At the end of winter, summer residents who grow vegetables on their plots begin sowing seeds for seedlings. And since tomatoes are one of the most popular vegetable crops, tomato seedlings are most often grown in gardeners’ homes. You can plant tomato seeds for seedlings either with subsequent picking, or initially grow them in such a way that you don’t have to pick.
The need to pick tomatoes
Let's start with the fact that picking is a process in which seedlings are transplanted from a common container into individual containers, or from individual smaller containers into larger ones. The procedure is necessary so that plants can grow, develop, and build up their root system normally.
Thanks to picking, the area of growth and nutrition of the seedling expands. You can also discard weak, frail and diseased seedlings by transplanting only the strongest and healthiest specimens into a new container.
But some vegetable growers are wary of the picking process, because it can do more harm than good. What does it mean? The fact is that if you pick incorrectly, inattentively and carelessly, you can damage the root system or the above-ground part of the seedling and cause stress in the plant . And this, in turn, will make the seedlings weaker and more frail, they will be more susceptible to disease, and in especially severe cases they may die.
Tomato seedlings are fine with picking, so many gardeners initially sow in a common container - a wooden or plastic box. But tomato seedlings can also be grown calmly and normally without this manipulation.
Advantages of growing tomato seedlings without picking
If you perform the dive correctly and carefully and provide proper care afterwards, then, of course, there will be no problems with the seedlings. However, the method of planting and growing tomato seedlings without picking at home has very significant advantages:
- You will save your effort, time and resources . You won’t have to spend money, for example, on buying new planting containers or universal soil, and the time that would have been spent on picking could be used for some other gardening tasks or just to relax, leaving strength for the opening of the summer season. And this takes into account the fact that the procedure in some cases is performed more than once.
- Seedlings without picking are not inferior in quality to seedlings that have undergone the procedure . Thanks to this planting material, you can also easily grow a tasty and rich harvest of juicy tomatoes.
- Seedlings are protected from stress . Even a properly carried out procedure can cause stress in plants. If you plant seeds without subsequent picking, the plants will be able to avoid stress, which means they will be stronger and will be able to adapt faster, take root after transplanting into open ground, and also withstand negative factors and conditions.
- The seedlings are protected from possible damage . Even the most skilled gardener can make mistakes, not to mention novice vegetable growers. No matter how much we would like to, we can still accidentally damage the roots, stem or leaves during picking. And this can have a very negative impact on young tomatoes.
- The central root will have good development . When picking, the tap root is pinched by one third, and without the procedure it will be able to develop perfectly, which will allow you to water the plants less often in the future.
Useful tips for gardeners
Experienced gardeners are always ready to share their secrets for successfully growing pepper seedlings. Please note the following recommendations:
- Don't be afraid to grow seedlings yourself. When buying plants grown by someone else, you may encounter inconsistency of the variety and low quality of the seedlings.
- You should familiarize yourself in advance with the new products that are developed annually by breeders. Perhaps a new variety is exactly what you need.
- You should purchase seeds from large garden centers or specialty stores. In this case, the quality of the planting material is usually not in doubt.
- When growing pepper seedlings, it is advisable to add vermiculite to the soil; it ensures stable soil moisture and at the same time loosens it.
- The cultural requirements for light cannot be ignored. Additional lighting must be used until mid-March, then the pepper needs enough natural light.
- For irrigation, it is advisable to use water passed through a filter at room temperature. Regular tap water should sit for at least a day.
Features of sowing seeds without picking
Planting tomato seeds for seedlings without subsequent picking is done in almost the same way as with conventional sowing.
But unlike conventional planting, to grow tomato seedlings without picking, you must initially select suitable planting containers ! Ideal for these purposes:
- plastic cups;
- peat pots;
- peat tablets.
By the way! When sowing in peat cups or tablets, you can transplant the seedlings into open ground directly into them, just make a cut on the side.
You need to initially choose large containers so that from the moment of sowing to planting in open ground, the plants do not become cramped in the container. The optimal volume is 1 liter. If you do choose a smaller container, keep in mind that it must be at least 0.5 liters!
But wooden or plastic containers, small individual containers should be left for planting and growing with subsequent picking.
