How to grow beautiful tomato seedlings. How to grow healthy tomato seedlings. How to dive home seedlings
Growing tomato seedlings allows you to get a good, early harvest. But only high-quality seedlings can provide the gardener with the rapid growth of the plant and the ripening of fruits. How to grow tomato seedlings at home, and what you need to consider, will be described in detail below in the article.
Why do tomato seedlings?
Why make tomato seedlings if you can sow seeds directly into open ground and not think about how to grow tomato seedlings at home. Yes, sowing in open ground is very popular in southern, hot cities and countries. But residents of server and middle regions should grow seedlings and there are many reasons for this.
- Such plants will be less susceptible to diseases and pests.
- Seedlings allow you to get a faster harvest.
- A plant grown through seedlings perceives weather conditions and temperature changes more calmly than what originally grew in the open field or even in a greenhouse.
- It becomes possible to grow almost any variety of tomatoes from early to late, from local to foreign, which rarely take root in a different climate.
When to sow seeds for seedlings?
Check also these articles
How to grow tomato seedlings? This is a question that interests many gardeners, but before moving on to technology, you need to find out when to plant crops at all. The fact is that very often gardeners make seedlings incorrectly and at the wrong time, and this only leads to negative results.
About 55-65 days before planting seedlings in open ground, seeds should be sown. This time is enough for development in room conditions. It will take about 5-10 days for germination, and the rest of the time, the culture will be able to gain enough strength. However, it is sometimes difficult to determine the planting date due to the climate. And here a simple scheme will help.
- In the southern regions, seedlings are made from mid-February to mid-March.
- In medium-sized regions, seeds can be sown from mid-March to April 1.
- In server cities, you should start preparing seedlings from April 1 to April 15.
How to treat seeds before planting?
In order for the seeds to germinate quickly, you need to sort them out before sowing, remove all empty, damaged ones. Then processing is carried out. First, they are dipped in a solution of potassium permanganate (4 g / liter of water) for 20 minutes, then they are taken out, washed and dried. Such processing will allow you not to wonder how to grow tomato seedlings at home healthy and resistant to pests and diseases.
After the seeds have been disinfected, they need to be germinated. To do this, they are laid out on a cotton cloth or napkin, wrapped, watered and placed in a plastic bag. Now it remains to put it in a warm place and open it 2-3 times a day for ventilation. After 2-3 days, you can observe the sprouts that have emerged from the seeds. Such seeds are quite suitable for sowing seedlings.
What kind of soil do tomato seedlings need?
Before you grow tomato seedlings, you need to decide what kind of soil to use for this, because it is the earth that plays a key role in the growth and development of any plant. The earth should be nutritious, loose, drained, with a pH level in the range of 5.5-6.0. You can make this mixture yourself or buy it in the store.
- For 1 part of black soil, 2 parts of humus are taken, mixed and used for their intended purpose.
- The second option: take one part of sand, earth for seedlings and black soil and mix well.
- The third type of land is 3 parts peat and 1 part sand. The earth turns out to be very light, and nutritious - ideal for tomatoes.
There are many other options, but it takes practice to determine which option is best for each individual case, as even fertilizers and types of potting mixes may not always be available.
As for the container, you can take any convenient one, the main thing is to wash it and disinfect it with a manganese solution to get rid of possible pests.
Seeding technology
So, how to grow tomato seedlings at home? To do this, you need to properly plant the seeds and provide them with optimal conditions for germination.
Drainage (crushed shell, crushed stone, or the like) is laid out at the bottom of the tank by no more than 0.5 cm. A mixture of earth is poured on top and watered. After 1-2 hours, it will be well saturated with moisture and you can start sowing.
Small holes are made with a match or a toothpick, 0.5-1 cm deep, and 1 seed is placed in each. Rows should be spaced 3-4 cm apart, and between individual holes, 2 cm of free space should be observed for the growth and development of tomatoes. After laying the seeds, the pits are crushed, the ground is pressed a little, covered with a film and placed in a warm place. To germinate seeds in the room must be at least +23 degrees day and night.
How to care for tomato seedlings?
Knowing how to grow tomato seedlings, you can simplify the annual cultivation of crops and save money on buying seedlings. Above it was considered how to prepare the land, seeds, how to sow a tomato for seedlings. It remains only to deal with the care of seedlings until they are planted in open ground or a greenhouse.
When sprouts appear, the film is removed and the seedlings are placed in a bright place. Watering is carried out as needed, but waterlogging should not be allowed, otherwise a black leg may develop. Water is needed at room temperature, settled or rain.
After about a week, when the sprouts begin to stretch, the temperature in the room is lowered to + 17 ... + 19 degrees. This is necessary so that the tomatoes do not stretch too much, and the stems do not begin to fall. At the same time, you can dive seedlings into separate, peat cups, where they will grow until their last transplant is already in a permanent place. The land for this is taken the same as before for seedlings. The sprouts are carefully removed and planted in cups one at a time.
Tomatoes need a lot of light, since it is almost impossible to grow tomato seedlings in the shade, so you need to find the sunniest place for them or arrange additional lighting. But, in addition, the sprouts need moisture. To ensure optimal humidity, they are sprayed 2 times a day.
About 1 week before planting in open ground, you need to start hardening off the plants. To do this, the window does not close at night, and during the day the seedlings are transferred to the summer kitchen, to the street or to the windowsill. This will increase the resistance of sprouts to an aggressive environment.
