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Did you know that one of the most delicious and healthy vegetables – a tomato, from a botanical point of view, is not a vegetable at all? Biologists say that he is a fruit, and his fruit is a berry. But this will not make us love tomatoes less. In addition to excellent taste and dietary qualities, a large amount of vitamins, organic acids and other useful substances, tomato supplies lycopene to our body. This substance has antioxidant properties, slows down the development of atherosclerosis, and most importantly, it inhibits the development of tumors at the cellular level. Dried tomatoes contain the most lycopene. So, when growing seedlings of this wonderful fruit or vegetable on the windowsill, remember that this is not only a valuable dietary product, but also a whole pharmacy in one berry. Today we will look at the reasons why tomato seedlings wither.
Why seedlings wither
In order to answer this question, you need to know what you need to successfully grow tomatoes:
- Neutral or slightly acidic soil;
- Intensive lighting for 12 hours a day;
- Uniform and moderate soil moisture;
- Dry, warm air;
- Regular ventilation;
- Phosphorus supplements.
Tomatoes will definitely not benefit:
- High humidity of both soil and air;
- Excessive feeding, especially nitrogen;
- Cold content;
- Watering with cold water;
- Thickened landings;
- Air temperature exceeding 36 degrees;
- Dense acidic soils.
All these factors will negatively affect the development of an adult plant, but they can simply destroy tender seedlings with a thin root. It is very unpleasant when carefully grown seedlings begin to wither. There may be several reasons, and they are very different, but they are always associated with a violation of one or more of the above conditions for the successful cultivation of tomatoes. It:
- Overwetting or drying of the soil;
- Wet air;
- Insufficient or excessive lighting;
- Thickened landings;
- Too hot or cold content;
- Incorrect feeding;
- Unsuitable soil;
- drafts;
- Wrong place for growing seedlings;
- Diseases and pests;
- Adaptation after transplantation.
To make it easier for tomatoes to adapt after picking, treat them with an epin solution over the leaf, and pour the soil with a solution of humate.
Let’s take a closer look at the causes of wilting tomato seedlings. It should be noted that diseases are almost always provoked by improper care or inappropriate soil. Pests were either originally in the seedling soil or got on it from other houseplants.
Soil as the cause of wilting
Not every soil is suitable for growing tomato seedlings. Acidic or dense soil in itself can cause wilting, and subsequently the death of seedlings. If you make a mistake, transplant it into the “correct” soil as quickly as possible. Fortunately, tomatoes tolerate transplanting well.
If you make up the soil yourself, be sure to process all its components in order to destroy pests and diseases. Even purchased soil needs to be steamed by placing a bag with it in a bucket and pouring boiling water over it.
Unsuitable place for growing seedlings
Do not place containers with seedlings directly under the window – tomatoes do not like drafts. Even if it does not open, cold air can seep through the cracks. The same goes for openings in window frames. Seedlings will have the worst time when a cold wind blows in the direction of the window. To avoid trouble, close all gaps.
Tomato seedlings can wither on the windowsill and due to the fact that the plants in the immediate vicinity of the window glass are cold.
dense plantings
If the tomatoes are sown too thickly, the seedlings can not only stretch out, but also fall. In addition, dense plantings can cause blackleg disease, which will definitely lead to the death of plants. If the seedlings turned out to be too thick, do not expect trouble – pick it up as soon as possible so that there is enough space for the tomatoes.
When the tomatoes grow up, thickened plantings will cause them to suffer from a lack of moisture and fertilizer – each root needs its own feeding area.
Feeding mistakes
The reason that tomato seedlings wither may be a lack of nutrients in the soil. Most often this happens when we prepare the soil ourselves. Do not forget that top dressing is vital for the development of the plant, especially in the early stages. After all, nutrients are the building blocks that make up a plant. Read our article on seedling nutrition and follow its advice. Purchased soil contains a certain amount of fertilizer, but tomatoes quickly consume it.
You can feed tomatoes properly, but keep them at such a low temperature that they will not absorb nutrients.
The reason for the withering and lodging of seedlings can also be an excess of fertilizers, especially nitrogen – from its excess, it is strongly stretched and may turn yellow or simply die due to a root burn.
Watering errors
Tomato seedlings can wither both from overflows and from lack of moisture. It may seem strange, but the short-term drying of seedlings is the least dangerous. If she “hung her ears”, water her, but carefully. The worst thing you can do is to immediately water wilted plants abundantly. Moisten the soil slightly at first, then water a little more after a couple of hours. Most often, seedlings restore turgor without any damage to themselves.
Plant overflow is much more dangerous. It can lead not only to wilting of seedlings, but also to rotting of the root and to a black leg. If you poured the seedlings slightly and immediately noticed it, just powder the soil with wood ash and continue to be more careful.
With a strong overflow or when the tomatoes withered and lay down, urgent measures will be required:
- Remove the plants from the wet soil and clean the roots from the soil;
- Dig them into new, slightly damp soil;
- With a teaspoon or a tablespoon, depending on the size of the seedlings, carefully water each plant with a slightly pink solution of potassium permanganate;
- Treat the tomatoes on the sheet with a solution of epin.
If we spray the tomatoes too hard (only do this if the air in the room is not just dry, but very dry), the soil will turn black and appear wet. In fact, if you pick it open with a match, it may turn out that only the top layer is wet. Carefully water the seedlings in several steps.
From an excess of fertilizer, a whitish crust may form on the surface of the soil, which will interfere with normal watering. Try to carefully remove the top spoiled soil layer. If it comes out – do the next few waterings with a weak solution of humate – it not only acts as a light fertilizer and stimulant, but also improves the soil structure. If the tomatoes grow too densely or the soil is hopelessly damaged, urgently dive the seedlings into another substrate.
Incorrect lighting
Without light, plant photosynthesis is impossible – this is the only source of energy that provides it. The lack of light for plants is no less dangerous than the lack of fertilizers and errors in watering. One of the signs of a lack of light is the withering and yellowing of the aerial parts.
Tomatoes should be covered at least 12 hours a day. At the time when we grow seedlings, natural light is usually not enough. Illuminate it with fluorescent lamps, and even better with a phytolamp.
Less dangerous is an excess of light – a plant, like a person, needs a period of rest during the day. Some processes in it occur only in the dark, for example, the absorption of nutrients.
If you do not have the opportunity to install a lamp over the seedlings, install foil on the opposite side of the box from the window – it will reflect sunlight and increase the intensity of lighting.
Temperature conditions
Tomatoes love the heat, but there is a limit to everything. At temperatures above 36 degrees, tender seedlings can die – they simply overheat, fade and dry out. It is unlikely that in winter the temperature will be so high in the room, but anything can happen.
At temperatures below 15 degrees, tomatoes cease to absorb phosphorus, which is vital for them, and at 10 degrees, nitrogen. The best temperature for growing tomato seedlings is 18-22 degrees, immediately after germination – 3-4 degrees lower.
Conclusion
Provide comfortable conditions for tomatoes, and they will reward you with a bountiful harvest.