How to plant overgrown tomatoes in the ground and greenhouse

Seedlings outgrow for many reasons - due to care errors, unsuitable conditions, or late spring. Experienced gardeners try to prevent this from happening, but they don’t despair at the sight of elongated tomatoes. If you notice in time that tomato seedlings have outgrown, their size can be controlled with special preparations or by adjusting their care. As a last resort, plant it correctly, and the harvest will not be affected or will decrease slightly.

Reasons for overgrowing seedlings

Strictly speaking, outgrowing seedlings and stretching are not the same thing. In tomatoes, the stem lengthens, but this happens for various reasons, and the appearance is different:

1. Elongated tomatoes have thin shoots and long internodes. There are few leaves, perhaps 4-5, but they are located far from each other.
2. Overgrown with the usual color for the variety, but too tall. The internodes are close, but there are many of them. The thickness of the stem is normal, or slightly thinner than required.

Reasons for pulling tomatoes:

• the seedlings are located too closely, they do not have enough light, the shoot stretches upward;
• the same thing happens if the tomatoes are standing on the windowsill without, or with insufficient lighting intensity;
• excessive watering;
• excess nitrogen fertilizing;
• high temperature – 25° C or more;
• when the seeds just hatched, they were not transferred to a cool place;
• there is no difference between day and night temperatures.

Seedlings outgrow if the seeds are sown too early or spring comes late. It's normal, it just wasn't planted in time, and it's grown big.

Tomato seedlings have outgrown: what to do

First of all, you need to choose the right place to place the seedlings; it should be sufficiently lit, without drafts. Thus, a north-facing window may provide less natural light than required. If you do not provide illumination with a lamp, the bush will overgrow.

Preparing for sowing

You need to start preparing by choosing a variety, based on the growing conditions: greenhouse or soil, northern region or southern region. Next you need to calculate the sowing date. The average period during which tomatoes are at home on the windowsill is two months. The norm for transferring to the garden bed is by the end of spring or beginning of summer. Such a calculation of the moment of sowing will help to achieve the required plant strength by the time when the tomato can be planted in the ground. However, it should not outgrow. The properties of varieties are taken into account:

- tall varieties are sown in early March; -sowing of greenhouse varieties is carried out in early February, in April the sprouts are transferred to the greenhouse; -in mid-March, early ripening fruits (such as cherry tomatoes) begin to grow.

Attention! If you sow tomatoes early, the seedlings may become elongated and also wilt. It would not be surprising if such a tomato disappears after transplantation.

Myths about overgrown seedlings

First of all, gardeners who are faced with overgrown seedlings should be reassured. It takes root no worse than the usual one, and produces a good harvest. But only if measures are taken in time and planted correctly.

Otherwise, overgrown tomato seedlings:

• will lie on the ground;
• may break;
• will experience nutritional deficiencies.

As a result, it grows weak and may actually die. You can’t plant bushes as they are.

There is no classification of elongated tomato seedlings by size. No one has done any research on when rooting ability changes. Moreover, there are varieties whose adult bushes grow up to 30 cm, or reach 2 m.

Nevertheless, articles devoted to the problem are replete with assurances:

• slightly overgrown tomatoes have a height of 30 cm and take root well;
• with an average degree (45 cm), it takes root poorly, the brush may extend before transplanting, and will not bloom again;
• at a strong stage of overgrowth - 60 cm, usually does not take root.

Even the smallest tomatoes can bloom if the seedlings are overdried, but not to such an extent that they die. And all the tomatoes will produce a harvest. It’s just that the first, largest and best brush will be lost. Flowers that appear before planting should be removed as soon as possible.

Regarding the catastrophically poor survival rate of seedlings above 60 cm. I would really like to advise ignorant authors of articles to take a ride in the spring on electric trains, minibuses or regular buses going in the direction of their summer cottages. And try to explain why some gardeners bring seedlings that are not just overgrown, but sometimes reach a meter long - the tops stick out from standard jute bags (96 cm). Moreover, it does not seem that they are particularly worried, or are going to ceremoniously bury the tomatoes in the open air.

A little less common is the puzzling statement that when tomatoes are buried, leaves and ovaries fall off. This is exactly the crop for which deep planting is recommended, even for regular-sized seedlings - adventitious roots quickly form on the stem. This is what gardeners have been doing for generations, and they get an excellent harvest. The bushes grow powerful, require less watering and suffer from temperature changes, and better withstand the wind in open ground. And no one has ever had anything fall off from a deep planting. Maybe we need to look for another reason?

