How to plant tomatoes at home. Airing home seedlings

In almost all climatic regions of our country, tomatoes are grown through seedlings. Some summer residents do this in a greenhouse; in not the most northern regions, cold greenhouses are also suitable, but most often in the spring, window sills of city apartments are filled with boxes and pots. Compared to some other crops, growing tomato seedlings is relatively easy, so gardeners tend to do it themselves.

Planting seeds for seedlings

Tomatoes take a long time from sowing seeds to harvesting, so direct sowing seeds in the garden is possible only in the southern regions. AT Krasnodar Territory seedlings are not needed, they grow them there only if they want to get very early harvests. AT middle lane you can’t do without seedlings, but, fortunately, the conditions of a city apartment in terms of temperature are ideal for growing it.

By the beginning of spring, for sowing seeds for seedlings, everything should be ready: found your cherished or bought new seeds, prepared containers or bought peat pots, prepared components of the soil mixture or bought in a store ready ground for seedlings.

Terms of planting tomatoes for seedlings

The timing of sowing seeds at home is slightly dependent on the variety of tomatoes and where they are supposed to be. further cultivation: in the greenhouse or in the open field. If you sow the seeds too early (in early spring), it may turn out that the bushes have already outgrown, and it is still cold outside. Therefore, one should not rush with this event; tomatoes are sown later than eggplants and peppers.

The time for sowing seeds should be calculated from the fact that tomatoes need to spend about two months in the seedling stage, and they can be planted in a garden without shelter only after the threat of frost has passed. Of course, it happens that in not too northern regions, frosts also occur in June, but, basically, in the middle lane or regions similar in climate, planting seedlings is possible at the end of May. Therefore, the term for sowing seeds for seedlings falls on the second half of March. For greenhouse cultivation you can sow the seeds a couple of weeks earlier.

As for the variety, as a rule, they are sown first late-ripening varieties, the latest - early. Some super-early hybrids in two months in pots manage not only to bloom, but also to set fruits, and this is already superfluous. Therefore, the earliest ripe tomatoes can be sown at the very beginning of April.

Selection and preparation of soil and containers

Usually, tomato seeds are first sown in any small box or box, and then the seedlings are planted in separate cups or simply in a larger box. It all depends on the preferences of the gardener, the number of bushes grown and the availability of free space in the apartment.

For the first stage, from sowing seeds to picking, there is nothing more convenient than carton boxes from under juice or milk with a capacity of from a liter to two. We cut off one of the large sides, make several holes for drainage in the opposite side - and you're done. The volume is just right for sowing seeds of 1-2 varieties, and for two weeks the strength of this cardboard is enough.

For picking, ideally, peat pots should be purchased medium size. But they take up a lot of space, and they cost money. Therefore, economical owners collect all kinds of cups from sour cream, cottage cheese, etc. for the year. For most varieties of tomatoes, a volume of 300-500 ml is enough, for especially gigantic ones - up to a liter. Well, if there is very little space in the house, we take any wooden boxes right size and plant seedlings in this hostel. Only the boxes should not be too small: the height should be at least 8 cm.

Tomato seedlings can grow in almost any soil, as long as it is fertile and not infected. You can just buy a bag of potting mix in the store: universal or specifically for tomatoes. But for growing a large number of seedlings, it will be a little expensive. With self-compilation of the mixture, the ideal composition is peat, humus and sod land(totally equal). If something is missing, we use what is at hand, but the composed soil should be light, moisture-absorbing and breathable.

The easiest way out "out of nothing" is ordinary earth and sand (2: 1), but such a mixture must be fertilized with at least ash, and preferably compost or humus.

Any soil must be decontaminated. Steaming in the oven is not very pleasant for the body, so the simplest thing is to pour the prepared mixture with a warm pink solution of potassium permanganate. Do this a few days before sowing the seeds.

Seed preparation

The preparation of seeds for sowing depends on their origin. For many crops, planting hybrids (F1) is much more profitable.

In my humble opinion, this postulate does not always apply to tomatoes. Of course, there are hybrids that are more productive and yield higher quality fruits. But there are so many old well-deserved varieties that we do not seek to say goodbye to them. Indeed, from varietal tomatoes, you can easily take seeds and always be with your own, proven ones.

If the seeds are bought in a store, you must carefully read the instructions. Perhaps they are already prepared for sowing. Modern technologies preparations sometimes lead to the fact that the seeds germinate longer, but stronger bushes grow out of them. Conducting any self-training such seeds, you can spoil everything that the manufacturer did with them before selling them. Such seeds can be sown immediately, dry. Well, or maximum - soaked.

Prepare your seeds for sowing. The disinfection procedure can be combined with the rejection of seeds. To do this, prepare a strong, dark purple solution of potassium permanganate. When dissolving, you need to make sure that all the crystals have dispersed. In a jar with such a solution, the seeds are kept for 20-25 minutes, but after about five minutes with vigorous shaking, the most best seeds drown, and after another five, only those that are not worth sowing will remain on the surface. Maybe they will sprout, but the plants will be much weaker than the rest.
For dressing seeds, a strong solution of potassium permanganate is needed (left), for soil disinfection - a weak one (right)

The pickled seeds are filtered through a strainer, washed well with clean water and placed in a damp cloth. After keeping them warm for a couple of days, they are placed in this rag in any small cup (preferably, if there is a Petri dish), covered with a lid and sent to the refrigerator. Hardening consists of moving seeds from the refrigerator to the outside at intervals of 8-12 hours during three days. After that, the seeds are ready for sowing.

True, some gardeners also use seed treatment with growth stimulants (Epin-extra, honey, aloe juice, etc.), but it seems that this is not necessary for tomatoes (but, for example, for eggplants, which are much more capricious, you need to do this ). Is it possible to not process your seeds at all? Of course, it is possible, but only if the bushes did not get sick at all in the past and if there is a guarantee that the plants will not fall under severe cold in the future.

How to sow tomatoes for seedlings

There are cultures for which picking is undesirable, there are those for which it is unacceptable. For tomatoes, it is useful, so they should not be sown for seedlings immediately in separate cups. For sowing, we take a small box or box and pour the prepared soil with a layer of 5–6 cm, level it and slightly compact it. If we sow several varieties in one container, we divide the crops in any way or simply sign the crops. Further, everything is simple.

1. We outline with any suitable tool small grooves 1–1.5 cm deep at distances of 4–5 cm from each other.
   Grooves can be made not very deep
2. We lay out the prepared seeds at distances of 2.5-3 cm from each other.
   Tomato seeds are not too small, they can be spread out one at a time
3. Sprinkle the seeds with soil, from above, if the snow has not yet melted, put it in a layer of 3-4 cm. If you can’t find it already, carefully water the crops, eroding the soil. In the absence of snow (and it is very useful for future shoots!) You can water even before the seeds are laid out, along the grooves.
   Snow for seeds - the best watering
4. We cover the box with glass or film and put it in a warm place, optimum temperature 23-25 ​​o C. Before emergence, light is desirable, but not required.
   The film perfectly creates a greenhouse effect
5. After 4–7 days (depending on the variety and temperature), you can expect tomato “loops” to peck. We transfer the box to the windowsill with an open window. For 5–6 days, a temperature of 16–18 ° C is required during the day, and a little lower at night. Then we gradually increase it to 18–20 °С during the day and to 15–16 °С at night.
   Ideal seedlings, even at the first stage, should look stocky

How to plant tomatoes for seedlings

Described sowing in a common box - traditional reception in growing tomato seedlings. After 10-12 days, we will dive the plant into separate cups or large boxes. But in recent times other, non-traditional approaches to sowing seeds for seedlings are becoming commonplace.

