Moscow method of growing seedlings

If a gardener has trouble finding enough space for planting seedlings, a great solution has been found: Sow seeds in paper rolls. This method is called "self-rolling" or "Moscow-style" seedlings. It's suitable for most crops: peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, cabbage, and eggplant. Flower seeds can also be germinated using the rolling method.

The essence and features of the method

The principle of the sequence of operations is the same for all plants. First, prepare paper and cellophane blanks. Suitable regular toilet paperA piece of plastic film is cut to the width of the paper. The film should be thick enough to allow the package to stand upright in the glass.

You may be interested in:

Growing tomato seedlings without soil
When space is limited for large numbers of seedlings on windowsills and balconies, an economical method for growing...Read more…

Technique:

1. It's easier to mark the paper based on its dimensions. The length of the pieces varies, ranging from 30 to 50 cm. If there are a lot of seeds, it's better to cut the pieces shorter.
2. Place a paper layer on the table surface. Wet it with a spray bottle or by carefully dripping water down the center.
3. Next, plant each seed 2-3 cm from the top edge. The seeding density depends on the plant type; on average, it's 4 cm. Planting too close isn't recommended, as it won't provide enough room for growth.
4. Place the film over the seeds, making sure the edges are aligned. Then carefully roll it up. Incidentally, the thinner the paper and the more it's soaked, the more likely it is to tear.

Place several of these rolls in a glass or other container 7-10 cm high. Add water to a third of the glass's height. To create a greenhouse effect, place the glass in a plastic bag or cover it. Avoid completely blocking the oxygen supply; ventilation is essential.

After the green shoots appear, add mineral fertilizer to the water. The concentration of this watering is calculated based on the amount of water in the glass, meaning it's made very weak.

During growth, check the water level every few days. After a month, when leaves appear, repeat the fertilizing.

After the germination period has elapsed, unroll the roll with the plastic backing facing you, as it was originally laid. The paper has already softened, so be careful not to break the sprouts. Cut out each sprout individually, using the paper. If the process is completed correctly, the weakly sprouted seeds can be rolled up and returned to the container with water. The finished sprouts are planted in the garden in the ground or in individual pots for further growth.

Advantages and disadvantages

The main advantages are:

• without using soil in seedlings, and consequently, no possibility of black leg disease;
• space saving;
• simplicity of the technique.

Minimal requirements allow for sowing directly on the windowsill. Rolled seeds are conveniently stored in cups, with several rolls in a single cup.

For more heat-loving plants, this method is suitable in the early stages of seedling development. Slow growth requires germination directly in the soil. Gardeners must transplant the seedlings into pots after a short time and continue caring for them as usual. This is inconvenient, takes up more space, and is labor-intensive.

In what cases is it suitable?

When sprouting in a curled position, seedling stems stretch. This isn't always a positive effect when gardeners are trying to achieve it. Heat-loving peppers develop poorly, resulting in a thin root system.

Depending on the crop variety, for example, tomatoes require squat, strong rootstocks with a branched trunk. For bush tomatoes, stretching them toward the sun will prevent large fruits. This is because the seeds are closely spaced, resulting in upward development and minimal spreading. This saves space. This is generally not a problem when planting cold-hardy vegetables and flowers.

Advice and opinions from those who planted

Long-time testers of the roll method have some experience and know their secrets. For example, to increase seed yield, they first sort them in a salt solution. The floating seeds are discarded, and the remaining ones are planted. It's best to use three-ply paper if you're laying a single layer. It's best to cover the seeds with another layer before applying the film. This will ensure the seeds hold more securely and give the roots room to grow.

The water level at the bottom doesn't matter. There shouldn't be more than 1 cm of water. The main thing is that it's saturated with nutrients. Don't overfeed. The roots form first due to the paper fiber. Without excess minerals, they will strengthen and allow the entire plant to grow fully. Once the roots are ready, all the energy goes to the stem.

You may be interested in:

Growing seedlings in eggshells
Nowadays, more and more people are drawn to nature and more and more we are looking for ways to…Read more…

Understanding the result and knowing the crop variety will allow you to make the right choice when using the roll method.