Growing radishes in egg cartridges: pros and cons, step-by-step instructions and possible problems

Radish is one of the most popular vegetables for cultivation among gardeners lovers. But, despite this, not everyone wants to engage in sowing this culture because of the too laborious process. To simplify the technology of vegetable cultivation, a method such as growing radishes in cassettes is used. Everyone who wants to facilitate the task of cultivating this crop should be familiar with it.

What is this way?

To simplify both seeding radishes and caring for the culture, egg cartridges are used. They are an alternative to special cassettes that are sold in gardening stores. Cardboard egg trays are convenient to use, since radish is sown in each cell one seed, which allows you to get large root crops. For ease of use, cardboard cassettes are in no way inferior to special, purchased ones.

Pros and cons of cassette growing

The advantages of the method of growing radishes in egg cartridges are as follows:

• there is no need to thin out the beds;
• planting does not need to be mulched and soil loosening;
• there is no need to remove weeds from crops, because they simply do not appear.

As for the disadvantages of this method, there are few of them:

• Cassettes take up a lot of space both when growing crops at home, and in the open ground.
• Cardboard trays are fragile and easily damaged. Because of this, you can lose part of the crop.

When to choose this method?

Apply this method if you want to facilitate the task of growing radishes. Egg cartridges can be used both at home, in the greenhouse, and in the open ground, taking into account only a few features of the technology in each case.

1. You can resort to this method if, for example, there is no summer cottage or a greenhouse. Egg cartridges can be placed on the balcony or windowsill in the apartment.
2. This method is suitable if there is a need to save space when cultivating several crops simultaneously in the greenhouse. Egg cartridges are easy to fix on the upper tier of the greenhouse using improvised tools.
3. In open ground conditions, the method is resorted to in order to save time and effort when caring for crops.

Step-by-step instructions for growing

To grow radishes in this way, you will need to do a certain algorithm of actions and prepare the necessary material for work.

Seed acquisition

The first thing to do is to purchase high-quality seed. Buying seeds is from trusted suppliers in specialized stores. The price in Moscow and St. Petersburg per kilogram of radish seeds varies from 1100 to 3000 Russian rubles.

The price depends on the type of vegetable. One of the most expensive varieties is considered Cardinal F1, for a kilogram of seeds you will have to pay 3000 rubles. For private cultivation, you can purchase seeds in packages. One package will be enough to sow approximately 10 egg cartridges. One package of radish, depending on the variety of seeds, costs from 5 to 300 rubles.

If there is no desire to buy seed, you can use seeds from your site for sowing.

Required Inventory

Before you begin the process of sowing seeds in cardboard cassettes, you will need to prepare the following inventory:

• knife;
• gloves
• soil;
• water tank for irrigation.

Processing egg trays before planting

Given that eggs are considered to be a carrier of salmonella, which is easily stored in cardboard material on cassettes, before planting radishes, you will need to properly prepare the trays. There are two ways to do this:

• prepare a solution of potassium permanganate of a light pink color and thoroughly wipe the egg trays from the inside and the outside;
• disinfection at elevated temperatures, for example, put cardboard cassettes in the oven for 10-15 minutes at a temperature of 70-100 degrees.

In addition to disinfection measures, a small hole with a diameter of 0.5-0.7 cm will be required in each cell.

For disinfection, you can use not only a solution of potassium permanganate, but also any other similar means. For example, you can use alcohol or vodka.

Seed preparation

Preparatory measures before sowing require only those seeds that have been collected from their site. They will need to be treated with Tiram - a drug that prevents the appearance of root rot. If the seeds were purchased in a specialized store, then they are already processed with a special composition that not only prevents the occurrence of diseases, but also contributes to the speedy germination of seeds.

Homemade seeds also need to be lowered before processing for 15-20 minutes in a slightly pink solution of potassium permanganate, and then dried. When sowing only dry, healthy and large seeds are used.

Detailed landing description

The algorithm for sowing seeds is as follows:

1. About three quarters of the cell volume is poured into cardboard cassettes.
2. Then proceed to the direct sowing of seeds, dropping one in each cell.
3. The next stage involves filling the cells with soil almost to the top, filling the seeds.
4. The last thing to do is to water the sown culture. Water should be poured carefully, separately into each cell.

Overmoistening of crops should not be allowed so that the seeds do not rot.

The process of sowing seeds is similar, regardless of the location of the cassettes in the future, however, there are some nuances of the process:

• Houses. To create an optimal microclimate and speedy seed germination, you can cover the trays with cling film. After the appearance of the first shoots, the film is removed. To place trays with radishes at home you need on the sunny side of the apartment, on the balcony or window.
• In the greenhouse. If the location of the trays in the greenhouse is assumed throughout the entire growing season of the crop, then no additional measures are required. The only thing to do in advance is to prepare a place for the location of the cassettes.
• In the open ground. If radishes will be grown in cassettes in open ground conditions, then the first priority is to prepare the site. It is worth giving preference to sunny areas in the garden. Before placing the cassettes with radishes, you need to dig a plot and level it using a rake. Directly cassettes are recommended to be deepened a few centimeters into the soil. Be sure to secure the trays with wire so that they are not blown away by the wind.

A garden bed with radishes is best done in one row, since it will be much easier to care for it.

First care for young plants

Radish beds made of cardboard egg trays do not require special care. The only thing needed is to regularly water the crop. When to water radishes can be determined by the condition of the soil. The soil must not be allowed to dry. The rest of the activities that might be required when planting radishes in the usual way are not necessary.

Possible problems

Using cardboard egg trays can cause problems such as damage to cardboard cassettes. This can happen especially in open ground. For example, if it rained heavily and the cassettes were not covered, then there is a chance that the cardboard will simply get wet and fall apart.

Any mechanical damage to cardboard trays leads to partial loss of yield. The soil in which the radish grows, get enough sleep with the root crop. In this situation, you can carefully transplant the vegetable to a new place and hope that it will take root. But it’s better just to prevent damage to the cassettes, and under adverse environmental conditions to cover the beds with radishes.

Harvesting and storage

The moment of harvesting can be determined by the ripened root crops. They will begin to be visible on the surface of the soil. Harvesting is quite simple: you just need to pull the tops of the vegetable and get the root crop from the cell.

You can store vegetables for eating in the refrigerator for 1-1.5 months. For long-term storage, radishes are cut, salads are frozen, or harvested.

Growing radishes in cassettes is a fairly simple and easy way. It is important to remember to disinfect and prepare cardboard trays before using them. Using this method, it is worthwhile to determine in advance where the seeded crop will be located.

Useful video

We offer you to watch a video about the nuances of planting and growing radishes in egg cartridges:

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