When signs of diseases or pests appear, it is worth using specialized tools (Trichodermin, Aktofit, Aktara, Fitoverm, etc.) to process seedlings. Only the concentration should be weak (usually 2 times lower than normal, this is indicated on the packaging) so as not to harm the plants even more.
VIDEO - 5 main mistakes when growing tomato seedlings
Growing with seedlings provides much better survival and yield than planting seeds immediately in open ground, which is confirmed by many years of experience. However, this process has a number of features and subtleties that should be discussed in more detail. In this article you will find all the information you need about how to grow it, when to start this process and how to take care of it in the future.
When to start?
Growing tomato seedlings at home should be started no earlier than 50-60 days before the expected date.
It must be remembered that it usually takes about 7-10 days for tomatoes to give the first shoots, so on average it is worth keeping the seedlings at home after the first shoots appear for 40-55 days.
The correct determination of the sowing time is extremely important for the successful growth of the bush and its abundant fruiting. This period varies depending on the weather conditions prevailing in the places where you live, and looks like this on average:
- south of Russia and Ukraine: seedlings are sown from February 20th to mid-March.
- center of Russia: the best time is from mid-March to early April.
- northern Russia: from early to mid-April.
Young seedlings must be provided with sufficient moisture, for which it is recommended use humidifiers or sprayers. It is desirable to carry out processing daily, and in hot conditions - and twice a day.
top dressing
Tomato seedlings need the first 2-3 weeks after the first shoots appear. After that, the optimal schedule for top dressing will be weekly. Best suited for seedlings based on, for example, divorced and fermented or.
It is recommended to apply top dressing early in the morning or late in the evening, after the sun has set, and only after watering. For top dressing, you can also use purchased fertilizers, however, in this case, you need to use only half of the dose indicated on the package.
Additional lighting
Young seedlings, especially in the first time after germination, need a large amount of light, so immediately after they hatch from the ground, they must be placed on the most illuminated windowsill. However, if this happened in late February or early spring, natural lighting is still not enough for them.
It is recommended that in the first 2-3 days after the first shoots appear, place the seedlings in constant conditions, since, according to many gardeners, this stimulates germination and guarantees better yields. After that, you can switch to the usual 16-hour daylight hours provided by natural conditions.
picking
In the event that the seedlings were planted in a heap, the first is carried out after the appearance of the first true leaves, which usually occurs by the 10th day after sowing. Transplanting at this age can often be detrimental to plants, since the root system is still very delicate and easily damaged. Such a pick is made in cups of 200 ml.
Important! It is not worth it at the first transplant, despite the advice of many gardeners, to pinch the central root - this will help delay the development of seedlings for at least one week.
A few weeks later, the plants are transplanted a second time, this time in pots with a volume of about 1 liter. When transplanting, it is important to remember the delicate structure of the young root and be sure to produce it with a clod of earth from the first container.
Pinching
It is necessary to pinch the bush so that the stepchildren do not draw nutrients onto themselves and do not slow down the growth of the main stem. They are formed in the axils of young leaves and it is recommended to remove them before the stepchildren reach 5 cm in size, since only in this case the bush will painlessly endure their removal.
Popular mistakes of beginner gardeners
Among the most common mistakes that occur in inexperienced gardeners, the following should be highlighted:
- excessively plentiful or insufficient watering;
- non-compliance with the temperature or light regime of plants;
- initial unsuitability of the chosen variety for growing at home;
- too early sowing of seeds in pots;
- untimely picking;
- insufficient hardening or its complete absence;
- soil unsuitable or affected by harmful agents.
We hope that this article has helped you figure out for yourself how to plant tomatoes for seedlings. Remember that a properly maintained temperature, light and irrigation regime is 70% guaranteed success. Another 10% is timely hardening and proper transplantation. The remaining 20 are your care and warmth for future majestic plants.
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At first glance, growing tomato seedlings is a simple matter, but in practice everything is much more complicated. In the course of work, various kinds of problems often arise, with which it is not always clear how to cope. The fact is that tomatoes come from South America, which means that they are rather capricious plants that are demanding on external conditions, especially in our latitudes. If something is not to their liking, then they will not have to count on a rich harvest. But everything can be different if you get a hand in growing seedlings and work out your secrets.
Tomatoes have a long growing season. In some southern regions, their seeds can be immediately planted in the ground, where the climate and daylight allow it. But basically, preliminary forcing of seedlings is required, which begins as early as February-March. I am glad that the conditions of a city apartment are more or less enough for young tomatoes, except that there is not enough sunlight. But this disadvantage is easily compensated by artificial lighting. So, where does the cultivation of tomatoes begin, and what rules should be followed?
Varietal diversity: what to choose
Before you plant something, you need to decide what to plant. With the choice of a variety of tomatoes and a place for planting them, preparations for sowing work begin. Today, breeders have bred thousands of different forms of the product, among which the following can be distinguished into separate groups:
Hybrids are best grown in warm areas, where it is easier for them to provide suitable growth conditions. In addition, it is hybrid forms that, from an economic point of view, bring the greatest profit to summer residents. If the goal is to grow tomatoes from their own seeds or the climatic conditions are quite severe, preference is given to varietal forms.
If you turn to an experienced gardener for advice, he will definitely recommend planting zoned varieties adapted to local conditions. They will be less hassle when growing.
