Germinating tomato seeds before planting: why is it necessary and how to do it correctly

Each gardener prepares tomato seeds for planting in his own way. There are a lot of ways to germinate tomatoes - from simple soaking to a whole set of different procedures that begin a month before sowing. Some generally prefer to plant dry tomato seeds in the ground, and claim that the harvest does not suffer from this.

In any case, the seeds need to be germinated correctly. A mistake or incorrect sequence of actions at this stage can lead to the tomatoes simply not sprouting.

What is it and why is it needed

Germination of planting material has been carried out by summer residents for a long time. But not everyone does this; some consider the process meaningless and empty. The seeds will start and grow anyway, so why waste time on germination? The summer resident will be able to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of the method after testing.

Benefits of sprouting:

reducing the time before emergence;
increase in harvest volume by 30%;
increased resistance to diseases;
tomatoes will not be planted in vain; sprouted planting material indicates that the seeds are of high quality;
reducing the risk of attacks from insect pests living in the soil, and much more.

Undoubtedly, there are benefits in germinating planting material. Proper implementation of the procedure will help to grow a larger volume of crops. To germinate seeds means to give them the opportunity to hatch.

Positive and negative aspects of the procedure

The seed material, after preparation and germination, will give the first inputs 3-4 days after sowing the seeds. If you sow without preparation, the sprouts will appear no earlier than after 10 days. Studies have proven that pre-germination of seed increases the yield of tomato bushes by about 30%.

Germination must be performed in several situations:

If you have few seeds of a rare variety, and there is nowhere to get the required amount, you need to grow more seedlings;
You started sowing tomatoes late, you cannot miss a single day;
There are old seeds available, it is doubtful that they will hatch without preparation;
You want to get seedlings without using land.

The advantages of sowing with sprouted seeds include:

Friendly emergence of seedlings.
Accelerates the appearance of the first seedlings.
Most weak seeds will sprout.
The method allows the use of exotic technologies for producing seedlings, where the soil mixture is not used.

Minuses:

Sprouts will appear from almost all seeds, even the worst ones.
Excess moisture, drying out, temperature changes will lead to the death of the seed.
Planting sprouted grains into the soil will take a lot of time; even with careful work, some of the roots will be broken.
If you delay sowing even for a day, the above-ground part of the seedlings will begin to grow, and many plants will die.

Sprouting makes it difficult to select viable material.

How to properly germinate tomato seeds for seedlings

The finished planting material just needs to be germinated. It is better to follow the instructions exactly, then everything will work out even for beginners in this matter.

Sample

Sorting of planting material. Dense, heavy seeds are used. To reject all empty grains, you need to prepare a salt solution. To do this, dilute 2 tbsp in a liter of water. spoons of salt. Seeds are poured into it; those that float are not used for planting. The rest are washed, dried and prepared for the next step.

Warming up the seeds

The dried planting material is kept in a warm place for several days. It is advisable to use a radiator.

Treatment

Disinfection is being carried out. A weak solution of potassium permanganate is often used. The planting material is kept in it for 20-30 minutes, then washed and dried.

The second option for disinfection is to use a hydrogen peroxide solution. To do this, the liquid is heated, the temperature should be 35-40 ⁰C. When the peroxide warms up, immerse it in it for 10 minutes. all planting material.

Soak

To increase disease resistance and accelerate germination, planting material is soaked in a growth stimulator. This helps the grains gain strength before germinating.

Potato juice, juice from aloe leaves diluted with water, and melt water are used as natural stimulants. Planting material is soaked for 10-12 hours. There is no need to rinse after this.

If chemicals are used, then after soaking, rinse with warm running water and dry.

Germination

It is carried out immediately before sowing. To do this you will need ordinary gauze, a saucer and warm water. It is better to use rain or settled water. It contains more nutrients needed by future plants.

A cloth or piece of gauze is spread, moistened with water and seeds are scattered over the surface. Cover the top with the same cloth soaked in warm water. The more transparent the fabric, the easier it is to observe the process. The prepared seeds are placed in a warm place and wait for them to hatch.

Hardening

It consists in placing the seeds in the cold for a day, then in the room for the same time. And so 3-4 times.

Why germinate tomato seeds

Germination is the transition of seeds from a dormant state to the beginning of the active phase of life. With the correct temperature conditions, simultaneous exposure to moisture, air, metabolism in the endosperm and embryo is activated and it awakens.

First, the grain absorbs water, then swells. Proteins, fats and carbohydrates (starch) are broken down into amino acids, sugars and fatty acids. The primary root pecks. This is what is usually mistaken for a sprout.

When the length of the root becomes equal to the diameter of the seed, from a biological point of view, it is considered germinated. And planted in the ground. Only there sprouts appear, the roots continue to develop.