Second landing option: ring

Another way to plant overgrown seedlings is in a ring or in a spiral.
A round hole is dug with a depth of about 20-25 cm and a diameter of about 25 cm. The root ball is installed in the central part of the hole, the stem is gently and gradually rounded into it in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction and rises, pressing against the walls. The top of the plant should emerge vertically from the hole. Planting in a ring or in a spiral Carefully fill the hole with soil, lightly compact the central part and water. After 20-30 minutes, after the soil has settled, we fill the resulting depression and compare the soil with the general level of the bed. Just like in the first option, we add drugs to protect against diseases. A mulching layer (3-5 cm thick) with inert materials will also protect the plants from overheating and drying out the soil.

We direct the top of the plant upward using a support

What to do with overgrown tomatoes

Tomato seedlings need to be monitored. The first signs of overgrowth are clearly visible - the shoot stretches out. If you take action right away, you can slow down the process and obtain high-quality planting material.

Growth regulators

Gardeners are divided on growth regulators. Those who grow tomato seedlings for sale must use them. With minimal flaws in care, it is guaranteed not to stretch, the stems will be thick and strong.

Others use medications as desired. You just need to carefully read the instructions and strictly follow them. And choose retardants. Otherwise, instead of the expected containment, rapid growth of the aerial part, premature formation of ovaries, or some other effect can be caused.

There are many drugs. You can use the old, well-known Tour, or newer retardants:

• drug Atlet;
• Stocky;
• Antevylegach;
• Support;
• SSS.

They must be used very carefully, avoiding overdose, and only as a last resort. These drugs are classified as pesticides, and are not so harmless.

Care instructions

To prevent seedlings from stretching, you must strictly follow the growing rules. But if the tomatoes have already outgrown, you should:

1. Increase lighting. Even on a southern windowsill, tomatoes lack it - sun activity and day length in early spring are insufficient even in regions with a hot climate. It is better to use a phytolamp for illumination; if you don’t have one, use a regular one, placing it not on the side, but above the plants. Tomatoes should have 15-16 hours during the day, the remaining 8-9 hours at night. Illumination in pieces, when it is convenient for the owners, is unacceptable.
2. Carry out timely picking in the phase of 2-3 true leaves. If you delay the deadlines so that it is more convenient for inexperienced gardeners to carry out the operation, the tomatoes will definitely outgrow.
3. Place bushes further away. When they are arranged in a cluster, the stem reaches towards the light, and the internodes lengthen.
4. Reduce watering. But be very careful, since short drying of the substrate causes not only a suspension of growth processes, but also the formation of brushes. It is not recommended to plant tomatoes during flowering - the ovaries will have to be cut off as early as possible.
5. Lower the temperature. It is easier for gardeners growing tomatoes in greenhouses with a controlled climate - they can transfer the seedlings there and freely arrange them on the ground. The rest should ventilate the room more often, open the window slightly, protecting the tomatoes with newspaper. At night they can be moved to the coolest place and placed on the floor - cold air accumulates there.

If the reason for the tomatoes to stretch is due to excess nitrogen fertilizers, nitrates can be blocked with unscheduled fast-acting phosphorus-potassium fertilizing. For example, potassium monophosphate.

Alternative methods

If you notice the first signs that the seedlings are stretching, you can try to slow down their growth. There are several methods to do this. The most effective of them:

• move the seedlings to a cooler room. At an air and soil temperature of 15-16 degrees, the growth of tomatoes will stop;
• reduce watering. Excess moisture causes fattening and rapid growth of seedlings. To stop growth, watering should be done only when the soil in the containers dries out;
• replant seedlings with depth up to the first pair of leaves. It will take time for plants to adapt after transplantation. During this period, growth will slow down;
• treat with retardants. Under the influence of these substances, growth stops, and the stem and shoots thicken. The plant becomes strong, the color changes to dark green with a bluish bloom. These substances include the biostimulant “Athlete”.

In order to avoid the problem of overgrowing seedlings, you need to responsibly plan the entire process of growing tomatoes. It is better not to sow seeds ahead of schedule, in the hope of an early harvest. Agricultural experts explain that it is better for tomato seedlings to be young and short than old and exhausted.

Hardening

Actually, all tomato seedlings need to be hardened off, and not just the ones that are stretched out or overgrown. Otherwise, in open ground it will most likely die before it has time to take root. When planting in a greenhouse, it will hurt for a long time, it will take a lot of time to recover, and part of the crop will not have time to ripen.

7-10 days before moving to a permanent place, the tomatoes are taken outside, where they should spend about 2 hours. Plants protect from sun and wind.

