How to stop the growth of tomato seedlings

Do you remember the children's song about the Christmas tree: “Higher than mom, higher than dad, reaches to the ceiling”? It's not just a Christmas tree that can be this tall. Now there are varieties of tomatoes that can easily grow to the very roof of a greenhouse. We are talking about indeterminate tomatoes.

Tomatoes began to be used as a vegetable crop in Europe in the 18th century. Despite all the difficulties that gardeners face when growing this vegetable, its popularity is very high. Breeders are constantly developing new varieties of tomatoes.

Ways to slow down the growth of tomato seedlings

Taking into account the reasons for the overgrowth of seedlings, there are several options for how to slow down the growth of plants upward. Among the methods:

dive;
transshipment;
temperature change;
revision of irrigation standards;
pruning;
use of growth inhibitory drugs.

The most reliable way to stop the increase in seedling height is to use modern retardant products. Containment is carried out due to chemical compounds that prevent the bushes from developing quickly.

When using a drug to reduce height, it is important to follow the instructions. Changing the dosage leads to a complete stop in development and destroys the plants

Among the retardants it is worth highlighting:

"Athlete". The drug is used when there is a lack of light, thickening of seedlings or elevated ambient temperatures.
"Fortification." The mixture is suitable for all types of vegetable crops, improving the appearance of plants. The development of bushes is intensifying, without gaining height.
"Stocky". The product allows you to reduce the growth of tomatoes by increasing the width and thickness of the leaves, and also stimulates the strengthening of the stem and roots.
"Reggae" The inhibitor prevents tomatoes from stretching, allowing the development of internal plant tissues.

In the absence of these drugs, any regulators used in vegetable growing based on chlorocholine chloride should be chosen. Tomatoes are sprayed with the product after the formation of 2-3 true leaves, which allows the height of the seedlings to be reduced by 1.5-2 times, and also helps to form more buds and ovaries.

Ways to regulate development in a greenhouse

Typically, summer residents grow several varieties and hybrids of tomatoes in a greenhouse. And here you should use those methods that act on one plant.

how to limit the growth of tomatoes

How to limit the growth of tomatoes - removing leaves

The procedure transfers the fattening plant into generative development. However, leaf removal should be done carefully without weakening the tomato bushes. Sometimes it is enough to remove only part of the leaf, namely the part that is in contact with the ground or with an adjacent leaf. This will put much less stress on the plant.

When the fifth cluster blooms, all lower leaves should be removed, but gradually 1-2 per week, and first of all those in the rows. In low greenhouses, after limiting growth, 12-14 leaves should remain on each stem.

In bushes with generative development in hot weather, leaf removal is not carried out, but a stepson is left between the 3rd and 5th racemes with one inflorescence and 2-3 leaves after it.

Standardization of ovary size

During the generative growth of the bush, normalization of the ovaries is carried out before the flowers bloom, removing excess buds. Sometimes, if the flower cluster is weak, it is removed to increase the growth of foliage and roots. Then strong brushes will appear in the future.

It is desirable that there are 28-30 fruits on the bush. Therefore, if ripening is delayed, some of the larger fruits should be removed from the bush, which will relieve the plant.

In vegetatively developing tomatoes, the ovaries can be removed after flowering.

pruning tomato bushes

Garter of plants and brushes

Interestingly, the method of staking tomato bushes can affect the yield.

It is recommended to twist the twine around the bush, and not vice versa. Moreover, the twine should pass over the fruit cluster, and not under it. Twisting the top around the twine of a generatively developed bush will cause an even greater shift in this direction.

In varieties prone to truss bending, the trusses must be tied separately, while maintaining the natural angle of the truss to the trunk, otherwise the fruits will ripen worse.

Change in soil moisture

Frequent watering in small portions maintains optimal soil moisture and accelerates shoot growth.

So we found out how to increase the yield of tomatoes by influencing the development of tomato bushes and directing them in the right direction. Taking into account all the above conditions and methods, you will always get a rich tomato harvest.

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Ways to slow growth

When the first signs of seedlings appearing, check whether you are caring for them correctly and try to correct any mistakes. If there is a strong pull, do not despair: if there are several weeks left before planting in the soil, the situation can be corrected. For this use:

dive;
transshipment method;
change in temperature conditions;
pruning, pinching;
popular special drugs.

With the help of diving, you can effectively slow down the growth of seedlings. If the seeds are located close to each other, they emerge in a “hat” and begin to look for light. The situation is being corrected by installing phytolamps, but this is a temporary measure. The best way is to plant the tomatoes in separate containers as quickly as possible. This is a painful procedure for young sprouts, so you need to wait until each of them has a second leaf. The appearance of the second leaf means that the tomato root system is already ready for such events, and the roots themselves have not yet had time to intertwine with each other. Among the seedlings there are always weak sprouts: their stems are thin and very long. They can be preserved by deepening them into the soil to the level of the cotyledons.

The transshipment method is also transplantation, but the containers must be large in size. The adaptation period of seedlings after such a transplant ranges from 10 days to two weeks. The root system temporarily weakens its functions, reducing the absorption of water and nutritional substances. This helps stop the sprouts from stretching upward. The transshipment method involves preserving a clod of earth on the roots of each sprout - without freeing the root system from the soil. If the root system is damaged during transplantation, the sprouts may die. In order for the clod of earth to come out of the container freely, you need to stop watering the seedlings 12-24 hours before transplanting.

When the air temperature drops to 17C or lower, tomatoes slow down, but this does not affect their health and development. If the room temperature is too high, move the seedlings to a cooler room and leave them there for two weeks. Observe the behavior of the sprouts and you will see how they gradually slow down their upward growth, and their stems become stronger and stockier. When pulled upward, the foliage becomes faded and limp, but if you apply this simple method, it will acquire a healthy, thick and green color. Give the tomatoes several “sessions” of changing the temperature regime (in two or three stages). This will not only slow down their growth, but also harden the seedlings in anticipation of the upcoming planting.

Long stems can be trimmed using different pruning techniques. If your tomatoes are varieties with unlimited growth, pinch off the tops. So, you will stop the development of the main stem, after which the others will stop stretching. After pruning, select the strongest stem from the remaining stems and form a new one from it. If you have low-growing determinate tomatoes, cut the stem by two-thirds, place it in water and place it in a warm place with plenty of light. When roots appear at the tops of the heads, they can be planted in separate containers. Make the maximum depth so that the stem quickly takes root and is overgrown with young roots. To quickly form callus and roots, you can add the drug “Kornevina” to the water.

