To grow tomato seedlings is far from such a simple matter as it seems at first glance. The future crop depends on the quality of seedlings. Weak, diseased seedlings, if they survive, will be stunted in growth and time will be lost, but every summer day is valuable to get a good harvest. So, before you grow tomato seedlings, you need to figure out how to do this, this business (like any other) has its own subtleties and features.
Before you properly grow tomato seedlings, you need to pick up containers for growing. You can sow the seeds first in a box, and then sow the seedlings in separate containers, or you can immediately sow 1-2 seeds in separate pots. For this purpose, dairy, cropped bags and disposable, plastic or paper cups are suitable. But the best (but also the most expensive) will be peat briquettes and cups of rice paper (it decomposes in the ground). In this case, seedlings can be planted in a permanent place together with the container, it will take root more easily. But there is an opinion that diving seedlings (this is done in the phase of 2-3 real leaves) is useful, while pinching the central root, which stimulates its branching.
Next, you need to prepare the soil for sowing, usually take two parts of turf or garden soil and one part of humus (completely rotted) and sand, and add two glasses of ash to a bucket of earth. Those who know how to properly grow tomato seedlings add perlite or vermiculite to the seedlings; they help ensure air and water permeability of the soil. Seeds can be pre-soaked in a solution of growth stimulant.
Tomato seeds germinate best at a temperature of + 22-25, so containers with seedlings must be placed in a warm (dark) place and covered with a film. As soon as the shoots appear, they will need a maximum of light, they can’t do without additional lighting. But the temperature needs to be lowered to 15-18 degrees, for a week, after which the optimal cultivation temperature is 18-20 g. The seedlings are not often watered, at room temperature.
But, if you seriously think about how to properly grow tomato seedlings, then you understand that all the recommendations on this subject are averaged, they cannot take into account all your conditions. What is generally known about the needs of seedlings? Three main factors - light, heat and moisture, affect the plant in a complex manner and must be in balance. For example: if it is warm and humid, but not enough light, the plant actively consumes moisture and grows, but stretches and turns pale (which is extremely undesirable). If there is enough light and moisture, but it’s cold at the same time, the plant slows down its growth and cannot use water, as a result it rots or is affected by the “black leg”. And if it is warm and light, but lacks water, the plant starts growing and dries up.
Correct will be guided by the weakest factor; if there is little light, reduce temperature and watering. If it’s cold, water less (excess light will not hurt), but if there is enough light and heat, then the lack of watering is easy to eliminate. The same thing with air humidity, if the air is dry - you can water it on leaves, if wet - only under the root (it is convenient to water young seedlings with a tablespoon). In general, be careful and observant, this will tell you how to properly grow tomato seedlings in specific conditions.
To prevent fungal diseases, the seedlings are sprayed with a mixture of skim milk with water; half a glass of milk is diluted per liter of water and sprayed on the leaves, it is better to do this in the morning.
It is not necessary to add mineral fertilizers to the soil for seedlings ; young plants do not absorb them well. It is advisable to often feed seedlings with a very (!) Weak fertilizer solution with trace elements (liquid fertilizer for flowers is suitable).
Late and indeterminate varieties are sown for seedlings a little earlier. But do not sow seedlings too early, if you are thinking about how to grow early tomatoes, the main thing in this is to pick an early variety.