Tomato seedlings transplanted with a preserved root system take root easier, tomatoes begin to bear fruit 1 to 2 weeks earlier than those whose roots were injured during transplantation.
Seed preparation
Seeds must be prepared before sowing. If pelleted tomato seeds are planted, no preparation is required, they are already treated with special substances by the manufacturer.
Pre-sowing preparation includes the following steps:
- Treatment from pathogens of infectious diseases;
- Treatment with growth stimulants;
- Soaking in complex fertilizer.
Preventive treatment for fungal and bacterial diseases is carried out by soaking in disinfectants, for example, in a solution of potassium permanganate. Tomato seeds are placed in a small cloth bag, if you plan to sow several varieties, it is advisable to sign the bags. Seeds are placed in a solution with a disinfectant for 2 to 3 hours, after which they are thoroughly washed under running water.
Before planting old tomato seeds, it is advisable to treat them with growth stimulants. They contain phytohormones that will help tomato seeds germinate faster and stimulate further development.
Complex fertilizers contain potassium and manganese, the deficiency of which prevents the normal growth of the plant. If the tomato bush from which the seeds were harvested lacked these nutrients, their content in the seeds would be insufficient for normal development. Such seeds have low germination, often young tomato sprouts stop developing at the stage of cotyledon leaves. You can make up for the lack of nutrients by soaking tomato seeds in a solution of complex fertilizers. Soaking is carried out, as a rule, during the day.
Peat pots
They are low-lying peat, pressed in the form of pots. May be infused with additional nutrients and stimulants.
The main advantages of pots for growing tomato seedlings:
- Allow to transplant seedlings without damaging the roots;
- Takes up little space when stored
- Improve the structure and chemical composition of the soil;
- The pots are very convenient to use.
The convenience of peat pots is that tomato seedlings do not need to be taken out of them – they can be planted in a permanent place along with the pot, since the roots of tomatoes freely grow through the walls. In addition, peat improves soil structure, makes it lighter, enriches with nutrients.
Does not require special preparation before planting seeds. It is enough to fill the pot with a nutritious earthen mixture, place in a pan and water. A small depression is made in the soil, in which two or three tomato seeds are placed, after germination, one of the most developed sprouts is left, the rest are pinched. It is undesirable to pull out extra sprouts of tomatoes, you can damage the root system of the remaining one.
In the process of growing tomato seedlings, it is necessary to regularly inspect the pots to prevent the roots from sprouting into the next one.
Peat tablets
Peat tablets are compressed pieces of lowland or middle peat, placed in a special, easily decomposing material. May contain an additional complex of nutrients. Designed for germinating seeds and growing seedlings after picking.
Tomato seedlings can be planted together with a peat tablet, the mesh quickly dissolves in the ground and does not interfere with the growth of the root system. Peat will improve the composition of the soil and enrich it with substances necessary for plants.
The main advantages of peat tablets for growing tomato seedlings:
- Seedlings are planted without damaging the root system;
- The composition contains all the necessary nutrients;
- Do not contain fungal spores and weeds;
- Easy to transport and store;
- Tomato roots develop rapidly due to their light structure;
- They don’t take up much space.
Before using peat tablets for growing seedlings of tomatoes, it is necessary to place the tablets in a tray and soak in warm, but not hot water for 1 to 2 hours, drain the excess water after soaking. During this time, the volume of the tablet increases in size up to 5 times.
The upper part of the peat tablet is not covered with a mesh and has a small depression where 1-3 tomato seeds are placed, covered with soil on top and covered with a transparent material until the tomatoes sprout. Usually tomato seeds germinate within one week, old or poor quality seeds may take longer to germinate.
If peat tablets are used for picking tomato seedlings, the recess is made larger, the roots and about a third of the stem should fit in it. The tomato sprout is carefully transferred to the resulting recess and gently falls asleep. You can water the plant a little, directing the jet at the stem of the tomato to slightly crush the soil.
