How To Grow Tomato Seedlings

Growing tomato seedlings

In the conditions of the Leningrad Region, it is possible to obtain a high yield of tomato fruits, including mature ones, both in the open and in protected ground, only by planting over-aged (55-60 days) potted seedlings.

Usually, it takes about eight weeks from germination to the appearance of buds in early ripening varieties, and from the beginning of flowering to the ripening of the first fruits, it is also about eight weeks.

The fruiting period of tomatoes in the open field in our conditions does not exceed 20 days. Therefore, for open ground, early ripening standard varieties should be used, seedlings should be 55-60 days old, with the first inflorescence in the bud or flowering phase.

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This will allow you to get the main harvest of fruits on August 15-20 and get away from damage by late blight, which causes the death of the crop. The timing of planting seedlings in open ground is determined by the presence of heat; in different years they range from May 25 to June 10.

Since frost and return of cold weather are very often observed in our conditions, we recommend planting in open ground in several stages and have seedlings of different ages. So, for planting seedlings on May 25, seeds are sown on March 30, June 10 - April 5-10, respectively. However, without the use of the simplest shelters, it is not possible to grow tomatoes in the open field every year.

That is why the most stable crop of good quality can be obtained only in protected ground using glass greenhouses, film greenhouses and simple shelters.

Depending on the type of cultivation facility in which tomatoes will be grown, it is necessary to change the varieties, choosing according to early maturity, height, power and type of growth.

The time of planting in protected ground is determined by the presence of heat and light. For film shelters - from May 15 to 25, in film greenhouses without heating - May 10-15, in film greenhouses with heating - from mid-April. It must be remembered that growing tomato seedlings until mid-March requires mandatory highlighting.

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The technology of growing tomato seedlings is well known to our gardeners. And it boils down to the following.

Calibrated large seeds are heated for 3-4 hours at 45 ° C, etched for 30 minutes in a 1% solution of potassium permanganate, washed, kept for 2-3 days under a damp cloth in a warm room until they swell completely. Those who have mastered the technique well and are not afraid to take risks can be hardened by keeping the swollen seeds for three days at -1-3 ° C.

This technique accelerates seed germination, increases the resistance of plants to low temperatures, provides earlier fruiting, and increases the yield. The naklyuvshie seeds are sown on a school in a box filled with a mixture of turf soil, humus and peat (1: 1: 1) with the addition of wood ash, superphosphate. The distance between rows should be 4-5 cm, between seeds 1-1.5 cm, planting depth 1-2 cm.

The box is kept in the dark at 19-25 ° C, periodically moistening the soil until shoots appear, and then transferred to a lighted place. For tomato seedlings, a temperature of 18-23 ° C is required during the day, and within 16-17 ° C at night. When the first true leaf appears, thinning is carried out, leaving the plants 3-4 cm apart, the aisles are sprinkled with wood ash and loosened. After 10 days, the seedlings are fed with a solution of ekofoski 3-4 g per 1 liter of water.

With the appearance of the second true leaf, the seedlings dive into various pots and cups.

Protect the root system from damage. To obtain an overaged, but compact, low seedling, it should be grown with a lack of moisture in the soil, but do not allow the soil to dry out. Every 10 days, make a liquid fertilizing with ecofos, after feeding the plants are watered.

Ready-to-plant tomato seedlings should have at least eight true leaves, 20-30 cm in height, and the thickness of the stem should be at least 1 cm.If natural conditions do not allow planting seedlings, watering is reduced to a minimum, but so that the plants do not wither, air humidity should be 60-70%. Before planting seedlings in the ground, it is advisable to harden them at a temperature of 0 ° C, first they are kept for 1 hour, and then they are exposed on the balcony for the whole day.