The problem of stretching seedlings is familiar to every gardener, experienced or novice.
The main thing here is not to find out the reasons, but to start acting. The later the problem is detected, the higher, thinner and weaker the vegetable bushes will be.
Follow these simple tips if you want to prevent your tomato seedlings from becoming leggy.
Reasons
The reasons are all familiar and old. High soil and air temperatures against the background of a lack of light contribute to this.
The same thing happens due to overwatering. Of course, insufficient lighting is to blame.
How to proceed
The main thing is to inspect the garden every day, and then there shouldn’t be any problems with the seedlings.
1. It is necessary to use phytolamps, which are placed above the seedlings at a height of 10 to 15 centimeters. However, the parameters depend on the power of the device, so read the instructions.
2. In the case of tomatoes, additional lighting is turned on for 14 hours a day. In sunny weather, the lamp can be turned off, but turned on again in the morning and evening.
3. It is important that seedlings grow no closer than 3-5 cm from each other. The problem can lead to a lack of light and the risk of spreading pests and diseases.
4. After the seedlings appear, the air temperature in the room where the tomatoes are growing should be between 18-21 degrees during the day.
5. Water as needed, but the soil should not dry out completely.
And finally. Gardeners advise stroking the tops of seedlings daily. They say that simply touching the leaves with your palm stimulates the growth of the stem, imitating the movement of the wind.
