containers, so that later the sprouts can be picked up and placed in separate pots. Convenient store-bought cassettes. Of these, the seedling can be easily moved. There are plants that do not tolerate transplantation well. These flower seeds are sown in pots or paper cups.

The sprouts are planted in a container where they will grow before being transplanted into the ground.The best choice is peat pots. Air and moisture pass through the porous walls. Flowers are planted in a permanent place along with peat containers.

When buying seeds, you need to look at the germination time. Expired seeds may not sprout or produce weak sprouts.

Important! Before sowing, small flower seeds are placed in small bags with fungicide in powder form and thus disinfected.

Seedling care

Before sowing, the seeds are treated with growth stimulants. When the seeds of the flowers selected for planting in February are sown, you need to cover the containers with glass or film and create a temperature for germination from 18 to 22 ⁰C. Every day the film is removed to allow fresh air to enter and the soil is lightly sprayed with water if it dries out.

With the emergence of seedlings, the temperature is increased to 25 ⁰C, containers are kept in a bright place or provided with additional lighting. Choose energy-saving lamps or special ones for illuminating seedlings. When two true leaves grow, the seedlings are picked.

Watering

The soil is regularly moistened in the morning. In the evening, water only in an emergency situation, when morning watering was missed and the soil is dry. Use settled or melt water.

Nasturtium, fragrant tobacco, dahlias are watered frequently;
Moderately moisturize zinnias, marigolds, asters, phlox, snapdragons, and petunia.

Top dressing

There are many flower fertilizers, including for seedlings. When using, you must strictly follow the instructions.

For the first time, flowers planted as seedlings in February are fed two weeks after emergence;
The next feeding of seedlings is carried out after 15 days;
Next, the flowers are fertilized every week;
It is better to alternately use complexes of mineral and humic preparations;
If you use fertilizers for adult plants, use twice as much water.

Attention! After applying fertilizers, the soil is well moistened so that the plants absorb nutrients more fully.

Preparing for landing

The seedlings need to be hardened off. For two weeks, containers with plants are taken out into the air, placed in the shade and sheltered from strong winds. After seven days, the seedlings are already placed in the sun. At first not for long, gradually increasing the time the flowers stay outside the shelter. Two-month-old, hardened seedlings are placed in flower beds or hanging baskets.

Features of flower care

Each beautiful flower has its own little secrets that you need to know in order to create a unique fragrant garden.

Petunia

Sowing in February will ensure the dance of multi-colored gramophones from June.

The seeds cannot be sprinkled with soil; they sprout in 10-14 days;
The plant loves a lot of light;
To increase the root system, petunia seedlings are transferred twice;
A flowering petunia with a good root ball does not suffer during transplantation.

Lobelia

The flowers are small, white, rich mauve or various shades of blue - from bright blue to violet.

The seeds are only lightly pressed into the soil, but not sprinkled. Shoots appear after 15 days;
The plant develops better without picking;
3-4 seeds are sown in pots to make the bush more luxuriant;
In summer, if flowering subsides, the plant is pruned and watered abundantly.

Verbena

Neat multi-colored flowers with a wonderful aroma.

When sowing in February, the seeds are slightly buried in the soil or laid out on the surface, but covered with a dark film. To germinate after a week, they must be in the dark;
Seedlings do not like waterlogging.

Carnation Shabo

This perennial crop in southern conditions is planted as seedlings in January or February. Flowers of different shades have been produced.

To germinate, seeds need to be provided with heat after 7-10 days - up to 24 ⁰WITH;
Periodically, the stems are covered with soil;
Pinch the growing point several times to keep the bush compact;
The plant must be replanted 2-3 times for the bush to grow.

Salvia

Bright red, dark purple and whitish shades of flowers.

Seedlings dive when there are 4-5 true leaves;
The plant loves the sun.

Begonia everblooming

Fireworks of flowers and leaves of different shapes and shades.

Small seeds are not sown in January or February, but are laid out on moist soil, lightly pressing. They sprout in 10-25 days;
The plant needs to be illuminated - up to 12-13 hours a day and watered regularly;
Seedlings are planted after 1.5 months.

Growing beautiful flowering plants makes the world a warmer place.

Reviews

Lilia, Belgorod region.

I really love petunia. I have more than ten varieties growing. And every year I add a few more. Sowing in February, although it is possible at the very beginning of March. Petunia can also be preserved for the winter. The new flowering and hanging varieties are especially hardy. They bloom in the fall in the house, and then I put them in a cool room.

Tatyana Andreevna, 56 years old, Moscow region.

For the dacha I grew delphinium and daisies. I provided additional light to the seedlings because the apartment is on the north side. It was a lot of work, but I was pleased with the result. You have to work, then there will be beauty all around.

Sergey, 45 years old, Kovrov

We grow petunia, lobelia, daisies, carnations and many other flowers for seedlings that we sell. We sow immediately after the New Year holidays. We prepare the soil ourselves and definitely feed it. By May, petunias, primroses, and daisies are already blooming. Buyers love flowers.And it makes me happy that people are drawn to beauty.