There is another significant factor influencing the choice - the place where the tomato is grown.
Whether it will be a greenhouse or open ground depends on the summer resident, so the following options are being considered here:
- Indeterminate varieties- the highest representatives, reaching 2.5 m or more. They grow slowly, constantly forming generative buds. Fruiting later, long. Require pinching and to supports, protected ground. Usually grown in greenhouses;
- Superdeterminant- dwarf (30-50 cm) early-ripening varieties and hybrids, the growth of which stops after the formation of 2-3 brushes. The fruits ripen together, new ovaries are not formed. There is no need for pinning. Grown for early harvest in greenhouses or in the open field;
- Determinate Tomatoes- Good for growing outdoors. They reach a height of 1 m, forming 3-6 flower brushes every 2 leaves, starting from the fifth. Harvest ripens early and amicably. Requires tying;
- Semi-determinant varieties and hybrids- late-ripening tomatoes up to 2 m high, forming from 9 to 12 flower brushes. Require pinching and tying. Shrub congestion is often noted when fruiting occurs at the expense of roots and leaves. Grown in a greenhouse, in the south - in the open field;
- Standard tomatoes- undersized early ripening varieties with a thick, strong stem. Such tomatoes are unpretentious, they control their own growth, forming a compact shrub 40-60 cm tall. They have an underdeveloped root system, and therefore they can be grown denser to each other.
Special mention deserves tomatoes adapted to growth in containers. These are super determinant varieties that can be grown on a balcony or loggia. For this, often, self-pollinating varieties or varieties that do not require pollination in principle are chosen. Fruit ripening times vary.
Thus, low and medium-sized tomatoes are more suitable for open ground. And it is better to choose ultra-early and early tomatoes, which are more likely to give a bountiful harvest in a cool climate. In the south, late-ripening representatives can also be planted; their crops are harvested in August-September. Accordingly, hybrids and tall tomatoes are grown in the greenhouse, and here you can already choose varieties regardless of the time of fruiting. Do not forget about the taste of tomatoes and the purpose for which they are grown.
Where do you grow tomatoes?
in the greenhousein OG
Optimal timing for forcing seedlings
Typically, seed producers indicate on the packaging the optimal time for sowing. But every gardener should be able to calculate it on his own, especially if his own, manually collected seeds are used. The timing of sowing depends on the precocity of the variety and on where the grown seedlings will be planted - in a greenhouse or in a garden.
The calculation is based on the duration of the growing season:
- For ultra-early varieties - 65-75 days;
- For early ripening - 75-90 days;
- For mid-early - 90-105 days;
- For mid-season - 110-120 days;
- For late-ripening - 120-140 days.
Having determined the approximate date of receipt of the crop of the selected variety, subtract from it the growing season and 5-10 days allotted for emergence and adaptation of seedlings. Thus, the optimal time for sowing tomato seeds is obtained:
The terms of planting seeds given in the table are indicated taking into account the further transplantation of seedlings into open ground. If you plan to grow tomatoes in a greenhouse, the seeds are planted 10-14 days earlier.
The lunar calendar advises above-ground plants to be planted on a growing moon, then their shoots will grow faster, and the fruits will tie up and take shape well. The most fertile zodiac signs are Taurus, Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces. If the growing moon falls on these signs, the shoots will be strong and strong.
In 2018, favorable days for forcing seedlings will be:
- February: 6-7, 21-22, 25-26;
- March: 20-21, 24-25;
- April: 17-18, 20-22; 27-29.
Sowing work is not recommended on the days of the New Moon, Full Moon and Solar Eclipse. If the phase of the moon does not coincide with the favorable sign of the zodiac, then the work is carried out in accordance with the sign, but they try to do it by the end of the unfavorable period.
Conditions for growing healthy seedlings
Tomatoes are very demanding on the external environment, especially light and heat in the early stages of growth. But if there are no problems with heat in a city apartment, then with lighting, everything is somewhat more complicated. It is this factor that is key when growing seedlings. What conditions need to be provided for tomatoes to grow strong and healthy?
Air temperature
Seeds planted in the ground germinate at a temperature of at least 10-15°C, but 23-26°C is more favorable. If the air is warmed below 10 °, there will be no shoots. After the seeds hatch and the first two true leaves appear, the daytime temperature can be reduced to 20-22°C, and the night temperature to 16-18°C. This mode will contribute well to the development of seedlings. If the temperature is reduced to 13-15 ° C, the seedlings will begin to act up.
soil temperature
Optimally, if the soil is warmed up to 20-25 ° C. At t≤14°С, the life processes of the plant stop, the growth and development of seedlings stops. At t≥25°С, seedlings develop more intensively, but in the future this will affect the quality of the crop. Hybrid varieties of tomatoes require a temperature 1-2°C higher than the culture as a whole.
Daylight hours
As soon as the first leaves shed their seeds, the plantings are provided with additional lighting. In general, daylight hours for seedlings should be 12-15 hours, and even those plantings that are located on the southern windows illuminate.
In winter, the lamps turn on at 6-7 in the morning and turn off around 8-9 in the evening. If the day is clear, then during the hours of the most intense sun, the lamps can be turned off.
The lack of additional illumination will lead to the fact that the seedlings will begin to "starve". From the lack of light, the seedlings will strenuously stretch upward, their stems will become longer and thinner, and the internodes will stretch. Slow photosynthesis is the cause of weakness and soreness of seedlings.