The use of peat pots

Disposable peat pots are made from peat pressed into pots. various shapes and sizes. Peat is often treated with fertilizers and growth stimulants. The advantages of peat pots over any other are as follows:

• when planting in a garden, seedlings are planted together with a pot;
• with such a transplant, the roots remain intact;
• the peat from which the pots are made is also a fertilizer.

Tomatoes need medium-sized pots. Some inconvenience of peat pots is that they get very wet from watering, so it’s better not to pick them up once again: put them in a suitable tray and keep them there until planting in the garden. In addition, with a dense arrangement, the roots of one plant grow into an adjacent pot, this must be monitored.
Seedlings in peat pots are very comfortable, but they take up a lot of space.

Peat pots are especially good for crops that do not require picking. Tomatoes do not belong to those, but, nevertheless, some gardeners sow tomato seeds in pots and grow seedlings in them to the end. The sowing technique does not differ from that in the case of the box.

Sowing in peat tablets

Peat tablets - perfect option for cultures that do not like picking. But, like peat pots, some hobbyists insist on using them when growing tomato seedlings, as it is exceptionally convenient. Tablets are made from pressed peat, to which nutrients and various growth stimulants are added. The optimal diameter of the tablets for tomato seedlings is 7 cm.

The tablets are placed in a tray and gradually filled with water. At the same time, their height grows several times. In one of the ends of the tablets (you need to find it and place the tablet with this end up) there is a small recess in which a seed is placed. After that, lightly close up the seeds and water a little again. Tablets with crops in the pan are covered and kept in a warm, bright place, periodically adding water. After the emergence of shoots, the cover is removed. Water the tablets by simply pouring water into the box. It is not necessary to feed seedlings in tablets.
The tablets have everything for seedlings: you don’t even need to feed it

Toilet paper application

Often, at the first stage of growing seedlings (up to picking), they do without land at all, using toilet paper as a substrate. This is an example of so-called hydroponics, but to bring tomato seedlings without land until transplanting into the garden is difficult. One example of the use of paper simulates the sowing of seeds in a common box:

1. Cut a plastic one and a half liter bottle in half lengthwise and put several layers of toilet paper on the bottom of one of the halves.
2. Prepared tomato seeds are placed between layers of paper, 2–3 cm apart.
3. Spray the paper with water, and then wrap the half of the bottle with a film.
4. They put this "box" in a warm place and wait for shoots.
5. When shoots appear, the temperature is reduced in the same way as in the case of the earth, and after a few days it is increased.
6. Up until the dive, they do nothing with the bottle, then they disassemble the structure and dive the seedlings into cups with soil.

In another version, toilet paper is used in the form of a “snail”, twisting it into a roll, having previously spread it over a dense film.
In a snail, seedlings live only until picking

seedling care

In the apartment the best place for seedlings is a sunny window sill, but gardeners force everything they can with it, and therefore you have to come up with a design for additional lighting: even on a table next to the window, it can be a bit dark.

Growing conditions (light, temperature)

From the point of view of temperature, the first few days after germination are critical: if the seedlings are left at temperatures above 20 ° C, they can be thrown away after a couple of days. They instantly stretch out, especially if there is not enough light. The rest of the time for seedlings of tomatoes, the daytime temperature should be about 20–22 ° C (18 is also suitable, but 25 is already a bit too much). It should be a few degrees colder at night.

There is no need to specially lengthen daylight hours; in March-April it is sufficient, but the lighting should be bright. There is enough natural sunlight only on the southern window sill (on the western and eastern windowsill it is already not enough, on the northern one it is decidedly not enough). In any case, the seedlings should be positioned so that they are as close as possible to the glass, but do not touch it. Various reflective devices help: mirrors, food foil, etc. Such home-made screens are placed so that sunlight enters them and reflects from them onto seedlings.
The light must be cold so as not to burn the leaves.

However, one cannot do without artificial lighting on semi-dark window sills or on tables. It is undesirable to use incandescent lamps for this: they heat the air too much. Best Options- day lamps of cold light or diode lamps, the best - special phytolamps for seedlings.

Watering

With the rules for watering seedlings, everything is simple, only inexperienced gardeners manage to break them. Seedlings do not need extra water! It is especially terrible at the first stage and in combination with cloudy cool weather. The slightest waterlogging of the soil, and even in a common box, is guaranteed to lead to seedling disease with a black leg and the death of most of it.

Seedlings are watered only with warm water (25–30 ° C) and in case of obvious drying of the surface layer of the soil. They don't do it every day; daily watering may be required only in the last stages of development, when the seedlings are already very large, and there is little space in pots or boxes.

top dressing

The first top dressing is desirable when a real leaf appears, but if the seedlings develop normally, it can be postponed, because 1-2 days after this (in the 2-leaf phase) the tomatoes will have to dive. Therefore, a real top dressing is given 10-12 days after picking. Use any complete mineral fertilizer according to the instructions for it. If the soil mixture was initially well fertilized, a simple infusion of wood ash may be sufficient.

The need for subsequent top dressing depends on how the seedlings develop and how much time remains before they are planted in the ground. If there are fears that the seedlings will outgrow, nitrogen should not be given, and it makes sense to repeat the ash top dressing, this can be done 10–12 days before planting. If the plants develop slowly, it is better to use azofoska. The point in top dressing is not to get half a meter bushes by the end of spring, but to make the seedlings strong and stocky.

Video: from sowing seeds to picking tomato seedlings

For seedlings of tomatoes, picking in its classical sense is considered mandatory. Of course, tomatoes will grow without it, but transplanting seedlings into a spacious dwelling with pinching the central root significantly improves the condition of the root system and leads to a stronger plant.

Most gardeners pick when 2-3 true leaves appear. Honestly, personal experience showed that it is easier to do it earlier. If the soil is nutritious, then after 7–8 days, under the right temperature conditions, the seedlings will grow good roots, and the real leaves at this time are just hatching. If you wait longer, the roots can grow so large that it will be difficult to understand which of them is the main one, and it will be difficult to make a hole so that the entire seedling is freely placed in a new place.

Picking a tomato, of course, is best done in separate cups with a capacity of at least 300 ml, but this is only possible when growing 10–20 bushes. We never plant less than 150, it is unrealistic to place so many cups in an apartment. Therefore, even after picking, the seedlings live in a hostel - large wooden boxes. We make them according to the size of the window sills. And tomatoes tolerate planting in the garden quite normally and with some damage to the roots, so you don’t have to worry about having to dig seedlings out of the box.

A few hours before picking, seedlings should be generously watered. Dig up seedlings with a toy scoop or with a fork, spoon - whatever is at hand. It is convenient to make a hole in the size of a dug seedling in a new place with an old pencil (after all, it resembles a pike, here you have a pick!). The central spine is pinched so that it can easily be placed in a new place. Sometimes you have to tear off even half, but more is not necessary. When transplanting, seedlings are deepened so that the cotyledon leaves remain only 5–10 mm from the soil surface. In a common box, seedlings are transplanted according to the scheme no thicker than 10 x 7 cm.
Picking - jewelry occupation

Gently squeezing the roots with your fingers, water the seedlings with warm water and harvest for 2-3 days in partial shade at room temperature. Plants that have taken root in a new place will then quickly continue to grow. Already on the second day, you will see how they are drawn to the light: it means that everything is in order. Boxes from time to time turn one side or the other towards the sun so that the seedlings develop evenly.

hardening

Two weeks before planting in the garden, seedlings are accustomed to fresh air. First open the windows, then take out to the balcony. Of course, the temperature should not be lower than 10-12 ° C, and the time of walking should be increased gradually: from 20 minutes to a full day. In addition, at this time, tomatoes are accustomed to a lack of moisture, reducing the amount of watering. If at the same time the leaves wilt, it's okay: you just need to know when to stop, not to bring the plants to death.

