What to do if tomato seedlings are very elongated and very thin

Sometimes it happens that tomato seedlings become very elongated and become very thin.
Not every summer resident knows what to do in this case. Dear readers!
For you, we have created communities on social networks in which useful articles and interesting ideas are published several times a day! Subscribe and receive useful content in a convenient format! Growing seedlings is a difficult and responsible task. Even experienced gardeners can make mistakes. Any inaccuracies during cultivation can lead to problems. To be sure of the quality of tomato seedlings, you must strictly adhere to the rules of care.

Reasons why seedlings are thin

First, we will briefly list the main reasons for the stretching and thinning of seedlings, and then we will analyze each factor in more detail. So, tomato seedlings can stretch out and become thin for the following reasons:

• Lack of light.
• Excess nitrogen fertilizers.
• Overflow.
• Low humidity.
• Temperature fluctuations.

How to grow strong seedlings

If the seedlings begin to gradually stretch out, emergency measures must be taken to ensure that the seedlings are viable at the time of planting.

List of necessary manipulations:

1. It is necessary to use specialized soil intended for nightshade crops. The soil must be loosened and air should be allowed to reach the roots of the plants.
2. The seedlings have become very elongated, what to do with watering: you need to arrange drainage in the container for the seedlings. It will retain excess moisture.
3. When sowing, preference should be given to hybrid seeds adapted to various conditions.
4. To prevent the sprouts from stretching too much, it is recommended to plant them in separate containers.
5. To prevent tomato seedlings from overgrowing too much, there is no need to sow early.
6. The temperature during germination should be +25 degrees, and then +22-23.

With enough light, the plants will be strong. There is no need to rush to feed them. It is necessary to introduce nutrients into the soil only when signs of disease appear. If all care conditions are followed, tomatoes will produce an exceptional harvest in the fall.

Why do tomato seedlings stretch?

If the following reasons occur, then the normal development of seedlings will be disrupted. As a result, this will lead to weakening of the tomato and thinning of the stem.

Abundant watering

If watering is too intense, the normal development of the plant is disrupted. Due to excess moisture, root growth is slowed down, and stem growth is accelerated. As a result, it becomes longer and thinner.

Low humidity

For seedlings, it is important that the air does not become too dry. If this happens, then the lack of moisture leads to stretching of the stems.

Lack of lighting

If, when growing seedlings, the owner did not provide the necessary lighting, then the seedlings will begin to weaken. Due to a lack of light, the seedlings will become thin.

Early sowing

It is recommended to plant seeds no earlier than March 20. If this was done earlier, the daylight hours will be too short and will not allow the seedling stem to strengthen.

The order of feeding is violated

Tomato seedlings should be fed according to a specific schedule. They cannot have enough of the necessary substances or have an excess. Due to improper feeding, the leaves and trunk weaken.

Wrong choice of seeds

ATTENTION: To sow tomatoes, you must use only high-quality seeds. It is best to buy them for this in a specialized store. Before planting, it is recommended to treat with a weak solution of potassium permanganate. This is necessary to disinfect the seeds.

The landing order is broken

If the seeds are placed too often, they lack vitality. Due to the tightness, the tomato seedling will begin to stretch.

Helping plants from the beginning of germination

If tomato seedlings at home have stretched out, it means that emergency measures need to be taken, but this can be prevented. In the first days of growth, it needs to be provided with warmth, sufficient lighting, air access and humidity.

The reasons for pulling seedlings may lie in the absence of one of the care components:

1. Tomato shoots appear at a temperature of 25 degrees. Gradually it can be lowered to 22 so that the tomato shoots develop evenly.
2. In order for the seedlings to sprout, they do not need to be exposed to much light. The seeds will have enough warmth and moisture. When the tomatoes have sprouted, it is necessary to provide them with light. It is recommended to install containers on the sunny side or connect additional lamps. Due to the lack of light, the seedlings stretch out, become thin and weak.
3. Moisture is an important condition for growth, but seedlings cannot be grown in a swamp. Watering is done as needed when the soil dries out. Excess moisture can cause tomato seedlings to stretch out.
4. The presence of air and space is an important condition for the good development of plants. If the tomatoes are stretched out, it means they are crowded and require immediate picking.

