Picking tomato seedlings in a diaper: how to properly plant seeds and then care for the seedlings, as well as the nuances of growing tomatoes in this way Russian farmer

General provisions

Reference. A diaper is a small bundle of fabric (usually a paper towel or toilet paper) and plastic film (plastic bag, stationery file, notebook cover, etc.), into which seeds are sown and seedlings are planted.

The germination rate of seeds with this sowing method is quite high. This is explained by the fact that they find themselves in an ideal environment for germination and growth: high humidity, maintained by constantly moistening the paper, and the temperature rising inside the plastic wrap, together create a “greenhouse effect” that has a beneficial effect on the development of the future plant.

About the features of diaper seedlings, advantages and disadvantages

If, while preparing for the coming summer season, you hear about seedlings in diapers, then do not think that we are talking about a children's cotton sheet, even though the principle of “wrapping” is similar for both cases. By plant wrap we mean PET film - for example, the one used to cover greenhouses and hotbeds. In some cases, instead of film, a simple transparent bag can be used, the dimensions of which on average are 20x30 centimeters. Such bags, by the way, are not recommended, as they can significantly deteriorate the quality of the grown seedlings.

Growing seedlings in diapers is a good way to save space on the windowsill

Be that as it may, the use of film allows you to avoid cluttering the window sills with numerous plastic cups, pots or seedling boxes.

Note! Due to the fact that it was the residents of Moscow who were the first to appreciate the method described in the article, one of its several options began to be called “Moscow style”. But that’s not what we’re talking about now.

As for the advantages of the method, these include:

significant space savings when planting seeds;
convenience of picking seedlings;
reducing the required volume of nutrient soil mixture;
the possibility of using it (the method) as a “plan B” in case nothing worked out with the main seedlings;
protection of seedlings from diseases that are transmitted through the soil (for example, from blackleg);
ease of checking the germination of seeds (especially last year’s).

Seedlings in diapers will save space on the windowsill.
However, there are also disadvantages that should also be remembered; in particular, these include the following points:

seedlings receive less light and therefore develop slowly;
after the emergence of seedlings, picking may be required (much depends on the specific type of plant);
Despite the intensive growth of the stems, the roots develop rather weakly.

Note! The use of diapers is applicable for most cold-resistant plants (not only flowers, but also vegetables). In the future, such plants will not require transplanting into separate containers before final rooting. As for heat-loving crops, they will have to be replanted in any case.

As mentioned earlier, there are several ways to “swaddle” seedlings. Some grow plants in film with soil or coconut substrate, while others do without them altogether. Also, only seeds can be packaged in film for the purpose of their subsequent transplantation into individual containers with soil. And so that you can choose the most suitable method for yourself, we will familiarize ourselves with all the existing options.

Seedlings in a diaper

By the way, regardless of the chosen method, you can always resort to a little trick. Take a strip of adhesive tape and write the number/name of the variety on it, then stick it on the diaper. You can also write directly on the film using a waterproof marker (here you need to wait until the writing dries). In this case, you will not only not get confused, but will also be able to observe the germination of different varieties.

Cups with seedlings are numbered

Description of the essence of the method

How to grow tomatoes this way? The method of germinating seeds in a diaper is quite simple. We plant tomato seeds in paper, which are distributed over a moistened paper strip, which, in turn, is located on a plastic strip of the same size.

A paper-polyethylene tape with seed material is rolled into a “roll” and immersed in a container, at the bottom of which there is always water. The principle of wrapping seeds is similar to the principle of swaddling an infant - hence the consonance of the names.

Features of picking in diapers

Diapers are soil wrapped in plastic film where tomato seeds are planted. This method has a number of features:

Dense polyethylene is used to cover greenhouses and greenhouses.
Prepare a special container for placing seedlings in diapers. It is selected in large sizes with high sides.
Cover the bottom with sawdust.
The film should not be rolled tightly to allow air to enter, otherwise the seeds will not germinate.

Advantages and disadvantages

Recently, this method of sowing seeds has become very popular, especially among residents of megacities: the diaper method is ideal for small apartments, since seedlings grown in this way do not occupy a large area, and all containers can be successfully placed on one windowsill.

Another plus: the method will help save money . The gardener will not have to spend money on purchasing a substrate, fungicides for its treatment, or containers; cut polyethylene tapes can be stored for years, and if you purchase low-quality seed, it can be easily replaced without experiencing significant losses both in material terms and in terms of physical effort.