Diseases and pests of seedlings at home

If the seedlings are properly cared for, and the seeds and soil have been disinfected, diseases at home attack very rarely: the causes of seedling diseases must be sought in their actions. Some of the diseases are successfully treated, others are fatal.

• The black leg is the most dangerous disease, most often the cause is waterlogging of the soil, watering with cold water and too dense planting. The fungus infects seedlings near the soil itself, the stem darkens, thins out, the plant dies. Saving diseased specimens is impossible. They must be removed, watered with potassium permanganate and sprinkled with dry sand. But it is best to immediately transplant the surviving plants into clean soil.
  Black leg - a deadly disease
• Septoria (white spotting) is a fungus that covers the leaves with small light spots that turn brown over time. Diseases on initial stages treated by spraying seedlings with fungicides ( Bordeaux mixture, Ridomil Gold).
  Septoria is treated only in the initial stage
• Fusarium wilt is a fungus that infects the stems of plants that darken, wither and lose their elasticity. The leaves lighten, curl and fall off. The missing plants are removed, and the neighboring ones are sprayed with Trichodermin or Fitosporin-M.
  With Fusarium, seedlings can only be saved if specimens that have not begun to wilt can be saved.
• Mosaic of tomatoes - a viral disease, manifested by a characteristic uneven color of the leaves. Spots of various colors and any shape appear on them. Over time, the leaf dries up and dies. Diseased plants should be removed, the remaining ones should be sprayed with a 3% solution of urea.

As soon as the first shoots appear (in the form of hooks), the films are removed from the containers, and the seedlings themselves are placed in a bright, warm place.

Temperature regime

The temperature is slightly reduced and in the first week it is maintained up to 12-15°C during the day and 8-10°C at night. To do this, at night, a window or window is usually slightly opened. In the second week, the temperature is increased by 3-4 ° both during the day and at night. Such temperature regime observed until the appearance of the third and fourth true leaves. In the first week, seedlings usually take root.

Light mode

Always watch the length of daylight hours. It should be at least 12-14 hours. table lamp daylight during morning and evening hours. In the second week of growing seedlings, additional illumination is stopped. Seeds sown in January or February usually take longer to light up, as daylight hours are still short at this time of the year.

Seedlings should be exposed to light for at least 14 hours a day.

Humidity mode

Under the window near the battery put a bucket of water (to ensure the desired humidity). The soil should always be slightly damp. Seeds are watered with warm "living water", very carefully, through a strainer or sprayer. You can’t pour water with a jet, you can wash off all the seeds in one place.

❧ If you grow seedlings on a windowsill, then the ventilation windows must be opened so that strong, cold air flows do not rush into them. Otherwise, young plants will overcool. In very windy weather, it is better to save the seedlings and leave the windows closed.

Picking tomato seedlings

As soon as the first two true leaves appear, the sprouts dive, usually into small individual pots measuring 6 X 6 cm (then it will be easier to plant seedlings already on permanent place). Disposable cups, special pots, plastic containers from under mayonnaise, sour cream (they should be washed and disinfected very well). If there is no such dish, then the seedlings are planted in wide boxes, the height of the walls of which should be at least 15 cm. soil mixture(used the same as for seeds) and watered warm solution potassium permanganate (5 g per 10 liters of water).

Tomatoes dive into boxes in rows at a distance of 5-7 cm from each other and 7-9 cm from another row, while the soil around them is strongly pressed and watered well. Picking is needed in order to provide seedlings with optimal living space, which helps prevent them from stretching.

Sometimes the roots of tomatoes are pinched a little. From this, the root system becomes more branched and superficial. But this procedure cannot be done in arid areas, since pinching reduces the drought resistance of tomatoes (all roots are located in the upper part of the soil).

If the seedlings are a little stretched out, then they are slightly deepened, but the cotyledon leaves are left outside.

Elongated seedlings are often planted differently. Seedlings are placed horizontally in the groove and covered with soil to the first true leaf. Water thoroughly and cover with foil. In this form, leave for 2-3 days.

These two methods are also good because additional roots grow from buried stems and the root system is more powerful, respectively, the plant itself will also be strong and strong. Sometimes the tops of the elongated seedlings are cut off almost to the cotyledon leaves and dive into pots. Then watered and covered with foil. After a while, a real leaf appears. But with this method, the growth of seedlings slows down a little. Therefore, more often plants are simply buried in the soil mixture.

❧ Stepchildren that have appeared on mother plants can be carefully cut off and placed in water for rooting, then planted in pots. Seedlings will be twice as large.

Dive is not always carried out when the first leaves appear. If the plants are thin, weak, then they are not transplanted until the third and fourth leaves appear. Then it will already be clear which sprouts are very weak, and which are strong, with thick stems. The former are discarded and removed, while the latter are transplanted.

Sometimes, when picking, two plants are planted at once, and their stems are tied with a thread. When the stems grow together, the thread is removed, and the top of the weaker plant is removed. Then these seedlings are planted in a permanent place at once, two roots at a time. This method is usually used with a small area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe garden. It increases productivity well. Usually planted on two roots of tall varieties.

Caring for pickled tomato seedlings

After picking, additional lighting is stopped for 3-4 days, then resumed again. The temperature must be at least 20°C. As soon as the seedlings take root, the temperature is slightly reduced (by 2-3 °). Seedlings are watered abundantly about once a week. The soil must be completely wet. If it dries up between waterings, then it should be moistened. Always make sure the soil is moist.

But at the same time, one should not get carried away with watering too much, since plants get sick from an excess of moisture. Watering is carried out only with settled water at room temperature.

After 20-25 days, the seedlings are again transplanted into containers. bigger size(they should be approximately 12 x 12 or 15 x 15 cm). If there is a greenhouse, then the plants are transferred there. With this transplant, the plants are no longer deepened. Then the seedlings are abundantly watered with warm water.

❧ For transplanting seedlings after picking, it is most effective to use peat pots. Further planting of plants in open ground spend with them. Peat is a good fertilizer and the roots of seedlings are not damaged.

Why do tomatoes dive twice? Firstly, the seedlings are not stretched. Secondly, the root system develops much better, since water does not linger in small pots and the roots receive more air. When diving seedlings immediately into large containers, it will be much more difficult to control proper watering (water will begin to stagnate, there will not be enough air for root growth).

Sometimes it happens that the seedlings are very stretched. In this case, the stems of plants are cut at the level of the fifth or sixth leaflets and upper part plants are placed in a container with water. After about 10 days, roots appear on the cut parts, and they are planted in pots with soil mixture or directly in boxes. Stepsons will appear from the cut plants in the axils of the fifth and sixth leaves. Of these, only the upper ones are left, and the lower ones are removed. The seedlings will develop further and produce good standard plants. This procedure is carried out 20-25 days before landing in a permanent place. But it must be remembered that plants are also formed after planting in the ground or a greenhouse, leaving only two main shoots and removing all other stepchildren.

