Picking tomatoes: when to pick tomatoes after germination

Picking tomatoes occupies a special place in caring for seedlings: when to pick tomatoes after germination depends on many factors.
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In general, this is a rather complex and controversial procedure. Usually, summer residents have to carry it out, although some try to avoid the dive by immediately sowing in separate containers.

Today we will talk about how to properly plant tomato seedlings and when to do it in 2022. We will tell you about all the ways to carry out this procedure, as well as important nuances for caring for planted tomato seedlings.

What is picking?

Picked tomatoes
Picking is the process of gradually planting plants in separate containers.

Since when planted with seeds, seedlings can grow quite crowded, then with the help of diving you can reduce competition among seedlings and, as a result, direct all the forces of each individual bush into growth.

It is clear that in this way it is possible to prepare the seedlings for planting in a permanent place faster, as well as to achieve earlier fruiting.

Goals and objectives of the pick

Picking is the process of planting tomato seedlings in separate containers and pinching their root system so that in the new pot there is enough space for the bush and its root develops not inwards, but to the sides. Initially, tomato sprouts have a tap root - it grows only in length, rushing down and ending up in poor soils. The result of this is a weak bush that will not bear a strong harvest. When picking, the long part of the root is removed and it begins to grow in width, capturing and entwining the fertile layers of soil. A strong root system ensures healthy and strong growth of seedlings.

Picking performs several tasks:

1. Allows seedlings to grow in spacious containers.
2. Helps the root system to grow strong lateral roots, i.e. become fibrous.
3. Ensures rapid seedling growth and high yield.
4. Allows you to select only healthy tomato bushes for cultivation.

During the transplantation process, all seedlings are carefully examined and those bushes that have grown weak and frail are destroyed.

Why pick tomatoes?

The first picking can be carried out as early as two weeks after the seeds emerge. This process allows you to achieve several advantages at once:

1. Ensure correct seating, highlight the strongest and healthiest shoots.
2. Inspect the root system and, if necessary, pinch out an excessively deep root, ensuring its uniform formation.
3. Make subsequent replanting easier, since each sprout will have its own lump of earth and an untangled root system.
4. Gradually harden the seedlings, prepare them for future transplants (including open ground).
5. Finally, prevent the development of diseases that, in a common container, can destroy all seedlings.

Thus, it is clear that correctly executed picking is the key to good cultural development. As a result, this will certainly form a strong plant immunity, and will also give every reason to count on a high-quality harvest.

When to pick tomatoes after germination?

So, some time after sowing, tomatoes are picked.

When to pick tomatoes after germination is a very important task for the gardener. There are several rules you can follow:

1. First of all, make a decision based on a visual assessment of the sprouts (experience will greatly help here).
2. Secondly, there are desirable and undesirable days for picking according to the lunar calendar. But strictly adhering to them is everyone’s personal matter.

It is much more important not to pick before the plant is ready for it. It is believed that tomato seedlings must form at least 2 true leaves. By the way, they differ in shape from those called cotyledons.

Picking is carried out when 2 true leaves appear

An experienced summer resident can visually understand that the time has come for picking. But, if you are dealing with seedlings for the first time, then focus on 2 weeks after the first sprouts hatch.

Most often, when carrying out the procedure, they are guided by the lunar calendar. In 2022, the optimal time falls on the first and last ten days of March and April. We'll talk about this below.

But, again, it is worth paying attention that the condition of the sprouts is the most important indicator, which is important to look at first.

When to do it

It is recommended to pick when the plant is still very small, at the stage of the first two true leaves . This way the tomato will endure the process more easily, and replanting will make it possible to weed out diseased and weak shoots.

The procedure should be carried out very carefully, since the plant is too small, its stem is fragile and delicate. If you replant later, you may encounter the problem of the roots of several plants intertwining. It will be problematic not to damage any of the sprouts in such a situation.

How to choose a container?

Tomatoes are almost always sown in one large container, and as they sprout, they are planted in separate pots. Today the following dishes are the most popular:

• the most convenient are peat pots;
• The easiest way is to use plastic cups;
• or you can give preference to cassette pallets.

