Any garden owner and farmer strives to grow a rich harvest of large and juicy tomatoes, rather than tasteless and small fruits. Many people are often interested in: How long should tomato seeds take to germinate? To do this, it is necessary to pay great attention to sowing seeds, their germination and germination.
In order for the seeds to germinate on time, it is necessary to follow the rules for planting them.
In order for seedlings to appear faster, it is necessary to follow certain rules for planting seeds. There are a number of subtleties that must be taken into account when growing vegetables.
Germination time of tomatoes of different varieties
A small garden of sprouting tomato plants, 3 weeks after planting the seeds.
It happens that after sowing seeds, a vegetable grower cannot wait for the shoots to sprout for a long time. After a certain period of time, an opinion develops that the variety is difficult to germinate. Actually this is not true. Tomato seeds of different varieties may germinate at different times, but there are several reasons for this. By changing the temperature and humidity, bringing it closer to the optimum for the germination of the seed of a heat-loving crop, you can notice friendly shoots within a few days.
If the seeds have been stored for a long time and incorrectly, then no changes will lead to the desired seedlings.
Scientific farmers have long proven that tomato seeds of all varieties germinate with the same intensity.
How to collect your own seeds
If the purchased tomatoes have fully justified themselves, then for subsequent cultivation you can collect the seeds yourself.
If you want to repeat the harvest next season, seeds collected yourself will help with this
It is important to fulfill several conditions:
- the variety must be a complete variety and not a hybrid, since the hybrid may not retain its parental characteristics;
- to obtain seeds, choose a healthy, strong bush that has no signs of disease;
- the fruit chosen for obtaining seeds must be well ripened on the bush;
- It is advisable to use the fruit from the second or third branch.
What determines the speed of germination?
The germination of tomato seeds depends on many factors. Violation of even one leads to a decrease, or even complete absence of germination.
Age
Seed germination is determined by the term “durability”. It is usually divided into:
- biological. This is the time when at least one seed will sprout. For a tomato this period is 8 years;
- economic The period when the seeds are used and at least 50% of seedlings are obtained. A tomato has a lifespan of 4-6 years.
To know exactly the age of the seeds when collecting on your own, do not forget to indicate the name of the variety and the year of collection on the packaging.
Sometimes a vegetable grower is faced with a situation where the seeds are fresh (1-2 years), but there are no shoots. It all depends on the storage conditions and perhaps it was a violation of some parameter that destroyed the seed.
Storage
To store seeds, a humidity level of 6-12% is required. In such conditions there is almost no breathing. An increase in humidity by 2%, even without raising the temperature, triggers respiration processes in tomato seeds. Biochemical processes begin with the loss of dry matter. The seed consumes nutrients and germination capacity decreases sharply.
Humidity is an important indicator. Keep the seeds well dried and in a dry place - this will prolong their life.
Temperature
Humidity and temperature during seed storage are very related. If the storage location is unheated and the humidity is high, then the durability indicator decreases by 50 or even 80%.
Temperature is no less important during seed germination. Tomato is heat-loving. Many vegetable growers observed a picture where the sown seeds did not germinate for a long time, but with an increase in temperature they sprouted. At low temperatures, shoots may also appear, but not more than 3-5%.
The optimal temperature for tomato seedlings is 20-22 ᵒC.
On what day do tomato seedlings sprout?
Information about the germination time of tomato seeds is necessary for beginning gardeners. When plants do not germinate on time, we take the necessary actions to correct the situation. Otherwise, we will be completely left without a harvest.
What factors influence the germination time of tomato seeds?
Depends on the manufacturer's release term. The seeds collected last year, if the planting technology is followed, will germinate in 4 days. If collected several years ago, they will sprout later, after 10 days.
The crop variety has a primary influence. When planting regular tomatoes, we expect quick results. If the varieties are specific, you need to make a lot of effort to obtain a high-quality result.
Pre-treatment also has an effect. Seeds without such treatment disappear no sooner than after a week or more. Treated with special products, solutions, and properly soaked in water, they come off much earlier. They grow healthier. Pests and diseases do not spread at a rapid pace, as they do on untreated seeds.
We take the temperature into account. The best temperature for seedling germination is 23-25C. If tomatoes grow at this temperature, the first plants appear already on the 5th day. However, when the boxes with seedlings are in a place where the temperature is lower, the first shoots will appear much later. We also take into account the planting depth. Seeds that are planted shallow in the ground germinate much earlier than seeds that are covered with a thick ball of soil. We take into account the quality of the soil. It is difficult for weak shoots to grow through churned, untreated soil. It is considered advisable to saturate the soil with components that help improve the quality of the soil: sand, humus, vermiculite... Sprouts need sunlight. Lack of sunlight affects the germination time of seeds. Tomato seeds are sown in soil, which is placed in plastic containers. Place them in a sunny place.