Dried and encrusted seeds do not require pre-planting preparation or germination. The manufacturer has already carried out all the necessary actions with them. Any violation of the shell, no matter mechanical, chemical or moisture, reduces their protection and germination.

Tomato seeds are germinated so that they germinate faster and consume less energy and nutrients. This increases the germination rate of low quality planting material. Or when there is simply not enough of it, and every grain is important.

If you haven’t delayed sowing seedlings, and you have your own seeds, fresh, collected in sufficient quantities, there is little point in germination.

Quite often, the need for surgery is justified by the fact that the rapid appearance of sprouts prevents the seeds from dying for the following reasons:

rotting from waterlogging;
infection in soil or on seeds:
dense saline substrate;
germination temperature is far from optimal;
deep landing;
pests in the substrate.

Such arguments are puzzling. The soil must be of high quality, the temperature regime must be adjusted, and the seeds must be pre-treated and properly planted. Otherwise, it makes no sense to grow seedlings at home - the shoots that quickly appear will die just as quickly.

Features of germination in toilet paper

Seeds are germinated in different ways. To speed up germination, gardeners use toilet paper. For this method, take a piece of polyethylene and cover it with toilet paper.

Method 1:

Wet it with a spray bottle and spread the seeds evenly, stepping back a little from the edge.
Then they are rolled into a roll and left in a glass until shoots appear.
The spread seeds should remain on top. Water is poured to the bottom, about 2 cm.

Method 2:

Use a saucer. Toilet paper is spread on it in several layers.
Then the planting material is moistened and laid out on the surface.
The top is covered with polyethylene.

Methods for germinating tomato seeds

After all the preliminary work has been completed, you can begin to germinate the seed. In order for the seeds to germinate well, provide them with a temperature not lower than +21°C - +25°C degrees and do not place containers with them in drafts or cold window sills. Don’t overdo it with hydration and be sure to remove excess water, and also provide a little ventilation for at least 5-10 minutes a day. It will be possible to move the seeds into the soil when the size of the sprouts begins to slightly exceed the size of the seed.

On fabric

A standard and well-proven method that has been used by more than one generation of gardeners.

Place a piece of cotton cloth at the bottom of a plate or container and dampen it.
Place seeds on the material.
Cover them with another dampened piece of cloth.
If you used a container, cover it with a lid and pack the plate in a plastic bag.
Place the container in a warm place. Make sure the fabric is damp at all times.

It is advisable to use cotton fabric for germination.

Germination time is 8–10 days.

Specifics of germination in cotton pads

To germinate using this method, you will need cotton pads, water and a saucer. Cotton pads are moistened with water, one is placed on the bottom, seeds are laid out on it, then the second is covered. The top is covered with polyethylene and cling film. Place in a warm place and wait for shoots to appear. When the seeds hatch, remove the film and leave in a warm, bright place. Germination occurs quickly on cotton pads. The seedlings grow strong and strong.

Preparing for germination

Before germination, seed material must be properly prepared. This preparation consists of several stages in which tomato grains are subjected to various types of processing.

The main stages of preparing tomato seeds include their calibration (selection), disinfection, heating and hardening.

Seed selection

Calibration is a preliminary selection of seeds, which helps to reject all empty and lifeless grains and not waste time on sowing them. This is done very simply - dissolve a tablespoon of table salt in a glass of boiled water, stir well until the grains are completely dissolved.

Pour the saline solution over the tomato seeds and leave for 20 minutes. All healthy and viable seeds will sink to the bottom of the container, while empty ones will remain floating on the surface - they can be thrown away immediately.

Disinfection

Disinfection of seed material protects emerging seedlings from common fungal infections and seedling diseases. The most affordable and effective means for disinfecting seeds is a weakly concentrated solution of potassium permanganate.

To prepare the solution, use 2 g of potassium permanganate per glass of water. Add tomato seeds to this solution and leave for 20 minutes. It is most convenient to immerse the grains in liquid by tying them in a knot of gauze.

In the absence of potassium permanganate, you can use hydrogen peroxide with a concentration of 2%, pouring the seed material for 10 minutes.

Warming up

Pre-warming before sowing is necessary for seeds that have been stored in the refrigerator or other cool place. To warm up, the grains require a gradual increase in air temperature. To do this, sprinkle the seeds on a newspaper or sheet of paper and leave them in the corner of the windowsill, out of direct sunlight.

After 48 hours, the leaf with the seeds should be transferred to the room, and then left for 2-3 days near the heating radiator. Warming up the seed material must be carried out at least 4-5 weeks before sowing into the soil, since the grains will need some time to recover.

Hardening

Hardening tomato seeds helps increase their resistance to adverse environmental factors - sudden temperature changes, high humidity or dry air.

To harden, pour the tomato seeds onto a plate or saucer and leave for 24 hours on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator. After this, place the saucer in a warm place for another 24 hours. Repeat the procedure three times. After all the preparatory steps have been completed, you can begin germinating tomato seeds.

