You spend hundreds of rubles on tomato seedlings, and the harvest is still meager? A secret that they won't tell you about in stores will allow you to grow strong bushes for pennies. And yes, the first shoots will appear in just 72 hours!
Mistakes of gardeners
Early sowing is the main problem. In pursuit of an early harvest, summer residents sow seeds in January.
Without additional lighting, the sprouts turn into thin threads that break in the wind.
The second mistake is garden soil. It is teeming with pest larvae and fungal spores.
The third problem is density. In cramped conditions, seedlings fight for light and nutrition, but do not grow.
The fourth mistake is ignoring pre-sowing treatment. Untreated seeds often carry pathogens that kill seedlings before they emerge.
Scientific approach
Sowing dates depend on the region. Early varieties (Betta, Red Arrow) are sown 50 days before planting. Late varieties (Bull's Heart) - 60-65 days.
Phytolamps with a red-blue spectrum are switched on for 12-14 hours. Without them, seedlings stretch out even on a southern window.
The soil should be light: mix peat, perlite and vermicompost (3:1:1).
Acidity — pH 6.0–6.5. Check it with litmus paper. If the pH is below 6.0, add dolomite flour (1 tbsp. per 1 kg of soil).
Tricks for a Super Harvest
Soak the seeds in 3% hydrogen peroxide for 30 minutes. This will kill pathogens and soften the shell.
After soaking, rinse them and wrap them in damp gauze for 2 days at +25 degrees Celsius.
When transplanting, pinch the central root by 1/3 - this will stimulate branching.
Spray the seedlings with iodine solution (1 drop per 3 liters of water) once every 10 days. Iodine will protect against late blight and increase the size of the fruit.
After planting in the ground, use "wet mulch": spread the pulled out weeds around the bushes. They will retain moisture and rot, becoming fertilizer.
Real examples
Summer residents claim that they no longer buy seedlings. Soaking seeds in peroxide and additional illumination with lamps allows you to get shoots on the third day.
Don't forget to transplant into cups with drainage holes.
These simple tricks will allow you to get twice as much harvest!
