- Plant knowledge is required
- It all depends on the right mix
- Prepare the soil structure at the greenhouse
Proper rearing results and plentiful yields require conscientious greenhouse preparation. It is primarily about an optimal structure and the growth-promoting composition of the soil, which must be carefully adapted to the different plant species.
Above all, choosing the right substrate for the greenhouse is important
In contrast to outdoor planting, the young vegetables in the greenhouse often do not grow directly in the garden soil, but are cultivated with very special soil and substrates. Some of these mixtures, mainly in commercial cultivation, even contain no soil at all. Substrates with organic composition have much cheaper structures that Store nutrients, water and air better and distribute them to the plants be able. In the trade we encounter a wide variety of varieties, for example as potting, pricking, sowing or special soil for certain individual plant species. And the demands placed on the greenhouse soil itself, particularly in warm houses, are very high.
Plant knowledge is required
Which soil is ideal for the respective cultivation varieties requires quite a bit of botanical knowledge and still needs lots of gardening experience. Here is a small selection of different soils and their components that are useful on the ground when preparing the greenhouse:
| material | properties | type of use |
|---|---|---|
| expanded clay | light and porous clay granules (without nutrients!) | Hydroponics, cacti, orchids |
| peat | loose structure, low pH value, very good storage capacity for air and water | universally usable finished soils from the trade |
| compost | heavy and nutritious, favorable crumb structure | Potted and tub plants, seed soil |
| volume | high content of trace elements, heavy | all water-storing plants, admixture takes place in dry soil |
| bark humus | similar to garden compost | favorable for flower growing |
| garden soil | good water holding capacity, heavy | can be used for your own mixtures of seed soil |
It all depends on the right mix
Anyone who has high-quality garden soil has very little work to do when preparing the greenhouse. In this case, dug deep as a spade, a favorable breeding ground is already available. If you are not quite sure, have a soil sample analyzed in a laboratory as a precaution, so that the soil fertility is clear after just a few days. For the vegetable and herb cultivation would be in the somewhat deeper soil layers a pH between 6 and 7 desirable.
Prepare the soil structure at the greenhouse
Sieved soil should not be used if possible. It can be a bit crumbly so that the plants can root better later. A sandy loamy soil with sufficient humus is ideal for young plants and promotes soil life and its long fertility.
tips
The aim would be approximately the following nutrient content, based on 100 grams of dry greenhouse soil: 15 to 25 mg potassium oxide, 15 mg magnesium and 15 to 25 mg phosphate.