The most popular crop grown through seedlings is tomato. The least demanding growing conditions are tomato seedlings. The timing of planting tomatoes for seedlings is different, depending on the desired timing of the harvest. Accordingly, sowing of seeds is carried out at different times.
Preparation of soil for seedlings .
An important step in growing seedlings is soil preparation. Gardeners usually harvest land in the fall.
In order to avoid damage to seedlings by fungal diseases, the soil is steamed well. This is done simply, a proven method. The prepared land should be placed in a large colander, put it in a pan filled with ¼ part of water. The pan is placed on a small fire, boiling water for up to 15 minutes. The ferry destroys all pests in the ground.
Then the earth should rest for a couple of weeks to awaken microorganisms useful for tomato seedlings. In the event that there is no time left for such a procedure, you can shed the soil with a solution of any Baikal, Radiance or Revival drug. Purchased soil does not require such processing.
Sowing Tomato Seeds
Vegetable growers determine the timing of sowing tomato seedlings taking into account receiving further products. The timing of the first early production is determined, and then mass harvesting is planned, taking into account the characteristics of the variety. Early tomato varieties and hybrids require about 100 days to grow fruit. So, to get an early harvest of lettuce tomatoes by July 20, you need to sow seeds 100 days before this period and plus another week needed for seedlings, plus another five days you need to add to the survival of plants after transplanting, for a total of 110 days. The approximate date for sowing seeds is April 1. On sachets with seeds, the seeding time for seedlings is usually indicated.
It must be borne in mind that the age of about 60 days is considered optimal for planting, depending on the variety. Therefore, you need to sow seeds for planting in greenhouses later than March 10, for planting in open ground, the period is approximately April 5.
For seedlings, seeds are sown in boxes or trays with a distance between the seeds of up to 2 cm and a seeding depth of up to 1 cm. The air temperature should be maintained at about 25 * C.
Soil with seedlings should be in a wet state, you need to water often and in small doses.
Planting tomatoes for seedlings
The next determining indicators are the timing of planting tomatoes for seedlings, dive time. In order that densely sown plants do not weaken due to a lack of nutrition, space and lighting, so that their root system and aerial parts are strengthened, transplantation is made into separate pots. The timing of planting tomatoes for seedlings is determined by the appearance of the plants. Sprouts that have reached a height of more than 3 cm can be transplanted into separate cups or pots. The timing of planting tomatoes for seedlings and on another basis is determined, that is, the appearance of the second true leaves indicates the possibility of transplanting to a separate place. Transplanted into a separate container, usually stronger plants. The soil is first loosened with an ordinary fork, then the sprout is carefully removed from the soil. The root is slightly shortened to develop a strong branched system. Plants when planting in a new place are placed deeper than in a common box, sometimes gardeners bury it under the very first leaves. The soil in the pot is compacted neatly, the roots are pressed down.
With regard to transplantation, that is, picking sprouts, controversial opinions are found in the literature. Some consider transplantation as a moment that traumatizes the roots, while others, on the contrary, find in this an incentive for training endurance to stress and resistance. Each gardener is free to choose his own growing option.
Planting seedlings in a permanent place
The timing of planting tomato seedlings for a permanent place in the protected ground is prescribed by about May 20, in the open ground it is prepared by June 10.