There is no need to provide seedlings with round-the-clock lighting. Plants should rest at least 5 hours a day, since it is at this time that the substances accumulated during the day are processed. If the tomatoes do not arrange a "night sleep", over time, a nutrient deficiency will affect their condition.
Lighting quality
In addition to the length of daylight hours, tomatoes need to provide a sufficient amount of light. Tomato seedlings require 20 thousand lux or more for normal development, which can only be provided with artificial lighting. 
Moreover, the light should fall at a right angle, as tomatoes love it. Naturally, plants receive only 3-5 thousand lux on the window.
For lighting, they take lamps with a power of up to 400 W, which are suspended above the seedlings at a height of up to half a meter, depending on the type of lamp. The main thing is that the tomatoes do not “burn” under them, while receiving a sufficient amount of light. As a light source, you can use fluorescent and LED lamps, high-pressure mirror lamps. It is better if these are lamps of 830-840 spectrum and higher, since the quality of light directly affects the process of seedling growth.
Humidity of air and soil
With regard to air humidity, there are no problems in the apartment for young tomatoes - 55-65% is enough for them, which are supported naturally. If, as a result of intensive heating, the air 
dries out, a humidifier or regular irrigation of seedlings from a spray bottle will come to the rescue. At high humidity and air temperature, there is a risk of developing fungal diseases, so ventilation is recommended.
At the time of planting seeds and in the early stages of growth, while the roots are superficial, increased soil moisture is necessary. Otherwise, the seedlings will dry out and die. But for grown seedlings, moderately moist soils are favorable. Their root system is pivotal, deep, and therefore abundant watering is not required. Watered in the morning, before the heat, so that the sun does not dry out the soil during the day. Evening watering is undesirable, as the temperature at night can drop significantly. In combination with moist soil, this can be a serious test for seedlings.
soil fertility
The tomato is unpretentious to the quality of the soil. It can grow equally well on both sandy and loamy soils, as well as on not too heavy clay soils. The main thing is that the soil is breathable, drained, rich in organic matter. Organics are introduced into the soil for seedlings in advance, at least six months before sowing. From mineral fertilizers, phosphorus and potassium are mainly required. But at the stage of intensive growth, it is important not to overfeed the seedlings, otherwise it will grow too rapidly, and this will further affect the yield. The acidity of the soil should be approximately neutral.
Forcing tomato seedlings: procedure
To make your work easier, tomato seedlings can be bought on the market. But there is no guarantee that it will be a quality material, not to mention the fact that the grown variety may not correspond to the declared one. It is better to grow tomatoes yourself from the very beginning and, if possible, collect seeds for the next harvest. Then your favorite varieties will delight from year to year. How to grow tomato seedlings in your apartment, and what may be required for this?
Soil preparation
The main condition for the growth of any seedlings is a healthy soil. If you plan to grow no more than a couple of dozen bushes, then you can buy ready-made soil. But in other cases, this is impractical, since it will require 
significant cash costs.
Soil is prepared. In the fall, they take the basis - the earth from the garden, greenhouse or the nearest forest, and leave it to winter on the street. During frosts, some of the pathogenic microbes will die. By spring, river sand, compost, ash are added to the thawed soil and mixed. The constituent components should be approximately in equal proportions, but not necessarily. You can, for example, put a little more sand or, if available, peat. The main thing is that the soil is nutritious.
When the soil is ready, it is disinfected in one of the following ways:
- Warm up at high temperatures in the oven. Particularly resourceful gardeners adapt a double boiler and microwave oven for this purpose. The procedure takes about 1 hour;
The calcination of the earth leads to the destruction of all soil microbes, including useful ones. Therefore, such a procedure should be carried out 2-3 weeks before sowing, so that beneficial bacteria have time to multiply and the soil becomes “alive”.
- Poured with boiling water, but the soil must be placed in a container with holes in the bottom to let excess water out;
- Watered with a solution of potassium permanganate.
In the last two cases, the soil will be ready for sowing in 10-12 days.
Seed treatment and soaking
Seeds purchased in factory packages, including hybrids, have already been processed by the manufacturer, so nothing is required from the summer resident in this regard - just plant them in prepared soil. But if the seeds were collected on their own or taken "from a neighbor", then pre-treatment is indispensable. Prepare the seeds for planting in the following order:
| Sorting |
|
| disinfection | It is impossible to plant untreated seeds, as there is a risk of introducing pathogenic microbes into the soil, which can cause seedlings to get sick in the future. For disinfection, you can use:
|
| Soak | They take a Petri dish or other similar container and cover the bottom with wet cotton pads or a cloth. Spread the seeds on top and cover with a lid, but not completely airtight. If there is no lid, you can wrap the container in cellophane. Make sure that the seeds are kept in a humid environment at all times. |
| Stratification | In other words, hardening. As soon as the first hatched seeds are found, they are placed in the refrigerator for 12 hours. Then take out and leave for 12 hours at room temperature. This is done 3-4 times, making sure that the seeds do not dry out. After hardening, tomatoes can be sown. |
An optional condition for preparing a tomato is feeding their seeds in nutrient solutions to stimulate growth. Although, by and large, the seeds will germinate without them. But disinfection and hardening must be carried out. The yield of the product depends on this.