Feeding tomato seedlings

Tomato seedlings are fed several times during the growing process. The first dressing is applied in the phase of the appearance of the first and second true leaves. For 1 liter of water add 1 tsp. liquid fertilizer Agricola Forward. This fertilizer enhances plant growth. The second dressing is usually done immediately after picking. For 10 liters of water, take 4 g of urea, 12 g of sulfate, 35 g of superphosphate, or any finished fertilizer for seedlings and tomatoes. The next top dressing is carried out 10 days after transplanting the plants into large containers. The solution is prepared in the same way as for the second top dressing. Fertilizers are applied during irrigation. After that, a light loosening of the soil is necessarily carried out.

Seedling containers are regularly turned towards the light in different directions, otherwise all plants will be crooked and begin to stretch in one direction.

Boxes with seedlings are usually placed on a windowsill with stands so that air flows to the roots indefinitely.

A week before planting in a permanent place to prevent fungal diseases, seedlings are sprayed with a 5% solution. blue vitriol.

If the plants become pale green after picking, top dressing is done. 1 st. l. urea is diluted in 10 liters of water and tomatoes are watered with this solution, spending 0.5 cups of fertilizer on each plant. After that, they need to be placed in a cool place where the temperature does not rise above 10 ° C, both at night and during the day. Seedlings are not watered for several days. Plants will stop growing and turn dark green with purple tint. After that, the seedlings are again transferred to their usual place.

It happens that the seedlings begin to fatten, i.e. is developing rapidly. In this case do root dressing: 3 tbsp. l. superphosphate is diluted in 10 liters of water. Plants are watered with this solution, spending 1 cup each. The next day after feeding, the seedlings are placed in a warm place. The temperature at night should be 20-22°C, and during the day up to 26°C. The first days the plants are not watered so that the soil dries out a little. Usually, in a week, the seedlings return to normal, and they are transferred to their usual place.

If the seedling grows slowly, then it is watered with a growth stimulator, in particular sodium humate. The solution is diluted with water so that it becomes light brown. One glass is poured per plant.

To save flower buds on the very first brush, 5 days before planting in a permanent place, the seedlings are sprayed with a solution of boric acid (1 g of boric acid per 1 liter of water).

Hardening off tomato seedlings

Before planting on the beds, seedlings must be hardened off. To do this, first open the window and keep it open day and night, excluding severe frosts and winds. When the air temperature outside is 10-12 ° C, boxes with tomatoes are taken out for 2-3 hours on a balcony or street. First, they are hardened in cloudy and calm weather, or the seedlings are covered from direct sunlight with paper. If this is not done, the leaves may burn out in the sun. A week later, in good weather, the seedlings are left on the balcony for the whole day. In the absence of frost, you can leave it overnight, covering it with a covering material or film. If the temperature outside drops or a strong wind blows, then the seedlings are brought home. In hardened plants, the stems become bluish-purple. When hardening, the plants are watered abundantly, otherwise they will begin to fade.

Signs of good tomato seedlings

Properly grown seedlings of tomatoes should be 25-35 cm tall, have 8-12 well-developed leaves and the first formed inflorescences. The stem itself should be thick, with short internodes. The leaves of strong tomatoes are usually dark green in color.

If the seedlings are long and thin, with pale green leaves, large internodes and no buds, which means that it was grown without observing the rules of agricultural technology, planted in late dates. Also reasons bad seedling there may be waterlogging of the soil and low illumination. In the future, these plants will give a small and late harvest, moreover, they can be infected with fungal diseases very quickly.

❧ After the appearance of the first two leaves, the seedlings can be treated with skim milk. To do this, 0.5 cups of milk are diluted in 1 liter of water and the plants are sprayed in the morning so that all the leaves are wet. This will help to avoid viral diseases causing leaf curl.

Planting seedlings in open ground

In the last 3 weeks before planting plants in a permanent place, you should especially carefully monitor the seedlings and observe the temperature and humidity, otherwise the seedlings may turn yellow and stretch.

2-3 days before planting the plants on the beds at the seedlings, 2-3 lower leaves are cut off, leaving stumps 1.5-2 cm long. Then they will dry up and fall off on their own. This procedure helps to reduce the risk of diseases, while the plants themselves are better illuminated and ventilated. The flower brush will develop better.

Landing dates

The tomato is afraid of night frosts, so seedlings are planted only when the threat of the last frost has passed, i.e. in May-June. Of course, the timing also depends on the region. In the southern regions, tomatoes are planted in late April - early May, in more northern latitudes- in mid-June. Seedlings are placed in protected ground a little earlier than in open ground. Usually, planting is started 50-60 days after sowing the seeds, when the seedlings already have at least 5-7 true leaves and there is the first flower brush.

For tomatoes, choose well-lit, protected from the wind and heated southern parts of the garden. The predecessor of tomatoes can be cabbage, legumes, pumpkin crops, onions, root crops. After nightshade tomatoes are planted only after 3 years.

Soil preparation

The soil should be sufficiently fertile, with a neutral or slightly acidic environment. Tomatoes grow best on highly fertile, light, sandy or loamy soils. During the growing season, tomatoes are able to remove almost everything from the soil. nutrients. Therefore, humus or compost is introduced into the soil before planting, approximately 5-6 kg per 1 m2. In the same place, tomatoes can be grown two years in a row, only if they did not suffer from late blight. Organic fertilizer is applied to the beds every year.

8-10 days before planting, seedlings are sometimes sprayed with a 5% solution of copper sulfate. This helps to avoid fungal diseases. Before planting, the soil itself is watered with a solution of potassium permanganate (2 g of potassium permanganate per 10 liters of water). Moreover, the solution should be warm.

landing technique

Tomatoes are usually planted in holes (sometimes in beds) according to the following schemes: tall varieties - 70 X 50 cm, medium-sized - 60 X 50 cm, undersized - 60 X 40 cm. The depth of the holes depends on the height of the container from under the seedlings. Prepare them in advance. Plants are planted in cloudy weather or in the evening. In clear weather, tomatoes will not take root well and get very sick, so they must be covered with green branches, old dishes, creating a shadow.

Before planting, seedlings are watered abundantly so that they can be easily removed from the container.

Strong seedlings are planted vertically, deepening a little. Elongated plants and tall varieties are planted at a slight slope, deepening the stem into the ground to the cotyledon leaves. lower part the stems along with the leaves are sprinkled with earth. Then the tomatoes are abundantly watered with warm water. A peg is immediately stuck next to each plant, which will serve as a support.

Caring for planted tomato seedlings

Caring for tomatoes consists in loosening the soil, hilling, fertilizing, watering and carrying out measures to combat pests and diseases.

The soil is loosened several times during the summer so that there is no crusting. Also, timely loosening (after 8-10 days) eliminates the need for weeding. On heavy soils, in the first 15-20 days of tomato growth, it is necessary to carry out deep loosening to a depth of 8-12 cm in a row and between rows. On light soils, loosening is carried out only between rows. As the tomatoes grow, the loosening depth is reduced to 3-5 cm.

❧ Often, cardboard pots are given out for peat pots for seedlings. They are good as individual containers, but do not act as a fertilizer and decompose in the soil for a long time after planting in open ground. Planting seedlings with cardboard pots should not be.

10-12 days after planting, they begin to hill the plants. Before hilling, it is necessary to water the plants, since hilling with moist soil accelerates the formation of new roots on the stem. The second hilling is carried out 15-18 days after the first.

Tomatoes cover from the bright sun and strong wind and watered every day. If the day is very hot, then in the first three days the plants are watered twice a day (0.5-0.8 liters of water per plant) - in the morning and in the evening.

It is best to water the plants in the afternoon or on cloudy days. Be sure to water the tomatoes during the flowering period of the first or second brush, also before loosening, hilling and after applying dry mineral fertilizers. Throughout the summer, tomatoes are fed with organic and mineral fertilizers.