Some special preparations also help slow down the growth of tomatoes. They are called retardants. Before use, they must be dissolved in water, and then watered the seedlings twice. The interval between watering should be 7 to 10 days. The best remedies among these substances are “Athlete” and “Stocky”.

Retardants must be used strictly in accordance with the instructions. When used correctly, they will not only slow down the growth of greenery. Thanks to these substances, the foliage of the plants will become healthy and strong, and the roots will be strong, which will facilitate the replanting process.

If your seedlings begin to stretch out, do not rush to “discard” them. It is always possible to find out the cause and eliminate it, and with proper care in the future, the tomatoes will stop their growth and will be ready for planting in open ground or a greenhouse.

Methods for restoring seedlings

To decide what to do if tomato seedlings have stretched out, you must first identify the cause of this phenomenon. Further measures largely depend on the stage of development of the seedlings, since they can begin to grow both immediately after germination and before planting in a permanent place.

At the stage of first shoots

If only the emerging sprouts have a very thin long stem, then the following measures must be taken urgently:

move containers with seedlings to a cooler room, as excess heat causes their active growth;
provide additional lighting - place them on the windowsill of a south window or install phytolamps

do not carry out any fertilizing, switch to rare but abundant watering;
if the plantings are too dense, thin out, removing the weakest specimens, or plant in a larger container, or even better, in individual cups.

In case of excessive elongation, it is recommended to use growth regulator drugs “Athlete” or “Stumpy”. They help stop plant growth in length and activate the development of generative organs, forcing cells to grow in the transverse direction.

For grown seedlings

If the grown tomato seedlings have stretched out, then what to do to save the young plants is also determined based on the situation. There are 2 possible ways to solve the problem:

picking if the plantings are too dense;
pinching sparsely or separately growing tomatoes.

Gardener advice: Picking tomato seedlings

Very often, tomatoes stretch out due to dense plantings. In such cases, the seedlings are planted (dive) into separate containers, slightly deepening the stems to make them shorter. Then the picked sprouts are watered abundantly with water, transferred to a room with a temperature of 18–20°C during the day and 15–17°C at night, and phytolamps are installed above them. To improve the result, you can add growth regulator “Athlete” or “Stumpy” to the water for irrigation.

Tomato variety Children's sweetness

If the tomato seedlings are stretched out in an individual container, then you can add soil mixture, 2 cm short of the bottom leaves. If necessary, increase the height of the container using available materials, for example, part of a plastic bottle or a rigid polyethylene sheet.

Pinching elongated tomatoes is done by cutting off the growing point (the entire part of the central stem above the fifth leaf) with sharp scissors. This technique helps to stop stretching and “switch” the plant to actively throwing out side shoots. A week later, they are pinched, leaving the 2 strongest shoots.

The cut tops are not thrown away, but are dipped into water to form roots, which usually grow to the desired size (1.5–2 cm) in 7–10 days. After this, the plants are planted in seedling containers, receiving an additional number of new shoots.

For early shoots, you can pinch two cotyledon leaves, which also helps strengthen the stem and stops the growth of the plant, preventing it from stretching. These leaves are the first to appear on seedlings and are located at the very bottom. They are removed one at a time with a break of 1 week in order to injure the young shoot less. After another week, a couple of lower true leaves are removed in the same way.

After the pick

Sometimes, after picking seedlings in individual cells, gardeners note how the tomatoes have stretched out again, and that picking will have to be done again. In addition to the reasons mentioned above, in this case, the use of too small a container, which interferes with the normal development of the root system, can lead to the tomatoes being pulled out.

Such plants need to be transplanted into large cups with obligatory deepening of the stem. To stimulate the development of the root system, “Heteroauxin” or “Epin” should be added to the water for irrigation.

Reasons for pulling tomatoes

For additional lighting, special lamps are used, because incandescent lamps are not suitable for plants. Their radiation is not suitable for seedlings and leaves burns on them due to the high heat generation.

Tomatoes are illuminated with LED, fluorescent or phytolamps. This lighting is turned on in the morning and evening, depending on how long the sun illuminates the seedlings.

Lack of space. Seedlings that are sown thickly also outgrow. This occurs due to the fact that one seedling covers another with leaves and competition begins between them for space and light. They reach up to get their quota of light, but grow weak and frail. Even additional lighting does not save plants from overgrowing. The seedlings grow, become larger, and the distance between them increases. Stretching does not depend on the size of the pot; plants are planted in a small container. The main thing is to place them at a sufficient distance. Temperature. The rule for indoor seedlings is that the less light the tomatoes receive, the colder the room. In low temperatures, tomato roots germinate, and in warm temperatures, the stem of the seedling germinates. Therefore, the plants overgrow due to excessive heat. For tomatoes, the daily norm is 20-23 °C, and the night norm is 9-10 °C. Watering and fertilizing. Careful care and feeding stimulate the elongation of seedlings. Water tomatoes only when the soil dries out

Plants are also fed with caution. Nitrogen fertilizers stimulate rapid growth

The seedling acquires a bright green tint, stretches out, but its leaves curl inward. Incorrect sowing time. The seeds are sown at the optimal time. There is no need to worry or rush with this, because tomatoes can ripen in the cold months, and it will not be possible to plant them in open ground. If there are no lamps for additional lighting, then first purchase them, and then sow the seeds.

Light and watering

In February-March there is still little daylight. This is one of the reasons for pulling tomatoes. To avoid this, turn on the backlight lamp in the evening and morning hours, as well as on cloudy days.

Place reflective screens at the back of the plants so that some of the light will fall from the back of the plants and they won't stretch out too much.

Proper watering will also help cope with this problem. If the tomatoes grow strong and stocky, then watering may be more frequent. If the distances between the internodes have increased, then reduce watering.

You just need to slightly moisten the soil with a small amount of water. When this problem disappears, you can water the entire soil layer again.

Picking

This procedure will help to expend the plant’s energy on the formation of additional roots and survival, so at this time the growth of the tomato will slow down.

Tomato seedlings, unlike cucumber seedlings, have a high survival rate. That's why she likes picking. If you sowed the seeds early, then replant the young tomatoes not once, but twice.

The first picking is made when the seedlings have 2-3 true leaves. This should not be done before. The second time you can pick 20-30 days after the first.

The gardener himself will see that the tomatoes are stretching out and will transplant the young plant from a small container to a larger one.

Adult seedlings often grow if they are kept on a glazed balcony in April-May. On sunny days the air temperature there is very high. Therefore, you need to hang light curtains on the windows and keep them open.

What varieties of tomatoes require pinching and gartering?