Sowing seeds
Any convenient container can be adapted for sowing - a wooden box, peat or plastic cups, plastic containers, cut cardboard bags from juice or milk. Drainage holes must be made in them to drain excess water. Also, when choosing containers, it is taken into account that soil 5-7 cm high will be poured into them. If a common box is used, it should be divided into sections in advance for 
various varieties.
So, the seeding order is as follows:
- The container is filled with soil, level it;
- Make grooves with a depth of 0.5-1 cm in increments of 3-4 cm. Instead of grooves, there can be holes of the same depth at a distance of 2 cm from each other;
- Seeds are laid out in the grooves every 2-3 cm, 2-3 seeds are placed in the holes (the less often the seeds are sown, the longer they can be kept in the original container). Seeds are sprinkled with soil;
You can sow without grooves, simply spreading the seeds over the surface of the leveled soil and gently sprinkling 1 cm of earth without tamping.
- Plantings are irrigated from a spray bottle until well moistened and covered with a film or glass until pecking;
- The container is left near the battery or in another warm, bright place, making sure that the earth does not dry out.
If mold has formed in the container (due to waterlogging), slightly lift the film for ventilation. The mold is carefully removed, and the soil area is watered with Fitosporin or Fundazol.
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In our country, tomatoes are the most popular crop. These fruits are tasty, nutritious, fortified and indispensable for cooking many dishes. So how do apartment conditions differ from an ordinary greenhouse? Why is it more difficult to grow in the first case, and what should be taken into account? Wouldn't homemade tomato seedlings be worse than those that can be purchased on the market? Rather, the opposite is true. You will be surprised how healthy and strong such seedlings turn out, and how environmentally friendly and tasty the harvest will be. Ready to figure it all out and master a new skill?
Choosing seeds and preparing the substrate
So, planting tomatoes for seedlings begins with the selection of seeds. Foreign brands always seem to us better in some way - but this does not always really apply to planting material. The fact is that the seeds are prepared specifically for certain regions, with their climate and traditional growing technology. Specifically, for home cultivation, it is better to take such varieties today as Ilyinichny, Russian Garden, SeDeka. Buy seeds in stores so-called "zoned". Plant 4-5 varieties at once - you will immediately see which are the best, which are not.
You do not need to pickle these seeds - they are already pickled. But if you have collected material from your own garden, be sure to process it in a dark pink solution of potassium permanganate - about half an hour. For convenience, wrap in cotton pads. After that, wash well before sowing - in several waters.
As for soaking seeds before planting, two points can be noted here: unprepared seeds can produce 70% less seedlings than germinated ones, but, on the other hand, many believe that if dry seeds cannot germinate in the ground themselves - viability and productivity a certain variety is questionable.
But the seedlings are not particularly demanding on the soil - they tolerate the dryness of the earth and air well, do not die without fertilizers and can easily grow even in acidic soil. That is why it is not at all difficult to grow it in an apartment - dry air is only good. Therefore, if you are planning to grow at home, then prepare the substrate yourself (earth + loam + humus + compost) or buy peat soil. In any case, the earth will have to be steamed, wherever you take it. The fact is that home seedlings are an ideal place for the development of fungi, even completely harmless ones in a greenhouse or garden. And never take land from flower beds or a vegetable garden - nothing sensible will grow here. Take sod land from a site where perennial grasses have been growing for at least 5 years, and take humus at the age of three.
So, when to plant tomato seedlings for open ground and for a greenhouse? It all depends on the variety and on what conditions you can provide for it: will the greenhouse be heated, or will you make warm beds in the open air. In any case, already in the second half of March, you can plant it in protected soil.
We process and germinate seeds
But before planting seeds begins, soak them in a special solution. Add one of the following per liter of water:
- 1 teaspoon wood ash
- 1 teaspoon nitrophoska
- 2 grams "Bud"
- 1 teaspoon "Effekton"
- 1 ml of the drug "Epin"
- 1 teaspoon Agricola vegeta fertilizer.
- 1 teaspoon "Drops".
Soak the seeds in cloth bags and for a whole day - so that the temperature of the solution is not below 20 ° C. Immediately after that, place the still wet bag in a plastic bag and put it in the refrigerator for another two days - this will harden the seeds well. Sow them chilled directly into the soil - shoots will be friendly and fast.
Popular mistakes of summer residents-beginners
So, at home, you need to start growing seedlings a little later than in a greenhouse. The fact is that in an ordinary apartment or house it is always darker and hotter than in sheltered ground. Even on the windowsill, you can’t just grow it like that - it will “toil” if you sow it too early.
Large tomato seeds are conveniently sown with tweezers. Lay them one at a time on compacted soil, and attach a tag to each groove with the name of the variety. Sprinkle 1 cm of soil on top, water and cover the crops with foil. The optimum temperature for seedlings is + 20 ° С. As soon as you see shoots, transfer to the windowsill and remove the film.
When growing, the most important thing is to avoid common beginner mistakes:
- Varieties were chosen such that they are not resistant to stretching (they "turn their heads" at home).
- The temperature regime and humidity level were not observed to the end.
- The seeds were planted too early.
- Too abundant watering.
- The soil was of poor quality.
- Seedlings were not hardened at all when transplanted into a greenhouse or open ground.
And the most unfavorable conditions for growing are waterlogging of the soil, heat and low light. This can be indicated by such signs: thin elongated stems, fragile leaves and fallen buds.
