RUDN University scientists learned to harden off plants for better growth and reproduction

Artificially grown plants after putting into soil rapidly stop growing. They are very small, feeble, unable to reach water with their roots. Weeds shade and oppress them quickly. It did not work.

Sergey Kornatsky devoted his life to struggle with  this challenge and he did find the way out. Growth stops due to natural mechanisms. About 80% of growth happens in the first 6 weeks: in mid May – June.

The scientist understood that to continue growing plants should go through a so called cold period, which can be artificial i.e. in a fridge. 

The experiments proved the hypothesis. “I put these plants into the fridge for 2-2,5 months – said Sergey Kornatsky. – After this I plant it again and they start growing together. I use the fridge 3 times a year, I give 3 growth cycles. 6 weeks growth – 2,5 months of rest. This allows to get plants 80-90 cm tall, starting from tiny 2-3 cm. 

There is another important issue – plant health. Plants are sometimes sick, they are attacked by viruses and this causes harvest 2-3 times less than usual, which harms plant production. Getting rid of viruses takes hard work and if micro cloning works it will be very good for healthy plants reproduction.