Every day, the time spent in the fresh air of tomatoes is increased first by 1.5 hours, then the difference is increased to 3. On the last night, the seedlings should spend the night outside.

If the tomatoes are in a greenhouse, there is no need to take them out. You can simply open doors and windows for a while.

What methods will help stop the growth of seedlings?

It is necessary to protect tomato seedlings from overgrowing from the moment they emerge. It is very important to notice the first loops of sprouts in time and move the seedling boxes to a bright place where the ambient temperature will be 16-18⁰C. Irrigation is carried out only when the top layer of soil dries.

Picking seedlings

Regardless of the method of growing tomatoes - seedling boxes, peat tablets, "snails", or individual cups - plants require diving. This event solves several problems at once.

1. The sprouts are provided with a large feeding area, which promotes the development of the root system.
2. Burying the seedling to the cotyledon leaves promotes the formation of new roots.
3. Plants slow down their growth for 4-5 days while adapting to new conditions.

For reference. After diving, the seedlings cannot be placed in a sunny place. It is necessary to provide shading by covering the glass with newspapers or light-colored material.

Transferring seedlings into larger containers

It happens that seedlings already planted in individual containers noticeably stretch out and further stay at home threatens the loss of the harvest. But it is not possible to plant plants in a greenhouse or open ground.

In this case, many gardeners use the double dive method. That is, an already mature plant is transferred to a larger container. As with the first dive, the seedlings will get used to the new conditions, straighten the roots in the fresh substrate, and the above-ground part of the tomato will stop its development.

It is quite clear that at home it is impossible to transfer all existing seedlings into a large container. Therefore, you should not sow all varieties at once. Carefully read the instructions about ripening times and carry out stage-by-stage sowing.

Read more in the article: Tomato seedlings are very elongated and very thin, what to do

Temperature reduction or hardening

An effective and useful method of inhibiting the growth of seedlings is lowering the temperature or hardening. This method helps solve the main problems: preventing tomatoes from overgrowing and accustoming the plants to open conditions.

When there are 10-12 days left before the planned planting date, the seedlings are taken out to the balcony or veranda. Hardening begins in warm, windless weather with half-hour air procedures, with a gradual increase in the time period.

The main condition at the initial stage of hardening is not to expose the seedling boxes to direct sunlight. Plants need to be shaded. The air temperature should be at 10-12⁰С.

Such maintenance conditions can be applied to overgrown seedlings earlier, but only at the appropriate temperature.

Hardening will not only stop the growth of tomatoes, but also make them resistant to natural phenomena after planting in open ground.

Trimming the top

There are still 2-3 weeks before the appropriate time for planting seedlings in open ground (greenhouse), and the tomato bushes on the windowsill are clearly overgrown. In this case, you can resort to a rather extreme, but at the same time profitable, method of pruning the upper part of the plant.

The overgrown stem is cut off above 2-3 leaves.

The upper part must be placed in a vessel with settled water to build up the root system. It will be good if the gardener adds a couple of drops of growth stimulants - Epin, Zircon or Kornevin - to the water. Some of the lower leaf plates must be removed, leaving 2-4 leaves on the top. After 3-5 days, roots will appear on the stem. When their length reaches 2-3 cm, the new tomato bush is ready for planting in the ground.

It should be borne in mind that such a plant will need a loose and fertile substrate with good drainage properties. You can use the soil left over from sowing seeds.

The lower part will give off lateral shoots, from which a tomato bush of 1 or 2 stems will be formed.

A successful attempt will double the number of seedlings. The main thing is to have enough space in the garden.

Correct replanting in the ground

Tomatoes are planted so that only the first true leaf remains on the surface of the soil. The cotyledons are removed. But many gardeners try to deepen the seedlings as much as possible. This is justified, but it is important not to overdo it. You need to leave at least 2 leaves on the surface until the first flower cluster, where it forms - depends on the variety.

What to do with stretched seedlings? It is necessary to determine at what depth it will be planted, and, at least 24 hours in advance, cut off all the lower leaves so that they do not begin to rot in the ground. The wound surface will heal and infection will not penetrate into it. Planting methods may differ slightly, but, in essence, they come down to two main ones.

When placing overgrown seedlings in holes, it is not recommended to add nitrogen-containing fertilizers. If there are not enough nitrates in the future, they can be added to the root.

Landing lying down

If the seedlings are moderately overgrown:

1. Dig an elongated, inclined hole the size of the stem freed from leaves, plus the root system.
2. Fill with water.
3. When the liquid is absorbed, put the tomato in it. The root should be located in the low part, the top should be on a hill.
4. Carefully cover the stem with substrate.
5. Lightly squeeze the ground.
6. Water generously.
7. Mulch with dry soil.