It is recommended to fertilize plants on a schedule. The reasons for the stretching of seedlings may be an excess of moisture, insufficient lighting or lack of air. After sowing, it is necessary to carefully monitor all conditions for harmonious growth.

What to do if the seedlings stretch out immediately after the entrances

The condition of the seedlings must be closely monitored. If it becomes clear that the tomatoes are thin and elongated, action needs to be taken.

In this case, tomatoes cannot be shortened, but they can be strengthened and the growth of the above-ground parts can be slowed down. To do this, you should use several methods.

Temperature change

Tomato growing conditions must be healthy. In this case, the influence of temperature must be taken into account. If it is too high, then this leads to accelerated growth of the plant. Very soon you will notice that it has stretched out. If the temperature is low, growth stops.

IMPORTANT: To stop the growth of seedlings, it is enough to move them to a suitable place. A canopy, a barn, or a heated greenhouse are suitable for this. In such a situation, you can use the balcony in the apartment. If the seedlings are placed on the floor indoors, the temperature there will be 2-3 degrees lower.

Light

When growing, you need to provide the plant with high-quality lighting. If the box of tomatoes was in the corner, it would be better to move it to a well-lit place. If this is not enough, then add additional artificial lighting.

Top dressing

With a lack or excess of fertilizers, you may encounter thin seedlings. Excess nitrate fertilizers are especially harmful. It promotes increased growth of green mass.

As a result, the tomatoes may stretch out and become thin.

The effect of nitrates can be compensated for by an additional portion of potassium fertilizers. In this case, the growth of green mass will stop.

Potassium monophosphate is often used for this purpose. Pekacid has the same composition, but in slightly different proportions. The result of use will be the cessation of growth of the above-ground part and the accelerated development of the root system.

Some people use more abundant watering to get rid of excess nitrogen. This method does not lead to the desired result. The reason is that nitrogen cannot escape from the container, and high humidity can lead to root rot or fungus.

Watering

Although the plant loves moisture, it must be taken into account that the green mass will grow faster. Watering should be optimal - no more and no less than normal. With a lack of water, the plant will weaken, become thin and stretched. Therefore, when the growth of seedlings increases, the moisture supply should be reduced, but at the same time the seedlings should not be allowed to dry out.

Picking

Doing a pick is another way to deal with the problem. After the second leaf appears, follow this procedure:

1. It is necessary to prepare individual containers for the sprouts.
2. The volume is filled halfway with the substrate.
3. They take out the sprouts. This can be done conveniently using special wooden pegs.
4. The root, together with a lump of earth, is not installed vertically, but flat.
5. The stalk is laid out in a wide spiral, sprinkled with substrate. It is necessary that only the top of the thin plant remains on the surface.
6. The sprout is placed in a cool and brightly lit place.

When choosing suitable pots, it is important to remember that you cannot use those that have too small a volume.

Prevention

In order to prevent tomato seedlings from stretching out, it is necessary not only to properly care for them, but also to provide optimal conditions for their growth. First of all, pay attention to the following points:

• provide the seedlings with a suitable temperature regime and a sufficient amount of light (most often the plant needs additional lighting);
• do not water the seedlings too often;
• Apply fertilizer to the soil on time, but do not exceed the recommended dosage;
• if necessary, thin out the seedlings after they grow a little, the distance between them should be from 8 to 10 centimeters.

Particular attention should be paid to the choice of substrate that is used for sowing tomato seeds and picking seedlings.

It should be enriched with phosphorus and potassium.

• Phosphorus promotes the active development of the root system of seedlings.
• Potassium prevents the plant from stretching, as it inhibits cell growth.

