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Tomatoes planted on time take root quickly, without experiencing stress from changing conditions. But it is not always possible to follow the recommended deadlines and seedlings can outgrow. To help tomatoes and get a good harvest, a set of measures must be taken.
Appearance
The ideal appearance of tomatoes ready for planting:
- Formed 4 real sheets;
- The stem is dense, with short internodes;
- The leaves are green, elastic;
- The color of the stem is purple;
- Height up to 20 cm.
If the planting time is delayed, the stem stretches out thinning. The internodes increase, the formation of the 3rd and 4th pair of true leaves begins. Buds may begin to form. During transplantation, such tomatoes experience severe stress, which significantly slows down development and delays fruiting.
In appearance, you can determine how much the seedlings have grown. Slightly overgrown tomatoes have a height of up to 30 cm, 4 leaves, growth falls on elongated internodes. Such seedlings do not require special measures before transplanting, hardening and good care are enough.
Medium overgrown seedlings up to 45 cm high, the formation of 3 pairs of leaves and buds begins. Planted in the ground, sick for a long time, the first fruits may be the last.
Heavily overgrown tomatoes over 50 cm high, have more than 6 leaves, possibly even flowering buds. If you plant such overgrown tomato seedlings in the ground, it can quickly die.
Hardening
Overgrown seedlings have significantly reduced immunity. To avoid the death of the plant, it is necessary to harden off before planting the tomatoes in a permanent place.
To start hardening, it is advisable to choose a cloudy, warm day with high humidity. Under such conditions, tomato seedlings will experience the least stress. Tomatoes begin to take out into the open air gradually. For the first time, 2 hours will be enough, every day the time is increased. After a week, you can leave the tomatoes in the open air, covering them from a possible cold snap.
If tomato seedlings are transferred from an apartment to a greenhouse, it is enough to create high humidity, optimal temperature conditions and cover them from the sun, gradually opening up access to bright light for a longer period. The hardening process takes up to 2 weeks, after this period shading is not required. In cloudy weather, seedlings can not be shaded.
Planting dates for overgrown seedlings
When determining the timing of planting overgrown seedlings of tomatoes, it is necessary to focus on the temperature of the soil. Planted in cold soil, seedlings can get sick with fungal diseases. Soil temperature should be at least 15 degrees Celsius. In most regions, open ground warms up to the desired temperature only in May, in more northern regions – in June.
In closed ground, the soil temperature is raised artificially. In addition to directly heating the greenhouse, you can use black film and the heat that is released during the decomposition of organic matter.
greenhouse cultivation
Before planting overgrown seedlings of tomatoes, it is necessary to prepare a greenhouse. The soil is cleaned of debris, dug up, fertilizers are applied. Manure, even rotted, must be applied carefully. An excess of this fertilizer can harm tomatoes.
The greenhouse is washed from the inside, paying special attention to the joints and corners; insect larvae and fungal spores often hibernate in these places. After washing, it is advisable to spray the walls with insecticides. The upper surface of the greenhouse can not be washed. The accumulated particles of dust and debris will create a filter from the sun’s rays, which can burn unaccustomed seedling leaves. When the tomatoes get used to the new conditions, it usually takes 1-2 weeks, the dirt from the outer surface is washed off so that the tomatoes receive more heat and light during the growth process.
To transplant slightly overgrown seedlings, it is necessary to prepare holes in which the root system of tomatoes and a third of the stem can freely fit. As a rule, such seedlings do not require stronger deepening. Seedlings are carefully planted in a prepared hole, covered with soil and poured abundantly with warm water.
A hole for tomato seedlings is prepared, focusing on the volume of the roots and the height of half the stem. Usually a hole 40 cm deep is enough. Seedlings are placed in a hole not vertically, but slightly inclined. Due to the slanted planting, roots begin to form on the stem, which is dug into the ground, which will allow the tomato bush to receive more nutrients and give a better harvest.
In wet soil, the stems can rot. In open ground, it is difficult to regulate humidity; black plastic wrap can help with this. It is fixed on top of the soil around the tomato trunk.
The planted seedlings of tomatoes are buried, poured abundantly with water with a temperature of about 20 degrees. It is advisable to shade the tomatoes for a week so that they get used to new conditions more easily. It is impossible to feed tomatoes for 2 weeks, an exception can be made for potash fertilizers in chelate form, which can improve plant immunity.
Heavily overgrown seedlings of tomatoes a week before planting, it is desirable to cut. When pruning, the upper part is removed by about a third, the lower leaves. When planting, the stem is planted horizontally, slightly raising the remaining leaves above the ground. So that the formation of roots begins, the soil must be constantly wet, in order to avoid frequent watering, the soil can be mulched.
As a rule, the yield of tomatoes obtained from the top of the trunk will be higher than that of a bush that has grown from the rest of the seedling.
Care for established seedlings consists in timely watering, weeding and protection from insects and diseases.
Landing in open ground
Before planting seedlings in open ground, it is necessary to prepare the ground. Tomatoes need loose, well-drained, nutritious soil to grow well. To improve the structure, the soil is dug up twice – in autumn and spring. During autumn digging, rotted manure and humus are introduced into the soil. In the spring, the soil is dug up a second time, leveled, and planting pits are made.
The size of the landing pit is usually 20-40 cm in height and the same in width. Complex fertilizers with a long-term effect are added to the pit, if necessary, humus is added.
A good effect is obtained by soaking the roots of seedlings immediately before planting in the Prestige insecticide. It provides protection against the Colorado potato beetle and Medvedka for 2 months, then the substance is removed from the plant. It is not recommended to use this tool for ultra-early tomatoes.
If the tomato seedlings are very overgrown, you can place them horizontally by tying the top to the support.
Tomatoes are carefully buried, poured abundantly with warm water and shaded. Shading the planted seedlings is necessary until the root system begins to fully nourish the plant with water. Usually, it takes no more than a week for the roots to restore all functions.
Further care for tomatoes consists in timely watering and weeding.
To summarize
Even under adverse conditions, you can get a good crop of tomatoes, you just need to be attentive to the plants and follow all the rules of cultivation.
