At home, it is better to sow tomatoes for seedlings at a later date than in professional greenhouses. Not all books and reference books take into account the specifics of growing tomato seedlings at home, so be careful!

In the Moscow region experienced gardeners follow the approximate sowing dates:

• early tomatoes for open ground - early April;
• early tomatoes for planting in the ground under film covers - the second half of March;
• tall tomatoes for greenhouses - late March;
• low-growing tomatoes for greenhouses - early to mid-April.

It is better to sow within these times, even if the book or article you read recommends otherwise. Perhaps it was copied from recommendations for professional farmers who grow seedlings in heated greenhouses. These methods do not suit us. Conditions in greenhouses differ from those in a residential building, where seedlings are usually grown for personal use. The house is dark and hot, even on the window, and the tomato seedlings will “suffer” for a long time if they are sown too early. Therefore, it is better to be a little late than to hurry.

How to prepare tomato seeds for sowing

There are many ways to prepare tomato seeds for sowing: soaking, germination, dressing and much more. There is no significant difference between them. Experience has shown: if a tomato variety does not produce strong shoots from dry, untreated seeds, its viability and productivity are in question. We do not fight for weak varieties and hybrids, but buy several varieties of tomatoes with the necessary characteristics to be on the safe side.

No matter what the regulars of Internet forums say, the leading Russian suppliers of tomato seeds keep their mark. U Search, Gavrisha, Ilyinichny, Russian Vegetable Garden, SeDeka and others famous brands the seeds are usually of excellent quality. In one case out of 8-10 there are “punctures”, but this is normal. Seeds are a living commodity; they can be capricious or simply not suit specific growing conditions.

There is no need to treat purchased seeds against pathogens - they are already treated. It makes sense to pickle the seeds of varietal tomatoes collected in your own garden. Etch in a dark pink solution of potassium permanganate for 30 minutes, wrapped in cotton pads:

After soaking in potassium permanganate, rinse the tomato seeds well in several waters before sowing.

Ideal soil for sowing tomato seeds: how to make it yourself

Tomato seedlings are undemanding to soil - relatively resistant to drought, not gluttonous, and tolerate high acidity. It grows well in soil prepared with your own hands (with the addition of loam, humus and compost). And also in purchased peat soil - if only it is a bona fide product.

It is believed that soil prepared with one’s own hands needs to be steamed, but purchased soil does not need to be steamed. This is correct, but only on condition that you perfectly follow the technology for growing tomato seedlings: temperature, lighting, feeding. In fact, this condition is almost impossible to fulfill: seedlings at home are highly susceptible to stress and vulnerable even to fairly harmless fungi. Therefore, it is better to steam all soil, regardless of origin. It won't get any worse.

Technology for sowing tomato seeds for seedlings

It is convenient to sow large tomato seeds individually using tweezers. Place them on compacted soil with tweezers, every 1 cm. Mark each furrow with a tag with the name of the variety. Sprinkle a 0.5-1 cm layer of soil on top, water and cover the crops with film. Keep the bowl at a temperature of +20°C. As soon as the shoots appear, place it on the windowsill and remove the film.

There is no need to feed tomato seedlings before picking, just water them. Tomatoes peak in the phase of 2 true leaves.

It's time to pick tomatoes.

Dive the tomatoes one at a time into individual pots, deepening them almost to the cotyledon leaves. Add a tablespoon of complete mineral fertilizer per 5 liters of mixture or 3 tablespoons to the soil for picking.

2 weeks after picking, feed the seedlings

Tomatoes come from South America, therefore, when growing tomato seedlings at home, you need relatively dry air, a lot of light and heat. In this article we will look in detail at how to properly plant and care for young seedlings.