Treated and untreated seeds
You can buy seeds in the form of granules. They are the germs of vegetable crops. Treated with special products based on complex mineral fertilizers. After processing, their germination rate increases. However, there is a significant drawback - the seed is overdried. You need to independently increase the percentage of humidity to the natural level. It is unknown how long this procedure will take. There are known cases that after the so-called panning, seed germination increases.
Different varieties of tomatoes differ in germination rates. The quality of the soil also affects. Does it contain minerals and other microelements necessary for tomatoes?
What actions do we take to ensure timely seed germination?
We do not skip the procedure of soaking the seeds. Place the material for sowing in gauze into a container into which we first pour warm water. It is recommended not to completely immerse the seeds in liquid. We keep the seeds in this position all day. We change the water three times. Remove the gauze completely several times. Seeds must be saturated with oxygen. After this procedure, we lay out the planting material on a plate. First place gauze or a damp cloth on it. Make sure that the gauze or napkin is constantly damp.
The seeds need to be hardened . Adapt to external conditions. Subsequently, tomatoes will not be afraid of temperature changes. Plants are developing rapidly. The color on bushes that grew from hardened seedlings will appear much earlier. The yield will be much higher. Hardening methods may be different. Sprouts that have sprouted can be placed in the refrigerator for 12 hours. The second stage is heating the seeds at a temperature of 20 degrees. The warm-up period is similar.
The seeds that we buy on the market have already undergone pre-sowing treatment. There is no need to carry out any preparatory work.
Before we plant the seeds on the land, we place them in a container with prepared soil. Before planting in a permanent place, do not forget to water the plants regularly. We plant it carefully on the plot of land. We make sure that the roots of the tomatoes are not damaged.
If you planted tomatoes in a greenhouse, ventilate them regularly. Excessive humidity can lead to various diseases. When we plant young seedlings in the ground, we cut off several leaves that are closer to the root system. This will make it easier for the plant to take root in the ground.
Before transplanting into a hole, we can remove the seedlings from the container along with the soil where they grew. We add fertilizer to the hole. We place the plants directly in the soil at a depth of 10 to 15 cm. When the hole has not yet been covered with soil, we tilt the plant to the side. We moisten the hole with water. The tomato root system will need moisture. We give it as much as possible. We fill the hole with soil, but do not raise the plant. This way the plant stem will not be damaged by the cold soil.
Method for removing damaged seeds
A solution containing water and kitchen salt will help identify damaged seeds. Dissolve 1 teaspoon of salt in a glass of water. The seed material is placed in this vessel. Keep it like this for a few minutes. Remove any tomato seeds that float to the surface. They are not suitable for planting and will not germinate at all. We take out the seeds that are at the bottom of the glass and dry them thoroughly. This seed can be used for its intended purpose.
Video
How to speed up germination
There is a lot of work in spring. The vegetable grower is in a hurry to sow everything in order to get high-quality seedlings and an early harvest. However, tomato is a crop that produces quick shoots and there is no need to rush. If the seed is of high quality, then after 5-7 days green sprouts will be visible.
Do I need to stratify tomato seeds?
Stratification is carried out on the seed, which contains protein substances in its shell that prevent rapid germination. There are no such substances in tomato seeds, so stratification is not carried out.
What is bubbling or why do tomato seeds need an aquarium compressor?
Bubbling is the process of “breaking” the shell of hard-germinating seeds with air or oxygen for speedy germination. This is done under industrial conditions by supplying gases to a vessel with water and seeds.
At home, this can be done using an aquarium compressor. However, there is no need for such a procedure for tomato seeds.
How to soak tomatoes
Changing tomatoes don't need to be soaked. It is enough to place them in a warm and humid environment. However, if the seeds are purchased from amateur vegetable growers, or collected on your own, you need to carry out dressing.
The surface of the seed may contain pathogens of fungal infections. You should get rid of them before sowing. At home, this will help you make a strong fungicidal drug, potassium permanganate.
To conduct an event we do this:
- pour 100 ml of water into the container;
- add 1g of crystalline manganese;
- stirring until dissolved;
- place the seeds in the solution. If they are of different varieties, then we put them in gauze or linen bags.
