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Growing tomato seedlings is not complete without picking. Tall varieties have to be transplanted twice. Therefore, many gardeners are wondering what should be the care of tomato seedlings after picking.
After all, the quality of the future harvest depends on the competent and careful care of the seedlings of the dived seedlings. Consider the main stages of caring for tomatoes after picking.
What is competent care for pickled tomatoes
For dived tomato seedlings, it is necessary to create conditions for quick establishment in a new place. This will help the tomatoes regain their vitality and begin to grow. Let’s start with the transition. As soon as the tomato seedlings are placed in a new container, we remove the seedlings from direct sunlight, and ensure the air temperature does not exceed 16 ° C. To do this, we remove the boxes from the windowsills, as well as away from the heaters. After three days, you can return them to the windowsill.
The list of procedures for further care for pickled tomatoes contains the following items:
- re-dive (if necessary and for tall tomatoes);
- timely watering;
- balanced top dressing;
- optimal temperature regime;
- sufficient lighting.
Gardeners provide all this for their pets. Care for pickled tomato seedlings should be started from the first minutes after transplantation. Consider the main nuances.
Re-dive
Some gardeners dive any tomatoes twice. They believe that this will prevent the seedlings from being pulled out. But it is better to use this technique only for tall varieties. The second transplant is carried out 3-4 weeks after the first and only if necessary. This will happen if the container size was unsuccessfully chosen for the first time, and it turned out to be small for seedling growth. But this does not mean that for the first time you need to transplant tomato seedlings into a large container. It is difficult to control watering in it, which leads to stagnation of water, lack of air and stopping the development of the root system. Such seedlings are stretched and grow very weak.
Watering seedlings after picking
Water requirements are classic. It should be at room temperature in order to avoid the danger for the seedlings to get sick with the “black leg”. Simultaneously clean and well maintained. Seedlings dived once are watered weekly. Criteria for good watering:
- all the soil in the container is moistened with water;
- no stagnant moisture;
- the crust does not cover the top layer of the earth;
- takes into account the individual needs of the plant.
Moisturizing is necessary when the soil dries out; it is impossible to fill in tomato seedlings.
Therefore, if the temperature regime allows you to reduce watering, then you need to do this so that the roots do not rot in the ground. In this case, the pickled tomato seedlings will grow strong and healthy.
Lighting
An important factor for the proper development of pickled tomato seedlings. Especially he needs to pay attention to the phase of 3 true leaves on seedlings, when the first inflorescences begin to form. Accustom tomatoes to light gradually. The containers are periodically rotated around the axis so that the stems do not lean to one side. Lack of light leads to stretching of tomato seedlings. This also comes from the shading of the stem by the lower leaves.
On tomato seedlings, it is permissible to remove 3 pairs of lower leaves with an interval of 2 weeks. With insufficient natural light, tomato seedlings are illuminated.
Temperature conditions
At the beginning of the growth of dived seedlings, the temperature is slightly reduced from the recommended values for 2-3 days. The rest of the time it is maintained in intervals – during the day from 16 ° C to 18 ° C and at night about 15 ° C. Be sure to ventilate the room.
Hardening
A necessary item for pickled tomatoes intended for planting in open ground. At first, they simply open the window for a while, then they accustom the seedlings to the street temperature, taking the container out onto the balcony or into the yard. Before disembarking, you can leave containers in the open air for the whole night.
Feeding
Feeding tomato seedlings after picking is just as important as during the entire development of the crop. Usually, seedlings are fed twice in the period before landing on a permanent place of residence. Nutrients can be:
- purchase in finished form;
- cook on your own.
Various formulations are used.
Feeding tomato seedlings raises many questions, so let’s take a closer look at this important stage of care.
We feed seedlings after diving without errors
During the period of seed germination, tomatoes have enough vitality and nutrients in the soil. And then the process of growth takes a huge amount of energy, which is necessary for the development of a full-fledged plant. Therefore, it is necessary to feed tomato seedlings after a dive on time, without waiting for signs of a deficiency of mineral components. When feeding seedlings, watering is carried out in the second turn.
How to feed tomato seedlings after picking? What is the interval to maintain between repeated procedures, what compositions are best suited for dived seedlings? All these questions concern summer residents and require high-quality answers. There is no consensus, but there is a rational approach to growing crops.
The first dressing of tomato seedlings after picking is carried out after 14 days. The second with the same interval after the first. For those who prefer organic, bird droppings or mullein are the best choices. Tender tomato seedlings require careful application of nutrients. Therefore, organic matter is diluted with water and allowed to brew. Infusion requirements:
- warm water;
- ratio with organic matter 1:2;
- the fermentation process must go to the end.
You can determine the readiness of the mixture by returning the original volume and settling of the contents.
The fermented composition requires further breeding to feed the dived seedlings. It is done just before feeding. Infusion of bird droppings is diluted with water 1:12, and mullein 1:7. Re-feeding is done with an infusion of a stronger concentration – litter 1:10 and mullein 1:5. A great option is to add 10 g of superphosphate per bucket of water to the organic infusion.
Having fed the dived tomato seedlings, watering is immediately carried out. They have a dual purpose – they wash off the remains of fertilizer from the leaves and stems of the plant and help the liquid components to be absorbed faster.
Seedlings respond well to food infusion of wood ash (1 tablespoon per 2 liters of hot water).
Mineral fertilizer is applied in the following compositions:
- For the first time, 5 g of urea is mixed with 35 g of superphosphate and 15 g of potassium sulfate in a bucket of water.
- In the second, the concentration of the components in a bucket of water is increased – 10 g of urea, 60 g of superphosphate and 15 g of potassium sulfate.
A convenient option is Agricola. Breed according to the instructions and feed tomato seedlings after diving.
The third top dressing can be carried out with slow growth and soreness of tomato seedlings. Both mineral complex fertilizers and organic mixtures will work well here. It is advantageous to use the same “Agricola”, combining it with spraying seedlings with “Fitosporin”. This will be a foliar treatment of pickled tomato seedlings, which will give good results.
There are signs that signal a lack of certain nutrients.
As soon as you notice yellowed or fallen leaves (under normal temperature and watering!) – nitrogen is required. The purple tint of leaves and stems indicates a lack of phosphorus. Pale veined leaves need iron. But all signs must be carefully checked. After all, they can manifest themselves in other violations.
Carefully monitor the seedlings, she herself will tell you what top dressing you need to do. Do not avoid folk methods, but do not neglect mineral fertilizers. Together, they will help grow strong and healthy tomatoes.