It is recommended to include sand, peat and dolomite flour in the composition of the substrate. If desired, you can purchase a ready-made soil mixture for nightshade crops in a specialized store, in which the correct dosage of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium is selected.

How to save elongated shoots

If the seedlings have already stretched out, the following actions must be taken:

1. Keep the plant watering to a minimum.
2. Maximize lighting. It is useful to additionally use a special blue lamp for this purpose.
3. Increase the dose of fertilizing with superphosphate or potassium sulfate. These fertilizers slow down the growth of stems and leaves, promote the growth and development of the root system, making the tomato healthier and thicker.
4. Use growth regulators. When using them, you must carefully follow the dosage and rules specified in the instructions for use.
5. Trim off the lower leaves on the stem. This measure will temporarily slow down further stretching of the plant.

You can cut off the top part of the seedlings with 4-5 leaves, root them in water and plant them separately.

Advice from experienced gardeners

If you have only recently started growing tomatoes, then you will definitely need the advice of more experienced gardeners:

1. Since tomato seedlings most often stretch out due to poor lighting, it is recommended to provide additional lighting. But if the seedlings are located on a south window, then you can improve the lighting with the help of reflective screens, which can be made from a mirror, foil or a white paper sheet. Cut a piece of cardboard, the height of which should be approximately 0.4 m, and glue a material capable of reflecting light onto one of its surfaces. The resulting screen is suspended at the level of the plants. When the sun is shining, its rays are reflected from the surface of the screen, as a result of which the young tomatoes are well illuminated from each side.
2. If very small seedlings begin to stretch, then their growth can be slowed down by pinching the cotyledon leaf plates.
3. In order for the seedlings to be stronger, some gardeners resort to a rather unusual method. First, prepare a urea solution by combining half a bucket of water with 1 tsp. (with a slide) substances. They water the tomatoes with it, taking one glass of solution for each bush. Then they are removed to a well-lit but cool (8–10 degrees) place for a week. During this time, the bushes are not watered. When seven days have passed, you will notice that the plants have become stronger and have stopped stretching. Then they are transferred to their original place.
4. If adult seedlings have become very elongated, then you can cut off their upper parts at the level of the fifth or sixth leaf blade. They are placed in water and in just 5–7 days they should form roots. When the roots reach 10–15 mm in length, the cuttings can be planted in separate cups.

What drugs can be used to prevent seedlings from stretching?

In order to avoid pulling the seedlings, you can use specialized preparations. “Stop growth” and “Athlete”. They contain substances that enrich the soil with essential microelements. After the treatment, the growth of the above-ground part of the tomato stops, and the tomato itself becomes thicker. At the same time, accelerated development of the root system occurs.

When using growth regulators, you must strictly adhere to the recommended dosage. Processing is carried out following the instructions. For example, when using the drug "Tura" you need to use personal protective equipment.

Conditions for growing seedlings

It is possible to grow healthy tomato seedlings only by creating comfortable conditions for them:

• sufficient illumination - at least 12 hours;
• air temperature 18–25 °C during the day and up to 15 °C at night;
• moderate watering;
• loose fit in the container.

The variety of tomatoes is also of great importance.

For normal growth of tomato seedlings, they need comfortable conditions: light, air temperature, moderate watering

Common mistakes

If seedlings are grown correctly, the stems will not stretch. Inexperienced gardeners may make the following mistakes:

1. Apply fertilizing more often than once every 10 days. As a result, the tomato receives too much fertilizer.
2. The first feedings are especially important for the development of tomato. If their order is disturbed, the plant will not be able to fully develop. The first feeding is carried out 10 days after planting. This should be a nitrophoska solution. After another 10-12 days, fertilizing with a solution of wood ash and ammonium nitrate will be required.
3. After seed germination, containers with seedlings are not transferred to a cool place. It must be remembered that from now on the gardener must provide 16-18 degrees during the day and 12-14 at night. The transfer is done after the first seed has hatched. There is no need to wait until all the tomato seedlings have sprouted.
4. The humidifier has not been installed, which leads to dry air. To avoid this, you can place a container of water nearby or spray with a sprayer.
5. Sufficient lighting level is not provided. For seedlings to be healthy, the tomato must receive enough light. If it is given in fits and starts, the sprouts will turn out weak.
6. The seeds were planted too often. To do everything correctly, you need to place 2-3 seeds in one hole. They are buried to a depth of 2-3 cm in the ground. The distance between sprouts should be 8-10 cm.
7. The ground was not disinfected. When planting seedlings, the soil must be disinfected with a weak solution of potassium permanganate.

