How to sow tomatoes for seedlings step by step
Novice gardeners ask themselves the question: "How to grow tomato seedlings before the start of the season?" Preparing seedlings is one of the most important things that every gardener should be able to do. In the event that you made a decision to purchase seedlings ready for planting in the ground immediately, it would be better to refuse it. You cannot be 100 percent sure that it will germinate and yield later. The presence of a large number of leaves and a strong stem are not always indicators of the health of seedlings.
It will be much better and more effective if you do everything yourself. After reading this article, you will learn how to sow tomatoes for seedlings step by step.
Timing is important
The first thing to consider is the seedling timing. There are a variety of tomato varieties that require different start times for preparation and seedling. There is the following division of tomato varieties according to the ripening rate criterion:
- Early ripening. Tomatoes of this variety have the highest ripening rate. It ranges from 90 to 100 days;
- Mid-season. The ripening rate is 110 to 120 days;
- Late ripening. This kind of tomato requires the longest period for its own maturation. It can last from 130 to 140 days.
In order to find out the ripening period of a variety, you do not need to look for an appropriate directory. In most cases, it is indicated on the seed package. In the event that you purchased seeds, for example, in an ordinary plastic bag, then ask the seller about the ripening period of the purchased variety. You can also read about any tomato variety on the Internet, since the descriptions of the varieties are present in sufficient quantity and you should not have problems finding the necessary information.
Knowing the timing of ripening will allow you to accurately calculate the date of the first harvest. Another important factor that should be considered when calculating the timing of the first fruits is the region in which you are going to sow your tomatoes. The farther south your site is, the earlier the ground will thaw, which will allow you to plant seedlings earlier in full-fledged soil.
In the event that your tomatoes will grow in greenhouse conditions, then this period may be even earlier. Based on all of the above, you can calculate, for example, that you should start preparing tomato seedlings in central Russia for greenhouses in the third or fourth quarter of March.
How to prepare seeds for sowing
Preparing seeds for planting is an extremely important step.Untreated seeds may not germinate or subsequently give a sick bush that will not survive even half the season, dying without a crop.
It doesn't matter how or where you got the seeds: bought in a bag in a store or harvested from your previous harvest. In any case, they must be disinfected with special means. This procedure is necessary if you do not want the grown seedlings to die due to disease.
The most popular method of disinfection involves placing seeds, which are wrapped in gauze, in a solution of potassium permanganate for half an hour. The solution should be dark pink. To achieve the required concentration, it is necessary to dissolve two and a half milligrams of potassium permanganate in a glass of water with a volume of two hundred milliliters. After this procedure, the seeds must be washed well in running water and dried.
The next stage in seed preparation is their germination. This procedure will accelerate the emergence of the plant. To do this, you need a paper towel, which must be moistened with water. Then fold it in half and place the seeds between the sides. Wrap the tissue in a clear plastic bag. Place the seed napkin on a plate or saucer and place in a warm place. At home, you can put the seeds under the battery.
Important! Do not forget to moisten the napkin, otherwise the seeds will simply dry out and you will not get any result.
The seeds will begin to germinate within 3-5 days. Remove germinated seeds from those that cannot sprout. You can throw out the latter. Even if they germinate later, the likelihood that they will produce a healthy shrub is extremely small. Most likely, bushes from such seeds will be weak and affected by a fatal disease.
How to prepare the soil for seedlings
In order to start sowing sprouted seeds, oddly enough, we need soil. Not every land you can find will work. It is recommended to purchase special seedling soil. You can find it in absolutely any gardening store. In most cases, the packaging indicates that the soil is intended for growing seedlings of vegetables and flowers.
Some gardeners advise to dilute the soil purchased from the store with earth from the garden.
In their opinion, this will reduce the likelihood of adverse consequences. But you can't just take and fill up the land brought from the garden and mix it with purchased soil. First, you need to warm it up to room temperature. To do this, you can simply put it indoors and wait a week. Secondly, the ground must be disinfected. This requires a solution of potassium permanganate. The solution should be pink. The final step will be mixing in equal proportions of the purchased soil and what you brought and processed.
The containers in which the tomato will grow
The correct containers in which a new fruiting plant will be born is something that in no case should be forgotten or not given due attention. Depending on where your tomato meets its first days, its whole future fate depends.
You can sow seeds in a separate container each or all together in one large container. Modern stores offer an extremely wide range of different containers that are suitable for any purpose, volume and wallet. If you don't have the extra money, you can get simple plastic cups at any grocery store. Professionals recommend planting each individual seed in a separate cup. This will allow you to avoid the diving procedure and plant the shoots directly into the open ground.
Sowing seeds
If you purchased special containers, then you have already done most of the work and saved your time.If you decide to use the materials at hand, then they need to be prepared before planting a plant in them.
First of all, let's consider the option of using a plastic cup as a container for growing grains separately. First, make a small hole in the bottom of the cup. Then pour pebbles or ground, but not hard, egg shells into a glass.
It is required to fill one tenth of the total volume of the cup. Next, fill in the ground there and water it well with warm water. After that, press through small holes in the soil and place two, or preferably three, germinated tomato seeds there. A few are put in in case not all the seeds germinate. Cover the seeds with soil and dampen the top layer of soil. A spray bottle is perfect for this. Cover the cups with cling film and place in a warm place for the seedlings to grow well. If the landing was done correctly, you will soon see the result.
In the event that you decide to put everything in one large container, then repeat all the same, but only without making a hole in the bottom. Plant the seeds 3-4 centimeters apart.
Now you know how to properly plant tomatoes for seedlings.