Since tomatoes are a crop predisposed to active growth, gardeners must carry out pinching and staking in a timely manner. It is worth noting that not all varieties of tomatoes (here, for those interested, are the best varieties of tomatoes) require constant pinching. Modern low-growing heterotic hybrids of vegetables of the first generation (F1), belonging to the determinant type, are characterized by a tendency to limited growth. It slows down after a certain number of flower clusters appear on the tomato stems. Most often, 2-6 brushes appear on one bush. These varieties are divided into:

Superdeterminant

Characterized by early ripening of fruits in tomatoes. As a rule, they do not need stepsoning at all. 2-3 inflorescences are formed on the main stem of the tomato, and then their vegetative growth stops for a certain period of time. They form a small branched bush. Another, more weakened wave of vegetative growth in vegetables is observed after the bulk of the fruits have ripened.

Determinant

Which still need a procedure for forming a bush. You can prevent overloading of tomatoes with fruits by removing unnecessary stepsons. This procedure leads to the simultaneous ripening of tomatoes. If these varieties of vegetables are not planted, the ripening process will be much longer, and the tomatoes may need gartering of overloaded branches. These varieties are characterized by limited growth of the main stem with the appearance of 4-6 inflorescences.

For those who do not want to bother with pinching and staking their plants at all, we can recommend standard tomatoes. They are also considered determinate, but they are characterized by the presence of a strong stem and small height. However, they have one drawback: they cannot produce a bountiful harvest of large vegetables.

Semi-determinant

There are also semi-determinate varieties on sale, which differ from determinate ones in that they do not have a tendency to stop growing the main stem. Sometimes they can stop developing at any time. This most often occurs when 8-10 inflorescences are formed. These tomatoes are most suitable for low greenhouses. Each specimen of such plants has 2-3 stems.

Indeterminate

The formation of these tomatoes (pinching, gartering) is a prerequisite for the productive cultivation of indeterminate varieties and many modern hybrids. They are distinguished by unlimited stem growth. They are characterized by the formation of lateral shoots in almost all available leaf axils. When cultivating these plants, it is necessary to regularly limit their growth. Thanks to this, they will be able to direct maximum nutrients to the formation and ripening of fruits, and not to the growth of unnecessary tops on vegetables.

Ready-made drugs

Today you can find many different drugs on sale to stimulate the growth and development of seedlings. Each of them has its own characteristics of action and application.

Action of stimulants

Heteroauxin

This growth stimulator for tomatoes and peppers helps improve photosynthesis, accelerates the formation of growth cells, enhances root growth and improves their absorption function.

But even a slight excess of the dose of the drug leads to the opposite effect, so the consumption rates of the product cannot be ignored. Before use, heteroauxin should be diluted with ethyl alcohol and then added with water.

Epin

The use of this product makes it possible to increase the resistance of seedlings grown at home or in a greenhouse to possible stressful situations in the form of late frosts, lack of moisture, and lower temperatures when transplanted into open ground.

Appearance of packaging

First of all, it is recommended to soak the seeds immediately before planting, which guarantees quick and friendly germination. And subsequently Epin is used before picking and transplanting to a permanent place, then once every 10 days in unfavorable weather conditions.

Bud and Ovary

The use of these products improves budding and fruiting of plants. This occurs by replenishing the lack of gibberellin in seedlings against the background of unfavorable weather conditions, which allows the fruit to develop with partial fertilization or its complete absence.

Spraying flower brushes with these preparations helps attract nutrients, which guarantees uniform flowering, improves ovary and accelerates the ripening of fruits.

Sodium humate

The drug is characterized by a high content of organic acids, which helps improve metabolism in plant tissues. Sodium humate for tomato and pepper seedlings reduces the nitrogen requirement of young plants by 2 times, and also increases the number of fruits by 20%.

In addition, the use of a growth stimulator helps improve soil fertility and increases the resistance of seedlings to the effects of radionuclides and nitrates.

Stabilan

This remedy should be used for excessive growth of the aerial part. The drug is used for spraying plants on the leaf. Stabilan is a growth regulator for seedlings of tomatoes and other crops, which helps balance the development of the root with the main stem and prevents the seedlings from stretching out with subsequent lodging.

Important! The product stimulates plant tillering and increases resistance to negative external factors

Zircon

This growth stimulator has a high content of vitamins for pepper and tomato seedlings, which explains the versatility of its use. When using Zircon, growth processes of both the above-ground part and the root system are activated. In addition, the drug stimulates the formation of buds and improves fruit set.

Before planting in separate containers, it is recommended to spray the seedlings with the preparation on the leaves, which will improve their immunity and reduce susceptibility to stress.

Stimulant drug

Energen

Using the drug for seedlings of tomatoes and peppers helps to activate the vitality of seedlings, improves the development of the aerial parts and roots, increases the content of vitamins and nutrients in the fruits, and also reduces the content of nitrates.

Energen is used both for soaking planting material when growing seedlings at home, and for spraying or watering plants at different stages of development.

HB 101

It is a fortified natural extract obtained from plant components of cypress, Japanese cedar, pine and plane tree. The use of this growth stimulator improves the color and shape of foliage, promotes abundant flowering and increases the rate of fruit ripening.

Stimulants

The use of HB 101 makes it possible to increase the yield of tomatoes and peppers by 3 times.

Kornevin

By the name of this drug you can understand the basic principle of its action. The drug is intended for the formation and full development of the root system. But besides this, this growth stimulator promotes the survival of seedlings when transplanted to a new place.

As a result, the plants grow strong and healthy, which guarantees a generous harvest.

Why do tomato seedlings stretch? Useful tips

Tomato is one of the most common vegetable plants in the world. Since information about its origin is very scarce, many researchers believe that the birthplace of this fruit is the mountainous regions of Ecuador and Peru. Tomatoes are very beneficial for the human body and are a treasure in the kitchen, so don’t miss this opportunity and eat them more often.

What can be made from tomatoes? A lot of delicious dishes are prepared from these fruits. They are eaten fresh, fried, boiled, canned, squeezed, stuffed, made into jam, desserts and even pies. By the way, Italian cuisine is rightfully considered the leader in the number of tomato dishes.

Anyone who wants to enjoy the taste of these fruits, especially those collected in their garden, often overcomes a lot of difficulties, since growing tomatoes at home requires a lot of patience and effort. To get a successful tomato harvest, you need to grow seedlings, which are quite capricious and require constant attention and care. And if you don’t follow the rules, then it may not survive to be planted in the ground. Especially often, novice gardeners have a question about why tomato seedlings are stretched. At the same time, she turns pale and begins to hurt. Then it becomes impossible to get a good harvest from such seedlings.

What should I do to make her grow up strong and healthy? First of all, you need to determine the reasons for such stretching.

