After the autumn season, vegetable production often faces delays due to the challenging conditions of the high-temperature period. This time, which occurs at the end of autumn and the beginning of the season, is marked by strong sunlight, high temperatures, frequent heavy rains, and an increased risk of pests and diseases. These factors make it extremely difficult to grow healthy and robust seedlings. Based on practical experience from recent years, I have developed key techniques for cultivating strong seedlings of crops such as autumn green peppers, tomatoes, broccoli, eggplants, cucumbers, and watermelens using shade or insect nets during the hot season. This guide aims to help farmers overcome these challenges and improve their seedling quality.
**1. Specific Practices for Seedling Cultivation Using Nets and Films**
1. **Choosing the Right Mesh and Film**: For leafy vegetables grown in summer and early autumn, a 22-mesh silver-gray insect net is recommended. When it comes to plastic films, it's best to use new ones rather than old, weathered materials, as they tend to degrade quickly in high heat.
2. **Setting Up Sheds**: A small shed can be used to protect seedlings. During rainy days, cover them with agricultural film, while on sunny days, use insect or shade nets to control light intensity, prevent pests, and maintain moisture. It’s also advisable to cover the shed doors with insect nets for extra protection.
3. **Seedling Preparation**:
- Use plastic trays with 56–72 holes for planting. Place the trays on a flat mat mulch and fill them with a mix of organic-inorganic substrate (e.g., "Tianliang" brand). Add 50g of carbendazim per 16.5kg of substrate. Fill each tray with 10–12 plates, soak the base in water, sow the seeds, and cover them lightly with the same mix. Then place a small arch over the tray.
- For nutrition-based seedlings, apply fertilizer 5–7 days before transplanting. For every 10 square meters, use 2–2.5kg of "Tianliang" organic seedling fertilizer, or 150–250kg of high-quality manure. Mix with 5–2kg of special rice fertilizer, 0.25kg borax, and 0.25kg zinc sulfate. Soak the soil before sowing, then cover the seeds with dry fine soil. After germination, thin the seedlings, leaving one per hole, and harden them off 2–3 days before transplanting.
**2. Important Considerations**
1. **Disinfection of Nets**: Before covering the nets, disinfect them to reduce pest sources. You can spray 50% dichlorvos diluted 800 times or 48% Lospeng diluted 1000 times, and manually remove weeds.
2. **Climate-Based Coverage**: Adjust the coverage based on weather and crop conditions. Shade nets should be applied when there is strong sunlight and high temperatures, and removed during cooler, cloudy periods. Remove the shade net 5–7 days before harvest to avoid poor color and quality. However, crops like summer wax gourd and lettuce may need full-season coverage due to low light resistance.
3. **Adjusting Cultivation Practices**: After applying shade nets, crops may grow faster, increasing their demand for water and nutrients. Make sure to provide additional irrigation and fertilization as needed. Even with shade nets, watering may still be necessary depending on weather and soil conditions during the emergence stage.
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