There are also disadvantages: plants in a diaper and their root system develop more slowly than in a container; Also, the seedlings will still have to be transplanted into a larger container.

Advantages and disadvantages

The “snail” and “diaper” methods significantly save space in the apartment. Several dozen tomato sprouts can fit in one container. It does not require a large amount of land. There are also savings on the purchase of cups and other containers for initial planting.

Despite the positive aspects, there are also negative effects on sprouts. Seedlings in snails and diapers do not receive enough light. Due to crowding, a weak root system grows.

Sprouts sprouted without soil cannot stand curled up for long. They will still have to be transplanted into separate containers. Otherwise, everyone will die, and it’s unlikely that you’ll be able to eat tomatoes by the end of the season.

Seed preparation

Disinfection .
Most infectious diseases of tomatoes are transmitted through soil, containers and seed. Since the method of germinating seeds in a diaper does not require either a large quantity of substrate or a container, the issue of disinfecting the seed material comes to the fore. For these purposes, the seeds can be immersed for 20 minutes in a 1% solution of potassium permanganate (1 gram per 100 ml of water) or for 8 minutes in a 2–3% solution of hydrogen peroxide, heated to +40C.
Treatment . After disinfection, it is recommended to immerse the seeds in a nutrient solution of a growth stimulator to ensure a higher percentage of germination: you can use both purchased preparations (Epin, Zircon, Heteroauxin, etc.) and prepared yourself (aloe juice solution (1:1) or honey water (1 tsp per glass of water).
Soaking . Experienced gardeners also recommend soaking the seeds for 12 hours in warm water (+25C) before sowing, which must be changed every 4 hours.
Germination. And for one of the methods, which will be discussed below, you will need already sprouted seeds. For these purposes, you need to prepare a saucer, cloth, gauze or paper towel.
Moisten the fabric, place it flat on a saucer, pour tomato seeds of the same variety onto it and spread over the surface, cover the container with a plastic lid or plastic bag and place in a warm place (+23C - +25C) for 3 - 5 days.
Important. All this time, it is necessary to ensure that the fabric is constantly kept wet, otherwise the seeds will simply dry out.

Methods from Galina Kizima

The author of numerous books in the “Gardening Without Hassle” series is extremely popular among amateur gardeners. Through publications and videos posted on the Internet, Galina shares her invaluable experience of growing plants on her site.

Book by Galina Kizima

Particular attention is paid to young tomato plants on the window. Numerous cups and containers with sprouts take up space on window sills and furniture in the house. There are several methods of planting, after which tomato seedlings in diapers from G. Kizim become strong and resistant to external factors. The methods were appreciated by many gardeners. This fact is confirmed by numerous reviews.

Swaddling with soil

The essence of the method is that the germinated plant falls into moist soil, where it begins to actively grow. In this case, there will be no need for immediate replanting, which often damages the root system and stems of young shoots.

Growing occurs as follows:

Take gauze and soak it in warm water. Place the seeds in it and leave in a plastic bag for 2-3 days for germination.
Prepare diapers: take plastic film, fold 1/3 of it. Pour soil into the resulting pocket in the middle, place the seed with the sprout there and wrap it like a roll. Place the resulting container in a container with the remaining sprouts.

Swaddling with soil

All “rolls” should be pressed tightly against each other. Boarding in diapers involves fewer changes. It is also convenient to carry and move plants into the soil of a greenhouse or into beds without unnecessary picking and damage to the stem and root system. This way, it doesn't take long for tomatoes or peppers to establish themselves in a new location.

Swaddling without soil

Galina shares her experience and gives some tips on how to grow seedlings without soil. For this you will need: a substrate, toilet paper, water, fertilizer and a transparent container, such as a glass.

The method includes the following steps:

Several layers of toilet paper are laid out on the substrate, which is then generously moistened with water.
Seeds are laid out on a moistened surface.
The substrate should be rolled up and placed in a container with water and fertilizer. After some time, sprouts will appear.

