Growing Media

Module 3:
Growing seedlings
Growing media
 “Growing media for vegetable seedlings or field transplants in
greenhouses contain a variety of soilless ingredients such as peat
moss, vermiculite, perlite, shredded coconut husks (coir dust), or
composted materials plus starter nutrients and a wetting agent.
 Field soils are generally unsatisfactory for the production of
plants in containers because soils do not provide the aeration,
drainage and water holding capacity required. They also need to
be sterilized to prevent the development of diseases and
germination of weed seeds”.
• “Growing media are designed to achieve high porosity
and water retention while providing adequate aeration.
• The growing media can be prepared by thoroughly
mixing the following components:
For loam soil
1 part loam soil
1 part manure or decomposed manure
1 part decomposed rice hull
For clay soil
• 1 part clay soil
• 2 parts compost or manure
• 1 part decomposed rice hull/sieved sand
The Training Regulations in Horticulture states that the
growing media for vegetable production consists of:
• 1 part compost
• 1 part sieved sand
• 1 part garden soil
• 1 part rice hull/sawdust
Soil Sterilization
• Soil sterilization should be done prior to use. According to Bautista
and Mabesa (1977), the soil mix should be sterilized before use to kill
weed seeds, insects, and numerous soil pathogens.
• Soil sterilization can be accomplished by using heat or chemicals. Heat
will kill any pathogen in the soil while chemicals may be specific or
non-specific. Non-specific chemicals will kill all organisms in the soil;
while specific chemicals will kill only certain pathogens.
There are traditional and new practices in soil
sterilization such as:
• 1. Burning organic materials on the soil. This is a
traditional way of soil sterilization where local farmers
follow. This is done by burning organic materials above
the soil. A common method of soil sterilization is
heating up the soil. The high temperature will cause
the death of many micro-organisms, including
pathogens on the top of the soil and insect pests with
soil-dwelling stages such as cut worms.
• 2. Pouring boiling water on to the soil.
This method of soil sterilization is commonly done by pouring boiling
water (100oC) on the soil to kill whatever pathogens are present in the
soil then allowing the soil to cool prior to use.
• 3. Solarization
Solarization as a method of soil sterilization uses the sun to heat the
soil. Solarization can control soil borne diseases, weed seeds, and some
nematodes including root-knot nematodes. To solarize soil, the soil is
covered with clear polyethylene or plastic sheets. The best time is
during the hot season, where there is plenty of sun.
4. Bio-fumigation
Soil borne pests and pathogens can be suppressed by chemical
compounds that are released during decomposition of certain crops.
This is called bio-fumigation. The chemical compounds that kill or
suppress pathogens are principally isothiocyanates. Those crops with
bio-fumigation potentials are used as rotation crop, a companion or a
green manure crop.
• 5. Chemical treatment
Treat the soil with chemicals like Formaldehyde, 1
tablespoon per 1 gallon of water. However, the
use of chemicals is not environment-friendly
because chemicals may kill not only destructive
micro-organisms, but also the beneficial ones and
can be hazardous to one’s health when inhaled.
Sowing seeds
• States that sowing is the most important
operation in crop production. The seed must be
placed at a required depth in moist soil so as to
get the optimum condition for their germination.
1. If you grow your vegetable seedlings what preparations should you
do?
2. Below is a chart. In boxes 1, 2, 3, and 4 give the components of the
growing media that you know and describe each.
How to Grow Seedlings
To grow seedlings requires patience and extra care. Vegetable seeds vary in
sizes. Generally speaking, small size vegetable seeds are the seeds to be
sown because they are delicate ones.
Agricultural Ventures Series 1(2011),
claims that because some vegetable seeds are so small the seeds can be
easily carried away by water and even insects like ants. Thus,
 it is advisable to raise seedlings in beds before transplanting them to the
field.
 Raising seedlings in trays requires less seeds, promotes uniform growth of
superior seedlings, minimizes transplanting shock, and lowers seedlings’
mortality.
It also saves on labor for thinning, weeding, watering, and managing pests.
Seeds could be sown using the following
materials:
• Seed trays
• Seed boxes
• Seed beds
• Individual plastic bags
• Used plastic cups/tin cans
Steps in Sowing Seeds in Seed Boxes and Seed
Beds
• 1. Moisten the soil media.

• 2. Sow the seeds in rows or broadcast evenly and thinly. Broadcasting is spreading seeds
evenly on to the ground and covering the seeds subsequently with thin layer of soil. This
method of sowing is less satisfactory than sowing the seeds in rows a few centimeters
apart unless pricking is to be done. Broadcasting of seeds, however, is not advisable
because of the following reasons:
•  The air circulation between the plants is not sufficient.
•  Seedlings dry less quickly, and such a condition is favorable for the growth of fungi.
•  Weeds are harder to control.
•  It is hard to produce stocky seedlings because the seeds are not properly covered with
soil.
• 3. Cover the seeds with thin layer of fine soil sufficient enough to
• cover the seeds.
• 4. Press down firmly the whole surface of the seed box or seed bed
with a flat board to ensure a compact surface.
• 5. Water the seed beds/seed boxes using a sprinkler with fine holes
or water hose with fine spray.
• 6. Protect the seeds sown in seed beds from ants by spraying
insecticides which drive away ants. In the case of seed boxes, let the
legs of the seed boxes stand in cans filled with water and a little
petroleum to prevent the ants from reaching the seed boxes.
• 7. Seed boxes should be placed under the shade and should be
provided with temporary shelter.
• 8. Regulate watering. Too much or too little of it may prevent
germination.
Each group has to gather its own growing media, mix thoroughly,
and sterilize the soil ready for sowing.
• Group 1 - Prepare a 1m x 1m seed plot to grow your

eggplant seedlings.
• Group 2 – Prepare a seed box measuring 1.0m x 0.5m x
0.2m for use in sowing seeds of selected leafy vegetables
such as pechay, mustard, lettuce, and the like.
• Group 3 – Prepare 2 seed trays with 100 holes for your
tomato seeds.
• Group 4 – Collect 100 pieces of used plastic cups from the
canteen for you to grow pepper seedlings.
• Your performance will be rated according to the rubric below.

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Module 3:

• 1. Moisten the soil media.

• Group 1 - Prepare a 1m x 1m seed plot to grow your

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