Careful adherence to the rules of care will avoid the formation of elongated stems.

Rules for transferring to a permanent location

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

Related article:

Tomato Rocket - description and characteristics of an early ripening variety

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

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

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

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

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

Related article:

Seedling business: how much you can earn

Answers to frequently asked questions

Question: “Why are seedlings with overgrown stems undesirable?”

Answer : “Such seedlings are not only weaker, but also have poor disease resistance. It is particularly affected by unfavorable weather conditions. Long stems have low mechanical strength and can break easily. The harvest is later than usual. This is due to the fact that usually the first flower clusters dry out.”

Question: “Will there be enough light for the seedlings if they are kept on the windowsill?”

Answer : “This is enough if the weather is clear and sunny. In cloudy weather without additional lighting, the tomato will weaken. In order to avoid this, it is necessary to organize additional artificial lighting.”

Question: “Why can’t seedlings be planted too early?”

Answer : “The days are shorter at this time. The length of day and night is such that it weakens the vitality of the sprouts. It is believed that tomato seeds should be planted around March 20.”

How to correctly determine the date of planting in the ground?

To accurately calculate the date of landing at a permanent location, it is necessary to take into account the weather conditions in the region and the type of shelter. If an approximate date is selected, you need to subtract 55-65 days from this number. Plus count 5-6 days for seed germination (with soaking 2-3 days). If the seedlings will be grown with picking, take another week. This gives the average sowing date for seedlings. But with this calculation, it is necessary to take into account that in central Russia in January and February it is too early to sow tomatoes. In the winter months, the days are short, the biological clock of plants has not yet turned on, and supplementary illumination with one lamp does not help the situation. And even on a windowsill without the spring sun, young tomatoes can be cold. Therefore, there will be no early harvest. Sowing varieties with medium stem height can be postponed even until mid-March, and early varieties - until the first days of April. Most specialists in the field of plant growing do not sow tomatoes, even large-fruited varieties, until the beginning of spring. According to them, seedlings planted in early spring are stronger and begin to bear fruit faster.

What funds are needed?

Gardeners, especially beginners, often ask the question: “How to feed seedlings for growth if they are at home in the window? How often should I do this? When to apply fertilizer for tomatoes and how much is needed? Below is a list of some of the best fertilizers for tomato seedlings among vegetable growers.

Banana peel

Banana peels are a natural food for tomatoes. Bananas and their peels are rich in potassium and also contain some phosphorus. For long-term transportation, their shell is treated with substances containing growth hormones within acceptable limits, which has a beneficial effect on the development of seedlings.

Recommendation. Before eating bananas or preparing fertilizer from the peel, they must be washed with hot running water and soap.

It is recommended to add fresh banana peels to the bottom of the container when picking tomato seedlings. Some summer residents dry the peel of this fruit, crush it and mix it with soil when sowing seeds (you can use the whole dry peel, but in this case it must be placed at the very bottom of the container for seedlings).

Others infuse banana skins in water (the peels of 2-3 bananas are poured with 3 liters of water and infused for 3 days, then diluted with more water in a ratio of 1:1) and add this infusion to seedlings that are 1.5 months old.

Read more about how to use banana peels and other organic matter for feeding and proper growth of tomatoes here.

Spilled coffee

Coffee contains a large amount of useful substances and minerals (including nitrogen, potassium, magnesium), and it also makes the soil structure looser, saturating the fragile root system of sprouts with oxygen. To feed seedlings, use brewed grounds, mixing them with soil until the seeds are sown. The coffee cake is washed, dried, and mixed with soil in a 1:1 ratio.