Using already germinated seed

How to plant tomatoes using germinated seeds:

Prepare everything you need: plastic film, rubber band, substrate (any composition suitable for growing tomatoes), sprouted seeds, container, scissors, spray bottle.
Rectangles are cut out of the film, the size of which is close to the size of a school notebook.
Place 1 tbsp in the upper left corner of the prepared rectangle. moistened substrate.
A germinated seed is placed on top of the substrate so that its cotyledon leaves are above the film.
For the sprout – 1 more tbsp. substrate, which is also moistened from a spray bottle.
The bottom edge of the film must be folded and the entire rectangle rolled into a roll. The twist should be free to ensure unhindered access of oxygen to the roots.
The resulting package is secured with an elastic band and placed in a container. All packages in the container are located close to each other.
The top of the container can be covered with a transparent plastic film, in which holes are made for air circulation.
The container with the sprouts is placed in a well-lit and warm place.

Key features of growing vegetable seedlings

If you intend to grow cucumber seedlings, then the seeds should be soaked before “swaddling,” since their skin is too thick for paper, which is moistened by capillaries with water. The container can be made of glass or plastic; you must first place cotton wool or a piece of natural fabric on the bottom. It is also advisable to place material (pre-moistened) on top of the seeds, and then leave everything for 48 hours.

Soaking cucumber seeds

As for the hybrid tomatoes obtained from diaper seedlings, they branch strongly, so you can forget about even bushes. Therefore, it is advisable to plant only tomato varieties in film that retain their own varietal characteristics from generation to generation. In terms of yield, this will not give any result, but the plants will not look crooked and unkempt.

Tomatoes in diapers

The roots of tomato seedlings sown in diapers will not grow in depth, but in breadth (due to cramped conditions). In this case, there is no need to water bushes transplanted into the ground, since the root system will be able to get moisture everywhere.

Tomato seedlings in diapers

But with peppers everything is more serious - they do not grow long roots, and even the peripheral ones in the film will not be able to develop normally, so they need to be watered throughout the entire season.

Peppers in diapers

Note! While still in diapers, you can grow greens all year round (for sale or for your own needs). Soil is practically not needed, only fertilizer is required. At the same time, greenery will take up almost no space.

Growing tomatoes “Moscow style”

It is necessary to prepare plastic film, toilet paper, seeds, scissors, rubber bands, small containers (disposable plastic cups), and a spray bottle.
Polyethylene is cut into strips 10 cm wide; their length, like the length of strips of toilet paper, should be about 50 cm, but it all depends on the number of seeds.
You need to place prepared toilet paper on a strip of polyethylene, which is moistened from a spray bottle.
The seeds are laid out on the surface in increments of 3–5 cm, 1–1.5 cm from the edge.
The paper-polyethylene tape is covered with another strip of paper, which also needs to be moistened, and plastic film.
The tape is wrapped in a roll and secured with an elastic band.
The package is placed in a container, at the bottom of which water (1.5 - 2 cm) is poured.
For your information. A growth stimulator can be added to the liquid.
The container is covered with a bag with ventilation holes made in it and placed in a warm and bright place.

Growing tomato seedlings without soil

If there is not enough space for a large number of seedlings on window sills and balconies, an economical way of growing seedlings of vegetables and flowers in diapers has been invented, since it only requires plastic bags and a little soil. It gained particular popularity in the Moscow region, so it became known as the Moscow method. This is also true in small apartments with narrow window sills.

Advantages of growing seedlings in diapers

Like any other growing method, this has a number of disadvantages and advantages. The positive aspects of the snail method include:

ease of planting seeds;
saving space;
a small amount of soil;
ease of diving;
absence of diseases acquired from the soil (black leg);
keeping the spine intact during picking;
quick rejection of low-quality material;
adding soil or placing it in a large diaper without causing injury to the roots of the seedlings;
ease of transplanting seedlings into the ground.

Disadvantages include:

insufficient nutrition leads to slow growth;
insufficient lighting can lead to stretching of seedlings;
the roots are cramped in a small volume of soil and they develop poorly.

Germinating seeds in a snail

If the gardener did not prepare the soil in advance, in the fall, or forgot to buy it in the store, there is a very simple way to germinate vegetable and flower seeds without soil. For this you will need:

food bags or film;
toilet paper or paper towels;
tomato seeds.