The first top dressing is done after 8-12 days with a mixture of organic and mineral fertilizers. With an interval of 10-15 days, the second and third top dressings are made with dry mineral fertilizers.

Healthy tomato seedlings are a guarantee of a bountiful harvest of tomatoes. The mistakes that novice gardeners make at the stage of sowing seeds and growing seedlings will certainly affect the fruiting of an adult plant. In this case, there can be no trifles! Let's try to deal with all stages of growing tomato seedlings, starting with determining the timing of sowing and ending with planting bushes in open ground (in boxes - if growing on a balcony is supposed).

Approximately tomato seeds should be sown 55-65 days before planting seedlings in open ground or a greenhouse. Seeds germinate quite quickly - 5-10 days after sowing. Therefore, the average period of keeping seedlings on the windowsill (from emergence) is 45-60 days.

It is important to correctly determine the timing so as not to overexpose the seedlings on the windowsill. This is fraught with inhibition of the growth of an adult bush and a decrease in yield.

Average sowing time for tomatoes:

• in the southern regions of Russia and Ukraine - from the 20th of February to March 15 (landing in the OG - from April 15 to May 20);
• in the central regions of Russia - from March 15 to April 1 (landing in the OG - from May 10 to early June);
• in the northern regions (Siberia, Urals) - from April 1 to April 15 (landing in the OG - from May 25 to June 15).

To accurately answer the question of when to plant tomato seedlings, you need to know about the end date spring frosts in your region. Counting from this period 55-65 days ago, you can accurately determine the date of the desired landing.

If you plan to plant tomato seedlings not in open ground, but in a greenhouse or on a glazed balcony, then sowing can be started 2-3 weeks earlier.

Growing conditions for tomato seedlings

When growing tomato seedlings on a windowsill, create conditions for the seedlings with:

• a large amount of light - it is desirable that the windows face south, not obscured by trees (if there is a lack of natural light, artificial illumination with lamps is required);
• high humidity - spray tomato seedlings 1-2 times a day, use air humidifiers, etc.;
• warm - during the day the optimum temperature for tomato seedlings is 18-25 ° C, at night - 12-15 ° C.

Tomato seedlings: growing at home

Step 1. Preparatory work

Preparatory work may include:

• seed disinfection;
• preparation and disinfection of the soil.

Packaged seeds from well-known manufacturers do not require additional pre-sowing treatment. They have already passed the necessary disinfection at the enterprise. It is quite another matter if the used tomato seeds were collected by hand or bought by weight in the market. Such material can be infected with pathogens of various bacterial, viral and fungal diseases.

To eliminate the infection, use one of the following disinfectant solutions:

• 1% solution of potassium permanganate (1 g per 100 ml of water). Wrap the seeds in gauze and soak in this solution for 15-20 minutes. It is not recommended to keep it longer - the germination of seeds decreases. Rinse seeds with water after treatment.
• 0.5% soda solution (0.5 g per 100 ml of water). Soak the tomato seeds in it for 24 hours. In addition to disinfection, soda solution contributes to earlier fruiting.
• Aloe juice solution (1:1). Ready aloe juice can be purchased at a pharmacy or squeezed from the leaves yourself (they are previously kept in the refrigerator for 5-6 days). Soak the seeds in aloe juice diluted in water for 12-24 hours. Tomatoes from seeds that have undergone such processing are distinguished by increased immunity, improved yield and fruit quality.
• Fitosporin solution. When using liquid Phytosporin (in a bottle), prepare the solution as follows: dilute 1 drop of liquid in 100 ml of water. Prepare a solution of Phytosporin powder at the rate of 0.5 tsp. per 100 ml of water. Keep the seeds in the solution for 1-2 hours.

The soil can also be contaminated, especially if it is dug up from a vegetable garden. Safer soil purchased packaged in flower shops. But even here unpleasant “surprises” can occur, therefore the best way to protect yourself (and seedlings!) from surprises is your own tillage.

The most popular ways to disinfect the soil for seedlings:

• calcination in the oven (10-15 min at 180-200°C);
• heating in the microwave (1-2 minutes at a power of 850);
• disinfection with boiling water (place the soil in a pot with drainage holes and pour it in small portions of boiling water);
• disinfection with potassium permanganate (spill soil strong mortar potassium permanganate).

Disinfection of tomato seeds in potassium permanganate

All these methods can be combined with each other to obtain the most sterile and safe soil for seedlings.

You should not start planting tomatoes for seedlings immediately after preparing the soil! Moisten it and hold it at a positive temperature for 10-12 days. During this time, bacteria useful for plants will begin to multiply in sterile soil. Only then can sowing begin.

Step 2. Sowing tomatoes for seedlings

Fill the containers (cassettes, peat pots, plastic cups, cottage cheese boxes, shallow boxes) with prepared moist soil and make grooves about 1 cm deep in it. The step between the grooves is 3-4 cm. Place the seeds in them at a distance of 1-2 cm, or more. The less often the seeds are sown, the longer it will be possible to keep the seedlings in a seedling container without planting them. Fill the grooves with soil.

Tomato seeds are sown in the ground to a depth of 1 cm

You can make it even easier: lay the seeds on the prepared soil and cover them with a centimeter layer of soil.

Cover with a film or glass from above to provide seedlings with a constant microclimate with a humidity of about 80-90%. In order for the seeds to germinate, the temperature of their content should be 25-30°C. Therefore, place seedling boxes near a radiator or other heat source.

Check soil moisture every day. When dry, spray generously with a spray bottle. In case of excessive moisture - open the film (glass) and wait for drying. Sometimes high humidity leads to the formation of mold on the surface of the soil. Then carefully remove the top infected layer and spill the soil with a solution of potassium permanganate or an antifungal drug (Fundazol, Fitosporin).

The first shoots of tomatoes appear in 3-4 days at a temperature of the above-ground air layer of 25-28°C, at 20-25°C - after 5-6 days, at 10-12°C - 12-15 or more days after sowing.

Cotyledon leaves of tomato seedlings that appeared from under the ground

For more information on when to sow tomatoes for seedlings, how to choose tomato seeds and sow them correctly in the ground, see the video:

Step 3. Caring for tomato seedlings

Lighting

Growing seedlings of tomatoes is impossible without good lighting! Therefore, after the emergence of seedlings, put the pots of seedlings on the lightest window sill. In February-early March, there will be not enough light for seedlings in any case, therefore, if possible, use additional lighting with fluorescent lamps.

There is a version (author - Tugarova T.Yu.) that better development tomato seedlings can be achieved if the seedlings are illuminated around the clock for the first 2-3 days after germination. After that, you can switch to the normal mode of illumination - 16 hours a day (total duration of daylight hours).

Humidity and watering

Young seedlings should be kept at high, almost extreme humidity, drying is unacceptable. Therefore, do not rush to immediately remove the film (glass) from the seedling container. Open it a little every day so that the seedlings get used to the fresh air, but at the same time remain in the "greenhouse". After 1-2 weeks, the shelter can be completely removed.

Tomato seedlings growing under the film at home may not need watering for a long time. Look at the condition of the soil: do not plant a swamp, but at the same time do not allow the top layer to dry out (while the roots of the sprouts are still small and are in the top layer of soil, so drying it will mean drying out the roots). Tomato seedlings should be watered carefully, under the stem. In order not to damage the sprouts, you can use a syringe (without a needle) or a pipette.

After removing the film, the frequency of watering tomato seedlings should be proportional to the amount of heat and light. With an increase in temperature and a lengthening of daylight hours, tomatoes begin to grow and “drink” moisture from the soil faster. Accordingly, the soil dries out faster, watering is required more often.