Urea (urea)

Urea is the basis for fertilizing tomato seedlings, as it contains up to 46% nitrogen, a mineral without which normal growth and high fruiting are impossible. But the issue of fertilizing with nitrogen must be approached extremely carefully.

You need to know in moderation in everything: it is better to underfeed the seedlings than to overfeed them. An excess of nutrients is no less destructive for her than their deficiency.

Many agronomists recommend adding urea before planting seedlings in the ground (1-2 g per box). Then seedlings that are 15 to 30 days old and already planted in the soil are watered with urea (25-30 granules per 10 liters of water at room temperature), until the first ovary begins.

Eggshell

It is rich in calcium, silicon, phosphorus, potassium, which certainly has a positive effect on the growth of seedlings. Dried shells from 3 to 4 eggs (preferably raw) are soaked in 3 liters of water for 3 days.

Another option:

1. The shells of 4 eggs, pre-washed and dried, are crushed in a coffee grinder, 1 liter of boiling water is poured in and infused for 4 - 6 days, then the infusion is diluted in 10 liters of water.
2. The resulting suspension is poured under the roots of the seedlings.

During the infusion process, an unpleasant smell of hydrogen sulfide may appear, which should not be feared - this is a completely natural reaction. This method is recommended for the first feeding.

Yeast

It’s not without reason that people use the phrase: “It’s growing by leaps and bounds.” This substance, unique in its composition, is a source of natural bacteria that help strengthen the immunity of seedlings. They are an excellent and inexpensive tomato growth stimulator.

1. 10 g of “live” yeast are dissolved in warm water, add 4 tbsp. Sahara.
2. The resulting concentrate is diluted with water (1:10) and added under the roots of tomatoes during the first feeding.

Another option: dilute 5 g of bread yeast in 5 liters of water, leave for 1 day, and then you can add seedlings. Yeast should be used for tomato seedlings that are 1-2 months old.

From the video you will learn how to fertilize with yeast for an excellent harvest:

Epin

This drug is a stimulator of seedling growth, it is a kind of plant hormone. The active substance is a solution of ebiprassinolide in alcohol 0.025 g/l. The composition contains a shampoo that produces foam for better “sticking” of beneficial substances to the foliage. The main purpose of Epin is to strengthen the immunity of tomato sprouts and promote rapid rooting of seedlings.

Epin strengthens the plant's defenses (cold, drought, diseases, pests), but does not fertilize it!

This drug can be used at any stage of plant growth: it can be used to treat seeds, spray seedlings, and then during flowering and fruiting. When preparing a solution for spraying, you must strictly follow the instructions. As a rule, an ampoule of the substance is diluted in filtered water and stored for no more than 24 hours. For seedlings of the “2 – 4 leaves” phase, the consumption rate is 1 ampoule per 1 liter of water, during picking 3 drops per 100 ml of water.

Beer

Beer solution is considered a good biostimulator for seedling growth. It is most often used in the phase of the appearance of the first leaf. It is preferable to use “live” beer for feeding (1 liter per 10 liters of water), avoiding contact with the tender leaves of the sprouts. Seedlings grown in this way will be stronger, more resistant to diseases, and will be easier to tolerate picking and transplanting.

Proper planting of seeds will help prevent seedlings from being pulled out.

The soil should be loose, preferably with the addition of rotted sawdust and sand, it should provide ventilation for the root system and adequate nutrition for the plant.

When choosing seeds, you should remember that hybrids are more protected from common tomato diseases and are less susceptible to pest attacks.

The best option is to plant seeds in separate cups; the containers should be placed so that the plants do not shade each other and their leaves do not touch - in this case, ventilation of the plantings will be maximum.

We provide the containers with a drainage system. which will prevent moisture stagnation.

Tomatoes are usually sown in the third decade of February, but during this period the daylight hours are not yet long enough, i.e. You should consider the option of backlighting with a fluorescent lamp in advance.

