With the advent of hydroponics, it became possible to grow greens without the use of soil. The method was invented more than a century ago, but only recently has it been appreciated. Its peculiarity is the cultivation of crops using water and fertilizers. Therefore, plants grown in this way have a powerful root system. Let's look at how to properly grow parsley hydroponically.
Features of hydroponics
Hydroponics allows grow parsley at home on the windowsill. Since no soil is involved, there will be no dirt in the house. Plant roots are found in organic or artificial substrate.The container with the substrate is immersed in a special solution, from which the greens draw nutrients. To grow parsley this way, you will need 2 elements:
- Hydroponic installation. Includes containers where greens are planted and a system for supplying nutrients. You can buy ready-made equipment, or you can assemble it yourself.
- Substrate and solution. The substrate is placed in containers for greenery; it is needed to feed the root system. The solution is a ready-made liquid containing the necessary microelements for the growth of greenery.
For growing parsley You should not only acquire a hydroponic installation, but also provide conditions for the growth of greenery: optimal temperature and sufficient lighting.
Seed preparation
Before planting parsley, pre-sowing preparation should be carried out. Since crop seeds take a long time to germinate, gardeners resort to methods to accelerate growth. For this purpose, bubbling is used - oxygen treatment of seeds. To do this, they are placed in prepared water and stirred periodically.
It is important that oxygen is evenly distributed throughout the entire thickness of the seed material.
Before sowing parsley seeds dry in the open air. The main thing is that they should not be exposed to sunlight.
Preparation of the solution
When the installation is ready, the plant container is filled with substrate. This is a sterile substance that does not contain any components. The substrate should not be affected by moisture or other substances. It serves as support for the root system of greenery.
You can prepare a solution for hydroponics yourself. It is important that the water that will be used for its preparation does not contain any foreign substances.To prepare solutions, water-soluble fertilizers are used, which contain the necessary microelements for the development of greenery. The concentration of salts in them should not exceed 3 g per 1 liter of water, otherwise the plants will die as a result of dehydration. As a rule, gardeners buy ready-made solutions in specialized stores.
Planting greenery
Parsley seeds are sown in the prepared substrate at a rate of 1 g per 1 square meter. m. After planting, the area is watered abundantly to provide the necessary amount of moisture for germination. In the water used for irrigation, it is recommended to dissolve special fertilizers from the BioSevia series, or products with a similar composition. After watering, the containers with the planted seeds are covered with film, this will create a greenhouse effect. When growing parsley cyclically, the next sowing is done after 2 weeks.
If parsley is grown in a greenhouse, drip watering is used after the sprouts sprout. That is, they provide water supplies to each individual plant. A drip irrigation system supplies water to the root system through drippers and pipes. This method of irrigation is quite profitable for gardeners, since it reduces the cost of stimulants and fertilizers, and also reduces labor costs.
Note! During the growth process, parsley should not be allowed to dry out or become overly wet. Irrigation is carried out every week. Otherwise, the leaves and roots of the plants will not be able to absorb the required amount of nutrients, which will lead to various diseases.
Humidity and temperature modes
Optimal humidity conditions:
- 90–100% - in the first days of sowing;
- 60–80% - 2 weeks after planting.
Film will help maintain high humidity in the first days.
The optimal temperature for growing parsley should not be less than 14 degrees, the substrate temperature should not be lower than 3 degrees.
Deviations in temperature and humidity from the relevant norms interfere with normal plant growth and increase the risk of disease development.
Pests and diseases
Most often, parsley is susceptible to powdery mildew. The main signs of this disease are the formation of a white coating on the leaves and slower growth of greenery. Such bushes should be immediately uprooted and thrown as far away from the plants as possible. After 2 leaves appear on the plants, they can be treated with fungicides.
Aphids cause enormous damage to the crop, regardless of the stage of development of the greenery. Pests feed on plant sap, causing the leaves to curl and dry out.
Harvesting
How long does it take to grow parsley hydroponically? The greens are harvested after 5 weeks. The upper part of the leaves is simply cut off. The shoots remain to continue growth. If the seeds have been bubbling before planting, the collection time will be significantly accelerated.
Equipment cleaning
After collecting parsley, the equipment must be disinfected. After removing the solution, the system is thoroughly cleaned of plant debris. To wash equipment, use a watering system using hydrogen peroxide. During the cleaning process, the water is changed at least 2 times. It is recommended to wash the substrate (especially coconut) with boiling water, this will destroy all bacteria and fungi. It is then air dried.
Thus, growing parsley hydroponically has several advantages. This method does not require soil, which allows you to grow greens on the windowsill in your apartment without any hassle.