It is important not to dry young tomatoes. Often, inexperienced gardeners are faced with such a nuisance: in the evening, when they come home from work, they notice their seedlings are completely drooping, although in the morning they still looked quite normal. It is necessary to check the seedlings in the morning, when there is still no hot sun. If you notice that the sprouts are a little sluggish, water immediately. Otherwise, at noon, the rays of the sun can dry up still weak young seedlings.

Bays can also be dangerous. It’s bad that flooded and dried tomato seedlings may look the same: the stems lose turgor, the leaves wither. Seeing such symptoms, pay attention to the ground. If it is wet, in no case do not add water - ruin the seedlings. Place the seedling container in a place protected from direct sunlight, do not water until the earth dries out. In the future, adjust the number of waterings.

Cold window sills combined with moist soil are especially detrimental to young tomato sprouts. Therefore, watering in the evening (in February-April) is not recommended. At night, the temperature can drop significantly, the sprouts will freeze and start to hurt.

Fresh air

As soon as there is a warm, windless day, take the seedlings out to Fresh air: to the balcony, to the street or just open the window. Even in March, on a sunny day, the temperature on the open balcony can reach up to 15-20°C! If such a day coincided with the emergence of shoots - great luck! Take out the sprouts to bask in the sun. The fact is that on the first day after germination, tomato sprouts are protected from UV rays, which prevents them from burning. Such sprouts from infancy will be heat-resistant, hardened and can be "walked" in the sun regularly.

If you did not have time to take the seedlings out into the sun on the first day, then it is no longer possible to do this after 1-2 days - the innate hardening has disappeared. In this case, you will have to gradually accustom the sprouts to the sun. The first day - 5 minutes is enough. Then every day you can increase the duration of walks by another 5 minutes.

Tomato seedlings, which were exposed every day to the open sunny balcony(in the yard), by the time of landing for permanent residence, it quickly catches up in growth with the seedlings that were sown a month earlier, but were kept on the windowsill behind glass and without illumination.

top dressing

Tomato seedlings need top dressing 2-3 weeks after the first shoots. In the future, fertilizers will have to be applied every week. It is best to use natural organic fertilizers, for example, from manure or grass. Of the purchased ones, specialized fertilizers based on guano, humic fertilizers, biohumus, etc. are good. Feed seedlings at half the dose indicated for the specific fertilizer.

Step 3. Picking (transplanting into large cups, pots)

The first true leaves of tomato sprouts appear on the 7-10th day. At this age, if the seeds were sown too closely in one container, you can pick the seedlings into separate cups. Despite the fact that tomatoes tolerate transplanting well, this must be done carefully. Transplant sprouts with a clod of earth on the roots. Some gardeners advise pinching the central root of tomato seedlings when picking. However, we do not recommend doing this - the roots in any case, even with the most accurate transplantation, are still damaged. Additionally, there is no need to injure the plant. Moreover, it can be harmful: pinching up to 1/3 of the root will delay the development of seedlings for 1 week.

When picking seedlings, a tomato clod of earth on the roots should remain

The first transplant is carried out in small cups of 200 ml.

After 2-3 weeks, seedlings can be dived a second time - into larger pots. If the seeds were originally sown in individual containers (cups, cassettes), then this transplant will be the first. It is not recommended to use pots less than 0.5-1 l. Professional gardeners prefer even larger volumes - 3-5 liters per plant. But, you see, not every window sill can withstand such seedling plantations, especially in a city apartment. Yes, this is not necessary: ​​1 liter of land for 1 plant is enough for the eyes!

Picking tomato sprouts in peat pots

You can learn how to grow tomato sprouts and dive seedlings by watching the video:

Step 4. Preparation for planting for permanent residence (in the greenhouse, on the balcony, in the exhaust gas)

At the age of 1.5 months, tomato seedlings at home kick out the first flower brushes. As soon as you notice them, know that after 10-15 days, seedlings should be planted for permanent residence - in a greenhouse, on a balcony or in an exhaust gas. It is impossible to delay the transplant, otherwise it will lead to a decrease in yield.

If you decide to keep tomato seedlings on the windowsill for more than 45-60 days, then it should be provided with at least 1 liter of land per 1 plant. If you keep the tomatoes in relatively small containers even 10 days longer than it should be, and let them bloom, then they will stop their vegetative growth and will forever remain “undersized”. Even in the OG, they will no longer be able to accelerate and will never turn into full-fledged plants. Accordingly, you also don’t have to wait for a full-fledged harvest from them!

You can partially solve this problem if you remove the first flower brush. The next brush will appear only in a week, that is, it will be possible to postpone the planting of seedlings for permanent residence for a week.

Good tomato seedlings before planting should have thick stems, large leaves, a strong root system and developed buds.

Characteristics healthy seedling tomato: powerful bush, large juicy leaves, thick stems, developed root system

Step 5. Planting tomato seedlings in the ground

The distance between tomatoes in a greenhouse or exhaust gas should be 30-40 cm. If you decide to grow garden plantations on a balcony, then 4-12 liters of land should be allocated for each tomato bush. 4-5 liters will be enough for undersized "balcony" varieties: "Balcony Miracle", "Dwarf", "Hummingbird", etc. Large garden varieties suitable for exhaust gas ("Sashenka", "Sunrise", etc.) are grown in containers of 10-12 liters.

For tomatoes, fertile garden soil (chernozem) is good, mixed with peat soil "Universal" or "For vegetables" in a ratio of 1: 1.

Planting tomato seedlings Permanent residence is better just coincide with a cool, windless and cloudy day. Plant seedlings, deepening the central stem a couple of centimeters. After a few days, additional roots will begin to form along the buried stem. In general, the root system will become more powerful and stronger.

After planting, water the tomato seedlings with warm water and wait for the harvest!

Planting tomato seedlings in a balcony box for permanent residence

And, finally, in order to better understand the intricacies of growing tomato seedlings and transplanting them for permanent residence in open ground, a greenhouse or a balcony, we suggest watching a short video below:

Improperly grown or early planted seedlings will not please you with a rich harvest. Flower buds in elongated, fragile sprouts develop poorly, fewer flowers are obtained. only healthy and strong seedlings quickly takes root in the ground, actively blooms and gives tasty and large fruits. How to plant tomatoes for seedlings so that the harvest is of high quality?

Tomato seed preparation

No matter how experienced a gardener is, he will not be able to grow an enviable fruit from a bad seed. Therefore, the choice of seeds must be approached responsibly and it is better to purchase several different types, in case any sort fails.

Seeds are sorted before sowing. Empty, damaged and small copies are removed. Experienced gardeners it is recommended to fill them with salt water (60 grams of salt per liter of liquid) and remove from the total mass those seeds that float to the surface. To make it easier to choose the best variety in the future, it is better to store and plant seeds separately or in groups and marking where which species is.

To prevent infection of seeds, it is necessary to carry out a disinfection procedure. To do this, the seeds for a day are placed in a container with a solution acetic acid(0.8%), after 20 minutes they are dipped into a cup with a solution of potassium permanganate (2 grams per glass of water). After the manipulations to protect the seeds are completed, they must be thoroughly rinsed with running water.

Video - correctly plant tomato seeds for seedlings

Ways to improve seed germination

• warming up

The bag of seeds is lowered into a thermos with hot water for several hours, or the seeds are washed under hot water.

• Enrichment with mineral fertilizers

Seeds are soaked for 24 hours in a special solution, which can be found in a specialized store or prepared independently. in one liter clean water you need to stir a mixture of copper sulfate, ammonium sulfate. There should also be added boric acid, potassium salt and superphosphate.

