Seedling identification are the process of being able to distinguish between the desired plant and the weeds that may grow in the same area. In order to successfully identify the seedlings, a person must perform such tasks as identifying the seedling themselfs. Such identification requires observing the shape of the cotyledons that emerge from the seeds, as well as the characteristic of the true leaves of those plants.
The cotyledons are the first leaves to emerge from the seed. The cotyledons help to indicate the type of plant that is growing. For instance, plants like cucumbers and squash has cotyledons that are the shape of a kidney, but plants like carrots and lettuce have thin cotyledon that are more like straps.
How to Identify Seedlings
Thus, the shape of the cotyledons can help to indicate the family of plant that is growing. Additionally, the scent of the leaf can help to identify the type of plant; tomatoes have a scent of green scent whereas basil plants have a sweet scent. Should the individual not correctly identify the various types of seedlings, they may unintentionally remove some of the plant that they desire to grow.
The true leaves are the second set of leaves that emerge from the seedling. Additionally, these true leaves display the characteristic of the mature plant. True leaves emerge after the cotyledons have grown.
For instance, tomato plants have compound, serrated true leaves that feel fuzzy to the touch. Peppers have smooth, waxy leaf. Cucumbers have true leaves that have bristles and palmate lobes.
Broccoli plants have true leaves that have edges that are a shade of blue-green. Lastly, onion plants do not create a pair of true leaves; instead, they form a single hollow tube from which the leaves emerge. Additionally, observing these leaves will prevent the individual from mistaking the speed at which the plant grows for an indication of the identity of that plant.
Weeds are the plants that the individual dont want to grow within the seedling area. These weeds may appear to be the same as the desired plants; however, if an individual does not recognize the various methods of identification, they may mistakenly pull the weed instead of the desired plant. For instance, weeds may appear to be carrots or onions.
To distinguish a carrot from a weed, one could examine the stem of the plant; carrots have stems that are flat and creased. Some weeds may appear to be tomatoes; however, they will lack the deep split and the scents of the seeds that are desired. Additionally, individuals should only pull these weeds when they are young, so as to prevent them from competing with the desired crops.
Timing is important in the process of transplanting the seedlings. Timing is important for preventing shock to the plant or root binding. For instance, cucumbers and squash seedlings should be transplanted when they have a few true leaf.
Cucumber and squash seedlings have taproots that are sensitive to disturbance. Tomato and broccoli plants should be transplanted when they have four to six true leaves and thick stem. Additionally, an individual should perform the process of hardening off prior to transplanting the seedlings.
Hardening off is the process of moving the plants outdoors over a period of time. Fungal diseases, such as damping off, can kill the seedlings. Damping off occurs when the soil within which the plants are grown is too wet.
When damping off occurs, the stems of the seedlings will collapse; additionally, mold will grow on the surface of the soil. Yellow leaves indicate that the seedlings are suffering from root rot; root rot occur beneath the soil. To prevent fungal diseases in the seedlings, an individual can space the plants apart to allow for air flow around the plants.
Additionally, watering the plants from below can prevent fungal disease. In order to successfully grow the desired plants, an individual can follow some specific habit. For instance, the individual can label the trays in which the seedlings are growing with images that are depicted on the seed packets.
Additionally, using a magnifying tool to examine the true leaves can help the individual to recognize the texture of the plants hair; different plant families have different types of hairs on their true leaves. Finally, by tracking how fast the different seedlings grow, an individual will find it easy to identify which plants are which.