4 phase protocol

The 4 stages of propagation in Grodan stone wool

Grodan stone wool is an excellent medium for propagating young plants, with superior water retention and aeration. Understanding and applying the four key phases in Propagating in stone wool lays the foundation for a great grower's harvest.

Click on the links below to go through the 4 phases in detail:

Phase 1: Seeding

The start of growing tomatoes, sweet peppers and aubergines starts with sowing in plugs. Both tomatoes and aubergines also require rootstock, as these crops are almost 100% inoculated. This advice tells you how to make optimal use of Grodan plugs in this process.

Phase 2: Transplanting seedlings and grafted plants

Once the overall process of sowing (germination, grafting) is over, the plants are transplanted into the block. This block gives the plants more volume to continue growing undisturbed. The start for this phase is given with initial wetting/saturation of the blocks with water and fertilisers. The method is explained for a wetting line, but the principle also applies if other systems such as a ‘wetting cart’ or ‘ebb flow in combination with the hose’ are used.

Phase 3: Steering the crop based on water content during the final propagation phase.

Now the plants are firmly rooted in the blocks and spaced at the final planting density, the last propagation phase begins at the propagators. This phase differs for each batch of plants, type of crop and the customer’s requirements. The route to producing a quality end product for the customer is determined by the growing strategy and initial block selection. During this phase, the irrigation strategy is essential to ensuring the desired end product.

Phase 4: Delivery

In the last week that the plants are in the nursery, they grow faster and faster. The leaf surface increases considerably, creating a favorable microclimate. The growing conditions improve and the moment to deliver the plants comes closer and closer.