Most summer residents, in order to have a cucumber or tomato of the variety they like, grow seedlings themselves and, in order to get a good harvest, find various ways to increase it. Among them are Japanese, Dutch, and one of the most effective methods is the Chinese method of growing tomato seedlings.
We’ll talk about it today, look at the secrets of how to grow tomatoes using this oriental method: how to prepare planting material, how to plant, garter, pick and care.
About the benefits
Growing tomatoes in China occurs in a special way, which became known recently.Everyone who tried to use Chinese technology was pleased with the rich harvest and how tasty the tomato was.
Following the Chinese method of growing tomatoes has the following benefits:
- quick readiness of seedlings for planting in open ground;
- tomatoes are not susceptible to diseases;
- everything takes root perfectly after the picking is done;
- even tall tomatoes do not grow with a thin stem;
- the harvest is much larger than usual.
Tomatoes should not be planted lying down, and excessive deepening of the roots is not necessary. The brush on which the flowers will appear will already be at a height of 20-25 cm from the ground. This means there should be significantly more ovaries.
Seedling
The Chinese way of growing tomatoes begins with the need to sow seeds.
To do this, you need to follow a number of rules:
- Sowing of seeds is carried out on the waning moon, which is in the sign of Scorpio.
- To treat seeds, you must use the recommended solutions.
- The diving procedure is carried out in the sign of Scorpio exactly 30 days later.
Preparation
Two days before planting seeds using the Chinese method, they must be processed. It is advisable to sort the seeds and place them in cotton cloth or gauze.
In the future, you will need to follow a number of steps for seed treatment:
- First, the seeds are placed in an extract from ash, which is prepared by mixing 1 tablespoon of ash and 0.5 liters of boiling water, leaving for 24 hours. Only then is it recommended to add seeds to it.
- Then prepare a strong solution of potassium permanganate and soak the seeds for about 20 minutes.
- They are then washed in several waters. Seeds need to be poured into fabric bags.
- Now the grains are placed in the Epin solution, the liquid should be warm. They are kept for about 12 hours directly in the bags.After the time has passed, the bag is squeezed out a little.
- The last stage of seed processing in the Chinese way is to place them in the lower section of the refrigerator for stratification for about 24 hours.
Only after all these stages do the seeds begin to be sown.
Planting seeds
For sowing seeds, small containers are prepared, which are filled with soil purchased at the store for growing tomatoes. Then the soil is watered with a hot solution of potassium permanganate and the seeds are sown cold, straight from the refrigerator. When sowing different varieties, they try to take out each bag one at a time so that the seeds do not have time to warm up, and as a result the tomato becomes ugly.
After sowing, the containers must be covered with film or glass and placed in a dark but warm place. You can place containers near heating radiators. After about 5 days, the seeds will sprout, so it is recommended to remove the film and place the containers on a bright windowsill, otherwise the seedlings will stretch out.
It is very important to create conditions for temperature changes during the day and night: during the day, planted seeds must be kept on a bright windowsill, and at night, to reduce the temperature, placed on the floor or in another cool place.
The most important condition for growing tomato seedlings in Chinese is that all actions are carried out with attention to the moon: sowing seeds is carried out when the moon is waning. Only then, as the Chinese believe, is it possible to develop a strong root system of tomatoes.
Picking seedlings
After 30 days have passed, the moon will be in Scorpio again, which means it’s time to start picking tomatoes. The bushes should grow 2 pairs of true leaves.
Picking tomatoes requires adhering to the following recommendations:
- It is necessary to prepare separate cups in advance and fill them with soil from the store, intended specifically for tomatoes.
- Take scissors, cut the plants above ground level, the roots remain in the ground, it is recommended to place them in a glass of water and Epin for a few minutes.
- Make a hole in a cup of soil and plant a seedling.
Pour water and cover with a bag or other plastic cup to create a greenhouse effect. - The glass is placed in a dark place for 2-3 days.
- After time has passed, they are again placed on a bright windowsill.
- In order for plants to take root better, the land must be purchased and contain peat. Attention! Humus cannot be used, as it contains putrefactive bacteria, which, when planting seedlings, will immediately begin to multiply and act.
The Chinese method of growing tomatoes assumes that the seedlings are not transplanted with roots as usual. This is done in order to protect the future tomato from various diseases.
Seedling care
To prevent tomato seedlings from stretching out, they will need to lengthen the daylight hours, so they will have to provide additional illumination with a lamp. At night, it is advisable to lower the temperature by finding cooler places. You can use the drug “Athlete”, which delays the elongation and growth of seedlings.
Do not forget to loosen the soil in the cups so that the roots of the planted tomatoes can breathe. You need to water the tomatoes in moderation: for about 1 cup you will need 1 tablespoon of water, not forgetting to make a hole at the bottom of the cup to drain the water. If plants are overwatered, they may get blackleg.
After planting tomatoes in open ground, it is necessary to fertilize. The first will be needed already on the 10th day, the second – when the 3rd brush appears.They use the organic preparation Baikal and Magbor.
Where and how to plant next: in open or greenhouse soil
Typically, it is recommended to plant seedlings in greenhouses: this is done in early May. With the onset of June, greenhouse varieties are left in the greenhouse, and all others are planted in open ground. As the plants grow, they are loosened and watered in a timely manner. As soon as the growth of stepsons begins, it is recommended to remove them, thereby forming a bush.
If the tomatoes are tall, then only 1-2 stems need to be left, all others are removed. The number of bunches should not be more than 5-6 pieces: all the rest will not have time to produce tomatoes, but only interfere with the ripening of the rest, taking away all the nutrients for growth.
It is advisable to tie up tall plants so that the bush does not lie on the ground due to the weight of the fruit, but is well ventilated to protect against fungal diseases. For tying tomatoes, place a peg at a distance of 10 cm from the stem on the north side, deepening it by 30 cm.
It is very important to water correctly: under no circumstances should you pour water on the leaves, only water at the roots so that blossom end rot does not develop. It is better to water in the afternoon, when the water warms up.
It is not recommended to water tomatoes when the temperature drops, and to protect them from pests, it is necessary to treat them with infusions of garlic and onions.
You cannot plant tomatoes after related nightshade crops, especially after potatoes, so as not to infect them with late blight.
The Chinese method of growing tall tomatoes is considered one of the most effective. When using it, you can achieve good results and get a yield 1.5 times more than usual. The fruits grow large, and tall plants become shorter; clusters grow already at a height of 20-25 cm.The advantage of grown fruits is that tomatoes are not infected with late blight even in wet weather.