It is especially convenient to grow seedlings in peat tablets - it turns out to be of high quality and she does not need a pick. Get those that are about 33-36 mm in diameter, and plant 2-4 seeds in each such. Weak sprouts then just pinch. When the sprouts have a lot of roots, transplant directly with a peat tablet into another container - about 0.5 liters. Further - everything is the same as with ordinary home cultivation, only picking is no longer needed.
How to dive home seedlings?
Do not feed seedlings before picking - just water. Dive in the phase of two leaves. When the time comes, transplant the tomatoes one at a time into your individual containers. Bury to cotyledon leaves. At the same time, add one tablespoon of Signor Tomato mineral fertilizers to the soil. After two weeks, feed the usual complex.
For everything to go well, prepare individual containers for young plants - plastic cups of 0.5 liters are better. If you take a smaller volume, you will have to dive twice. In general, the process itself can be done in two ways:
- We plant one plant at a time, and then we end up with good seedlings with a strong root system.
- We plant two plants in one pot, and as a result has two root systems. As soon as the seedlings reach 10-15 cm of growth, we tightly tie their stems with a nylon thread. As soon as they grow together (and they grow together), carefully pinch the top of the weaker one. The result is one bush with a powerful stem and a rich harvest. For tall varieties - what you need.
10-12 days before planting, be sure to harden the seedlings - at least by an elementary decrease in temperature from 18-20 ° C to 14-16 ° C. And 4-5 days before disembarkation, take it out into the open air for 2-3 hours, and on the last day - already for a day. The lower temperature affects the sprouts in such a way that their physiological properties even change, and the tomato becomes completely ready with completely different growing conditions.
When to plant tomatoes in the garden?
So, here we figured out how to properly grow tomato seedlings at home. But how to understand that she is already ready for planting? According to such physiological signs:
- Internodes are short.
- The stem is thick, and not more than 30 cm high.
- Each plant has 6-7 leaves.
- Flower brushes - one for mid- and late-ripening varieties, and one or two for early-ripening.
Growing seedlings on your windowsill, you know exactly what it is, how it was poisoned, what kind of variety and whether it is intended for a particular area. You know what to expect and even accurately calculate the future harvest and its quality. And this is a real entrepreneurial activity!
Tomatoes are the most common crop grown all over the world. The seedling method of reproduction allows you to accelerate fruiting. In addition, it allows you to grow tomatoes in almost any climatic conditions.
Growing tomato seedlings does not require special skills, but sometimes novice gardeners make mistakes, after which they abandon this venture. To grow strong seedlings, you need to know a few subtleties.
The main requirement for growing seedlings at home is good lighting in the room. The best place for a tomato is a window sill or loggia on the south side. In case of lack of natural light, special phytolamps are used.
Tomato seedlings need to ensure the correct temperature. The temperature during the day should be 18-25 degrees, at night - 13-16 degrees.
Young seedlings also need to be provided with the necessary amount of moisture. To do this, use a watering can without a nozzle, a spray bottle with warm water or an air humidifier. Watering is carried out once a week, spraying - daily.
Variety selection by region
Tomatoes can grow in many climatic zones, but most varieties are adapted to the characteristics of a certain area and in other conditions can simply die or give a poor harvest.
In accordance with the varietal characteristics, the planting time of the tomato is distributed by region.
- In the South of Russia, tomato seedlings are sown from February 20 to early April.
- In the Moscow region - from March 15 to April 10.
- In the Urals and Siberia - from 1 to 20 April.
Based on this, varieties are selected.
Varieties for the South
- bull heart- late-ripening determinant variety. The fruits ripen at 120-130 days after sowing. The bush reaches 1.5-1.9 meters in height. The fruits are red or pink, heart-shaped. Weight - 300-900 grams. The variety is popular throughout Russia.
- Yablonka Russia- late-ripening determinant variety. The height of the plant reaches a meter. Ripening period - 118-135 days. Fruits weighing 100 grams.
- Adeline- early high-yielding low-growing variety. Tomato ripening period - 80 days. The fruits are oval. The coloring is red. The weight of a tomato is 60-100 grams. The variety is resistant to heat, disease.
- Maestro is a productive heat-resistant variety. The fruits weigh 100 grams. The coloring is red. The disease resistance of the variety is high.
- Asterix- hybrid high-yielding variety. Cylindrical tomatoes. Weight - 85-100 grams. The taste is pleasant. The resistance of the variety to diseases and heat is high.
Also, in southern climatic conditions, you can grow such varieties and hybrids: Gazpacho, Babylon, Alcazar, Chelbas, Fantomas, Ramses, Portland, Verlioka plus and others.
Varieties for the Moscow region
- Abakan pink- large-fruited determinant grade of average term of maturing. Tomato ripening period - 109-120 days. Weight - 300-800 grams. The height of the plant in unprotected soil is 80 centimeters, in greenhouse conditions - 150 centimeters.
- Golden domes- determinant mid-season variety. The bush is tall, 0.9-1.5 meters high. Tomato ripening period is 100-115 days. Weight - 200-800 grams. The coloring is orange. The pulp is pleasant to the taste, fleshy, sweet.
- Eagle heart- large-fruited determinant variety of medium ripening. The weight of a tomato is 600-800 grams. The color is pinkish crimson. The pulp is tasty, sugary, sweet. In greenhouse conditions, the bush grows up to 1.7 meters, in unprotected ground - 1.5 meters.