Reasons for pulling seedlings

Firstly, this comes from a lack of natural light. If the window on which you placed the seedlings faces north, or the climatic conditions are such that daylight hours are very short, then the plants will be drawn to the sun, which they really lack. But even in the case of good lighting, this can happen due to dense shoots blocking the sun's rays.

Another reason why tomato seedlings stretch? The reason may be excessively high temperatures. And this is a paradox: for seedlings to germinate, plants need a lot of heat, but after they appear, the heat should be in moderate quantities so that the seedlings do not grow earlier than required for planting in open ground.

How to prevent this unwanted process?

It turns out there is nothing simpler. It is enough to follow a number of simple rules.

1. Additional lighting of young plants. Usually seeds are planted in March, when there is little daylight and the weather is constantly cloudy. As a result, the seedlings do not receive enough natural light and stretch out, so illuminate the plants with fluorescent lamps. But do not place them closer than half a meter from the seedlings. They should burn continuously until disembarkation, or until there is enough sunlight.

2. Compliance with temperature conditions. The most effective way is to maintain a low temperature in the room with young plants. Before seedlings germinate, it should be high, approximately 25 degrees. As soon as the seeds have sprouted, the temperature should be lowered to 15-20 degrees.

3. Planting density and proper watering. If you have a question about why tomato seedlings are stretched, then correct picking will help solve the problem. It stops growth for a while and provides an additional influx of light to each bush. You should not water the plants too often or abundantly. Twice a week is enough when they begin to fade slightly.

How can you achieve all this at home?

To do this, it is enough to place the pots with seedlings on the balcony or loggia and maintain the temperature at about 15 degrees. At the moment of additional lighting, the temperature will rise slightly, by about 5 degrees during the day, and in the evening, when the lamps are turned off, it will decrease. To avoid planting density, grow plants in separate pots, which need to be spaced out as they grow.

If you follow these simple rules, you will never again wonder why tomato seedlings are growing, but will enjoy wonderful dishes from this amazing fruit grown with your own hands!

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Diseases and pests

Caring for tomatoes is not only about timely watering and fertilizing. The most important thing to monitor is the appearance of pests and diseases, and it is also necessary to combat them. The most common tomato diseases are:

Mosaic;
Late blight;
Apical rot;
Brown spot;
Gray rot of fruits;
Fomoz;
Root rot;
Stem rot;
Fruit cracking;

To combat these diseases, you should know exactly the cause of their occurrence and take all necessary measures. The most dangerous pests of tomatoes are:

Medvedka;
Wireworms;
Colorado beetle;
Whitefly.

In order to fight them, plants are treated with special preparations.

If you grow tomatoes responsibly, the plant will reward you with a generous harvest. The most important thing is to adhere to all the rules and recommendations written by specialists and gardeners with extensive experience in growing tomatoes.

The importance of tomato formation

The formation of tomatoes (tomatoes) - pinching and gartering - is the most serious factor in achieving a rich harvest. This agrotechnical procedure, which is indispensable for many varieties of tomatoes, is the main condition for obtaining excellent fruits in any variant of tomato cultivation (here are their cultivation characteristics). Proper formation of this crop increases the yield to 10-15 kg per plant.

Tomato shoots are unnecessary side shoots that develop in the leaf axils of the vegetable. Their removal, called pinching, favors the proper redistribution of all nutrients in the tissues and organs of the plant. This procedure not only helps to increase the yield of tomatoes, but also facilitates the constant care of plantings of this crop. Properly formed and neatly tied tomato bushes are much easier to care for.

Trick from Andrey Tumanov: How to stop the growth of tomato seedlings

If you have not yet managed to plant tomatoes in the greenhouse and are afraid that they will outgrow.

Usually, tomato seedlings are planted in a closed greenhouse in early May, until about the 15th. Even if frosts are expected, the seedlings can be covered and the greenhouse can be slightly flooded. It is also recommended to cover the greenhouse with not one, but two or three layers of film. And remove the top layers in early June.

But tomatoes begin to be planted in open ground only at the end of May - beginning of June, when the temperature of the ground and air stabilizes.

The most optimal age of seedlings for planting in the ground is 50-60 days. Age depends on the variety, so read the packaging carefully.

But seedlings in a warm apartment are actively stretching, and it is difficult to maintain their growth. Therefore, Andrei Tumanov advises making her life as “complicated” as possible:

— It is necessary that the temperature in the room where the seedlings are located is no higher than 10, maximum 12 degrees Celsius. Of course, the easiest way is to take it out onto the balcony. But if there is no balcony? Then try to stretch the film, separating the window sill from the room, and keep the window open all the time. This way you can create less acceptable conditions for seedlings. By the way, do not forget about additional lighting - it is simply necessary, since seedlings need at least 12 hours of daylight. Lamps on clothespins, which can be mounted directly on the windowsill, with fluorescent lamps, are suitable for this.

And there is one more trick:

If your tomatoes are packed into milk cartons, then cut out the bottom of these bags and just let some of the soil fall down so that the roots show. The long stem of the seedling will also droop slightly. And you will sprinkle it with the soil that has become free. Roots will immediately begin to form on the stem. This way, you will slightly slow down the growth of tomatoes and form a stronger root system. And the tomatoes will be more resistant when planted in open ground.

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What does quality seedling look like?

To correctly assess the condition of seedlings, you need to know what high-quality and healthy tomato seedlings should look like.

Signs of healthy seedlings:

leaves and stems are light or dark green - it depends on the variety;
elastic sheet plates;
the stem is strong, stable and thick;
internodes shortened;
cotyledon leaves protrude slightly above the soil level;
sprouts are straight or slightly raised, without bending.

By the time tomato seedlings are transplanted to a permanent location, their height should be at least 25-30 cm, and the stem thickness should be 7-10 mm. Seedlings should have at least 8-10 true leaves and a fully formed first flower cluster.

What to do with seedlings that need saving

How to stop the growth of tomato seedlings? There are several quick ways to stop tomato seedlings from growing in height, akin to so-called shock therapy. Don't be afraid, tomatoes are very resilient plants and their adaptability to various stressful situations is beyond praise...

