Peculiarities of Growing Tomato Seedlings: 7 Things Beginner Gardeners Should Know

If you want to get a bountiful tomato harvest, you will have to pay attention to growing seedlings.

It is not without reason that experienced gardeners spend a lot of time and effort to obtain healthy, strong seedlings.

Anastasia Kovrizhnykh , an expert of the online publication "BelNovosti", an agronomist and landscape designer, spoke about growing tomato seedlings.

This article provides 7 tips that will help novice gardeners also get an excellent harvest.

Remember moderation

In the case of tomatoes, it is better to underdo than to overdo. It is better to underfeed seedlings than to overfeed them.

Excessive fertilizer can cause rapid growth, delayed fruiting, growth suppression and other problems.

The same goes for watering. If the tomato plant is hanging its ears, it's okay. It will return to normal after watering. But if diseases appear due to excess moisture, it is much more difficult to fix.

Soil preparation

Organize suitable soil for seedlings. Use fertile soils, add organic fertilizers to provide plants with all the necessary nutrients.

The easiest way is to buy a ready-made soil mixture. But you can also make it yourself by mixing 2 parts peat, 1 part fertile soil, 1 part perlite. You can add 0.5 parts humus, but not when sowing, but when picking.

Sowing dates

Determine the optimal time for sowing tomato seeds. This is usually done 6-8 weeks before the seedlings can be transplanted into open ground.

Beginner gardeners think that the earlier you sow seeds, the better. But this is not true.

Overgrown seedlings do not tolerate transplantation into open ground well, take longer to adapt to new conditions, and are more susceptible to diseases. And all this has a negative impact on crop yields.

Temperature conditions

Maintain a warm environment for successful seed germination and plant development. Tomatoes love warmth, so provide them with optimal temperatures in the range of 20-25 °C for active growth.

Lighting

For plants to develop normally, artificial lighting is required. Maintain a light regime of 14-16 hours per day.

If you don’t have a phytolamp, place the containers with seedlings on a southern window and regularly turn them towards the light with different sides so that the seedlings don’t bend when they reach for the light.

Control the pull

Tomatoes stretch when there is insufficient light. If this problem occurs, there are several ways to control it.

When transplanting, deepen the plants to the first true leaf. Tomatoes will root well along the entire length of the trunk, so deepening will help to grow additional roots.

Stroke the tops of the seedlings daily. This slows down their stretching, since when touched, the leaves release a special substance that slows down growth.

Picking

Tomatoes can be transplanted up to 3 times. They easily tolerate transplantation, it even stimulates the development of the root system.

Be sure to pinch the tip of the central root. It should not bend because it is too long.

By following these tips, you will create optimal conditions for successfully growing tomato seedlings.

Remember that careful care at the seedling stage will lay the foundation for a rich harvest in the future. Choose tomato varieties according to your preferences and growing conditions.

Find out about varieties suitable for your region and preferred for specific conditions. Do not plant varieties intended for greenhouses in open ground and vice versa.

Earlier we told you what seedlings need to be sown in February .