How long does it take to germinate

The germination time of planting material depends on what variety of tomatoes the summer resident grows. In addition, the germination rate is affected by the age of the seeds; the earlier they were collected, the worse the germination rate. In order for the planting material to hatch quickly, it is necessary to take last year's harvest. Such seedlings grow faster and their harvest volume is higher.

If you plant a dry seed in the ground, it will hatch in no less than 10 days; a soaked seed will sprout in 5-7 days. And sprouted grains will sprout in 1-2 days. It is impossible to unequivocally answer the question of how long it takes for a tomato to germinate. There is a dependence even on the sowing depth.

Duration of seed germination

The period of time during which tomato seeds can sprout under certain conditions varies from 3 to 14 days. Everything here will depend on climatic and weather conditions.

The rate of germination is directly dependent on temperature and air humidity. So, when dry seeds are planted in the ground, they germinate only on the tenth day. But when planting tomato grains sprouted in a humid environment in the soil, this period is reduced by more than half (3-4 days).

When purchasing seeds for seedlings, pay attention to the dates when such material is produced and packaged. The fresher the seeds, the faster they will sprout.

If we talk about temperature and timing, then it should be taken into account that:

Within 3-4 days, seedlings germinate at an air temperature of 25 to 30°C.
On the fifth or sixth day, sprouts appear at an ambient temperature of 20-25°C.
As the air temperature drops to 13-19°C, the germination period increases to 1 week.
At low air temperatures of 12-14°C, seeds germinate slowly, only after two weeks.

Selection of capacity

For sowing tomato seeds for seedlings, you need to prepare containers 8–10 centimeters high . The use of separate containers eliminates the need to pick seedlings. If you sow grains in large boxes, you will have to replant the plants in the future. A prerequisite is the presence of drainage holes in the container. The remaining irrigation water should flow into the pan.

The ideal option is plastic containers. These containers are easy to clean and disinfect. It is desirable that the container have transparent walls.

In a specialized store you can find plastic containers of various shapes, as well as collapsible cups with a removable bottom and cassettes. If it is not possible to purchase such containers, it is permissible to use ordinary disposable cups or build containers from PET bottles.

What varieties are suitable for germination?

When choosing a seed variety for germination, the following features should be taken into account:

Climatic conditions . In the southern regions, it is recommended to germinate seeds of drought-resistant varieties. If the climate is cool, varieties that can withstand temperature changes are needed.
Purpose of seeds : for a greenhouse or vegetable garden.
Harvest period : early or late varieties.
Purpose of tomatoes . The varieties "Bull's Heart" and "Moskvich" are ideal for eating fresh tomatoes. Lady fingers, with their tough skin and firm flesh, are great for canning.

Picking seedlings

Whether to plant tomato seedlings or not is a decision everyone will make for themselves. Our task is to tell you how to do this correctly and what benefits this may bring in the future. According to agricultural technology for growing tomato seedlings, there should be two picks. The first is in the phase of the third true leaf, in which the plant is buried in a small container (cup) filled with a nutrient mixture to 1/3 of its volume. It is believed that such intermediate picking of tomato seedlings contributes to the selection of seedlings with a stronger root system.

The second picking is advisable three weeks after the first, at the stage of 2-3 true leaves on the seedlings. Seedlings need to be transplanted into separate containers (milk bags, 0.5 liter plastic glasses) filled with 1/3 of the volume with substrate. The seven-lobed leaves of the seedling are removed, it is lowered into a planting container and filled to the top with soil. After watering, the substrate will naturally shrink; you should also add it to the edges of the container.

How does germination differ depending on the variety?

One of the main factors that influence germination is the tomato variety. It is he who often determines on what day the seeds of different varieties of tomatoes germinate.

Depending on the period of fruiting, groups are distinguished: late-ripening (late), early-ripening (early) and mid-ripening. Varieties differ not only in the speed of appearance and ripening of fruits, but also in the course of biological processes inside the plants. The sprouts of late varieties emerge and develop a little slower than the other groups.

When carrying out pre-sowing preparation, their germination period can be accelerated. However, under equal conditions, they will still rise several days later.

At the beginning of March, seeds of tall varieties are sown for planting in greenhouses, and at the beginning of April, seeds of early and low-growing varieties are sown, which are planted in open ground.

Usually, one grain is planted in a half-liter cup, deepening the seeds of large-fruited tomatoes by 1 cm, and the rest - no deeper than 0.5 cm. It is allowed to plant several plants in a large container and then plant the seedlings into the cups.

Important! It is recommended to sow different varieties in different containers so that the seedlings emerge at the same time. All procedures with plants can be carried out simultaneously, rather than selecting individual seedlings.

The germination rate of tomatoes depends on the variety.