Choosing the right variety Before you start growing tomato seedlings, you need to decide on the choice of varieties. Before planting seeds, you need to decide which varieties will be grown and where. It is fundamentally important to know whether tomatoes will grow in open ground or in a greenhouse. According to the method of growth, all varieties are divided into indeterminate, semi-determinate and determinate. This sign is indicated on the bag of seeds and is decisive for growing plants in open or protected ground. Indeterminate tomatoes have unlimited growth and, if not pinched, can grow up to several meters. In the south they can be grown in a greenhouse or outdoors on a trellis, or tied to high stakes. IN middle lane, Siberia, Far East These tomatoes are grown only in protected soil, tying them vertically. The first brush is laid after 9-10 sheets, the subsequent ones - after 3 sheets. The fruiting period is long, but occurs later than in other types. Semi-determinate varieties and hybrids. Tomatoes stop growing after 9-12 inflorescences are formed. They tend to quit a large number of fruits to the detriment of roots and leaves, and, if overloaded with the harvest, tomatoes may stop growing long before the formation of the 9th cluster. Flower brushes are laid through 2 sheets. In the south they are grown mainly in open ground; in the middle zone they can be planted both in a greenhouse and outside. Determinate tomatoes- These are low-growing plants. They are designed for planting in open ground. Their growth is limited, they lay 3-6 clusters, the tip of the shoot ends in a flower cluster and the bush does not grow upward anymore. The first brush of this type is laid after 6-7 leaves. These are early-ripening tomatoes, but their yield is lower than that of the indeterminate type. However, significant differences in the yield of varieties are noticeable only in the south. In the middle zone and to the north the difference is minimal, since indents do not have time to reveal their full potential. What to choose - a hybrid or a variety? Variety- these are plants that can retain their characteristics for many generations when grown from seeds. Hybrid- these are plants obtained through special pollination. They retain their characteristics only in one generation; when grown from seeds, their characteristics are lost. Hybrids of any plants are designated F1. Sign Varieties Hybrids Heredity Varietal characteristics are transmitted to subsequent generations Traits are not transmitted and are a feature of one generation for one growing season Germination 75-85% Excellent (95-100%) Fruit size The fruits are larger than those of hybrids, but can vary significantly in weight The fruits are smaller, but aligned Productivity May fluctuate from year to year High yield at proper care. Typically higher than varieties Disease resistance Susceptible to various diseases, some of which can be inherited More resilient, less susceptible to disease Weather Better tolerate temperature changes The varieties tolerate temperature fluctuations much worse. Sudden and severe temperature changes can cause death. Conditions of detention Less demanding on soil fertility and temperature Require more fertile soils and higher temperatures for fruiting Feeding Regularly needed For good fruiting, the dose should be greater than for varieties Watering Can tolerate short-term drought or waterlogging well They tolerate both lack and excess moisture very poorly. Taste Each variety has its own taste. Less pronounced. All hybrids are inferior in taste to varieties The cooler the summer in a region, the more difficult it is to grow hybrids. In these regions, the varieties should be preferred. Also, if in the future there is a desire to grow a crop from your own seeds, then make a choice in favor of the variety. If the goal is to get maximum amount products, and weather conditions in the region allow it, then growing hybrids is preferable. Timing for sowing seeds for seedlings The timing of sowing seeds for seedlings depends on the early maturity. First of all, the timing of planting tomatoes in the ground is determined and the required number of days is counted from this date - the date for sowing the seeds is obtained. For mid-season varieties, the age of tomato seedlings before planting in the ground should be at least 65-75 days. They can be planted in a greenhouse at the end of May, and in open ground when the threat of frost has passed, that is, in the first ten days of June (for the middle zone). If we also add the period from sowing to the emergence of seedlings (7-10 days), then it is necessary to sow 70-80 days before planting in the ground. In the middle zone, the sowing time for mid-season varieties is the first ten days of March. However, growing mid-season varieties in northern and central regions unprofitable: they will not have time to fully realize their potential, the harvest will be small. Mid-ripening and late-season tomatoes are suitable only for the southern regions of the country. Seedlings of early ripening tomatoes are planted in the ground at the age of 60-65 days. Consequently, seeds are sown after March 20. They are suitable for all regions of the country. There is no need to sow tomatoes for seedlings too early. When sown early in conditions of light deficiency, they become greatly elongated and weakened. At poor lighting During the seedling period, flower clusters are laid later, and the yield becomes lower. If the soil in the greenhouse has warmed up, then early-ripening tomatoes for indoor soil can be sown directly into the greenhouse in early May and grown without picking. When grown without seedlings, tomatoes begin to bear fruit 1-2 weeks earlier than seedlings. Soil preparation To grow tomato seedlings, it is better to prepare the soil yourself. The soil must be loose, nutritious, water- and air-permeable, must not crust over or become compacted after watering, and be clean from pathogens, pests and weed seeds. For seedlings, make up a mixture of peat and sand in a ratio of 1:0.5. For each bucket of obtained soil, it is advisable to add a liter jar of ash. Peat is acidic, and tomatoes are good growth needed neutral environment. Ash just neutralizes excess acidity. Another option