Module 3

ESTABLISH
NURSERY
Caring and Maintaining of seedlings
Before sowing, water the seedbeds,
seedboxes, and trays to give the seeds a
good start.
Watered at least once a day.
Seedlings should also be fertilized as the case
may be, sprayed to control insect pests and
diseases.
Remove weeds whenever necessary.
 Care of Germinating Seedlings
Protect the seeds sown in seedbeds from ants by
spraying insecticides that drive away ants.
In the case of seedboxes, let the legs of the
seedboxes stand in cans filled with water and little
petroleum to prevent the ants from reaching the
seedboxes.
Seedboxes should be placed under the shade
Regulate watering. Too much or too little of it may
prevent germination.
 Care of Seedlings
When seedlings are already growing, water
them once with 3-4 tablespoons of ammonium
sulfate dissolved in a sprinkler of water.

Expose the seedlings to the morning sun not
later than eight o’clock every day
 Care of Seedlings
Protect the seedlings from excessive heat or
strong rain.
If dumping-off develops, remove immediately
the infected seedlings with the soil
surrounding them. Burn the disease infected
seedlings and soil to avoid further spread of
the disease.
 Seedling Management
Pricking
Transferring of young seedlings to another seedbox
or seedbed when seedling in seedboxes or
seedbeds is thickly populated
The rule in pricking is never handling the plants by
their stems, which bruise easily, but always by their
seed leaves.
Others use a dibble to separate and ease out the
seedlings.
Hardening Off
 Accomplished by placing the seedlings outside in a sheltered
location. At this point, the seedlings are very tender and could
easily be broken by wind and rain.
 Start by placing the seedlings in full morning sunlight for one
hour. Increase the time for full sunlight, gradually adding time
each day.
 Protect your seedlings from wind and animals to prevent
breakage of the tender vegetation.
 Within a week your seedlings should be able to withstand full
sunlight the whole day without wilting or burning the tender
leaves.
Thinning
 Pulling out some seedling leaving the healthy ones
about 5 cm apart
 The process of reducing the number of seedlings
in the seedbed or seedbox

Roguing
 The process of pulling out disease-infected or
damaged seedlings
 Value of Thinning
 Accelerates the free circulation of air
which makes the seedlings sturdier
and healthier.