Picking tomatoes into cassette trays
In all cases, the volume of the container must be at least 0.2 liters. at the very first transplant, and then - at least 0.5 liters. But it is also important to ensure that there are holes at the bottom for drainage. If there are none, then you should definitely do them - with a nail, an awl or any convenient sharp object.

INTERESTING MOMENT. In peat pots (they have been on sale everywhere for a long time, especially during the summer season and before it begins), there is no need to do drainage. Peat breathes well and allows moisture to pass through.

How to choose a favorable day according to the lunar calendar in 2022?

Picking, like most other agrotechnical techniques related to tomato seedlings, is carried out during the waxing moon.

IMPORTANT! Try not to pick during the dying moon phase. This procedure is very stressful for plants, so it is necessary to provide the seedlings with the most favorable conditions.

When to pick tomatoes in March 2022, suitable days

In March, picking tomatoes is carried out mainly by those summer residents who live in the warm southern regions or plan to grow the crop in a greenhouse.

Favorable days will be in the middle of the month and at the end. The moon will wax from the 3rd to the 17th.

Favorable days to pick up tomato seedlings will be:

March 6, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 21, 22, 29, 30, 31.

Please note that we have not specifically indicated the numbers that precede and follow the full moon and new moon.

The most successful days for picking are the days when the moon is in the constellations of Scorpio, Taurus and Libra. Therefore, in March 2022, it is best to pick tomato seedlings on the 6th, 7th, 8th, 11th, 12th, 13th.

When to dive in April 2022

In April, good days for planting seedlings from a common container will be:

3, 4, 8, 9, 17, 18, 26, 27.

The most favorable days are April 3, 4, 8, 9.

Unfavorable days for picking tomatoes in 2022

But it is not always possible to pick tomatoes. When you can’t pick tomatoes after germination, we’ll tell you below.

The full moon and new moon phases are the worst times for picking. Moreover, this applies not only to tomatoes, but also to any other seedlings.

In 2022, it is not recommended to pick young tomatoes:

• 1, 2, 3, 18
• 1, 2, 16, 29, 30
• 16, 29, 30, 31

What types of procedures are there?

Today you can hear about a large number of effective methods for picking tomatoes. Let's look at the most popular of them.

Traditional method

There is nothing simpler than the classic and familiar method of picking. Using a fork or any other convenient gardening tool, the sprout is carefully lifted, inspected, and then placed in a previously prepared hole in a new location.

Using film

Picking in a film
One of the rare methods, due to its relative complexity, is picking using the diaper method. For it they take a piece of fabric, paper, and sometimes a plastic bag. The ideal dimensions are a rectangle of 10x15 cm.

The sprouts are carefully removed with a lump of earth. A tablespoon of nutrient solution is poured onto the diaper, then a bush is placed and a tablespoon of soil is poured on top. Then the root is wrapped from the bottom corner, and the diaper is secured at the stem with an elastic band or thread.

As may have already become clear, the method received its name because of its similarity to swaddling a baby.

Method - snail

The snail method is the most compact method of seed propagation. It is used by those who do not have a lot of space, for example, on a windowsill. It is also believed that the snail method is the best way to warm up the soil in a container, as well as immediately prepare the sprouts for planting in open areas.

The essence of the method comes down to laying out a thin layer of soil in which the seeds are planted. Then all the shoots are covered on top with the remaining part of the matter and twisted into a spiral (reminiscent of a snail).

Picking using the “Snail” method

All seedlings are placed in a container and then grown in a completely standard manner. Only its roots do not intertwine, and excess tomatoes can be removed, leaving only the strongest ones at a certain distance from each other.

Transshipment

In general, picking is often also called transshipment. Essentially, this method means transplanting the tomato sprout into a new container completely with a lump of old soil.

Some gardeners willingly practice transshipment because they are confident that this method causes minimal stress to the plants.

Two roots

A very difficult pick - transplanting onto two roots. With this method, two sprouts are taken and planted in one pot very close to each other (2 cm). When the seedlings take root and grow in new conditions, the stems are gradually brought closer to each other. A little later, a small section of the skin is removed from each of the stems and an oblique cut is made upward on one, and downward on the other. Almost immediately, one of the bushes is cut, and the oblique part of it is inserted into the cut of another bush and wrapped with cloth, bandage or paper. It turns out a tomato with two root systems.