After the seeds are processed and disinfected, they are placed in a damp cloth and germinated, constantly making sure that it does not dry out.

For better adaptation of sprouts to the climate, it is recommended to harden the seeds. Swollen seeds are sent to the refrigerator for 1-2 days, so resistance to low temperatures is developed.

Video - the process of sowing and soaking tomato seeds for seedlings

Preparing the soil mixture for seedlings

In order for the tomatoes to be large and healthy, they need to be planted in soddy soil mixed with humus and sand. To maintain normal acidity, resin and chalk should be added to the soil (for every ten kilograms of earth: resin - 0.5 l, chalk - 100 g). But you can buy ready-made soil mixture or peat tablets in the store (about two seeds per piece), the main thing is to choose a trusted manufacturer.

Seeds must first be planted in one large container, and then the best sprouts should be picked in a separate container. Picked sprouts can be planted in special containers that are sold in gardening stores or adapted for this. plastic bottles. Remember to make drainage holes in the bottom of each container.

How to grow seedlings

When growing seeds, the main thing is to follow the rules for planting them, the temperature regime and follow the recommendations for watering and providing lighting to the sprouts.

The best time to plant seeds

It usually takes 1.5–2 months for tomato seeds to germinate, and accordingly, the planting time depends on the area in which they are planned to be grown. If you hurry with planting, the sprouts will form before the weather stabilizes and it will simply be impossible to plant them in the ground due to the cold weather. If you plant the seeds late, the sprouts will not have time to get stronger and will not survive after transplanting into the ground. Early spring – optimal time for planting tomato seeds for seedlings.

The process of planting seeds

The prepared mixture is poured into the container, lightly crushed with palms. After that, water the soil a little with water, cover the container with a plastic bag and leave it overnight so that the moisture is evenly distributed. After the surface of the earth is leveled, I make grooves 0.5–1 cm deep at a distance of 4–5 cm from each other. Seeds are carefully placed in the recesses and covered with earth and watered again.

Temperature regime

Then the container is covered with glass or a bag and sent to a warm place where the temperature is not lower than 22 degrees - to the battery or to the windowsill (in the sun). After 5-7 days, when the first shoots hatch, the glass (film) can be removed, and the seedlings can be sent to a cooler place (up to 16 degrees), for about the same time. And when the sprouts get stronger, it is necessary to observe the temperature regime - during the day up to 24 degrees, at night not lower than 12.

It is also worth remembering that humid air is harmful to tomatoes. The room in which the containers with seedlings will be placed should be regularly ventilated. Drafts and sudden changes in temperature should be avoided so that the plants do not die.

Picking tomato sprouts

The formation of the first leaves is a sign that it is time to remove weak and unviable sprouts from the container. The root is pinched during this procedure to accelerate the growth of the root system.

But there is no need to rush into picking. Before starting the process of sorting the sprouts, you should make sure that they are strong enough, the bases should be thick. Otherwise, the pick should be postponed.

The pick is made in seedling cups, the sprouts go deep into the soil along the cotyledon leaves. With this procedure, you can reduce the stretching of the sprouts. To do this, add more light to the dived sprouts.

Lighting

In order for the seedlings to be strong and green, it needs good and long-term lighting, and in the early days even around the clock. If the windows are on sunny side, then the light of the seedlings placed on the windowsill will be enough. If the sun is not enough, you need to install several special lamps. Tomatoes are very demanding on light, so additional lighting is required.

Watering seedlings

Soil moisture must be constantly monitored. At the initial stage, a few tablespoons of water are enough, after which the volume gradually increases, but in cold weather it is necessary to water less often. Soil Watering Tips:

• do not allow the soil to dry out in containers;
• it is not recommended to spray the sprouts;
• it is better to water with a weak solution with mineral fertilizers instead of water.

With an excess of moisture, the leaves become yellow tint and the roots gradually die off. In addition, at frequent watering sprouts can stretch, which will adversely affect the quality of future tomatoes.

Planting tomato seedlings

Before moving the sprouts into the ground, it is necessary to harden them. To do this, the seedlings are gradually accustomed to cold air: they increase ventilation, leave the windows open at night.

It is recommended to plant seedlings in late spring - early summer, when the frosts have passed, and the temperature does not drop below 15 degrees. How to determine that the sprouts are ready to "move"? If the sprout has 5-6 leaves and its stem is thick and strong, then it's time to transplant it.

Features of growing large tomatoes:

• you need to plant seedlings in a well-lit place, protected from the wind;
• the most suitable watering regimen is 2 times a week;
• it is better to use light, sandy and loamy soils;
• sprouts are planted in pre-prepared and spilled holes at a right angle;
• you need to plant sprouts at a distance of 30-40 cm from each other;
• it is necessary to prepare the soil before planting, fertilize it;
• next to each sprout, you should stick a peg for support;
• between rows should be at least 60 cm.

Harvesting is done when the tomatoes turn red. If you pick green tomatoes, then this will affect their taste.

Video - how to plant tomato seedlings in a greenhouse

Mistakes when growing tomato seedlings

The main mistakes of a bad tomato crop:

• poor quality seeds;
• planting seeds for seedlings too early or vice versa very late;
• non-compliance with the temperature regime;
• improper watering (abundant or insufficient);
• poor lighting quality;
• refusal of hardening procedures.

A good harvest directly depends on the quality of seedlings. Therefore, you need to responsibly approach the choice of seeds, it is better to take several varieties and subsequently choose the best one, the most adapted to your area and weather conditions. Before planting, sort out low-quality seeds and process good ones. Prepare the soil mixture, plant the seeds and provide them with proper care. Only if the above recommendations are followed can we hope for a large and tasty harvest.

Growing tomato seedlings at home is a process that requires a lot of time and attention. But later you will be rewarded bountiful harvest. Sowing tomatoes for seedlings begins at the end of winter or the beginning of spring, depending on the region.

Tomatoes suggest sowing for seedlings, because these are southern heat-loving plants, and it is precisely seedling method cultivation allows you to get a crop in a short summer. Therefore, we plant tomatoes in the ground with seedlings, and not with seeds. How to plant seedlings of tomatoes depends on their further development and the harvest itself. An experienced vegetable grower who knows how to properly plant tomato seedlings first determines the sowing date, then skillfully selects and prepares planting material, as well as suitable dishes. After sowing, you need to grow tomato seedlings at home strong and healthy, so that when the time comes, plant tomato seedlings in open ground or in a greenhouse.

When to plant

Planting tomato seedlings in open ground occurs after 45–60 days of growth, when it has grown by 20–30 cm, has 5–7 leaves and a flower lash. Knowing weather terrain, it can be assumed that in spring the soil warms up to + 12 ... + 15 ° C and the threat disappears return frosts. From this time, approximately 65 days must be subtracted - this will be the date when the cultivation of tomato seedlings is allowed.

In the southern regions of Russia and Ukraine, sowing is done even in winter. In Central Russia, summer residents sow tomatoes for seedlings after March 15, and gardeners in Siberia and the Urals - in the first half of April. If you plan to plant seedlings of tomatoes in the protected ground of the greenhouse, then seedlings of tomatoes at home begin to be grown 20 days earlier. Sowing is best done with the growing moon, choosing the right day in accordance with lunar calendar.

Selection and preparation of seeds

Preparation of tomato seeds for sowing seedlings begins a few days before a certain date by heating the seeds and determining the degree of their germination. Wherever the seeds were stored before, they should be moved to a warm room. Many summer residents prefer to hold a gauze bag of seeds near the battery for a couple of days.

