Explorers develop soilless media to plant cucumber seeds
As part of their project for the term, Explorers in Nsawam and Pokuase have developed soilless media to plant cucumber seeds.
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In principle the soilless medium is a substance that is part of an artificial system of cultivation in which plants are grown without soil. The medium provides plants with physical support, regulates the water flow, serves as a storage of nutrients and permits gas exchange to and from the roots.
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Sounds interesting right? Here are steps you can follow to create your own soilless medium at home.
Materials: Hand gloves, coconut coir (fibrous husk), sawdust, dried plantain bark, cucumber seeds, water, measuring rule and empty containers.
Steps
- Half-fill a container with coconut coir, sawdust and dried plantain bark.
- Soak enough water in the set up and allow it to settle overnight.
- Plant the cucumber seeds (a maximum of ten seeds) in the set-up.
- Keep the setup in a cool, dry and dark condition.
- Collect data on the number of seed germinations on Day 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 of planting, height of germinating seedlings and number of growing roots.
- Record your observations every day and add water when necessary to the setup.