- soak the seeds for 20-30 minutes.
At the end of the procedure, they should be black and shiny.
How to choose only high-quality tomato seeds and reject bad material
Before sowing, calibration must be carried out. The law is that an empty seed floats, but a full, heavy one sinks and sinks to the bottom under its own weight. The exact instructions are below.
How does expiration date affect germination?
Everything affects germination. It happens that old seeds germinate, but new ones do not. It's a matter of storage conditions.
Economic germination period for tomato seeds is 4-6 years. However, the seeds should be stored at a temperature of 6-12 ᵒC and in a dry place.
It is easier for domestic seeds to control the conditions. But it’s difficult for purchases. Even if you store it correctly after purchase, it is unknown how it was done before you. Seeds:
- collected;
- transported;
- packaged;
- dried;
- packed;
- transported again;
- sold;
- etc.
It is not a fact that certain conditions were adhered to at each work site. The human factor has not been canceled.
When buying seeds, you need to carefully look at the date and choose only the freshest.
What is panning
In production, in order to increase germination, seeds are treated:
- disinfectants;
- minerals;
- growth stimulants.
It is not possible to do this at home, and there is no need for this for tomatoes.
Seed treatment before sowing
Before sowing, tomato seeds need to be germinated. This procedure will immediately show whether the seed is alive or dead. It is enough to put the seed in a damp cloth for 3-4 days and the seedlings will be visible.
Pre-germination
This is the most common way to prepare seeds for planting. You can start it with pre-soaking. To do this, the seed is placed in a fabric bag (bundle) and placed in a glass of warm water (temperature is approximately +25 degrees). It takes an average of 10 hours for the shell of the grains to become saturated with moisture. If the water in the container turns brown, replace it.
Now comes the turn of germination:
- In a small bowl you need to put a piece of damp cloth made of natural material (cotton, gauze in several layers), moisten it well.
- Next, spread the tomato seeds in a thin layer in a cloth.
- Cover the top with the same piece of damp cloth.
- The seeds will hatch in a couple of days. It is when they have sprouted that they can be planted in the soil.
All this time you must ensure that the fabric does not dry out. To disinfect the grains, before germination begins, they are pickled in a weak solution of potassium permanganate or in aloe juice. The drug “Fitosporin-M” helps well against infections. It will reliably protect the sprouts from fungus and activate growth.
In addition, you can soak the seed in solutions of mineral fertilizers. Soaking grains of both tomatoes and peppers in solutions of products such as Zircon or Epin has a positive effect on germination. If store-bought seeds are used for sowing, then their pre-treatment is not required: the producers themselves treat the seed.
Reasons for long germination
Dry seeds, even at optimal temperatures, will take longer to germinate than germinated ones. Water touching the seed shell promotes swelling and starts germination.
A dry seed, falling into the ground, will wait for watering and only then swell and germinate. This takes time. But the hatched seeds will sprout in 3-5 days.
Seeds are not ready for planting
If there is no time, the vegetable grower is in a hurry, then he quickly pours soil into tubs and places the seed on it. You can do this, but in this case, sowing must begin 10 days earlier than those done with moistened seeds.
By watering the soil, wrapping it in film and placing it in a warm place, after 10 days tomato seedlings will be visible. But don't yawn here. The temperature needs to be lowered and the film removed.
Low temperature
The most serious reasons for seed failure to germinate are low temperature and low humidity. You can sow, but the seeds will sprout only when the soil temperature is 20-22 ᵒC.
Overmoistening or overdrying of the soil
Over-wetting the soil at high temperatures is not as bad as over-drying. There are several options:
- If the seed has not yet swelled, but will lie and wait for moisture and warmth.
- If the seed is swollen and the soil is dry, the seed dries out and dies.
- If there is excessive humidity and low temperature, tomato seeds rot.
Only optimum humidity and temperature can produce successful shoots.
Poor quality planting soil
Soil has no effect on seed germination. Of course, if you sow in clay and do not water it, the seeds will not sprout.
Before sowing, you should understand that young shoots must germinate in the most nutritious, light, neutral substrate.
Seed placement depth
In theory, embedment depth matters. Small seeds are planted shallower, large seeds deeper.
Practice shows that a germinating seed sprouts quickly and without nuances. The planting depth of tomato seeds does not exceed 0.5 cm.
Small-fruited tomatoes
Tomatoes with small fruits produce smaller seeds than large-fruited ones. However, this does not affect germination.