- De Barao- late indeterminate variety. The ripening period of a tomato is 109-130 days from the date of planting. The height of the bush is 2 meters or more. The weight of a tomato is 100 grams. Cold-resistant, shade-tolerant and productive variety. It is grown in greenhouses, greenhouses and unprotected soil. The fruiting of the variety is stretched.
- eagle beak- semi-determinant mid-season variety. Tomato ripening period is 110-116 days. The height of the bush is 120-150 centimeters. Fruits weigh 200-800 grams. The pulp is sweetish in taste, dense, juicy.
- Cap of Monomakh- mid-early indeterminate variety. Fruiting occurs in 90-110 days. The weight of a tomato is 400-900 grams. The pulp is delicious.
- Iceberg- early cold-resistant high-yielding variety. The bush is not tall, up to 80 centimeters in height. The fruits are red. The weight of a tomato is 200 grams. The variety is resistant to cold, temperature changes.
Also here you can sow the following varieties: Snow Queen, Penguin, Upstart, Snowdrop, Moskvich, Die Hard, Lapwing, Crimson Giant, Big Brother, Spasskaya Tower and others.
In greenhouse conditions, the following are most often grown: Snowfall, Perseus, Teremok, Viscount, Parrot, Dolphin, Ivanhoe, Druzhok, Farmer, Sprinter, Etude, Overture, Sweet Bunch.
Varieties for the Urals and Siberia
- Ultraearly- early variety. The bush is low, up to 50 centimeters high. The weight of a tomato is 100 grams. Fruiting occurs 1.5 months after sowing. The variety is grown in open ground and greenhouse conditions.
- Demidov- undersized variety, the height of which reaches 50 centimeters. The weight of a tomato is 200 grams. The taste is pleasant, sweet.
- Koenigsberg- indeterminate mid-season variety. The height of the bush is 2 meters. Fruiting begins 115 days after sowing. The average weight of a tomato is 280-350 grams. The variety is grown in open ground and in a greenhouse, a greenhouse.
- Heavyweight of Siberia- large-fruited variety grown in open ground. The height of the bush is 60-100 centimeters. Fruit weight - 400-900 grams.
- Wonder of the earth- greenhouse high-yielding variety. The bush reaches 2 meters. The average weight of a tomato is 500 grams. The coloring is pink.
- Altaic- indeterminate greenhouse hybrid. The bush is tall, 1.5 meters high. The variety begins to bear fruit at 110-115 days. Tomatoes are rounded and flattened. The pulp is fleshy. Weigh - 250-300 grams. The fruiting period is extended.
- Grandma's Secret- large-fruited variety. The weight of a tomato reaches 0.9-1 kg. The height of the bush is 1.5-1.7 meters.
The variety is grown in greenhouse conditions, under film and unprotected soil. Fruiting occurs in 98-100 days. - scarlet candles- simultaneously ripening variety. Fruits in 105-116 days. The bush is tall, up to 2 meters. The plant needs a garter. The fruits are elongated, weigh 100-120 grams.
- pink honey- greenhouse variety with pink fruits. The ripening period of a tomato is 109-115 days. The height of the bush reaches 70-120 centimeters. Tomatoes are sweet in taste. Fruit weight - 550-800 grams.
You can also grow varieties and hybrids such as: Coin, Intuition, Button, Nevsky, My Love and others.
How to plant tomato seeds for seedlings: step by step instructions
For sowing seedlings, you can use ready-made store-bought soil mixture or cook it yourself.
For this you need to take:
- piece of peat
- part of rotted humus or compost,
- part of sod or leaf land
- 0.5 parts of river sand.
For 10 liters of soil mixture, a glass of wood ash or crushed chalk and a tablespoon of complex mineral fertilizers are added. Everything is thoroughly mixed.
To disinfect the soil mixture, it warms up in the oven at a temperature of 100 degrees for 1 hour. The heated mixture is poured into containers for planting and spilled with a purple hot solution of potassium permanganate
.The first thing to do when preparing seeds is to cull them. For this, a saline solution is used. 30 grams of salt is taken per liter of water, poured and stirred. Seeds are placed in the resulting solution for 15 minutes, all floating ones are removed.
The selected seed is then disinfected.
There are several options for this procedure:
- For half a glass of water, 1 gram of potassium permanganate is taken. The seeds dried on a napkin are poured into a bag of cloth or gauze and sent to the solution for 15 minutes.
- In a solution of Fitosporin, the seeds are soaked for 1-2 hours.
- Instead of potassium permanganate and Fitosporin, you can take a soda solution.
- For half a glass of water, 0.5 grams of soda is taken. Seeds are kept in solution for 1 day. Such a solution disinfects and accelerates the fruiting of tomatoes.
- Disinfection can be done with aloe juice. It is diluted 1:1 with water and seeds are placed in it for 12-24 hours. The solution also increases the yield, improves the quality of the fruit, enhances the immunity of plants.
After disinfection, the seeds are soaked in a solution of boric acid (1 gram per liter of water) for 24 hours.
Then they are placed in a solution of any growth stimulant (for example, Epin, sodium humate, potassium humate, Virtana-micro).
For soaking the seeds, filtered or melt water is taken. Tap water is not suitable for this. Seeds are soaked for 1 day. After swelling, they go to the refrigerator for a day. After hardening, the seed bag is moistened and laid out on a saucer for germination.