Picking 2 roots

It is believed that this way you can create a particularly strong and prolific garden crop.

Without land

Another method of growing is called “without land” or “Moscow method”. It is used when there is not enough space for the traditional growing method and is very similar to the “diaper” method.

Only in this case, gauze or cloth that is well moisturized is used. The seeds are laid out in it without soil and then covered with the second part of the material.

In this way, it is possible to germinate the seeds, but it is not always possible to form strong seedlings ready for planting in open ground.

Picking without land

No real leaves

Picking without true leaves is replanting tomatoes with only cotyledon leaves. Of course, this is not recommended. It is desirable that at least one true leaf is formed.

Many gardeners are in too much of a hurry for fear that the tomatoes will become too elongated. That's why they resort to early transplantation. Others rightly note that picking tomatoes cannot be done perfectly: all plants are formed differently, which means it is simply impossible to achieve the same conditions for each sprout. In any case, some will be planted not fully formed. And sometimes - completely without real leaves.

Important features of diving

In order for the transplant to be successful, the seedlings are watered 6–8 hours in advance - the plants will have time to accumulate moisture, and it is easier to extract the roots from the soft soil without causing harm to them. It is better to carry it out in the evening or on a cloudy day - adaptation will happen faster. If you spend it during the day, then cover the seedlings from the sun. The picking method is chosen based on the goals, the number of seedlings and your capabilities.

Classic method

The method involves the use of separate small (0.5 l) containers, for example plastic cups, milk cartons. They are filled in advance with a disinfected soil mixture (it must be nutritious and loose) and watered.

Procedure:

• the seedling is dug up using a special narrow spatula for seedlings, a two-pronged or regular fork (when using a table fork, they are dug up with a handle, and the plant is removed with the tines);
• make a deep and wide (1.5 cm) hole in the soil with a stick or pencil;
• pinch the root 1/3–1/4 of the length and deepen the stem to the cotyledon leaves;
• lightly crush the soil, water it, adding a root growth stimulator to the water (the water should be settled and at room temperature);
• next watering - after 6–7 days;
• The seedlings are kept in a shaded place for 3–4 days.

Transshipment

The name of the method speaks for itself: the plant is moved to a new container in a coma of earth. Make a hole in moistened soil wide and deep so that the entire lump fits. Long roots protruding from the coma are pinched, but not more than 1/3 of the length. The seedling is watered with a growth stimulator and kept in a shaded room for several days.

Landing in a diaper

A diaper is a piece of thick plastic film measuring 20 x 30 cm (you can take a packaging bag). It is used in cases where there is not enough space for cups or there are a lot of seedlings.

How to use:

• spread the diaper, pour 1–1.5 tbsp into the upper corner. l. soil, place the seedling so that the part of the stem above the cotyledon leaves is above the edge of the film (only long roots are shortened);
• pour another 1 tbsp onto the roots. l. soil, bend the bottom edge of the film just below the soil, roll it up, tie it (not very tightly) with an elastic band;
• place the rolls in a pallet, the height of which is approximately the same as the height of the rolls;
• when 4–5 true leaves are formed, unroll the roll, add more soil, and wrap it again;
• watered with settled water at room temperature, fed once a week by dissolving fertilizers in water for irrigation.

Do you think it is advisable to pinch the root when picking?

I never pinch, because transplanting itself is stressful, and pinching makes it worse;

53.21%

I always shorten the root and don’t see a problem with it - the tomatoes grow well

24.77%

I tried it once, the result was not impressive

9.17%

I grow seedlings in tablets - less hassle and no need to pinch

12.84%

Votes: 109

To the greenhouse

In regions with a warm climate, you can do without intermediate options - immediately plant tomatoes in a greenhouse or on a ridge under arches. At the time of planting, seedlings should have 5–6 true leaves. The ridge is dug up, fertilized, and loosened immediately before planting 1.5–2 weeks before transplanting.

