1 Practical Notes - Sowing and Transplanting of Vegetable Crops

Practical -1
Sowing and Transplanting of Vegetable Crops

What is seed Germination?
Seed germination is a process in which dormant embryo of seed resumes metabolic activities
and grows to produce seedlings.
Types of Germination
1. Epigeal Germination: In this germination, hypocotyl elongates, pulling the cotyledons

and plumule out of the soil surface. E.g. dicots: Cucurbits
2. Hypogeal Germination: In this germination, epicotyl elongates, pulling the plumule
out of the soil surface while cotyledons remains inside the soil. E.g. Monocots wheat
and rice and dicots: Pea
3. Viviparous Germination: Viviparous Germination: It is a special type of germination
shown in halophytes which grows in oxygen deficient, salty and marshy soil. In these
plants, seed germinates inside the fruit, when it is still attached with the parent plant.
Critical Factors for germination
1. Water
2. Oxygen
3. Indoor growing medium should have good water retention, be light and airy, drain
easily, be sterile to prevent disease.
4. Temperature (within the soil)
• Depends on plant species
• Evaporation decreases temperature by 5 to 10 degrees
• General range at which seeds germinate
5. Light
• If seed needs light to germinate, don’t cover seed or lightly cover
• If seed needs darkness to germinate, cover w/ planting medium if large seed, or
w/ flat newspaper if very fine seed
Seed Dormancy
✓Dormant = fails to germinate after given all required environmental conditions
✓Dormancy prevents germination when conditions are not favourable

Common Causes of Dormancy
✓Hard seed coats, often impermeable to water
✓Dormant or immature embryo
✓Chemical inhibitors
Treatments to Overcome Dormancy
✓Scarification – physically degrading seed coat
✓Soaking in water or growth regulators
✓Stratification – period of moist chilling
Seed Sowing
Seed Quality
➢Use fresh, good quality seed
➢Check date on seed package
➢Test old seed for viability
Indoor Preparation
➢Choose containers
➢Pre-moisten seed starting medium
➢Pre-moisten fiber pots
✓Plant larger seed to recommended depth
✓Do not cover very tiny seeds, or cover with fine dusting of growing medium
✓Water in to settle seed
✓Use fine bulb sprinkler, fine sprinkler head on watering can, or spray bottle
After Germination
➢ Seed leaves are the first to emerge

➢ Remove covers when good percentage of seed has germinated
➢ Provide airflow
➢ Remove from bottom heat
➢ Fertilizing
➢ Only after first true leaves emerge
➢ Diluted solution
Transplanting
➢ Many plants ready when first true set of leaves emerge

➢ Small or finicky plants benefit by waiting for second set of true leaves
Timing
Too early
➢Run the risk of frost damage
Too late
➢Will not maximize the growing season
➢Quality deterioration
Season Extenders
1. Cloches
2. Row covers
3. Mulches
4. Cold frames
5. Walls of Water or Plastic Bottles
Cool Season Varieties
➢ Grow at lower temperatures and are not injured by light frost

➢ Generally, perform poorly during periods of extended hot temperatures
➢ Taste bitter
➢ Peas stop producing pods
Cool Season Vegetables:
➢ Asparagus, Garlic, Pea, Broad bean, Horseradish, Radish, Broccoli, Kale, Rhubarb ,
Brussels sprouts, Kohlrabi, Shallot, Cabbage, Leek, Spinach, Collard, Onion, Turnip
➢ Require cool weather to become established, but grow into the warm season E.g.
Onions and potatoes
Warm Season Vegetables
➢ Cucumber, Pumpkin, Eggplant, Snap bean, Lima bean, Squash, Melons, Sweet corn,
New Zealand spinach, Sweet potato, Pepper, Tomato
➢ Do not grow well at temperatures below 10°C
➢ are killed by frost
➢ Will often rot if planted in cold, damp soil
➢ Cool weather will retard growth and delay fruit set
Hardening of Vegetables
➢ The gradual process of acclimating plants started indoors to outside conditions

➢ For better survival in the field, it is advisable to harden the seedlings.
Winter Season transplanting
➢ 7 – 10-day period
➢ watering & avoid fertilizing
➢ Know the relative hardiness of various crops
➢ Gradually increase exposure to cold
Summer season Transplanting
➢ Plants are allowed to nearly wilt for 2-3 days before watering and this practice can
be repeated two-three times.
➢ Gradually reduce Mild day – 2-3 hours of sun in sheltered location
➢ Increase exposure to sunlight a few additional hours a day
➢ Such seedlings can withstand better the extremes of temperature
Transplanting
➢ Amending the planting hole

➢ Compost Methods of transplanting
1. Flatbed methods
2. Raised bed methods
➢ The soil in raised beds warms up more quickly than the ground.
➢ Better management practices
➢ Weed problems
➢ Irrigation efficiency
➢ Less Insect pest problems
Thinning
➢ When seedlings have their first true leaves, thin according to package instructions
Succession Planting
➢ Planting a second crop in a space where an early maturing plant has grown and been
harvested from
Why practice succession planting?
➢ To maximize space and time to have the highest possible productivity
➢ To maximize use of water and soil
Methods
➢ Several plantings of the same crop – e.g. bush beans planted every 2 weeks from mid-
May to beginning of August
➢ Single planting of several different varieties with varying maturity dates
➢ Continuous harvest over a longer period, e.g. cabbage
Succession Examples
1. Perennial Crops: Asparagus Rhubarb Chives Horseradish Winter onions

2. Crops that occupy the ground only the first part of the season: Early beets, Early
cabbage, Lettuce, Onion sets, Peas, Radishes, Early spinach, Mustard, Turnips
3. Crops that occupy the ground the major portion of the season: Bush & pole beans,
Lima beans, Cabbage, Celery, Sweet corn, Cucumbers, Eggplant, Muskmelons, Okra,
Peppers, Potatoes, Pumpkin, Squash, Tomatoes, Watermelon, Swiss chard
4. Crops to be planted in July or later for fall and winter gardens: Bush beans, Beets
Broccoli,Chinese cabbage,Carrots, Cauliflower, Endive, Kale, Kohlrabi ,Radishes,
Spinach, Turnips, Collards,Lettuce

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Practical -1

Sowing and Transplanting of Vegetable Crops

1. Epigeal Germination: In this germination, hypocotyl elongates, pulling the cotyledons

Critical Factors for germination

✓Dormant = fails to germinate after given all required environmental conditions

✓Dormancy prevents germination when conditions are not favourable

✓Hard seed coats, often impermeable to water

✓Dormant or immature embryo

Treatments to Overcome Dormancy

✓Scarification – physically degrading seed coat

✓Soaking in water or growth regulators

✓Stratification – period of moist chilling

➢Use fresh, good quality seed

➢Check date on seed package

➢Test old seed for viability

➢Pre-moisten seed starting medium

➢Pre-moisten fiber pots

✓Plant larger seed to recommended depth

✓Water in to settle seed

➢ Seed leaves are the first to emerge

➢ Many plants ready when first true set of leaves emerge

➢Run the risk of frost damage

➢Will not maximize the growing season

Cool Season Varieties

➢ Grow at lower temperatures and are not injured by light frost

Cool Season Vegetables:

Warm Season Vegetables

➢ The gradual process of acclimating plants started indoors to outside conditions

➢ Amending the planting hole

1. Perennial Crops: Asparagus Rhubarb Chives Horseradish Winter onions

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