After 4-5 days, the seeds begin to germinate, after which you can start sowing.
Landing
For planting, special boxes, containers or cassettes, pots, peat tablets, cups are taken.
Planting containers are filled with soil mixture. Peat tablets are placed in a transparent container.
Furrows are made in boxes (containers) at a width of 3-5 centimeters from each other and at a depth of 1 centimeter. Recesses are made in cups, cassettes or pots. Seeds are laid out in the furrows at a distance of 1 centimeter from each other. 3-6 seeds are planted in pots, and 2-4 seeds go into each peat tablet. They are covered with a thin layer of soil.
From above, the container with sown seeds is covered with a film or glass. For germination, the seeds need a temperature of 30 degrees, so the container is installed next to the heat source, but not on the battery. After the appearance of the first shoots, the protective cover is removed.
When shoots appear, the seedlings are transferred for a week to a cooler place, with an air temperature of 16 degrees. A week later, the seedlings return to the room, with a temperature of 20-25 degrees during the day and 16 degrees at night. Drafts are not allowed!
Watering
Tomato seedlings have very delicate roots, and therefore, once a week, the plants are watered along the edge of the container from a watering can without a nozzle and sprayed with a spray bottle, an air humidifier. Spraying is carried out once a day, and at high air temperature - 2 times.
Backlight
Young seedlings need a lot of light. After they hatch, they are placed on a well-lit window sill, loggia. With a lack of light, a phytolamp is installed nearby. Light day should be 16 hours. From time to time, containers with plants need to be deployed so that the plants do not stretch in one direction.
If the seedlings grow in a heap, the first dive is carried out after the formation of the first true leaves, by about 10 days after sowing. Dive is carried out to a depth of 3-4 centimeters in pots, cups or boxes. The width between plants should be 5 by 5 or 7 by 7 centimeters (depending on the volume of the container).
A few weeks later, a second dive is carried out in separate 1-liter pots. Plants should be transplanted with an earthen clod, as plants have delicate roots. Sprouts in peat tablets are transplanted along with them.
What to do if tomato seedlings are stretched
2-2.5 weeks after the germination of the first shoots. Then top dressing is applied 1 time in 10 days. As fertilizers, you can use a diluted infusion of mullein (chicken manure), wood ash, crushed eggshells or complex mineral fertilizers with a mandatory nitrogen content, for example, nitrophoska (1 tablespoon per liter of water).
Top dressing is applied after watering in the evening or early morning.
Hardening of sprouts begins after the appearance of 3-4 true leaves on plants. Suitable temperature for hardening is 15-20 degrees.
You need to start hardening with a five-minute airing. Hardening time increases daily.
Hardened seedlings take root better.
Of the most common mistakes when growing tomato seedlings, the following can be distinguished:
- Incorrectly selected variety;
- unprepared or infected with pests, diseases soil for planting;
- too early sowing of seeds for seedlings;
- insufficient or vice versa excessive watering;
- non-compliance with the temperature regime of plants;
- overabundance or lack of lighting;
- untimely picking;
- lack or insufficient hardening;
- wrong choice of site for planting seedlings;
- planting tomatoes and cucumbers in the same greenhouse;
- wrong choice of film for the greenhouse;
- improperly carried out planting of plants on a permanent place of growth;
- planting plants in unsuitable conditions for the variety;
- excessive watering of plants;
- lack of pinching and pinching.
When growing a large volume of tomato, it is better to choose hybrid varieties that have high resistance to diseases and negative environmental influences.
The soil during sowing and planting must be treated with disinfectants.
With early sowing of seeds, the plants outgrow before transplanting into the ground, which leads to poor rooting.
Tomatoes need to be watered as the soil dries up. Irrigation of seedlings is carried out daily.
The temperature of seedlings during the day should be 18-25 degrees, at night + 13-16 degrees.
Lack of light or round-the-clock coverage of plants weakens them.
Picking plants should be carried out when the first true leaves are formed.
Lack or insufficient hardening leads to weakening of plants after transplantation.
The site for planting a tomato should be well lit and be closed from gusty winds.
The neighborhood of tomatoes and cucumbers in the same greenhouse has a depressing effect on crops.
When choosing a film for a greenhouse or greenhouse, it is better to choose a hydrophilic one. It repels water and stays clear longer.
Plants should be planted in well-drained holes. Watering seedlings after planting is not worth it, as this affects the passage of air to the roots and makes it difficult for plants to take root in a new place.
Planting plants intended for greenhouses and, conversely, for open ground in improper conditions leads to a decrease in yield, as the plants cannot form properly and gain strength.
The reasons for this: sudden changes in temperature, a short growing season, poor pollination due to high humidity in the greenhouse.
Tomatoes need to be watered no more than 1 time per week. Excessive watering leads to the development of phytophthora.
You can not neglect pinching and pinching. The yield of any variety depends on these procedures.
Tomato cultivation must be taken with responsibility. The entire future harvest depends on compliance with all factors that can harm plants.
Seedlings of tomatoes at home. Growing and diving tomatoes: video
How do I grow tomato seedlings: video
Growing seedlings of tomatoes, following all the recommendations is quite simple. Growing tomatoes in this way allows you to improve the survival of plants and increase yields. The quantity and quality of harvested fruits depend on strong and healthy seedlings.