So, in order for tomatoes to slow down their growth, you just need to complicate their life, create conditions for hardening and enhanced survival:

Trim off a few of the lower leaves from each plant. With this type of help, two factors will work at once - the plants will become much lighter and growth will slow down, and a stressful situation will arise for the plants, which will force them to stop their growth for a couple of weeks. Growth will stop and the stem will begin to thicken. If, after this period, growth retardation is still needed, then the next pair of leaves can be shortened by half.
Open the window for a little ventilation to lower the temperature on the windowsill, especially at night, cover the radiator under the window with a thick blanket to reduce the amount of heat generated by it. Growth will stop and the growth of the bush will slow down.
At the first opportunity, plant the seedlings in a well-lit greenhouse or take them out to a glassed-in loggia for the day, or in a greenhouse on hanging trays, if the ground is not yet warmed up, in this way you can stop development for more than two weeks.
Transplant the plant into a tall glass or plastic bottle, pour some soil down, place the plant, pouring soil from the top to the top. Such a plant will form a very powerful root and will need to be planted in the ground at an angle or completely lying down.
Place the seedlings on a cold floor or in a cool corridor overnight.
Our grandmothers' way. Take a needle from a medical syringe, disinfect it with alcohol and pierce the plants right through at a height of 2-3 centimeters from the ground. While the wound heals, plant growth will stop for ten days.
Well, the most radical method for very elongated old seedlings. Using sharp scissors, cut the tops of the tomatoes to a length of about twenty centimeters. Place these tops in a jar of water, like a bouquet of flowers. Change the water in the jar every day for fresh water. After a week or two, the tomatoes will produce beautiful young roots and then they can be planted again in pots with soil. Once rooted, they will become exemplary seedlings—short, strong, and very attractive in appearance.
Several times a day, gently run your hand or cardboard over the leaves and turn the pots a quarter around their own axis in a circle. The plants will be disoriented and irritated, as a result, ethylene gas will be released from the tomato leaves and stems, which also slows down the growth of seedlings.

Recommendation! If a longer delay is needed, then you can combine a couple of methods. First, do the first one with cutting off the leaves, and when the seedlings begin to stretch again, pierce them with a needle. Or first pierce it with a needle, and when growth resumes, transplant it into a plastic bottle or take it out to a cool balcony. There is a lot of room for our imagination here, as they say!

If the plants have slowed down their growth too much as a result of manipulations, you need to return the heat and feed them. As a last resort, spray with any growth stimulant and everything will return to normal, the tomatoes will begin to grow quickly.

It is better to prevent disaster by planting seedlings correctly than to later eliminate the consequences of planting errors.

What needs to be done to prevent seedlings from stretching

There are several basic rules that allow a gardener to get high-quality seedlings, strong bushes with bright green leaves and thick legs, which cause affection by their very appearance; they will not need suspension and inhibition in development:

good lighting - the more light each bush gets, the less it stretches in growth; seedlings should be placed on a sunny window or illuminated with a fluorescent lamp, increasing the length of daylight hours;
moderate heat - the best temperature for proper growth and development of seedlings is 23-25 degrees, if higher, then the seedlings begin to significantly increase in growth beyond any measure;
correct watering - you need to water the seedlings abundantly, but not often, waiting until the earthen ball dries thoroughly and the tomato begins to become slightly sad, dropping its leaves;
Fertilize the plant when it is really required - an excess of nitrogen fertilizers also leads to accelerated and vigorous growth of seedlings, a deficiency causes slow growth.

Video: Epin for tomato seedlings

From all of the above, it is quite possible to draw conclusions on how to cope with this scourge and stop the growth of tomatoes in height. To do this, you need to increase lighting, lower the temperature to 12-15 degrees and reduce watering.

Additional Information ! It is possible and necessary to treat seedlings with preparations such as Epin-extra or Atlet. Both of these drugs prevent seedlings from stretching, strengthen them and increase immunity.

Epin-extra

How to stop the growth of elongated tomato seedlings

First of all, you need to adjust the lighting and watering mode. There are other means to stop tomatoes from stretching.

Changing the temperature

At temperatures below 16° C, the growth of the above-ground parts of tomatoes slows down, but the roots continue to develop. It is necessary to move the seedlings to a cool, bright place, for example, transfer them to a heated greenhouse, canopy, or barn.

If this is not possible, regular ventilation will help save the seedlings. In this case, the seedlings are covered with newspapers and protected from the flow of cold air in another way. You can place containers with seedlings on the floor - there the temperature is several degrees lower. And artificially illuminated for 14-16 hours a day.

Top dressing

If the cause of skinny shoots and stretching of the tops is excess nitrogen, its effect can be blocked with potassium fertilizers. They should be fed to plants so that they slow down the absorption of nitrates.

It is impossible to get rid of nitrogen by abundant watering in closed containers. Not only does it have nowhere to go, but the seedlings’ blackleg disease will be added to the problem of pulling out.

Watering

Reducing watering slows down the growth of green mass and the elongation of tomatoes

It is important to maintain a balance here. Poor moisture not only inhibits the growth of tomatoes, but also stimulates the early formation of flower clusters

Only the top layer of the substrate should dry out. If the tomato is still going to bloom, the brush must be removed immediately.

Picking

Picking will help save stretched tomatoes. As soon as the second true leaf appears, prepare individual containers and plant them in the following sequence:

Fill the container halfway with the substrate.
Carefully, using a special peg or other tool, remove several tomato sprouts from a common container.
One is separated, the root, together with a lump of earth, is placed flat in a glass or pot.
The stalk is led in a wide spiral, constantly adding substrate so that only the top of the tomato remains on the surface.
Watered.
Place in a cool, brightly lit place.

It is recommended to plant not just stretched, but overgrown tomatoes in free pots. Until the root completely entwines the earthen ball, the above-ground part will practically not develop. They do the same when there is a lot of time left before moving to a permanent place.

Use of growth regulators

Many gardeners consider the use of growth regulators a bad idea and use them only as a last resort. True, they do not forget to process seedlings grown for sale. It always turns out strong, squat, with a thick stem and neat dark green leaves.

The main thing when using retardants (growth-slowing regulators) is to strictly adhere to the instructions and not exceed the dosage and number of treatments. There are preparations with which tomatoes should be sprayed or watered at the root. In the latter case, the soil must be pre-moistened. And after treatment, pour the tomatoes over the leaves to wash off any product that accidentally gets on them.

When using the most famous regulator - Tura, you must wear a respirator and personal protective equipment. This is an old drug, toxic. Even if you do not come into contact with it, but simply stay in close proximity to the treated plants until the smell dissipates, you can feel unwell.

Of the more modern means, Athlete or its analogues are recommended. On private plots you should not use preparations intended for agricultural land - they are always more toxic.

Thin, elongated seedlings are, of course, bad. But its growth can be stopped at any stage. It’s even better to create conditions suitable for seedlings to develop normally, and avoid making mistakes yourself.

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What to do if the seedlings stand in one pore?

If tomato seedlings grow very slowly or stand in one pore, you should definitely try to identify the reason why this happens. When you understand why the seedlings stand in one pore, it will be much easier to help them.