for the earth mixture is turf soil, humus, sand in a ratio of 1:2:3; instead of sand, you can take high-moor peat. In garden soil, after special treatment, you can also grow healthy tomato seedlings, the main thing is that it does not contain spores of diseases and overwintering pests. But, since it becomes too compacted in containers, sand or peat is added to loosen it. They take soil from planting legumes, melons, greens, and green manure. You cannot use soil from greenhouses after nightshades. If the soil at the dacha is acidic, then be sure to add ash (1 liter/bucket). It is better to use garden soil for preparing soil mixtures. Purchased soils contain a lot of fertilizers, which is not always good for seedlings. If there are no other options, then store soil is diluted with sand, garden soil or turf soil. Peat is not added to purchased soil, since it itself, most often, consists only of peat. It is better to prepare the soil mixture in the fall. If the moment is missed and there is nowhere to get soil, you will have to buy several types of soil from different manufacturers and mix them in equal proportions, or add soil from flower pots. But this is the worst option when growing seedlings. Soil treatment After preparing the mixture, the land must be cultivated to destroy pests, diseases, and weed seeds. The soil can be treated using various methods: freezing; steaming; calcination; disinfection. Freezing. The finished soil is taken out into the cold for several days so that it freezes. Then they bring it into the house and let it thaw. The procedure is repeated several times. It is advisable that the frost outside at this time should not be lower than -8 -10°C. Steaming. The earth is heated for an hour in a boiling water bath. If the soil is purchased, then the sealed bag is placed in a bucket with hot water, cover with a lid and leave until the water cools down. Calcination. The earth is calcined in an oven heated to 100°C for 40-50 minutes. Disinfection. The earth is watered strong solution potassium permanganate dissolved in hot water. Then cover with film and leave for 2-3 days. Preparing tomato seeds for sowing If the bag says that the seeds have been processed, then additional processing they don't need it. The rest of the seed must be processed. First of all, calibration is carried out. Place the seeds in a glass of water and wait 3-5 minutes until they get wet. Then the floating seeds are thrown away; they are unsuitable for sowing, since the embryo died, which is why they became lighter than water. The rest are soaked for 2 hours in a solution of potassium permanganate. For treatment, seeds can be soaked in water heated to 53 ° C for 20 minutes. This temperature kills disease spores but does not affect the embryo. Then hot water drain, lightly dry the seeds and sow immediately. To speed up germination, the seed material is soaked. It is wrapped in cotton cloth or paper napkin, moistened with water, placed in plastic bag and put it on the battery. Treated seeds also need to be soaked. As practice shows, they sprout faster than without soaking, and the protective effect of the treatment remains quite high. Many process planting material growth stimulants. But in this case, all the seeds, including the weak ones, germinate together. In the future, a large percentage of weak plants are rejected. Therefore, it is better to treat bad seeds (expiring, overdried, etc.) with stimulants; simply soak the rest in water. Sowing seeds When the seeds hatch, sowing is done. You should not wait until the sprout is larger; if you delay sowing, long sprouts will break off. Tomatoes are sown in shallow boxes, filling them 3/4 with soil. The earth is lightly crushed. The seeds are placed at a distance of 2 cm from each other. Sprinkle dry soil on top. If the soil is not crushed or the crops are covered with damp soil, the seeds will go deep into the soil and will not germinate. You can sow 2 seeds in separate containers; if both of them sprout, then they are planted when picking. Varietal tomatoes and hybrids are sown in different containers, since their germination conditions are different. The boxes are covered with film or glass and placed on a radiator until germination. Seed germination time The timing of seedling emergence depends on temperature. Seeds of varieties germinate at a temperature of 24-26°C in 6-8 days At 20-23°C - after 7-10 days At 28-30°C - after 4-5 days. They can also sprout at 18°C ​​in 8-12 days. The optimal germination temperature for varietal tomatoes is 22-25°C. The germination rate of hybrids is much better, but often they do not germinate well at home. For good germination they need a temperature of +28-30°C. +24°C - COLD for them, they will take a long time to germinate and not all of them will sprout. Weak seeds germinate later than others, usually leaving seed coat. Therefore, shoots that appeared later than 5 days after the main group are removed; there will be no good harvest. Caring for tomato seedlings To grow good seedlings tomatoes, you need to monitor the following parameters: temperature; light; moisture. Temperature As soon as the shoots appear, the film is removed and the boxes are placed in a bright and cool place with a temperature of +14-16°C. In the first 10-14 days, the roots of the seedlings grow, and the above-ground part practically does not develop. This is a feature of tomatoes and you don’t need to do anything here. After the allotted time, the seedlings will begin to grow. As soon as growth begins, the daytime temperature is increased to 20°C, and the night temperature is maintained at the same level (15-17°C). Hybrids after germination need a higher temperature (+18-19°). If they are placed in the same conditions as varietal tomatoes, they will wither rather than grow. After 2 weeks, they also need to increase the daytime temperature to 20-22°C. If this cannot be done, then the hybrids will develop more slowly, their first flower cluster will appear later and the yield will be lower. In general, you need to set aside the warmest window sill for growing hybrids, take better care of them than other seedlings, only then will they produce a full harvest. IN warm days The seedlings are taken out onto the balcony, and at night