Humus cannot be used - it contains nitrogen. Soon the tomato will straighten up on its own, tall varieties can be tied up.

Spiral landing

If the seedlings are very elongated, it is recommended not to use the previous method. Not because the tomato will not grow well, but in order to save space and reduce labor costs.

Seedlings are planted in a spiral:

1. Dig a deep, wide hole.
2. Fill with water.
3. A lump of earth braided with roots is placed in the center.
4. The stem is carefully wrapped in a wide spiral. This does not mean that you need to make a spring out of a shoot. Usually half a turn is enough.
5. Gently sprinkle with soil and squeeze.
6. Water and mulch with dry substrate.

Seedlings that have wilted are planted

The simplest method is to lay the seedlings along the beds and sprinkle the root system with soil.
This is the case if the tomato seedlings have wilted a little and can be laid without damage. A tomato in this position quickly takes root, new roots appear, that is, the number of bushes increases, and accordingly the harvest will be larger. This method is ideal when the seedlings are sluggish and the stem is pliable and cannot break. The root is placed in the hole and the plant stem is placed along the groove. The root and that part of the stem that does not have leaves are sprinkled with earth and watered with water with a growth stimulator.

In this case, bird droppings, yeast, and manure will help, from which you need to make a special shake. It's easy and won't take much time. Cooking tips are available in our other articles. You should not try to plant seedlings that have not wilted in this way. So you can just break it. It’s better not to water the plant for a couple of days so that it becomes just that pliable.

If planted early

Tomato seedlings are pruned when they are very overgrown, and there is still a lot of time before they are planted in the ground or greenhouse. This usually happens due to late spring or early sowing of seeds.

To decide how to trim shoots, you need to consider:

1. Removing half the stem is used if planting will be done in the near future. Otherwise, the tomatoes may stretch out again.
2. When one bottom leaf is left, a stepson quickly forms from its axil. Subsequently, this will be the main escape.
3. It is best to leave the bottom 2 sheets. Two stepsons will form, the growth point can be switched to the strongest one, and the other one can be broken off. When they leave one leaf, there is no choice; you have to be content with what grows.

Cut tomato stems can be shortened and the tops placed in water. They will quickly take root. The shoots are planted in individual cups and grown like ordinary seedlings. Their productivity and development will be no different from tomatoes grown from seeds.

Tomato seedlings should not be allowed to overgrow - it is difficult and time-consuming to plant, and you may lose the first cluster of fruit. But if this happens, there is no need to create a tragedy. There are many ways to correct the situation.

Preparing to transplant seedlings

Overgrown tomato seedlings are weak. We cannot allow her to be transplanted in this condition. The bushes are hardened off. This process will last about a week.

Accustom tomatoes to fresh air. Dedicate two hours a day to this. Time of day for hardening: evening or early morning. If the weather is rainy or cloudy, then you can harden the tomatoes during the day.

Gradually the time is increased. As a result, the bushes are left for the whole day.

What to do if the tomatoes are overgrown and the time for planting has not yet come?

Tomatoes are accustomed to the shortening process in advance, in pots.

• Trim the lower leaves (one or two pairs are enough);
• Install a cardboard pipe in a pot;
• Fill additional volumes with soil.

The tomatoes will get used to this and grow roots.

The third option is not to everyone's liking.

1. Each bush is cut into two parts, forming two new seedling bushes. Side effect: these tomatoes will bear fruit two weeks later.
2. The part in which the root remains will give rise to stepsons.
3. And the upper part is left in water so that it gives new roots.
4. Then the plant is replanted in the seedling pot.

Planting overgrown tomatoes in a greenhouse

Gardeners, having a summer cottage with a greenhouse, do not mean that there is a special technology for planting overgrown tomatoes. Even if the transplant is carried out in a greenhouse.

In a greenhouse, weather conditions are not important. After all, even the cold spring period does not create an obstacle to planting tomatoes at the right time.

If the seedlings were not planted in a timely manner, then the technology for planting overgrown tomatoes should be used:

• The leaves that are located at the bottom are cut off. Leave only the lush foliage on top.
• They dig holes: the width is no more than twenty centimeters; depth no more than twenty-five centimeters. Holes are made across the bed.
• Water the hole with warm water.
• Seedlings are placed at the bottom. The roots should be in the center. The greens are located along the edges of the hole.
• The hole is covered with soil. Water with plenty of water.
• A support is installed near the top of the tomatoes. A bush is tied to it.
• After two weeks, the plant is fed. Potassium is used as a fertilizer. This will improve the immunity of tomatoes.
• As soon as the plant begins to feel better, we get used to the new conditions and begin to grow, we take care of it using standard methods.

