What is the best growing environment for my seeds to germinate in?
A bright, slightly humid environment with fresh air circulation works best. Use a nursery box with lid until the first 2 leaves have appeared. The lid keeps in any build-up of moisture and heat and the vents allow fresh air to circulate - creating a perfect growing environment for seedlings.
How much fertilizer should I use during germination?
No fertilizer should be added at this stage, as the seed has enough energy stored within its shell to be able to germinate without additional nutrients.
How much water do my seedlings need in the germination stage (nursery)?
After placing seeds onto the starter plugs, keep the starter plugs moist. It is very important to not let the starter plugs dry out. If they are allowed to dry out, the seeds will not germinate and seedlings will die. The nursery holds enough water to keep them moist for a week when the temperature is not more than 20°C. Check the water level regularly if the temperature is higher than this, as the water will evaporate more quickly in higher temperatures. Lift one of the starter plugs out of the nursery. Then you can look into the hole to see if the water level is high enough to reach the starter plug.
How much light should I give seeds during germination?
Give seeds lots of light during germination by placing them in a bright area out of direct sunlight. Cultivation light can also be added if natural light is low.
Why are my seedlings long and thin?
If light is low, the seedlings will stretch towards the light and become long and thin. You can prevent this by giving the seedlings more light.
How do I stop the seed shell from coming up with the seedlings first leaves?
When some plants are grown on top of growing medium such as starter plugs, the first 2 leaves get stuck inside the seed shell as the seedling grows upwards. To avoid this, with chard and coriander for example, sow directly into pumice stones with a layer of 1 cm of pumice above the seed. The pumice stones hold the shell as the seedling grows upward.
GROWING PLANTS – CULTIVATION INSERT SET STAGE
Points to consider when transferring seedlings into the cultivation insert set:
• Seedlings are very sensitive during this stage. Take care when adding pumice stones around the top of the starter plug where the delicate roots are. Damaging the roots could kill the plant.
• Basil can be sensitive to too much moisture near its stem. Be sure to replant the starter plug and seedling with enough pumice stones beneath the plug so that the basil stem does not sit below the top row of holes in the cultivation pot.
How much pumice stone should I use within the cultivation insert set pots?
Add 1-2 cm of pumice to the pot before adding the starter plug with seedling. Fill the cultivation pots up to the top and carefully cover the starter plug and seedling roots with pumice. Cover the whole starter plug with at least 1 cm of pumice stones. This gives stability to the seedling as it grows, and protects the roots. For seedlings that are long and thin, add a little less pumice to the base of the pot and cover more of the stem of the seedling. This will give the plant extra support.
How often should I add fertilizer to the plants over the growing period?
Young plants require less water and fertilizer than bigger, leafier plants. You typically use less fertilizer in the first 3 weeks than in the final 3-7 weeks of growing. Top up with water-fertilizer solution every 5-10 days depending on the stage of growth. If the temperature is consistently high, above 20°C, you may need to top up more regularly. This is because the water-fertilizer solution will evaporate more quickly in higher temperatures. It is important to check the water-fertilizer level regularly and not to let the pumice stones dry out.
How much light should I give my plants during the cultivation insert set stage?
Tests have proven that a minimum of 16 hours light is needed to produce good results. Giving leafy plants 24 hours of light is a benefit which will speed up the growing process and increase antioxidants in the plant. You may need to rotate plants within the cultivation insert set, as some leaves can grow quite large to create an “umbrella” over smaller plants, blocking light and slowing the growth of these plants.
My plants are starting to droop even though there is enough water-fertilizer solution in the base tray. Why has this happened and how do I fix it?
If the plant droops when plenty of water and fertilizer is available, this usually means they are getting too much fertilizer. This can happen if temperatures are constantly above 20°C, as the water-fertilizer solution can evaporate quicker than the plants can take in the nutrients. This quick evaporation leaves a concentrated build-up of fertilizer within the cultivation insert set base. Then every time you top up with water-fertilizer, you rehydrate this concentrated solution and the plants get too much fertilizer and droop.
There are 2 ways to fix this:
1. Use water only for the next two times you need to top up. This will dilute the build-up and should allow the plant to recover.
2. Empty the solution from cultivation insert set into a watering can and clean and rinse the base tray. Place the plants back into the cultivation insert set and fill with water until the water gauge reaches the MAX line. Then go back to the normal dosage of water-fertilizer for future top-ups.
Some leaves should be red/purple but they are not showing any colour. Why does this happen?
The development of colour partly depends on light, so leaf colour develops differently with different lighting. Low light intensity can lead to less purple or red colour. Try increasing the amount of cultivation light or placing the plants near a sunny window to help produce more colourful plants.
The pumice stones within the cultivation pots have green algae on the top layer. Is this ok?
Water-fertilizer solution added to the cultivation insert set which then soaks into the pumice stones and travels up to the top layer of pumice where it is exposed to light. This creates a reaction which causes algae growth. This is not harmful in any way and can be removed between growing batches by cleaning the pumice stones.
When growing with hydroponics, will my plants get bugs?
Bug eggs can live in soil, which is usually how bugs enter the home and feed on your plants. With hydroponics there is no soil so there should be no bugs. This means there is no need to use pesticides.
HARVEST
Which plants can I take some leaves from (pinch) and leave the plant to grow?
Basil can be pinched after 5-6 weeks of growing and mizuna after 3-6 weeks, or when it reaches the LED cultivation light. Small harvests of the plants can be done early on, so long as there are leaves left on the plant. Harvest lettuce from the outside. Too much continuous harvesting will lead to less growth.
How much can I expect to harvest from each plant?
The amount of leaves obtained depends heavily on the amount of light that has reached the plant. If only cultivation light has been used, the most appropriate use of the harvest after 4-6 weeks would be in salads, sandwiches and garnishing due to the number and size of the leaves. If the plants are grown in a combination of cultivation light and sunlight during seasons with stronger light, the larger number and sizes of the leaves could allow for more uses and dishes for the harvest after 4-6 weeks.
Should I wash the leaves before eating?
Usually this is not necessary when growing indoors as no pesticides are used. If there are pumice stones on the leaves, or if concentrated fertilizer has dripped onto the plant, wash before eating.
What dishes can I use the leaves in?
You can use what you have grown in a variety of dishes. We have worked with a Swedish chef to produce recipes that you can make from each 3 pack of seeds.