Caring for seedlings of tomatoes begins with sowing seeds. Compliance with all the rules at each stage of cultural development will allow you to get healthy and strong seedlings. The correct cultivation technique will allow you to enjoy a large and high-quality harvest in the future.
Sowing dates
The time of sowing seeds depends entirely on the period of fruit ripening in different varieties. Usually, the dates are indicated on the packages with the seed. But, if you use seeds collected at home, then they will be as follows:
- Early varieties. I sow a month before transplanting them into open ground.
- Varieties with long maturation. Sowing is carried out from 10 to 20 February.
In addition to the ripening period, when choosing a planting time, it is important to take into account the climate in the region, planting conditions (greenhouse, open beds).
Sowing
Seeds purchased from gardening stores do not need to be disinfected. The material collected at home, before sowing, it is better to soak in a weak solution of potassium permanganate for 12-15 minutes.
Tomatoes love loose soil, which has enough nutrients. It is easy to find in specialized stores. When preparing the soil for seedlings on their own, mix the soil from the garden with humus and peat in equal parts.
To destroy bacteria, fungi and pest larvae in self-prepared soil, I calcine the earth in the oven for several hours at a temperature of 200 ° C.
If one large container is used for sowing, then the seeds are planted at a distance of 2 cm from each other and subsequently require picking. When sowing in individual cups, it is important to ensure that their depth is at least 12 cm and the diameter is at least 10 cm.
I believe that peat cups are the best option for sowing tomato seeds. When used during transplantation in open ground, the seedling root system does not receive the slightest damage.
Lighting
The first shoots of tomatoes appear after 8-9 days, after which they need good lighting. Daylight hours cannot be less than 12 hours. If there is not enough natural light, you will have to use phytolamps.
Temperature regime
At the earliest stages of development of tomato seedlings, it is necessary to maintain a temperature of +23 ° C to +25 ° C. On the 14th day, the seedlings are transferred to a cooler room with a temperature of +18 ° C to +20 ° C. The temperature at night should not fall below +17 °C.
I regulate the temperature with the help of a window. The main thing? create all conditions for the absence of drafts, which will destroy young sprouts very quickly.
Watering
For the full development of tomato seedlings, regular irrigation is required, which I spend as the soil dries. In the first 3 weeks, watering occurs 1 time in 5-6 days. The grown sprouts absorb more liquid, and watering occurs 1 time in 3-4 days. When 4-5 main leaves appear on the tomatoes, irrigation is required every 2 days.
To avoid excessive soil moisture, which leads to root rot, seedling containers must have drainage holes.
Fertilization and hardening
I feed the seedlings with complex fertilizers, which I apply according to a certain schedule:
- First feed. It is carried out as soon as the first main leaf appears on the sprouts.
- Second. When the third true leaf appears.
- Third. 2 weeks after the second.
14 days before the transfer of tomatoes to the open ground, I begin their adaptation to the street. To do this, I take out containers with seedlings on the street. On the first day, literally for 3-4 minutes, then every day I increase the time interval.
The rules for caring for seedlings of tomatoes will not cause difficulties even for a novice gardener. If at each stage of cultivation all the described conditions are observed, then the tomatoes will grow strong, healthy and will easily transfer transplantation to open ground. I invite everyone to share their experience in caring for tomato seedlings in the comments.
Read also: Universal fertilizer: ash and its proper use in the garden and vegetable garden
Friends, do not forget to subscribe to the channel and leave a LIKE if the article is useful!
#seedling care#tomato seedlings#garden