Nursery Practices SS1 Horticulture and Crop Production Lesson Note

What is a Nursery?

Before we talk about seeds, we must understand the Nursery. Think of a nursery as a “Crèche” or a “Daycare” for plants.

Most horticultural crops (like Tomatoes, Peppers, and Onions) are very delicate when they are young. If you plant them directly in the big farm, the hot sun, heavy rain, or insects might kill them.

Why do we use a Nursery?

• Protection: To keep baby plants safe from harsh weather.
• Selection: So we can pick only the strongest plants to move to the field.
• Space: We can grow thousands of plants in a very small area before they need more room.

Seed Selection (Choosing the Best)

You cannot get a good harvest from a bad seed. Seed Selection is the process of picking the highest quality seeds for planting.

How to identify a “Good” Seed:

1. True to Type: It should look exactly like what it is (e.g., a tomato seed shouldn’t look like a bean).
2. Cleanliness: No stones, sand, or broken pieces.
3. No Holes: Holes usually mean an insect (like a weevil) has eaten the “heart” of the seed.
4. Weight: Good seeds are usually heavy. Light seeds often float in water and won’t grow.

The Water Test:

Put your seeds in a bowl of water.

• The Sinkers: These are healthy and full of life. Use these!
• The Floaters: These are empty or damaged. Throw them away.

Germination (The Miracle of Growth)

Germination is simply when a seed “wakes up” and starts to grow into a seedling.

What do seeds need to wake up?

• Water: To soften the hard outer shell of the seed.
• Air (Oxygen): Believe it or not, seeds need to breathe!
• Warmth: Not too hot, not too cold.

Types of Germination:

1. Epigeal: The seed leaves (cotyledons) come above the ground (Example: Beans).
2. Hypogeal: The seed stays below the ground while the shoot goes up (Example: Maize).

Caring for the “Babies” (Nursery Management)

While the plants are in the nursery, they need daily attention. This is called Nursery Management.

• Watering: Do this early in the morning or late in the evening. Never water in the afternoon sun, or you might “cook” the plants!
• Shading: Use palm fronds or a net to block the direct heat of the sun.
• Weeding: Remove any “stranger” plants that are stealing the food and water from your seedlings.
• Thinning: If the seedlings are too crowded, pull out the weak ones so the strong ones have space to breathe.

Transplanting (Moving to the Permanent Home)

Transplanting is moving the seedling from the nursery bed to its permanent place in the garden or farm.

When is the best time?

The best time to transplant is in the evening or on a cloudy day. This prevents the plant from losing too much water and “fainting” (wilting).

Steps for successful transplanting:

1. Water the nursery bed: This makes the soil soft so the roots don’t break when you pull them.
2. Dig a small hole: Use your hand trowel in the main garden.
3. Lift with care: Keep some “mother soil” around the roots.
4. Firm the soil: Press the soil gently around the plant in its new home.
5. Water immediately: Give it a “welcome drink” in its new spot.

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