Beginning gardeners ask 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. If you have decided to purchase seedlings immediately ready for planting in the ground, then it would be better to refuse them. You cannot be 100 percent sure that it will subsequently germinate and produce a harvest. 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 efficient 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 timing of seedlings. There are a variety of tomato varieties that require different start times for preparation and seedlings. There is the following division of tomato varieties according to the criterion of ripening speed:
- Early ripening. Tomatoes of this variety have the highest ripening speed. It ranges from 90 to 100 days;
- Mid-season. The ripening rate is from 110 to 120 days;
- Late ripening. This variety of tomato requires the longest period of time to ripen. 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 the corresponding reference book. In most cases, it is indicated on the package of seeds. If you purchased seeds, for example, in a regular 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; fortunately, descriptions of the varieties are available in sufficient quantities 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 taken into account when calculating the timing of the first fruits is the region in which you are going to sow your tomatoes. The further south your site is, the sooner the ground will thaw, which will allow you to plant seedlings in good soil earlier.
If your tomatoes grow in greenhouse conditions, this period may be even earlier.Based on all of the above, we can calculate, for example, that we 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 stage. Unprepared seeds may not germinate or may subsequently produce a diseased bush that will not survive half the season, dying without a harvest.
It doesn’t matter how or where you got the seeds: you bought them in a bag at the store or collected them 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 have a dark pink color. 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 rinsed well in running water and dried.
The next stage of seed preparation is their germination. This procedure will speed up the germination of the plant. To do this, you will need a paper napkin, which must be moistened with water. After that, fold it in half and place the seeds between the sides. Wrap the napkin in a clear plastic bag. Place the napkin with the seeds on a plate or saucer and place in a warm place. At home, you can put seeds under the battery.
Important! Do not forget to wet the napkin, otherwise the seeds will simply dry out and you will not get any results.
The seeds will begin to germinate within 3-5 days.Select sprouted seeds from those that failed to sprout. You can throw away the latter. Even if they germinate later, the likelihood that they will produce a healthy bush is extremely low. Most likely, bushes from such seeds will be weak and affected by a fatal disease.
How to prepare soil for seedlings
In order to start sowing sprouted seeds, we, oddly enough, need soil. Not just any land you can find will do. It is recommended to purchase special soil for seedlings. 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 diluting store-bought soil with soil from the garden.
In their opinion, this will reduce the likelihood of adverse consequences. But you can’t just take and fill up the soil 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 land must be disinfected. For this you need a solution of potassium permanganate. The solution should be pink. The final stage will be mixing the purchased soil and what you brought and processed in equal proportions.
Containers in which the tomato will grow
The correct containers in which a new fruit-bearing plant will be born is something that should never be forgotten or not given due attention. Depending on where your tomato meets its first days, its entire future fate depends.
You can sow the 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 extra money, you can buy 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 sprouts directly in 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 improvised materials, then you need to prepare them before planting the 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 too much, egg shells into a glass.
It is required to fill one tenth of the entire volume of the cup. Next, fill it with soil and water it well with warm water. After this, press small holes in the soil and place two, or preferably three, sprouted tomato seeds there. Place several pieces in case not all seeds germinate. Cover the seeds with soil and moisten the top layer of soil. A spray bottle is perfect for this. Cover the cups with cling film and place in a warm place so that the seedlings grow well. If the planting was done correctly, you will soon see the result.
If you decide to place everything in one large container, then repeat the same thing, but without making a hole in the bottom. Plant the seeds at a distance of 3-4 centimeters from each other.
Now you know how to properly plant tomatoes.
