How to Make a Vegetable Nursery Bed

By Mulopi Joseph, chairperson CELAC Mayuge farmers’ network

A nursery bed is a specially prepared portion of land put aside for raising seedlings. It acts as a temporary home for young plants until they are eventually planted in a permanent garden.
Seeds which need extra care should be grown in a nursery. Also, it is less costly to sprout your own plants especially vegetables ed to make a nursery bed

Fork :For removing any unwanted materials from the garden
Hoe:used for tilling and removal of weeds
Spade:for carrying soil,weeds a
Rake:Used to remove any unwanted rubbish
Water can:For watering the plants
String and sticks:For measuring to ensure proper spacing

Site selection
The nursery should:

Be located near the planting site so as the transplants are taken to the main garden without any damages that may be involved where distances are long.

Be located Near a water source because irrigation may be necessary

Be protected from strong wind

Not be located on a slope unless it is terraced since this may lead to erosion of not only the necessary top soil but the plants as well.

Face where sun comes from as crops need some sunlight for better growth

Not to be located in a water logged area

Establishment preparation

Clear all the weeds and grass

Measure one meter wide of any convenience length

Dig it well

Fertilize each three meters square with one wheelbarrow of compost and sand to make a seven cm layer

Water the bed

Planting seeds

Plant your seeds in rows

The lines must face where the sun raises from

Make the lines at a spacing of 15 cm apart

Use a string to make straight lines

The line must be 2 cm deep

The size of the seed is the size of soil you put or cover the seed with

Mulch the bed with dry grass, then water it using a watering can with a nozzle on it

Germination

The seeds will start germinating after 5 – 7 days

Remove the grass and then put a shade over the bed

The bed is 1 m high, cover it with grass but let some sun light go through

Watering

Water the bed whenever it is necessary

Avoid over watering the nursery bed for it can cause stress and compaction

Results of water stress

Slows down photosynthesis

Wilting

Prevents adequate transport of nutrients

Results of over watering

Compaction and suffocation

Creates an environment of damping off diseases

Also prevents transportation of nutrients

Leaching of nutrients from the soil

Diseases caused by fungus

Seed decay before germination

Seedling rot

Stem rot at the base

Maintenance

Mulch the seed bed

Provide enough shade to the crop

In case of no or limited rain, provide water at dawn and dusk

Thin the crops properly

Remove weak seedlings and plant them in another bed

Trans-planting
Seedlings will be ready for trans-planting within 21 –30 days. So remove the shade a day before trans-planting as this gives the seedling chance to get used to the strong sun-shine. This term is referred to as hardening.Reduce water at this stage

Trans-plant early in the morning or late in the evening (from 6 – 10 am or 4 – 6pm)

Spacing will depend on the type and variety of the vegetable that has been planted

Water the plants as soon as trans-planting is done if planting has not been done during a rain season.

Protect young crops from animals like pigs by placing dry thorn tree branches around the garden.