esikasvatus
Esikasvatus is the production of young plants in a controlled environment, typically a greenhouse or climate-controlled room, with the aim of providing transplant-ready seedlings or plugs for field crops, gardens, or nursery stock. It covers stages from sowing or rooting to early vegetative growth and hardening off before sale or transplantation.
In practice, esikasvatus includes seeding or taking cuttings, germination or rooting under controlled temperatures and humidity,
A key step is hardening off, where environmental conditions are gradually adjusted to mimic outdoor or final
Challenges include energy costs and environmental control, especially in northern climates; botrytis and other diseases can