Does not grow well after germination

Very often, tomato seedlings that appear in winter are characterized by extremely slow growth due to excessively poor lighting and lack of heat.

Experienced gardeners recommend, in this case, to make a mini-greenhouse over the box with seedlings, near which you need to place 2 lamps. They will not only illuminate the seedlings, but also warm them.

If the room where the seedlings are located is very hot, it will need to be systematically moistened with warm, well-settled water from a spray bottle.

If the problem of slow growth is associated with poor or excessively abundant watering, then its regime certainly needs to be reconsidered.

Watering is carried out only when the top layer of the substrate dries out

Please note that it is highly undesirable to water tomatoes with hard tap water. Watering with melt or rain water can revive seedlings.

Many gardeners also recommend feeding seedlings that are stunted, and you can use the following folk remedies:

Yeast feeding. Dissolve 5 g of dry yeast in a liter of water, as well as 1 tsp. Sahara. After a day, the infusion will be ready for use. It is recommended to fertilize after watering.
Egg shells. You will need the shells of 3 or 4 eggs. It needs to be crushed to form very fine crumbs, which are poured into a plastic bottle filled with warm water. There is no need to close the container with a stopper. The infusion will be ready after 5 days, and it should become cloudy. During feeding, pour 1 small spoon of infusion under each bush.
Banana fertilizer. You can also feed tomato seedlings with banana peels, which contain a lot of potassium. It is very easy to prepare such an infusion. To do this, place the skins of three or four fruits in a 3-liter glass jar. Then it is filled with warm water. The infusion will be ready after three days; feed it to young tomatoes after watering.

Stands in one pore after picking

Quite often, tomato seedlings stop growing after picking. This can happen for several reasons:

If seedlings are picked very early, then the likelihood of severe damage to the delicate roots increases. Because of this, the plants will become very sick and will take a long time to recover. That is why the picked seedlings stand in one pore.
If such a procedure is carried out later than expected, then the overgrown roots of neighboring bushes will intertwine with each other. And during the transplant they will also be severely injured.
Before you start picking, the soil mixture in the box needs to be well watered. Otherwise, this can also lead to severe injury to the root system.

If you see that the growth of picked seedlings is very slow, you can try to correct this.

It is recommended to cover the weakened plants with transparent glass cups on top, or you can put a plastic bag on the container with the seedling, and secure it with an elastic band at the base. This will create greenhouse conditions, which will help the seedlings recover faster.

It is not recommended to cover the plant immediately after watering, because high air humidity can cause the development of fungal diseases.

In addition, experts advise that newly transplanted seedlings should be placed initially where they grew before. At the same time, try to first provide them with the usual air temperature and lighting.

It is also recommended to place the smallest seedlings after picking closer to the window so that taller plants do not shade them.

Seedlings in peat cups grow very slowly

Gardeners often note that tomato seedlings sown in peat cups grow extremely slowly. This can happen for several reasons:

low-quality peat cups;
The root system of the plant is very crowded in the cup;
due to peat, the soil mixture in which the seedlings grow can oxidize, and this leads to the fact that it begins to lack potassium, as a result of which its growth slows down;
the substrate often dries out due to the fact that in such cups moisture from the soil evaporates much faster;
Due to frequent watering, nutrients are washed out from the substrate, and the seedlings begin to starve.

Experts advise paying special attention to the quality of peat cups when purchasing. You also need to take into account that the seedlings grown in them need more frequent watering and fertilizing

Who knows how to stop the growth of seedlings?

New day

Additional lighting (12-14 hours of daylight is needed) and lowering the temperature. Limit watering. You can try the drug “Athlete”, it is used against the pulling of seedlings. The picked seedlings should stand freely, without the leaves touching each other, otherwise no measures will help.

Olesya

water less and it’s cooler, and you can transplant into larger pots, then it takes about five days to take root, and this also stops the growth of seedlings

Ekaterina Bolgova

ATHLET new for seedlings! Plant growth regulator Forms strong compact seedlings of tomatoes and other vegetable and flower crops, preventing their overgrowth Increases the duration of flowering and improves the decorative qualities of flower crops and shrubs Athlete is an indispensable assistant when growing seedlings. The drug inhibits the height growth of the above-ground part of the plant, while promoting thickening of the stem and significant root growth. Seedlings do not stretch even in low light, thickening and high temperature! The athlete accelerates the formation of the first inflorescences and the number of ovaries in them. The yield of early products is ensured, and the total yield increases by 20-30%. Application. Dilute the contents of the ampoule (1.5 ml) in water. Two methods of application: spraying the leaves and watering at the root. It is necessary to strictly observe the number of treatments specified in the instructions, since premature cessation of treatments promotes strong plant growth. Mechanism of action. Athlete penetrates plants through leaves (spraying) or roots (watering). The drug slows down the growth of the aerial part, causes shortening and thickening of the stem, and increases the width of the leaves. Redistribution of nutrients occurs in plants. Most of the nutrients enter the roots, causing their increased growth. On tomatoes: Spraying with a solution of the drug (1.5 ml per 0.5-1 liter of water). The first treatment is in the phase of 3-4 true leaves with a lower concentration of 1.5 ml per 1 liter of water; with repeated treatments, the concentration of the working solution is increased to 1.5 ml per 0.7-0.5 liter of water. The required number of treatments is 3 with an interval of 5-8 days. When processing tomatoes by spraying, a single treatment is not allowed, since after growth inhibition, its activation occurs after 5-8 days. Repeated weekly treatments will prevent plants from overgrowing and will form compact seedlings with a powerful root system. If after three treatments weather conditions do not allow planting seedlings in open ground, a fourth treatment is allowed. Watering with a solution of the drug (1.5 ml per 1 liter of water) 30-50 ml per plant in the phase of 3-4 true leaves. Number of treatments - 1. On peppers, eggplants: Spraying with a solution of the drug (1.5 ml per 1 liter of water). The first treatment is in the phase of 3-4 true leaves. Number of treatments - 1. Watering with a solution of the drug (1.5 ml per 1 liter of water) 30-50 ml per plant in the phase of 3-4 true leaves. Number of treatments - 1. On cabbage: Watering with a solution of the drug (1.5 ml per 1 liter of water), consumption 1 liter per 1 sq. m. The required number of treatments is 3 with an interval of 7 days. On potted flower crops: Watering with a solution of the drug (1.5 ml per 150-300 ml of water) 50 ml per pot in the phase of visible buds. Number of treatments - 2 with an interval of 5-6 months. On flower crops: Spraying with a solution of the drug (1.5 ml per 1 liter of water) when overgrown. Number of treatments - 2 with an interval of 5-7 days. On ornamental shrubs: Spraying with a solution of the drug (1.5 ml per 1 liter of water) during the budding phase. Number of treatments - 2 with an interval of 5-7 days. (Russia) from the preparation of the company Rokita-Agro S.A. (Poland) Packaging - 1.5 ml ampoule.