Landing rules:

• moisten the soil, make holes larger than a clod of earth;
• interval between holes - 50 cm;
• replant the seedling using any method (transfer, classic), shortening the root by a third;
• water, if necessary, build protection from the sun.

Other diving methods

In addition to those discussed, there are other, no less effective methods of diving:

• in a plastic bag: fill the bag 1/2 full with soil, plant the seedling, pinching the root and burying the stem just below the leaves, lightly crush the soil, water, place the bags in a tray or container;
• cups + peat tablets: seedlings (they should have 3-4 true leaves) in tablets, without touching the roots, are transplanted into cups, pouring soil first on the bottom, then on the tablet (down to the leaves), watered;
• double-rooted: two plants are planted in a cup, leaving a distance of 5–6 cm between them, after adaptation, the skin of each is cut off from the common side (2–3 cm), pulled together, secured with a strip of fabric or film, a week before planting in soil; weak plants are pinched at a distance of 3–5 cm from the grafting.

How to pick tomatoes correctly, step-by-step instructions for picking tomatoes

The process of picking tomatoes can hardly be called complicated. To successfully plant the first seedlings, it is only important to follow some simple tips; everything will go smoothly and almost certainly without consequences for the sprouts themselves.

First of all, prepare everything you need for the procedure: tools, containers, newspapers (so as not to stain everything around), soil.

NOTE. The soil should still be light, nutritious and loose. An important clarification - you need to pick in new, fresh soil. The one in which the tomatoes grew will not be suitable, since it has already become impoverished.

By the way, picking is an excellent reason to change the type of land if for some reason you chose the wrong one.

It is also very important to choose the right tool with which you will dig up seedlings from a common container. A teaspoon is best, but a popsicle stick or something similar will work just as well. The main thing is that the tool allows you to carefully remove the seedling and not harm its root system.

It is advisable to treat the plants with Epin or Zircon at least 24 hours in advance. This is not to say that this is a mandatory move, but it will help reduce the stress of plants from being transplanted to a new place and will quickly launch recovery processes.

And a few hours before picking, the seedlings are watered with warm water. This will make it easier to remove it from the soil, almost without causing any harm to the delicate roots. And there will be exactly as much soil on the roots as needed: not too much, but it won’t completely crumble.

Each sprout should be carefully removed from the ground, retreating approximately 1 cm from the point where the stem enters the soil. In a new place, the plant is sunk into the soil a little more: the cotyledon leaves remain on the surface and about 1 cm below them. Everything else is covered with earth and compacted a little.

In the future, the seedlings will need special care. It does not need to be placed in open sun for at least the first 2-3 days. Watering is also not recommended at first (it is recommended to slightly moisten the soil only after about 4-5 days). And the first feeding will be needed no earlier than in 2 weeks.

Picking tomatoes

How to replant if the plants have stretched out and become thin

If the seedlings are stretched out, it means that they don’t like something; picking in this case will save the situation, distracting the plant from restoring the damaged root. The procedure is performed slightly differently. To do this, before planting, you do not need to water the plant, this way the stem will remain more flexible and elastic.

Expert opinion

Klimkina Elena Vladislavovna

Florist, businessman. Organized her business on a country plot of land

Having taken the tomato out of the pot with a lump of earth, you need to lift the root part up and form a small loop. The overgrown stem is buried in the soil along with the root; cotyledon leaves and true leaves should remain above the surface. The tomato will tolerate this procedure well, and the deepened stem, having taken root, will create a more powerful root system.

Do I need to pinch the root?

There is no consensus on root pinching. Because, as a rule, there is not much space for tomatoes to form a root system deep into their first pot.

On the other hand, if you develop lateral branches from the root well, the tomato bush will bear fruit better due to the fact that it will stop wasting energy on extra upward growth in time.

The main rule to follow is to never cut off the main root. He needs to carefully direct the lower third upward. You can secure it with an elastic band or, for example, thread.

The right time to transplant

There is an opinion that early picking has a beneficial effect on plant growth in the future. Sometimes tomatoes are planted before the real leaves appear; supposedly, the sprouts take root more easily, since the unformed roots are not damaged. But this is not advisable.

Before the true leaves appear, young shoots are not yet strong enough to withstand the stress of picking.