It is important to remember that the soil must be cultivated very carefully. Because tomato roots are usually located close to the surface

Planting overgrown tomatoes in open soil

The size of the seedlings, when planted in open soil, plays a big role. Tomatoes, in standard cases, grow up to twenty-five centimeters. The length depends on the variety. If you properly care for tomatoes, they will gain the desired height in about two months.

If the plant is longer, then these seedlings are already outgrowing. There is little benefit from outgrowing. This process is divided into three parts.

Therefore, there are three options for planting these seedlings.

The seedlings are slightly overgrown. Length about thirty centimeters. It has about four leaves.

The plant will survive transplantation without special care. These tomatoes bear fruit at the right time. Before purchasing, you need to make sure that the tomato variety does not reach this length. If, nevertheless, such tomatoes have already been purchased, then there is nothing terrible about it. It is better to harden the bushes before planting.

Average overgrowth. The height of the bush is up to forty-five centimeters. Has six leaves. Sometimes buds already appear in the seedlings. The chances that the seedlings will take root are small. Approximately 60 percent out of 100. After transplantation, the plant will hurt and take a long time to take root.

Those buds that appeared on the seedlings may remain the only fruits. During the harvest period, they may dry out and fall off.

Tomatoes of this type are planted at an angle. The roots and some length of the stem are placed in the soil. In a few days the bush will give another roots.

Extreme care for tomatoes

It includes drying, that is, not frequent watering of the plant. Place in the hole (fifteen centimeters) for planting:

• Humus (about a kilogram);
• Ash (2 handfuls);
• Superphosphate (1 handful);
• Potassium permanganate (two grams);
• Fill with water.

Cover it all with soil. The thickness is about five centimeters. Water generously. The bush, which is located on top, is tied to a support. After the procedure, the plant is not watered. Tomatoes begin to survive on their own, take root and look for water.

Severe overgrowth. The length of the seedlings is about sixty centimeters.

There are about six leaves. Due to lack of light, the lower part of the leaves may turn yellow or dry out. Seedlings have buds and sometimes flowers. They will disappear during the transplant period. Using a standard transplant, the plant will not take root. It will break, hurt and die.

The landing process is complicated.

1. Plant seedlings horizontally. If you do otherwise, the roots will be too deep in the soil and the tomatoes will die from the cold.
2. The hole is no more than fifteen centimeters. Humus is placed at the bottom, and a large amount of warm water is poured on top.
3. Seedlings are placed in this hole: roots to the south; the upper part to the north.
4. Cover with soil and water generously.
5. The top of the head above the ground is tied to a support.

The roots of this seedling are much weaker than a regular tomato. They are located close to the surface and require additional protection.

To do this, cover the ground where the roots are located with dry grass or a dark cloth. Moisture will not evaporate. The first days after transplantation, protect tomatoes from sunlight and changes in air temperature.

Subsequently, the plant is cared for according to the standard method. It is not the planting method that is taken into account, but the tomato variety.

If overgrown tomatoes are planted in the right way, then the chances of getting a large harvest are great. Don't be upset if the seedlings are taller than expected. The main thing is to know how to plant these types of tomatoes.

What does overgrowth lead to?

Overgrowth is very dangerous for tomato seedlings. It can lead to adverse consequences for tomato seedlings:

• thinning and weakening of the stem;
• loss of leaf elasticity;
• increase in internodes;
• paleness of healthy green foliage.

The danger of seedlings overgrowing is that the often elongated stems cannot support the mass of developing buds and flowers. Therefore, when the first signs of overgrowth appear, it is necessary to establish its cause and provide the plants with high-quality and effective care.

Watering and fertilizing

We level the soil around the plant. Below, of course, the plant will have enough moisture for a long time. And we water, and additionally water. If we water the soil properly, the plant will continue to develop remarkably without any injuries, having really gained strength from the soil in which it was planted and made it pre-nutritive with a reaction of about 6 plus or minus 0.5. 5.5-6.5 is what tomatoes love. And, of course, food.

Please do not apply excess fertilizer. If you don’t know your soil well, don’t know well the components with which you changed the structure, nutritional value, just add more microelements and see. The plant will take the substances it needs. Just like you and I sit down at the table. We eat one thing, we don’t eat another, we choose. In the same way, plants will choose what they need and begin to develop very well and quickly. I hope that if we have already removed 4 sheets, there are still 5 left. This means that we are about to see inflorescences. This means that we will soon consume the fruits.