Tata

It is necessary to water not at the root, but from the edge of the pot along the diameter. Then the roots will develop well, they will be drawn to moisture, and the growth of the stem will decrease at this time.

Natali

I agree with you about the boiling water. Add light, reduce temperature and watering. Stretches when there is little light. And of course you need to dive. But you have so many...

Svetik

Are you kidding me? What Hundred Thousand Bushes? What? If you are such a happy farmer, otherwise no one grows so much for themselves, then everyone should know better than us!!!! And the fact that you have it in your heart should only make you happy. We grow dozens of them for ourselves, but this amount of seedlings is only for business!! ! If it was a joke, then it’s understandable. :-))) But it’s not appropriate.

Rules for transferring to a permanent location

If during the growing process it is not possible to solve the problem or the tomatoes are already stretched in adulthood, then such plants can be safely planted in greenhouses or open ground. But in order for the seedlings to take root well, some planting features must be observed.

Tricks for caring for tomatoes

A week before transplanting, tomatoes begin to harden. To do this, the seedling containers are taken outside, left there first for 20–30 minutes, and then gradually increasing the time until full daylight hours. 2 days before transplantation, the cotyledon leaves are removed, if they have not been removed before.

Seedlings are planted in a permanent location according to the following algorithm:

prepare not holes for each plant, but short furrows 20 cm deep, placing them in the direction from south to north with an interval of 40 cm and row spacing of 50 cm;
1 tsp is added to each elongated well. superphosphate and pour in 1 liter of warm water;
let the water be half absorbed, take the sprout with a lump of earth out of the container

lower this lump into the southern end of the groove, lay the plant with the top to the north;
pour in 1 liter of water again, cover it with soil, lift the protruding shoot so that its above-ground part is as vertical as possible, and compact the soil around it;
Drive a peg 10 cm from the sprout and tie the stem to it;
the planting site is sprinkled with hay to retain moisture and protect against weeds;
the bed is shaded with agrofibre.

Immediately after transplanting, it will be useful to feed the tomatoes with yeast. To prepare the fertilizer, dilute 10 g of dry yeast in a bucket of water, leave it for 24 hours to infuse, and then pour 0.5 liters under each plant. If you follow these recommendations, the elongated tomato seedlings will take root well and within a week will noticeably begin to grow.

New varieties of black tomatoes

How to properly plant overgrown seedlings in the ground

Working with overgrown seedlings is quite difficult; there is always a risk of breakage during transportation to the dacha and during planting. But gardeners are an inventive people, and over many years of cultivating vegetables they have developed a lot of ways to plant elongated seedlings.

Landing at an angle

The plant is placed in a recess (root ball to the south, greenery to the north), trying to create a minimum angle of inclination. The stem is covered with soil from above, compacted and watered.

If the tomato leaves do not lie on the ground, then the garter to the support can be postponed until later, and the plant can be given the opportunity to straighten itself. While the root system is growing in the ground, the top of the head will reach towards the sun.

Over time, the seedlings will become strong, but will lose 7-10 days for rooting and adaptation.

When planting a large number of overgrown seedlings, it is more advisable to make shallow furrows and lay the tomato bushes in one direction: roots to the south, tops to the north. This option will allow you to better remember the location of the root system and be careful when loosening the soil. In this case, watering is carried out along the entire length of the furrow.

A similar option for planting overgrown seedlings at an angle looks like this.

Elongated grooves are dug along the width of the bed.
Fertilize and water abundantly.
Place 2 plants in the hole so that the root ball of both bushes is located in the center. Severely overgrown seedlings will end up with overlapping stems.
Part of the shoot and roots are sprinkled with earth, and the above-ground part is attached to a support.

Due to the fact that when planting at an angle the roots are close to the surface, it is recommended to cover the ground with a layer of mulch. This will increase the period of soil moisture and eliminate the need for weeding and loosening.

Burying method

In the garden bed, dig a regular hole on the bayonet of a shovel. Then another hole is made in the center, commensurate with the volume of the container in which the vegetable is grown.
The root ball is placed in a smaller hole and covered with soil. The rest of the recess remains free.
The plant is watered and left for 2 weeks.

During this time, the seedlings will take root, get stronger and it will be possible to fill the remaining volume with soil.

Dry method Kazarin A.

The author's method of planting tomato seedlings is based on the plant's ability to grow a root system from the stem, and limiting the water supply causes it to grow and deepen. This option is well suited for planting even very overgrown seedlings.

All leaves are removed from half the stem.
Dig an oblong hole corresponding to the length of the bare stem plus the size of the root ball.
0.5 buckets of humus are poured into the bottom of the depression, without adding additional industrial mineral fertilizers.
The contents are poured with a glass of ash and 3-4 manganese crystals are added.
The components are mixed and filled with 5 liters of water.
The stem is placed in a groove and covered with a thin layer of soil.
It is recommended to tie the upper part of the plant to a support and pour another 5 liters of water under the bush.

This concludes the water procedures for tomato seedlings until harvesting.

In the first 2-3 weeks, the plants look great: they have enough moisture added during planting. Then the leaves shrink, and the most difficult psychological period for the gardener begins: the hand itself reaches for the watering can. But soon the tomatoes will straighten out their appearance and enter a phase of active development.

Ring landing option

You will need to dig a hole 25 cm deep

Place an earthen ball with the root system in the center and very carefully and carefully round the stem along the walls of the recess. The top of the plant should emerge vertically from the soil surface. Also carefully fill the hole with earth, compact it and water it

After the soil settles, it is poured up to the level of the bed.

Also carefully fill the hole with earth, compact it and water it. After the soil settles, it is poured up to the level of the bed.

How to properly form a tomato bush in a greenhouse

Scheme of the strip-cluster method of planting tomatoes.

You need to start forming when the plant throws out its first flower cluster. In tall varieties of tomatoes, the first flower cluster grows above the 10-11th leaf, then the clusters grow every 3 leaves. Simultaneously with the appearance of the first flower cluster, the stepsons begin to grow. The first, the most powerful and thick, grows immediately below it.

In determinate varieties, the first flower cluster is formed at the level of 7-8 leaves. The stepson that has grown under it is left to guide the second stem; the remaining stepsons from both stems must be removed.