The ideal time is the appearance of the first pair of leaves. At this point, the seedlings become more viable and have strong roots. After 10–14 days, weak, underdeveloped seedlings are already visible and can be discarded.

It is also impossible to overexpose seedlings. In a cramped box, plants become weak and vulnerable to disease.

How to dive to a permanent place?

You can plant seedlings in a permanent place when the weather is stable and warm outside. It is believed that the upper layers of the soil should warm up to +14Co, and in the daytime the thermometer reading should be at least +20Co.

For central Russia, this time usually occurs in early or mid-May.

IMPORTANT! Before constant picking, seedlings must be hardened. To do this, they take it outside in pots, first for a few hours, then for the entire daylight hours. And just before planting, you can leave the tomatoes in the open air all night.

If you pay attention to the appearance of tomatoes, they are ready for planting in a permanent place when they have at least 7 leaves and a strong stem has formed.

Is it possible not to pick tomatoes?

Picking is a procedure that is needed if you sow seeds in a common container. If you planted in separate cassettes, cups or peat tablets, then it is not necessary to pick the tomatoes.

Peat tablets

With the help of picking, you only plant the tomatoes so that they have space for further growth and development.

Moreover, if you have such an opportunity (plenty of free space for containers with seedlings), then plant tomatoes in general so that you don’t have to pick them.

Is it necessary to do this?

Seedlings are planted in larger containers than those originally selected for seed germination. This is necessary to ensure more comfortable growth of each plant.

Expert opinion

Klimkina Elena Vladislavovna

Florist, businessman. Organized her business on a country plot of land

When several tomatoes grow in one box at the same time, the stronger plant suppresses the other, less powerful and strong one. The roots of tomato seedlings develop quickly and there should be enough space for them in the pot, otherwise the plant feels bad, withers, and in this case the harvest can be lost completely.

How to feed tomatoes after picking

Picking is a big stress for tomatoes, so after the procedure they need to be fed. But fertilizers should be applied no earlier than 2 weeks after the dive.

In general, fertilizers are applied twice:

1. 15 days after the procedure;
2. After another 15 days.

Thus, tomatoes are fed twice within a month.

Such intervals are due to the fact that the seedlings must first take root in new containers. If you fertilize immediately, the roots will not be able to fully obtain minerals from the soil.

The most popular feedings after a dive:

1. Ash solution. The most popular and very effective remedy. What you need is wood ash. Grind it and mix 1 spoon in 2 liters of boiling water. The solution is infused for 24 hours, and then the seedlings are watered with it.
2. A solution based on manure and nitrophoska. To prepare you need 1 spoon of nitrophoska, a bucket of water and 1 liter of manure. All this is mixed and filtered. Tomatoes are watered at the rate of half a cup per 1 tomato bush.
3. A solution based on bird droppings. Brew 2 parts bird droppings in 1 part boiling water. Then the concentrate is infused for 48 hours. The working solution is prepared in a ratio of 1 to 10.
4. Yeast infusion. To prepare, you need 100 grams of yeast, a bucket of water and 3 tablespoons of sugar. The concentrate is infused for 72 hours and diluted with half a bucket of water.
5. Growth stimulants. Atlet, Gumat, Kornevin, Krepysh - all these and similar preparations perfectly help tomatoes take root and continue development in separate containers. The working solution must be prepared strictly in accordance with the instructions.

ON A NOTE. If the tomatoes tolerated the picking well, then you can feed them with weaker means: infusion of onion peels, banana peels or coffee grounds.

How do tomatoes behave after the procedure? What to look for?

Usually, seedlings are slightly overbearing even for experienced summer residents. Accordingly, seedlings need time to recover from the stress associated with transplantation. But, if you did everything correctly, then after a few days the tomatoes return to normal and continue to grow.

If you made any mistakes, the seedlings will react to them accordingly. Let's look at the most common problems associated with the consequences of picking tomatoes.

What to do if the tomatoes are stretched?

One of the working methods to remove excessive upward growth of tomatoes is to deepen the sprouts almost to the cotyledon leaves . Don't be afraid of this process. On the contrary, tomatoes can easily take root from the stem. If you help the seedlings to form a well-developed lateral root system, then there is no doubt about the future rich harvest and the cultivation of tomato bushes firmly planted in the ground.