Large seeds
If the tomato fruit is large, then the seeds are large. However, germination is influenced by the same factors. Sometimes there are tomato varieties with large fruits, but medium and even small seeds.
Diseases
To protect the tomato plant from diseases whose pathogen is transmitted by seeds, pickling is carried out in potassium permanganate or phytosporin, as described above.
How does light affect germination?
Tomato seeds germinate equally in the dark and in the light. They don't need any additional conditions.
The main reasons for the lack of seedlings
Sometimes tomatoes do not sprout for a long time after sowing. This means that the seeds were weak or that normal conditions were not created for them.
Factors leading to the death of seed before emergence are:
Diseases
Under the seed shell there are often bacteria in a state of suspended animation. After the sprout appears, they also become active and infect tomatoes with dangerous diseases.
Low temperature
Too low a temperature (less than +21 degrees) delays the germination of sprouts.
Incorrect seeding
It is necessary to choose the right distance between seeds. If they are sown in a bunch, they prevent each other from growing and hatching normally.
The soil is too wet
Seeds need moisture, but an excess of it compacts the soil, preventing oxygen from penetrating. As a result, they rot.
Deep placement of seeds
If you plant the seeds deeper than recommended on the package, or water the soil immediately after sowing, driving them into the ground, then the sprouts will waste time and energy trying to break through to the surface. It is recommended to plant the seed at a distance no deeper than its 3 heights.
Preparing tomato seeds for germination
Seed material must be alive and healthy. That is why calibration and disinfection are important points in the process of preparing for sowing.
Calibration and disinfection
The most accessible method of calibration is soaking the seed in a 3-5% solution of table salt. For this:
- Prepare a 3-5% sodium chloride solution. To do this, mix 3-5 g of kitchen salt in half a glass of water and stir.
- Add tomato seed into the liquid and mix.
- They defend it.
- Anything that floats up is thrown away.
- The settled ones are washed with tap water several times.
Viable settled seeds are sown.
Soak
Vegetable growers, in pursuit of yield and germination, soak seeds, who knows what. Fresh, viable seeds can be soaked in plain water, or you can use:
- melted snow or rain water;
- phytosporin;
- potassium permanganate.
Sparging and hardening
Tomatoes are heat-loving and grow well in warm conditions. There is no need to perform bubbling and hardening.
After how many days do shoots appear?
The timing of the appearance of the first shoots is counted from the moment when the container with the sown seeds was covered with glass or plastic film and transferred to a warm and well-lit place. How many days it will take for tomato seeds to germinate depends on whether they have been pre-treated.
- Encrusted or pelleted seeds - such grains, sold in gardening stores, are pre-processed by the manufacturer. They are coated with a thin coating of a nutrient composition, which improves their germination, increases productivity and immunity to disease. Encrusted seeds germinate much earlier than those that were collected independently - after 4-5 days.
- Self-processed seeds - such grains are prepared for sowing directly by the vegetable grower. To do this, they are soaked in warm water and special growth stimulants, and also germinated. Such seed material is capable of producing the first shoots 5-7 days after sowing.
- Untreated grains - if the seeds were not pre-soaked, not treated with growth stimulants, not germinated and sown dry, the first shoots will not appear before 10-14 days. Tomato seeds have a dense and hard shell, which slows down their germination. For them to hatch, this shell must burst. Also, tomato seeds contain specific essential oils that inhibit their growth. Pre-soaking the material is aimed specifically at softening the hard shell and dissolving essential oils.
In some cases, summer residents treat collected or purchased seed material with special preparations for long-term storage. Thanks to such means, the grains are perfectly preserved for a long time, but the process of pecking them can take up to 14-16 days.
When preparing seed material, many gardeners warm it up and then harden it by exposure to low temperatures, leaving the grains in the refrigerator or in a snowdrift.
It should be taken into account that such seeds germinate similarly to ordinary ones. Warming up and hardening the grains increases their immunity to diseases and pests, and increases resistance to adverse weather conditions. But these techniques do not speed up the germination rate of tomato seeds.
Methods for germinating tomato seeds
Each vegetable grower manages to carry out germination in his own way. The main thing is that the seed is moist and warm.
On fabric
The seeds are wrapped in a piece of damp cloth, and then in plastic film. Sent to a warm place for 3-4 days. After opening, all living seeds are very clearly visible.
In cotton pads
Place a cotton pad on the tray, then the seeds and cover again with a cotton pad. Moisten with water, wrap in film and place in a warm place.
This method is not the best. If the grower forgets about the seed, it will outgrow and it will be difficult to tear it away from the cotton pad. Sowing together with a cotton pad cannot be done in the same way.