Planting scheme in individual containers
Before planting, it is necessary to disinfect the containers, for example, with a solution of potassium permanganate and make drainage holes if there were none initially (there is no need to make holes in peat pots!). Peat tablets do not need to be disinfected and holes made in them; they should be prepared in a different way: pour water in a tray for 20-30 minutes, wait until they swell, then drain the remaining water from the tray and start sowing.
Before planting, the container is filled 1/3 with soil . Three seeds must be sown in one individual container or peat tablet . This is necessary in case some seeds do not germinate. And if 2 or 3 seedlings grow at once, then you can simply leave one, the strongest sprout, and carefully trim the rest with sharp scissors. But if you want to get as many seedlings as possible, you can simply transplant the sprouted “extra” seedlings into other containers.
After sowing, seedlings will gradually appear, and as the seedlings grow, it is necessary to add soil to the container . This technology helps to grow additional roots.
Features of planting in bags
There is another interesting and profitable planting technology - in soft bags from any products (for example, milk, kefir) or in bags made independently from polyethylene. Examples of such cultivation in the photo:
The edges of the bag are wrapped and filled with earth according to the standard pattern. After sowing and the emergence of seedlings, as they grow, the edges of the bag unfold and soil is added to them.
The method of growing without picking in bags is very economical: you don’t have to spend money on planting containers.
Planting scheme in a common box
If you do not have a sufficient number of planting containers, then you can plant tomato seeds as seedlings and in a common large box. If you follow a special technology, this can also be done without subsequent picking:
- The volumetric box must be filled 1/3 with soil mixture.
- Tomato seeds are sown at intervals of 10 centimeters.
- After the first shoots appear, it is necessary to install partitions in the soil between the seedlings. To do this, you can use plates made of thick cardboard or plastic.
- As the seedlings grow, it is necessary to add soil.
This way, tomato seedlings can be grown in a common container, but they do not need to be planted. Thanks to the partitions, the roots of different seedlings do not intertwine.
Care
The main stages of caring for tomatoes are the same for both open ground and greenhouses.
Watering
There is one general rule for tomatoes of all varieties, which applies in any region. According to this rule, tomatoes should be watered abundantly at the time of transplanting seedlings into the ground, and then stop watering for 3-4 weeks. As a result, the roots of the tomatoes will actively grow and develop in search of water. After this time, watering is resumed at intervals of 7-10 days (in extreme heat, 5-7 days). In this case, water is supplied into grooves 10-15 cm deep, formed at a distance of 15-20 cm from the stems on both sides of the row. You need to know that tomatoes are watered rarely, but abundantly. Their roots grow deeply (in some varieties more than one meter), so the soil can dry out to a depth of 5-7 cm. But waterlogging and stagnation of water, which can often be observed in the northern regions of the middle zone, should not be allowed. Drip irrigation systems can be used to water tomatoes, which significantly reduces the labor intensity of the process.
Drip irrigation systems can be used to water tomatoes, which significantly reduces the labor intensity of the process.
Growing tomatoes without watering
In the middle zone, where summer rains are frequent, it is quite possible to do without watering. This is permissible on moisture-intensive soils (chernozems, loams). If the roots of tomatoes are well developed, then they can independently extract moisture from deep layers. Watering may be necessary in cases where the intervals between rainfalls exceed 1 month and the weather is hot, dry. With this method of cultivation, it is necessary to mulch the soil to prevent moisture evaporation and drying out of the soil. For this you can use:
- straw;
- hay;
- peat (not sour);
- sunflower husk;
- humus, etc.
I have been using this method for three years - the tomato bushes are powerful and strong, the foliage is juicy and rich in color. When the fruits grow to medium size, I begin to water the plants once a week.
Top dressing
Early ripening determinate varieties of tomatoes do not require additional fertilizing if the soil is properly prepared. This is explained by the fact that the fruits are harvested quite early and the plants do not have time to use up the nutrition provided before planting. But mid-season and late-ripening tomatoes need to be fertilized periodically. The first time this is done 3-4 weeks after planting, simultaneously with the first watering. At this time, plants need nitrogen fertilizers to ensure the growth of green mass and stem growth. Organic infusions (mullein, chicken droppings, freshly cut grass) that you can prepare yourself are best suited for this. The next feeding, which is carried out after 2 weeks, should contain phosphorus and potassium (for example, potassium monophosphate at a rate of 10-20 g/m2). Subsequently, fertilizing is repeated at intervals of 2-3 weeks, alternating nitrogen with potassium-phosphorus.