Tomato seedlings stretch out

The tomatoes have withered

Tomatoes can wilt if they don't get enough moisture. In this case, it’s worth watering them just a little, although this is not recommended for the first few days after picking.

The seedlings have fallen

Sometimes tomato seedlings fall over immediately after transplantation. You should be careful here, because there can be a lot of reasons.

For example, if only a few bushes fell, then most likely they were simply too weak and not ready for replanting. When the problem is widespread, the reasons lie in insufficient care. It is worth making sure that there is sufficient lighting (but not direct sunlight), and checking that the new soil is not too wet.

The seedlings "fell"

Finally, poorly calcined soil can cause diseases - for example, blackleg. In this case, it will be almost impossible to save such young tomatoes.

The seedlings stopped growing

It happens that newly transplanted seedlings immediately lose growth. Perhaps tomatoes in this case experience stress too painfully. As a recommendation, you can add Kornevin to the soil. This product helps tomatoes recover and continue their natural growth.

Features of care after picking

Obviously, transplanted tomatoes in a new place experience stress in any case . Even if everything is done correctly, the tomato will still be smaller or larger, but it will be too much. In order to reduce the consequences of picking and later grow healthy tomatoes, it is important to care for the sprouts especially carefully at first.

The main indicators that should be strictly maintained are: temperature conditions, proper watering and sufficient lighting.

Temperature

Indoors, for the first time after picking, it is necessary to maintain about 20-23 Co during the daytime and 18-20 Co at night. Only after a week can you gradually reduce the readings to 18-20 Co during the day and 15-16 Co at night.

Ideal temperature - 20 degrees

Watering

For the first few days, it is not recommended to water the transplanted sprouts at all. Only on the 4th or 5th day can you moisten the soil for the first time, and even then it is better to do this a little, gradually returning to the standard watering schedule.

In the future, the frequency of regular watering should not exceed 1-2 times a week. This will be enough for small seedlings to form a good root system.

Lighting

The big challenge is to ensure good lighting. At these stages, artificial additional lighting may be required if there is not enough natural light due to climatic conditions. The most important thing is to not yet allow direct sunlight to fall on the foliage and fragile stems.

Are growth stimulants needed?

There is no consensus on the use of growth stimulants. But the main purpose of picking is the development of the root system. This means that it is more important not to direct all the tomatoes’ forces into growth for now, but to give them the opportunity to form a correct and developed root.

To do this, it is recommended to use all types of complex fertilizers. It is better to give preference to those varieties that are rich in superphosphates, urea or sodium sulfate.

The very first feeding can be done no earlier than two weeks after picking. The next time is carried out after approximately the same period of time.

Why is picking tomatoes necessary, its advantages

Why is picking tomato seedlings necessary? The procedure increases the area of ​​plant growth and nutrition, stimulates the development of the root system (especially the development of lateral roots), and makes the seedlings stronger and stronger.

In addition to the main function, picking has a number of advantages:

1. During transplantation of seedlings, weak, frail specimens can be discarded, thereby leaving only strong and strong seedlings.
2. Allows you to eliminate diseased specimens, preventing infection of other plants.
3. If during cultivation it turns out that there are pathogens in the soil, then during transplantation you can remove the plants from the unfavorable environment and plant them in new, disinfected soil.
4. When grown in a common container (for example, in a plastic container, wooden box), the plants may experience intertwining of roots; when planted in open ground, this can lead to damage to the root system, weakening of the seedlings, and even death. The procedure, carried out at the right time, will avoid intertwining of the roots.
5. If you notice that the seedlings have begun to outgrow, then the procedure will slightly slow down the overly active growth of the above-ground part.

Important! If you don’t pick tomato seedlings at the right time, the seedlings will become cramped, they will compete for sunlight, lack nutrients, stretch out, and weaken.

The downside of picking is the stress that tomato seedlings (like any other) will experience during and after the procedure. Therefore, plants need to be planted extremely carefully, without damaging the delicate roots. If picked incorrectly, seedlings may even die or become very frail and lethargic.