A regular food bag is folded in half, with the edge facing away from you.
Place several layers of toilet paper on it, without going beyond the edges of the bag.
Prepare a nutrient solution with a root former. 2 drops of epin are added to 500 ml of water, or 20 ml (2 incomplete tablespoons) of 3% hydrogen peroxide are diluted in 1 liter of water. Experts believe that the composition of this solution is close to the composition of rainwater during a thunderstorm (the water is saturated with oxygen).
Draw the solution into a syringe and wet the paper.
Take the tomato seeds out of the bags and place them on damp paper, keeping a distance of 1 cm from the edge and 1.5-2 cm from each other.
The paper is moistened with the solution again.
Roll the bag of seeds into a roll (snail).
Write the name of the variety on top with a waterproof marker.
Place a rubber band on top to keep the snail from unfolding.
Place in a plastic glass. One small glass contains 5 to 10 such diapers (snails), in which from 50 to 80 seedlings will sprout in a few days.
Add a nutrient solution to a glass to a height of 1-2 cm
The top is covered with a plastic bag, creating a microgreenhouse inside.
Place in a warm place for several days (5 to 15 days).
When loops appear above the surface of the bag, the cover is removed and placed in a warm place that is bright, but not in direct sunlight.
After all seeds have completely sprouted, the temperature is slightly lowered to avoid stretching the tomato seedlings.
The seedlings are kept in a rolled-up plant without soil until the first true leaves appear, no more than 2-3 weeks, otherwise the seedlings may die without nutrition.
If it is not possible to pick up the seedlings in time, unroll the snail, pour a little earth on top and carefully twist it without pressing. The plants can be kept in this state for another 7-10 days.
Seedlings ready for diving have a long root; if it is rotten or poorly developed, the sprout is discarded.

Planting with substrate

Procedure:

You will need polyethylene strips (10 by 50 cm), tomato substrate, seeds, rubber bands, containers, spray bottle, scissors.
Place a layer of soil on the film strip and moisten it.
Stepping back 1.5 cm from the edge, spread the seeds, keeping a distance of 3 - 5 cm.
On top is a layer of moistened substrate, and then - plastic tape.
All this must be rolled up, secured with an elastic band and placed in a container.
Place the container in a warm and well-lit place.

How to plant tomatoes in a diaper?

There are several ways to plant:

with soil: sow seeds or plant sprouted sprouts;
without primer: using toilet paper.

Pre-sprouted seeds

Cultivation can be done with seeds that have sprouted in advance. Such seeds can be sown in prepared diaper material.

Sequence of stages:

Cut a piece of polyethylene the size of a notebook sheet and place it on a flat surface;
Place nutritious soil, pre-moistened, on the corner;
Place a sprout of sprouted seed on it, the leaves are located above the level of the film;
add the same amount of soil;
roll up, holding the tender sprout carefully;
so that the polyethylene does not open, fasten it with thread or a loose elastic band;
place in a container;
place the container in a well-lit place;
To create a suitable microclimate, cover with a film with cut holes.

Seedlings in Moscow

Planting seeds this way is easy. No soil is used with this method. The paper is saturated with water and the seeds germinate. To do this you need:

cut strips about 10-12 cm wide, no more than 0.4-0.5 m long (the length depends on the number of seeds);
for seeds of each variety you need to make separate strips;
prepare plastic glasses, label the varieties for convenience and the sowing date;
spread the film, place toilet paper on top;
irrigate with water;
retreat 10 mm from the edge, lay out a row of seeds;
inter-seed distance 2 cm;
cover the top with a layer of paper and sprinkle;
cover with a strip of film;
twist, secure with an elastic band and place in a prepared plastic cup;
pour water from the bottom edge of the paper to a level of 2 cm;
place the cups in a container, cover with film with holes to create a microclimate;
put in a warm place;
periodically change the water;
seedlings need to be fed with fertilizers based on humic acids with a concentration half as much as specified in the instructions.

Sow into snails with substrate

Germination of seedlings is carried out by sowing seeds directly into film. Stages of work:

cut polyethylene into strips 0.1 m wide;
lay a thin layer of toilet paper on it;
moisten with aloe solution (juice) using a spray bottle;
sprinkle with earth;
spread the seeds, keeping a distance of 3-4 cm, or germinated seedlings;
sprinkle with earth, irrigate;
cover with paper and film;
roll up, place in plastic glasses with water;
place the glasses in containers, make a film covering, and place them in a warm place;
After germination, remove the coating;
Separate it together with the paper and plant it in the soil.

In this way, seedlings adapt easily and well, since the root system remains intact. Seedlings develop faster, overtaking seedlings harvested using the usual method. Such seedlings survive until planted in the ground.

Picking

One of the important stages of growing seedlings is the picking stage. It can be done by analogy with method No. 1: carefully unwind the diaper to the first sprout, separate it from the substrate with a spatula or fork and place it on a plastic bag in the ground; Having covered it with another handful of soil, the young plant is wrapped in a “cup”, the bottom of which is the folded edge of the bag.