To obtain a strong root system, seedlings are planted after the appearance of the second true leaf. Unpicked seedlings are weak and the stems are stretched.

5 useful tips to help grow quality bushes in open ground:

• It is not recommended to sow tomato seeds in open ground too early. The sowing time should be calculated based on the fact that it will take 55 - 65 days for the seedlings to grow.
• If there are no signs of a lack of nutrients on the plants, then fertilizing should not be done. Even if the sprouts are weak, the first fertilizing is carried out no earlier than 10 days after emergence.
• It is necessary to water the seedlings in moderation; abundant watering will provoke excessive upward growth of the stem, while it will remain thin, but the lack of moisture will negatively affect the rate of plant development.
• Too high a percentage of nitrogen in fertilizing will lead to rapid forcing of the stem.
• A lack of potassium can also cause unnatural elongation of sprouts.

Feeding schedule: when to fertilize seedlings

If fertile soil was used for planting tomato seedlings, then at first the seedlings will take food from there. Next, they focus on the condition of the seedlings.

Young plants do not yet have developed roots and green mass, so a lack of nutrients will lead to delayed development and weakening of the bush.

Important! Low room temperature, poor soil composition, short daylight hours and other disturbances in growing conditions - these and other factors affect the condition of the plants and can cause the death of seedlings.

Basic rules for fertilizing:

1. Compliance with the measure and dosage. Seedlings are as sensitive to excess nutrition as to deficiency.
2. Liquid formulations are preferred . Dissolved substances quickly penetrate into the root environment.
3. The soil in cups is watered a day before fertilizing.
4. The surface of the soil is loosened to allow air to penetrate deeper.

Growing in a cold place

Growing in a cold room is one of the reasons why tomato seedlings wither. When the air temperature in the room is below +16 degrees, tomatoes stop growing. Their leaves curl with their edges down, and the color changes from green to a leaden hue.

Combined with high humidity, fungal diseases develop rapidly. They contribute to withering.

Drafts are also dangerous for delicate plants, especially for seedlings standing on the windowsill. Icy air coming from window cracks inhibits the development of roots, and they are less able to absorb nutrition from the soil.

The opposite situation, when the room is too hot, also harms pets. Tomatoes may turn yellow and wilt.

The optimal temperature for tomato seedlings should be between +22 +24 degrees during the day and +18 degrees at night.

Picking stretched seedlings

If the seeds were sowed frequently, then thickening of the crops occurs.

• It is necessary to discharge the seedlings, or even better, to plant each strong sprout in an individual glass.
• When planting, try to deepen the root and pour soil up to the cotyledon leaves.
• You can bury the seedling at an angle, thus reducing the height of the sprout.

By the way! The site offers your attention articles on how to properly pick seedlings.

Advice ! Fill the cups with seedlings half or two-thirds full with soil so that you can always add more soil.

Reason 9. Poor soil quality

It’s not the most obvious reason for seedlings to pull out, but sometimes it can have an effect. Remember that the soil for seedlings should be loose, light and nutritious. Ordinary soil from a garden bed will not work, because... it contains pest larvae and pathogenic bacteria. It is best to purchase a ready-made substrate in a store or create a soil mixture yourself.

• Soil for seedlings - how to prepare the right mixture for young plants

  Seedlings of tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, cucumbers and cabbage will be strong and healthy if grown in the correct substrate.

Reason 1. Insufficient lighting

The most common reason that can spoil the quality of seedlings. If seedlings do not have enough light, they begin to reach for its source, weaken and become thinner. This problem is especially relevant for plants that sprouted at the end of winter and beginning of spring, when there is still not enough sun. It’s easy to help the seedlings: just buy a phytolamp and add additional light to the plants, taking into account that they need about 12-14 hours of light per day. In a dark room, only a phytolamp should be used.

Seedlings also need darkness, so you should not keep the phytolamp on for days, this will weaken the plants’ immunity.