Shaping, pinching, trimming, garter
Tall determinate and all indeterminate varieties of tomatoes require gartering of stems, shaping of bushes and removal of shoots.
To garter tomatoes, trellises or crossbars with hanging cords are installed in advance. Tall tomatoes are usually formed with 1-3 stems:
- to form into 1 stem, simply remove all the stepsons formed during the growth process once a week;
- to get the second stem, leave a stepson growing from the axil of the leaf located under the first flower raceme;
- For the third stem, one more of the basal stepsons is additionally left.
For all tomatoes, the lower leaves located up to the first flower cluster are gradually cut out in order to improve ventilation. Do this early in the morning so that the wounds dry out by evening, removing no more than one or two leaves from the bush at a time.
In addition to the listed stages of care in the greenhouse, it is necessary to monitor temperature, humidity and illumination, and, if necessary, adjust them using the methods described above.
How to properly care for seedlings that do not need to be picked
Caring for tomato seedlings at home, grown without picking, and according to the usual scheme is essentially no different. It is necessary to regularly water and monitor humidity, ensure normal temperature conditions and lighting, and feed.
Important! Caring for seedlings that are grown without picking has one main feature - it is necessary to add soil as the plants grow!
Tomato seedlings should be transplanted to a permanent location in open ground when the plant has 8-10 true leaves and a height of about 25-35 centimeters. Also, the soil in the garden should warm up to +12-+15°C.
How to plant and grow seedlings at home is up to you. For the sake of experimentation, you can try growing seedlings in the usual way and try the method of growing tomato seedlings without subsequent picking. And then compare the results and decide which technology is more convenient and closer to your liking, in order to save your energy and time in subsequent years.
Answers to common questions
Even experienced summer residents have additional questions in an unforeseen situation.
What to do if tomato seedlings stretch to the point of picking
Seedlings can stretch out and outgrow for various reasons. Proper diving can get rid of this problem. But you need to act as carefully as possible - the elongated stems are extremely delicate and fragile.
When transplanting, elongated sprouts should be buried deeper into the soil. When filling and compacting the soil, the thin stem can easily be damaged - this needs to be closely monitored. In all other respects, the procedure does not differ from the usual one.
Tomatoes will not be able to develop normally if they receive too little light. If the seedlings are stretched out due to lack of light, you can save them by giving them enough light.
What to do if after picking the seedlings are lethargic and fall
If the seedlings remain lethargic for the first two or three days after diving, then this is normal. The plant adapts to new conditions and this takes a lot of effort. If the lethargy lasted too long, mistakes were made during the dive.
It is necessary to find out what was done wrong and try to correct the mistake. For example, eliminate excess humidity or get rid of aridity, or maybe add lighting.
Why does it die and wither after pruning?
The reason for the death of plants is the same as for wilting - errors in picking. The main mistakes are:
- Damage to roots or stems during transplantation.
- The soil is too dry or too waterlogged.
- The container does not have a drainage hole.
- Failure to comply with temperature and light levels.
- Poor quality soil.
- Bad fertilizer.
If the leaves turn yellow
Yellowing of the leaves indicates excess moisture in the soil. Yes, tomatoes are moisture-loving plants, but overwatering is also dangerous for them. In addition to yellowing from overwatering, the roots of the plant also begin to rot.
To get rid of excess moisture, the container with the plant must have a drainage hole. Then, when overwatering, it is enough to wait a little extra time and water when the soil is dry enough.
The air temperature for seedlings should be from 25 to 28 degrees. Plants will be stunted if temperatures are above or below these levels.
What to do if it doesn't grow well
There are several reasons for poor growth after picking:
- Incorrect water balance in the soil.
- Lack or excess of fertilizers.
- Presence of diseases or pests.
- The soil is not suitable.
- The picking was carried out with errors.
How many times should you pick tomato seedlings?
Most often, only one picking procedure is carried out for tomatoes. But if tall varieties are grown, then a second picking will definitely be needed. Read how to grow onions in a greenhouse using this link.