On toilet paper
Toilet paper is placed in three folds on a tray. Pour the seeds and moisten with water. Cover again with toilet paper. Place in a bag and send to a warm place. With this type of germination, sowing can be done directly with toilet paper. It is laid out together with the pricked grains on the surface of the soil.
In paper diapers
The paper is cut into longitudinal pieces and the seed is placed on them at a distance of 2 cm, rolled into a tube and placed in a container. Pour a little water into the bottom. Wrap it in a plastic bag. The seedlings stretch out and growth continues in paper diapers.
Sometimes soil is used for germination. It is poured onto one end of the paper and the seed is laid out. This method is more effective because the seed enters a moist nutrient medium.
In boiling water
Boiling water is not used for tomatoes. There is no need for this, the seeds germinate just fine. However, videos and reviews indicate that people are trying to water the soil with boiling water. It should be remembered that boiling water, as well as steaming and heating the soil in the oven, kills beneficial microflora.
On an aloe leaf
Aloe is rich in nutrients, microelements, and biologically active components, but this does not affect the germination of tomato seeds.
In production conditions, tomato seeds are soaked in clean water. Agrarian scientists are constantly searching. They monitor the cleanliness of laboratory research and production, and if aloe were as effective, farmers would use it to the fullest.
How to care for tomato seedlings
Transfer the emerging sprouts to the brightest but coolest window. To prevent seedlings from stretching, a certain temperature regime is needed:
- first 4 days: during the day +12… +15 °C, at night +9… +12 °C;
- from the 5th day until the end of cultivation: during the day +23… +25 °C, at night +12… +14 °C.
You can create coolness by protecting the window sill from the room with a thick curtain or film stretched over the window opening. Regulate the temperature using the window. In addition, the boxes with seedlings need to be turned to the glass with the other side every day so that the tomatoes do not grow lopsided. As for daylight hours, during the seedling period it should last at least 12 hours; if necessary, provide additional lighting.
Water the seedlings, not allowing even the top layer of soil to dry out, that is, you need to constantly moisten it. To do this, use only settled water at room temperature. Pour it between the rows, trying not to get on the stems and leaves. Many gardeners water during this period not from a watering can, but from a syringe or syringe without a needle.
The syringe moistens the surface with drops of water, which is exactly what the emerging tomato seedlings need.
Often tomato seedlings cannot shed the seed coat and stand with it at the top instead of leaves. Apply a drop of water to this shell, and after 1-2 minutes remove it by lightly pulling it. Do not forcefully pull or squeeze the seed; if it does not come off, wet it again, wait and try again.
Every year several tomatoes sprout with seeds on their “head”. I tried to shoot this way, but I always forgot to come back after a minute. As a result, the water dried out, the seed hardened again, I had to wet it again, and again I forgot to come on time. But over time, I noticed that such repeated wetting also helps, the leaves from the inside, of course, tend to outward, and when the shell is soaked, they succeed, even if not the first time. Therefore, now I just come up when I remember and wet such heads, and then the tomatoes themselves show their strength.
When the first 1-2 true leaves appear on the tomatoes, plant them in individual pots, deepening them down to the cotyledons. Carry out further care as for ordinary seedlings: watering, fertilizing and planting in the ground when it is warm, without frost. They are usually planted in the greenhouse 2–3 weeks earlier.
Video: caring for tomatoes from germination to picking
Why don't tomatoes sprout?
If something went wrong, the tomatoes did not germinate, then you need to look for the reason. Sometimes “long” is an abstract concept, especially if the seeds are old or one of the important conditions is not met - humidity, soil composition, temperature, immersion depth and others. How long it takes for a seed to germinate depends on its viability, the availability of nutrients, and the variety of tomato.
Seed infection
Sick, infected seeds take longer to germinate, developing into weak plants. Therefore, at the preliminary stage of preparation, sorting and treatment with potassium permanganate or hydrogen peroxide are used.
Dense soil
A thick cover of the soil mixture, which hinders growth, is another reason for slower germination. This can be avoided by thoroughly grinding the soil before planting.
Sowing too deep
An old gardener's rule is that the sowing depth is equal to three times the size of the seed. Sometimes this happens by accident if watering occurs not before planting (as all sources and experts recommend), but after.
Low temperature
Violation of the temperature regime also leads to deviations from the germination dates. If this indicator is close to 10 degrees, the seed may not sprout at all. Therefore, lowering the temperature below plus 12 is not recommended.