To determine how many seeds you need, it is desirable to know the percentage of their germination. For this they take a certain amount of seeds (the more, the more accurate the forecast will be), soaked with warm water, spread on cotton pads or a soft cloth moistened with water, kept by the battery until sprouts appear. Then the percentage of germinated seeds is calculated and determined required amount seed, if necessary, buy it in addition.

Next, the seeds are culled by soaking them for a while: seeds that do not settle to the bottom can be thrown away. Usually this selection is carried out simultaneously with the preparation, since it still involves soaking the seed. Some gardeners simply soak the seeds in warm soft water for a day before sowing. This is enough for seeds purchased from good manufacturer, which has already decontaminated them. If the seed was taken from its stocks or was purchased on the market (without certificates), then you should first hold it for 20–25 minutes in a saturated solution of potassium permanganate, and then dry it slightly. You can soak the seeds for a day with an aqueous solution of aloe juice (take an equal amount of water and juice), which will make future plants stronger and positively affect the quality of the crop. You can hold them for a day in a soda solution (2 g of soda per 1 glass of water), which contributes to early fruiting.

Necessary conditions for growing

Not sure how to grow tomato seedlings? First of all, you need to prepare conditions that are comfortable for her: a balance of heat and moisture, the right amount of light, fresh air without drafts, suitable dishes. How many days does it take for tomatoes to sprout? best temperature for germination - from +26 to +30 ° C, sprouts will appear in 3-5 days. At a temperature of + 22 ... + 25 ° C, tomatoes will sprout in 7-9 days, at a lower temperature - longer.

Light is not needed until sprouts appear, which means that the dishes can be stacked on top of each other and kept on the floor near the battery. But first you need to prepare the soil in which you can plant the seeds. Tomato seedlings grow well in loose nutrient soil that can hold the right amount of moisture. taken equal parts humus and sod land - a good option, only need to add sand or sawdust for friability. You can take black soil, sand and garden soil, sand and high peat, coconut substrate, peat tablets. The main requirement for the soil is that the pH should be 5.5–6.0.

It is advisable to sift the soil through a fine sieve so that its fractions correspond to the size of the seed, otherwise there will be air voids between the small roots and the ground. Also, the soil must be disinfected before use. To do this, it is shed with a hot saturated solution of potassium permanganate, kept for 30 minutes in an oven heated to 200 ° C or a couple of minutes in the microwave at maximum power. After that, the earth is moistened and left for 2 weeks at room temperature.

Sowing

Planting tomatoes with seeds takes place in different containers. These can be cassettes, peat tablets or cups, individual pots or boxes. Peat tablets and cups are good because you can do without a pick; cassettes on a pallet are convenient for the possibility of bottom irrigation; most summer residents use wooden or plastic crates to save space. It is enough to take boxes 10 cm high, fill them with prepared soil by 2/3, moisten it with warm, clean and soft water. Grooves are made in the soil with a depth of 1–1.5 cm at a distance of 3–4 cm from each other.

Prepared seeds are laid out in them, sprinkled with sand, earth or vermiculite. From above, the sowing is covered with glass or a transparent film, placed at a heat source. After how many days the seedlings sprout depends on the quality of the seed, temperature and humidity level, but immediately after that the glass is removed and the dishes are exposed to light.

Seedling Care

How to grow tomato seedlings before planting tomatoes in open ground? It needs to be watered, provided with the right amount of light, sometimes the aisles are loosened, and the air temperature is regulated. As soon as the seeds germinate, they reduce the air temperature to +16 ° C for a week so that they do not stretch excessively. But they need to be provided with light around the clock for the first 3-4 days. Then they will need a 12-hour daylight hours, so they will have to illuminate with a phytolamp, placing it above the box. A week after the appearance of the first sprouts, the temperature regime is set with a daytime temperature of about +22 ° C, and at night - + 16 ... + 18 ° C. It is believed that until the first true leaf appears, seedlings can not be watered, but it is better to check the condition of the soil and water if necessary.

You can moisten the ground from above with a syringe (without a needle) or a narrow neck of a watering can so as not to wet the stems. How older plants the more moisture they need. With the appearance of 2-3 leaves, they are watered weekly, and with the appearance of 5 leaves - every 3-4 days. Water should be clean, soft, warm (a couple of degrees warmer than air).

After the first true leaf appears, the seedlings are thinned out so that the distance between plants is at least 5 cm. If there are not enough seedlings, they are carefully transplanted into empty places. If the seedling looks weak, it lacks nutrition, then you can feed it at the same time as watering the Agricola Vegeta solution or another special preparation, it is only advisable to dilute it in a lower concentration than indicated on the package. After picking, you can water the plants with a solution charcoal, calcium nitrate and urea, and strictly on the ground, so as not to burn the greens.

picking

When the third real leaf appears in the plants, they dive into separate cups with a volume of at least 0.5 liters. The dishes are filled with the same soil as for sowing, moistened, a depression is made in the middle, and the plant is placed. Some vegetable growers shorten the central root at the same time, but others consider this unnecessary, since the root is still injured during transplantation.

So, how to plant correctly, everyone decides for himself. At in large numbers seedlings are swooped down by 2 plants folded together, tied tightly with synthetic thread. When they are accepted in a new place, they will grow up to 15 cm tall, grow together with stalks, pinch off one top. This forms a strong plant with a double root. Be that as it may, planting tomato seedlings in separate cups greatly weakens them, so for several days they increase the air temperature for easier survival.

Terms of landing in the ground

When to plant tomatoes in open ground with seedlings depends on the region. The timing of planting seedlings in the ground varies from April in the south to early June in the north. For summer residents of the central regions of Russia, May - the best time plant seedlings. It is better to coordinate the days for planting tomatoes in May with the lunar calendar, but you can plant tomatoes in the ground in May if the earth has warmed up and the threat of frost has passed. You can plant tomato seedlings in the ground if it has reached 30 cm in height, has 6–7 leaves and a flower lash. 2 weeks before the proposed planting of tomatoes, they begin to harden them, taking them out into the street. Walks begin with a short time: first put in the shade, then increase the time, accustom to direct sunlight.

How to properly plant

Before planting tomatoes in the garden, they loosen and moisten it, although the main preparation took place in the fall. When planting tomatoes in the ground, holes are often fertilized by mixing mineral fertilizers with the ground. Planting tomatoes takes place on a warm cloudy day. It is even desirable to shade them for the first two days.

Seedlings are watered abundantly to make it easier to remove from the dishes. They are placed in prepared holes together with a clod of earth, deepened to cotyledon leaves. If the plants are too long on the windowsill, you can plant even deeper by cutting off a couple of lower leaves and placing them at an angle in the ground. Then new roots will grow from the stem.

Between the bushes undersized varieties leave 30 cm, and between rows - 70 cm. If the bushes grow tall and wide, then a gap of at least 60 cm is left between them, and between rows - at least 130 cm. Planted plants are squeezed with earth, watered, mulched with sawdust, sand and peat .

Further care of the bushes

If the planting of tomatoes was successful, it still takes several days for the planted seedlings to adapt in a new place.

Next, be sure to remove the weeds, loosen the ground after watering. Fertilize for the first time 10 days after planting, and then after 2 weeks, if the soil condition requires it. Tomatoes require uniform watering, but not excessive, so as not to provoke fungal diseases. It is necessary to pinch plants in time, as well as form bushes.

Video "Planting tomatoes in open ground"

From this video you will learn how to properly plant tomatoes in open ground.