Tomato seedlings should be watered carefully, avoiding waterlogging, the upper surface of the tablets must dry out between waterings. Waterlogging adversely affects the root system, interferes with the normal absorption of nutrients.
It does not pose a particular danger to tomato seedlings, but it is advisable to get rid of it until its spores have germinated deep into the tablet. Usually, a single treatment with a soda solution is sufficient for this.
coconut tablets
They consist of pressed coconut fibers placed in a fine mesh. They can be additionally impregnated with the nutrients necessary for growing tomato seedlings. Used for germinating seeds, picking seedlings, cuttings.
Coconut tablets have a number of advantages for growing tomato seedlings:
- Seedlings are protected from fungal diseases;
- Plants receive all the elements necessary for growth;
- Do not contain larvae of harmful insects;
- Does not contain weed seeds;
- Do not lose their shape during use.
- They make it possible to preserve the root system.
Before using coconut tablets for growing tomato seedlings, it is advisable to rinse them under running water for several minutes, sea salt is often used in the production process, it must be washed off. After that, coconut tablets are placed in a tray or other container and filled with water at room temperature. After swelling of the tablets, it is necessary to drain the excess water.
Tomato seeds are placed in the recess located at the top of the coconut tablet. As a rule, several seeds are placed in one tablet, after the appearance of sprouts, the most developed one is left, the rest are pinched.
If coconut tablets are used for picking tomato seedlings, the recess is expanded, the root system of the seedlings and a third of the stem of the tomato should fit in it, the sprout can be planted a little obliquely. Gently sprinkle with soil, if necessary, seedlings are watered.
Plastic cups
Many gardeners traditionally use plastic cups to grow seedlings.
The main advantages for growing seedlings:
- Easy to purchase, sold in any store;
- It is convenient to use for growing seedlings and transport;
- Can be used for growing seedlings several times;
- It is easy to sign, the necessary information can be applied with a marker.
There is only one drawback of plastic cups – it is inconvenient to get seedlings, often when taking out an earthen lump crumbles, and young roots are injured.
Before planting seedlings in plastic cups, it is imperative to make drainage holes. Drainage holes are made at the bottom of the cup, each should be about 1 cm in diameter.
The cups are filled with soil, tamping a little. Do not fill the cup with soil to the top – this will complicate the watering of the seedlings, it is necessary to leave a distance of about 2 cm to the edge.
Planted seeds are covered with soil and watered a little, you can use a spray bottle for watering. After planting, the seeds are covered with a transparent material to prevent the topsoil from drying out.
This will help when transplanting to more easily determine the distance at which tomato bushes should grow.
If it is necessary to plant seedlings after picking, it is advisable to cover the sprout with soil, which is kept on weight. To do this, a little soil mixture is placed at the bottom of the cup, the sprout is held vertically, lowering it into the cup. The soil is carefully covered, trying not to damage the roots of the seedlings; after planting, the tomatoes are watered.
Seedling bags
The most economical way to grow seedlings. You can use both purchased special bags designed for growing seedlings, and made by yourself.
Advantages of ready-made packages for tomato seedlings:
- Dark material does not let the sun’s rays through to the roots of the seedlings;
- Have drainage holes
- The seams of such packages are more durable;
- Have a flat bottom
- They are inexpensive;
- Easily installed in drawers, saving space.
Before planting, the bags are filled with a nutritious earthen mixture, which must be slightly compacted and placed in pallets or boxes. Tomato seeds are placed in a small depression, watered and cover the entire box with plastic wrap until sprouts appear.
It is also advisable to cover the pickled tomatoes with a film for 5 to 8 days in order to facilitate recovery for the tomatoes. It is necessary to turn the film over once a day so that the condensate does not damage the plants.
Conclusion
When choosing a method for growing tomato seedlings, it is necessary to take into account all possible conditions and circumstances in order to avoid disappointment.