In order to correctly form a tomato bush in a greenhouse, after the first flower cluster appears, you need to carefully inspect the bush at least once a week and break out all discovered stepsons. Although some vegetable growers, in order to increase the yield of tomatoes, do not remove the first stepson on tall plants completely, but pinch it off, leaving one flower cluster on it. This is done like this: 2 leaves are left above the brush as the stepson grows, and above the second leaf the stepson is broken off. If the leaves are not left, then the plant sap inside this stem will not be able to fully function, which means that the tomatoes on the flower cluster will not be able to grow normally.

Required growing conditions

Seedlings of tomatoes and other vegetable crops require special care. Starting from sowing, it needs sufficient light, warmth and watering. If the seedlings do not grow, it means that there were violations in sowing or care. How to work with planting material correctly, and what needs to be done to avoid problems.

Poor seedlings are the result of the absence of one of the components of care. The reason may be poor quality of seeds or soil

The choice of planting material is important. Hybrid tomatoes are best planted in warm regions

Varietal varieties are suitable for the north. Why are tomato seedlings growing slowly? The reason may be in the soil. For successful planting, you need to mix part of the peat with half of the sand. Also, ash must be added to the soil to neutralize the acid. Before planting seedlings, you need to spill the soil with boiling water or a manganese solution. Self-collected seeds must also be disinfected. Sowing is done to a depth of 0.5-1 centimeter. If tomatoes grow poorly, then you need to pay attention to the temperature regime. At the initial stage, it is necessary to create a greenhouse effect. The temperature can reach 25-27 degrees.

Very weak tomato seedlings are the result of improper care and failure to comply with basic requirements. A gardener needs to know the basic rules for planting, watering, lighting and fertilizing seedlings.

The temperature after emergence changes to cooler, 14-16 degrees. Until the root system is strengthened, the above-ground part will grow and develop poorly. When the stems begin to grow, the temperature will have to be raised to 20. This regime does not apply to hybrids; they grow poorly in cool conditions.
If seedlings develop poorly, then their lighting must be adjusted. Seedlings must receive light for at least 14 hours per day. For late varieties, it is necessary to install a lamp, since they are sown earlier. Without proper lighting, the stems become thin and fragile.
When the seedlings have sprouted and become stronger, they are watered once a week. But in this matter the approach must be individual. As soon as the top layer of soil dries, you need to water the plants with warm, settled water.
If the tomatoes are weak and growing poorly, what to do? It is necessary to carry out a pick. This process can begin with the appearance of 3 true leaves. If the seedlings begin to stretch out, then they need to be buried. After picking, the soil is spilled and the pot is removed in the shade for two days.
After a week, the first feeding is carried out. It is necessary to use a complex of mineral fertilizers. The second feeding is carried out two weeks later.

Before picking, the plants stand side by side, and after that, the pots must be placed further away from each other so that the tomatoes have enough living space. Two weeks before planting, hardening should be carried out by taking the containers outside. You can start with 30 minutes.

Causes

Stretching and thinning of seedlings is a sign of a violation in the care of tomato seedlings. The causes of the problem may lie in improper lighting and air temperature, excessive watering or dense plantings. It is very important to accurately determine the reason why the tomato seedlings have become thin and long. This problem cannot be ignored, as fruiting will deteriorate and the fruits will be small.

Temperature violation

One of the common reasons for tomato seedlings stretching and thinning is non-compliance with the temperature regime. The optimal indicator is considered to be a temperature of +24-26°C. At lower temperatures, seedlings begin to stretch, become thin and weak.

In order to stimulate the growth of tomato seedlings immediately after the appearance of the first shoots, the temperature should be lowered to +14-18°C, and when the seedlings have grown sufficiently and become stronger, it should be raised back to +24-26°C.

This technique activates the growth of seedlings and strengthens its immunity. Depending on the growing conditions and the variety of tomatoes, the temperature is increased 15-20 days from the moment the sprouts appear.

Overwatering

Excessive watering of tomato seedlings causes them to stretch. Excess moisture inhibits the development of the root system, causes it to rot and accelerates the growth of stems. As a result, tomato sprouts become long and thin.

Lack of lighting

Most tomato seeds are sown at the end of February or at the beginning of March, since it will take at least 10-12 weeks for the seedlings to ripen. At this time, the daylight hours are still short, so tomato seedlings definitely need additional lighting. The optimal length of daylight for seedlings is at least 16 hours.

The main reasons for pulling seedlings:

placing seedlings near windows located on the shady side (facing north or covered by trees or houses);
the distance between the glass and the container with seedlings is too large;
early sowing of seeds for seedlings - in short daylight conditions without additional lighting;
prolonged cloudy and rainy weather;
placing pots and containers with seedlings on the top shelf above the window.

When organizing additional lighting, phytolamps need to be installed not only above the seedlings, but also on the sides of them. If the sprouts are illuminated only from one side, they will begin to stretch and thin out. Therefore, you need to take care of uniform lighting.

Incorrect feeding

Feeding tomato seedlings should be carried out according to a certain scheme. Uncontrolled application of fertilizers leads to a deficiency of some mineral elements and a deficiency of other substances. This negatively affects the growth of seedlings - they become weak, stretched and bent.

Stimulant abuse

Many gardeners are keen on tomato seedling growth stimulants, but do not always follow the manufacturer’s instructions exactly. In order to speed up the germination of seedlings, they often increase the dosage or soaking time in the stimulant. This leads to disruption of their growth - in this case, the stems can actively grow and the roots weaken.

Folk remedies for stimulating growth - yeast, herbal infusions and other recipes for organic compounds - can cause no less harm.

Incorrectly selected seeds

Healthy and viable tomato seedlings can only be obtained by using high-quality seed material. It is best to buy seeds in specialized stores for gardeners, checking the expiration date of the grains.

Before sowing, it is advisable to treat the seed material with a weak solution of potassium permanganate. This will disinfect the grains and improve their growth.

Planting density

Densified plantings lead to disruption of sprout development. In a cramped container, seedlings begin to suffer from a lack of sunlight and nutrients. As a result, their development deteriorates, root growth stops, and the stems begin to stretch and thin.

If plantings are overly dense, seedlings may weaken and turn pale at the base of the stems or only at the top. The internodes often also lengthen and become thinner.

Features of growing tomatoes

Tomato is an easy crop to propagate and grow. You can get new plants from seeds, stepsons, and cuttings. There are also several options for planting sites: open ground, greenhouses, balconies, window sills. Provided proper agricultural technology is used, the plant will certainly please its owners with a harvest.

Tomatoes are heat-loving, demanding on watering, and do not tolerate excess air humidity and lack of light. They benefit from loosening the soil and timely fertilizing. The plant grows and develops quite quickly, but this process can be further accelerated by spraying tomato seedlings with Epin or another similar preparation.