Seedling tomato at home

From the moment when a small tomato seed turns into a plant with juicy fruits, similar to the image on the package, at least four months will pass. In order that the summer resident’s efforts were not wasted, we decided to tell how to grow tomato seedlings at home. It is necessary to strictly observe all the rules of agricultural technology. As practice shows, good tomato seedlings do not always guarantee a successful harvest. Consider in detail the entire cycle of plant development.

Maturity does not always coincide with reality

In order to get an early and rich harvest of tomatoes in the middle lane, you must first choose the right variety. Very often, many inexperienced gardeners choose tomatoes from the image on the package. And this is a big mistake. In order to increase sales of their products, modern manufacturers slightly embellish not only the picture, but also the information on the back of the bag. For the buyer, the weight of the finished fruit and the early ripening are of great importance. When buying a particular variety, you should not completely believe that the vegetable will be of extraordinary size, and one plant will flood its host with kilograms of fruits. If this were the case, then our vegetable growing did not resort to the purchase of imported vegetables, but was quite content with their production.

Therefore, evaluate packaging soberly. The term specified in agricultural technology should always be increased by at least 20-30 days. Based on this, it is not difficult to calculate when a real crop will be obtained. Seedlings of homemade tomatoes planted in March will produce crops only in July, and this will be the earliest. Alas, it is not worth counting on faster obtaining of fruits.
It is best to consult experienced gardeners before you buy seeds. Their opinion will be very useful in this case. Perhaps they will advise the best varieties that are guaranteed to give a rich harvest of quality vegetables.

First days of life

Before planting the seeds in the soil, they must first be soaked. They do this in March, when there are more sunny days than cloudy ones. The emphasis on the number of clear days was not accidental. As you know, the sun is an important factor in the full growth of the plant. Seedlings of tomatoes planted at home, lacks light, is greatly stretched and loses its quality characteristics. Of course, there are all kinds of devices for highlighting young seedlings, but none of them can replace real sun rays. All plants have an internal biological rhythm, so the percentage of hatching seeds in the spring months will be greater.

In 2–4 days after soaking, the seeds will appear white roots and this will be a signal that it is time to plant them in the ground. Seedling boxes can be small, as young plants will spend in them only the first month. Then the seedlings will be transplanted into more comfortable conditions.

Soil for seedlings must be of high quality. It is best to buy land in stores, as responsible manufacturers make balanced mixtures containing everything necessary for a good start. Landing ground should be light, crumbly and not contain foreign matter in the form of roots and insects. For additional disinfection, the mixture can be calcined in a hot oven or spilled with a pink solution of potassium permanganate, but usually such precautions are unnecessary.

Seeds are planted in moist soil to a depth of 1 cm. Seedling containers can be additionally covered with a film to maintain the temperature regime. After about 5 days, small loops of seedlings should appear.From this moment, the film cover must be removed and the plant should be given good lighting.

Within a month, seedlings will slowly develop and grow green mass. At this time, the cultivation of tomato seedlings from seeds consists only in regular watering and lighting. In the evening hours, plants need to be additionally highlighted to extend daylight hours and to prevent excessive stretching.

Moving to new apartments and living conditions

As soon as a second rosette of leaves appears on young seedlings, tomato seedlings need to be transplanted into more spacious containers. If this is not done on time, tomato growth will be delayed. For each seedling, a volume of at least 200 ml is allocated. For these purposes, suitable plastic cups, packaging for baby juice or homemade mushrooms. The main thing is that the boxes have drainage holes and are opaque in color.

When transplanting plants need to be deepened into the ground to the first leaf. This method will help to build an additional root system, which in the future will provide good nutrition to an adult plant.
During the second month, tomato seedlings at home will increase pretty well in size and by the beginning of May will be almost ready for planting. It is important to prevent plants from blooming in seedlings. When transplanting flowering seedlings to a permanent place, tomatoes can lose color and slow down in development.
Permanent residence

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If there is a greenhouse on the plot, then seedlings can be planted in the first decade of May.

We recommend that you read how to care for tomatoes in a polycarbonate greenhouse.

True, the threat of spring frost is a dangerous factor, but a high-quality polycarbonate greenhouse can quite cope with such a problem. Film greenhouses are less effective, but they can be equipped with additional covering material. You can plant tomato seedlings in open ground after spring frosts end.

Seedlings are planted in a greenhouse on the same principle as during a dive. Seedlings need to be deepened well or planted with an inclination. After transplanting, tomatoes will begin to develop even faster, since the roots will not be constrained by the limited conditions of seedlings.

By the end of May, seedlings will require garters to support. If the height of the greenhouse allows, then you can use for garter tape, mounted on the frame. In low greenhouses, additional supports are used that are stuck from the side opposite to the root.
During flowering, tomatoes need pollination, especially for varieties planted in a greenhouse. For better fruit setting, it is necessary to tap daily on the trunk so that pollen falls on neighboring inflorescences. You can also spray tomatoes with the “ovary” preparation, which will significantly increase the number of fruits.

Tomatoes do not require frequent watering, as excess moisture is fatal for them. It is enough to water the tomatoes once a week, and on hot days it is good to ventilate the greenhouse.

Tomato bush formation

An adult plant necessarily needs to be formed. Tall varieties of tomatoes form in one or two trunks, and undersized in 2-3. Additional processes growing from the sinus of the leaf are called stepsons. Extra stepchildren must be removed, as they take away the plant’s strength. The first lower processes are left, as they will form the main trunks of the bush, on which the crop will be tied.

Excess leaves must also be removed. For the full development of a tomato, it will be sufficient to leave 2-3 top leaves. In tall varieties, all leaves are removed to a flowering brush. After the development of the next inflorescence, the leaves are again removed.After the plant reaches its maximum height, you need to pinch the crown to stop the growth and direct forces to ripen the fruit.

Now you know not only how to grow tomato seedlings at home, but also how to get a good crop from it.

It will also be useful for you to find out about growing eggplant in a polycarbonate greenhouse.