Diving can also be done directly into a container with a moistened substrate : the roll is unrolled, the sprout is removed along with toilet paper and carefully planted in a small depression on the surface of the soil. The plant can be buried down to the first cotyledon leaves, the distance between them is up to 8 cm. After planting, water.

Below you can watch a video about how to pick tomato seedlings into a diaper:

How to grow seedlings in a snail

Although gardeners who practice growing vegetable seedlings in snails claim that it is incredibly simple, it is better to prepare a workplace in advance and analyze the technology in detail.

How to prepare seeds for germination

Regardless of whether you decide to try a new method or remain faithful to the good old boxes and pots, it is better to prepare the seeds for germination. A simple set of measures will allow you to reject low-quality “candidates for sowing”, disinfect and harden the rest. Remember that seeds that have been pre-soaked, fertilized and disinfected produce more vigorous shoots that are not prone to stretching and disease.

Preparing for sowing, or How to increase seed germination
6 ways to pre-sow seeds and their impact on the future harvest.

How and from what to make a snail for seedlings

In order to make a snail for seedlings, you will need:

a free table covered with oilcloth or newspapers;
soft backing for laminate in rolls of one and a half meters (roll width 10 cm);
transparent containers with low sides;
plastic bags;
rubber bands for money;
tweezers;
water bottle;
priming;
prepared seeds.

It’s better to prepare your workspace and everything you need right away, so you don’t have to get up looking for what’s missing and be distracted from the process. If everything is done correctly and according to the instructions, then it will take only a quarter of an hour to create one snail.

Partially unroll the backing strip and push one edge toward you.
Pour the soil over the entire width of the tape, pressing it down with your hand so that the layer is no thicker than 1 cm.
After the tape has disappeared under the soil by 15-20 cm, take the seeds and begin to lay them out at a distance of 1-2 cm from one of the edges (mark this edge with a marker). Leave a few centimeters between the seeds and lightly press each grain into the soil with your finger.
Roll the tape with soil tightly into a roll up to the point where the soil ends.
Holding the roll with your hand, add some more soil and repeat until the tape comes to an end.
Pull the finished package tightly with an elastic band so that the soil does not spill out. Insert a seed bag under the rubber band so you always know what type of seeds are inside.
Water the snail generously and place a bag over it to create a greenhouse effect.
Place the finished snails in the container so that the edge closest to which the seeds are located is on top.
When shoots appear, remove the bag so that the seedlings do not stretch.

How to store snails with seedlings

Seedlings in snails, like any other, need light and watering. It is better to store containers on window sills - they take up little space, and one window can accommodate the entire seasonal volume. Do not forget about regular watering, because each seed has a thin layer of soil, and the snail dries out quickly.

Care

The system for caring for seedlings in diapers includes the following elements:

Systematic (once a day) removal of condensation from the bag covering the diaper container.
Regular watering (but not excessive).
Fertilize twice a week with fertilizers based on humic acids (the concentration for immature shoots should be 2 times less than indicated in the instructions).
Additional illumination with a phytolamp in case of lack of sunlight.

Planting seedlings from a diaper into the ground

A common problem with plastic containers and cups for mature seedlings is that transferring them into the ground becomes a difficult process. The roots stuck to the walls of the container are torn, and it is almost impossible to get a lump of dense earth without damaging them.

Film diapers unfold even more easily than they are assembled, and the plant does not get injured. Just remove the elastic band, unwind the roll and send your “pet” to its permanent place along with the soil in the diaper.

How to place it in the ground?

The best option is to plant seedlings from diapers directly into open ground. This can be done without problems if there is a greenhouse on your personal plot. If it is absent, rather weak seedlings will need to be “insulated” in the open ground: sawdust (straw, feathers) should be poured onto the bottom of the planting furrow, and a little soil should be placed on top, into which the young tomatoes will be planted; At night or when there is a threat of return frosts, it is better to cover the seedlings with film or plastic bottles.

Despite the fact that seedlings grown using the diaper method are not as strong as those from a container with soil, with careful care they can please the summer resident with a good harvest. And this with a minimum of money and time! Don't be afraid to experiment and everything will work out.

Tomatoes in diapers: saving space on the window and increasing the drought resistance of seedlings

To obtain strong tomato seedlings, warmth and light and care are required. If everything is in order with the first one in the apartments, then providing the seedlings with enough light sometimes becomes a problem, especially for those who grow a large number of vegetable crops. There simply isn't enough space on the window sills. This problem is successfully solved by the diaper method of growing seedlings, which saves space and simplifies the process itself.

