After the autumn season, vegetable production often faces delays. The nursery period typically occurs during the hot summer and early autumn months, when sunlight is intense, temperatures are high, and heavy rains frequently occur. These conditions create a favorable environment for pests and diseases, making it extremely challenging to cultivate strong and healthy seedlings. Based on recent farming practices, I have developed key techniques for growing robust seedlings of autumn crops such as green peppers, tomatoes, broccoli, purple eggplants, cucumbers, and watermelons using shade or insect nets during the high-temperature season. This guide aims to help farmers improve their seedling cultivation success.
**1. Specific Practices for Using Shade or Insect Nets**
1. **Choose the Right Mesh and Film**: For leafy vegetables grown in suburban areas during summer and autumn, 22-mesh silver-gray insect nets are recommended. For rain protection, use new agricultural films, as old ones tend to degrade quickly in high heat.
2. **Set Up Sheds**: Cover seedlings with small sheds to protect them from harsh weather. During rainy days, cover with plastic film, while on sunny days, use insect or shade nets to control light, moisture, and pests. It’s also advisable to place the nursery at one end of the shed, and ensure that the shed door is covered with an insect net as well.
3. **Seedling Cultivation**:
- Use plastic trays with 56–72 holes for seedling production. First, lay down mulch on the nursery bed, then place the plastic trays filled with "Tianliang" organic-inorganic composite substrate. Add 50g of carbendazim per 16.5kg of substrate. Fill each tray with 10–12 plates and soak the bottom with water before sowing. Cover the seeds lightly with the same substrate, ensuring they are not visible, then cover with a small arch. Transplant the seedlings 2–3 days before planting, leaving one plant per hole.
- For nutrient-rich seedlings, apply fertilizer 5–7 days before planting. Mix 2–2.5kg of "Tian Liang" organic seedling fertilizer per 10 square meters, or 150–250kg of high-quality manure, along with 5–2kg of special rice fertilizer, 0.25kg of borax, and 0.25kg of zinc sulfate. After soaking the bed, sow the seeds and cover them lightly with fine soil. Spray 48% trifluralin at 0.15–0.2mL per square meter with 0.5kg of water. After the seedlings emerge, thin them out and harden them off 2–3 days before transplanting.
**2. Key Points to Note**
1. **Disinfect the Net Before Use**: To reduce pest infestation, disinfect the mesh before covering. You can spray 50% dichlorvos at 800 times dilution or 48% lindane at 1000 times, and manually remove weeds.
2. **Adjust Coverage Based on Weather**: Cover the nets during periods of intense sunlight and high temperatures, especially around midday. During cloudy days, evenings, or cooler mornings, remove the nets to allow more light. Remove the shade net 5–7 days before harvest to prevent poor color and quality. However, crops like summer wax gourds and lettuce may remain under the net throughout the growing season due to their low light tolerance.
3. **Adapt Cultivation Practices**: After using shade nets, crop growth speeds up, increasing the need for water and nutrients. Make sure to provide additional irrigation and fertilization as needed. Even with shade nets, it's important to spray water during the emergence phase depending on weather and soil moisture conditions.
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