Diaper method - advantages and disadvantages

When we talk about a diaper for tomato seedlings, we mean a dense greenhouse film into which seeds are sown or seedlings that have already risen are planted. The diaper growing method has its fans and opponents. Arguments in its favor:

seedlings do not require much space;
there is no need to buy a large amount of soil;
convenience of picking seedlings;
when transplanted to a garden bed or greenhouse, the roots of the plants do not suffer and take root much faster, which allows you to get the harvest 1–2 weeks earlier;
The risk of fungal diseases of young plants is significantly reduced.

In addition, the diaper film will last you more than one year.

Seedlings in diapers take up little space and fit compactly in small containers

Every year, summer residents are faced with a difficult task - to deliver seedlings from home to their country house safe and sound. The diaper growing method also solves this problem. For transportation, each bag with a plant is wrapped in a roll of paper and carefully placed in a box with the tops in different directions.

at first, seedlings grown in a diaper, due to the compactness of planting, develop more slowly than when using the classical method, since the shoots shade each other and they do not have enough light;
for the same reason, the stem of the plant is elongated and remains thin.

Growing method No. 3. Using substrate

This method is very similar to the “Moscow” one. However, due to the use of a small amount of soil when sowing, the diaper is preserved until the plant takes root in the open ground. It is possible to bypass this stage if in the future you plant the seedlings early and under cover. Using the same method, seedlings are planted in diapers after picking.

The essence of the method is as follows:

For work, prepare a moistened soil mixture and long film strips. You can put toilet paper on top, although this is not at all necessary.
Plant seeds (also possibly germinated) or sprouts. Distance – 4-5 cm.
A little damp earth is poured on top, covered with paper and film.
They roll everything up, secure it and put it in pallets.

We prepare diapers and dive

I prepared several tall seedlings for picking - I separated them one by one from the general earthen lump. Then I spread a plastic bag on the table so that its long sides were at the top and bottom, and the short sides were on the right and left. I turned the top edge of the bag 4 cm outward.

Stepping back a few centimeters from the fold, I poured a heap of moistened soil in the middle of the length of the bag—literally a couple of tablespoons—and placed the seedling on top so that its leaves were above the top edge of the bag and the roots lay on the ground. Then I covered the roots of the marigold seedling with a couple more spoons of soil and folded the bottom edge of the bag over the soil.

Now you need to “swaddle” the seedling so that the bag turns into a cup of soil. To do this, I wrap the package with soil in a roll. Some of the soil spills out during this manipulation, but when you get a cup, you can return the spilled soil to its place.

We grow watermelons 27 kg each: step-by-step instructions - from sowing seedlings to harvesting

The free edge can be secured with tape, but I don’t do this: when the diapers with seedlings are tightly installed in some container, they do not fall apart. If you think there is not enough soil in the cup, add more. After watering, the soil will settle, and you will again need to add some soil to the diaper.

In just five minutes I made 6 cups of seedlings from the bags. You can water them from a spray bottle or, as usual, from a watering can. Seedlings grow normally in such containers. I don’t really like this method, because you need to tinker with spilled soil, but if you get good at this procedure, you will free yourself from the problem of looking for small dishes for picking seedlings. In addition, these packages can be used more than once.

I wish everyone beautiful flowers and good mood.

Preparation of planting material

For 1 liter of water take 100 grams of salt. Place tomato seeds into the solution and mix. In a couple of minutes, empty seeds float to the surface. They are drained together with the solution. Then the seeds are treated with the usual growth activator. Sometimes tomato seeds are simply soaked in water or a weak solution of potassium permanganate.

Sorting

Seed grading consists of the careful preparation mentioned above. The seeds are then dried. They prepare soil for them, which is also disinfected with incandescence or potassium permanganate. A snail needs little soil.

Germination

To ensure that shoots appear in the snail, the seeds are germinated in a glass with an activator for about a week. Today, planting seeds without germinating is like playing the lottery. You can never know for sure how many shoots you can expect from a particular variety.

Hardening

Tomato seeds, like the seedlings themselves, are put through a hardening procedure. This strengthens the plant's immunity. Plant seeds are frozen before activation, and the seedlings are taken out to the veranda overnight, leaving them at 5–6 degrees Celsius.