the windows are opened to reduce the temperature. Those who have the opportunity put tomatoes in a greenhouse on sunny days if the temperature there is not lower than +15-17°C. Such temperatures harden the plants well, make them stronger, and, in the future, their yield is higher. Lighting Tomato seedlings must be illuminated, especially late varieties, which are sown earlier. The lighting period must be at least 14 hours a day. With a lack of light, the seedlings stretch out greatly, become long and fragile. In cloudy weather, additional lighting for plants is increased by 1-2 hours compared to sunny days, and the temperature is reduced to 13-14°C, otherwise the tomatoes will become very stretched. Watering Water tomatoes very sparingly. Watering is carried out as the soil dries and only with settled water. Unsettled tap water forms a bacterial-limescale deposit on the soil, which tomatoes really don’t like. On initial stage Each plant needs only 1 teaspoon of water; watering increases as it grows. The soil in the seedling box should be neither too wet nor too dry. You need to water abundantly so that the soil is sufficiently saturated with moisture, and the next watering is carried out only after the earthen clod has dried. Usually tomatoes are watered no more than once a week, but here they focus on individual growing conditions. If the plants have wilted, they need to be watered without waiting for a week to pass. Overmoistening combined with high temperature and poor lighting causes the tomatoes to become very stretched. Picking seedlings When the tomato seedlings have 2-3 true leaves, pick them. For picking, prepare pots with a volume of at least 1 liter, fill them 3/4 with earth, water and compact. Make a hole, dig out the seedling with a teaspoon and plant it in a pot. When picking, the tomatoes are planted somewhat deeper than they grew previously, covering the stem with soil up to the cotyledon leaves. Strongly elongated seedlings are covered up to the first true leaves. The seedlings are held by the leaves; if you hold it by the thin stem, it will break. Tomatoes tolerate picking well. If the sucking roots are damaged, they quickly recover and grow thicker. The roots should not be allowed to bend upward, otherwise the seedlings will develop poorly. After picking, the ground is well watered, and the tomatoes themselves are shaded for 1-2 days so that the evaporation of water by the leaves is less intense. How to feed tomato seedlings Feeding is carried out 5-7 days after picking. Previously, fertilizing is not recommended, since the soil was filled with ash, which contains all the necessary elements for seed growth. If seedlings are grown on purchased soil mixture, then fertilizing is especially not needed. After 14-16 days from germination, tomatoes begin to actively grow leaves, and at this time they need to be fed. Fertilizer should contain not only nitrogen, but also phosphorus and microelements, so it is advisable to use a universal fertilizer. During this period, you can feed tomatoes with fertilizer for indoor plants. It gives excellent results. You cannot feed tomato seedlings with nitrogen alone. Firstly, for relatively small plants it is difficult to calculate the required dose. Secondly, nitrogen causes increased growth, which, with a limited amount of land and insufficient light, leads to severe elongation and thinning of plants. Subsequent feedings are carried out after 12-14 days. Seedlings of late and mid-season varieties are fed 3-4 times before planting in the ground. For early ripening varieties, 1 or maximum two feedings are enough. For hybrids, the amount of fertilizing is increased by 2 for each type of seedling. If the land is purchased, then it is sufficiently filled with fertilizers and fertilizing is not carried out when growing tomatoes on such soils. The exception is hybrids. They consume nutrients more intensively and before planting it is necessary to carry out 1-2 feedings, no matter in what soil they are grown. Caring for seedlings after picking After picking, the seedlings are placed on the windowsills as freely as possible. If she is cramped, then she develops poorly. In densely spaced seedlings, the illumination decreases and they stretch out. 2 weeks before planting tomatoes, they are hardened off To do this, seedlings are taken out to the balcony or open air even on cold days (temperature not lower than 11-12 °C) At night the temperature is reduced to 13-15°C. To harden hybrids, the temperature should be 2-3°C higher, it is gradually lowered. To harden, pots with hybrids are first placed next to the glass itself, where the temperature is always lower. After a few days, if the batteries are regulated, they are closed for a few hours; if they are not adjustable, then open a balcony or window. At the final stage of hardening, the hybrid seedlings are taken out to the balcony for the whole day. If the tomato seedlings cannot be taken out onto the balcony, then they are sprayed daily with cold water to harden them. Main reasons for failure Tomato seedlings are very stretched. There are several reasons: there is not enough light, early boarding, excess nitrogen fertilizers. Seedlings always stretch out when there is insufficient light. It needs to be illuminated. If this is not possible, then place a mirror or foil behind the seedlings, then the illumination of the tomatoes increases greatly and they stretch less. There is no need to feed tomatoes with nitrogen, this causes rapid growth of the tops, and in low light conditions (and indoors there is always not enough light, no matter how you light the seedlings) they become very elongated. Sowing seeds too early. Even normally developing seedlings stretch out when sown early. After 60-70 days, the plants become cramped in pots and containers, they need to develop further, and in conditions of limited food area and cramped conditions on the windowsill, they have one way out - to grow upwards. All these factors, both individually and together, cause the seedlings to stretch. Tomatoes stretch even more if excessive watering is added and heat seedling maintenance. The seeds don't germinate. If the seed is of good quality, then there are no seedlings due to low soil temperature. This is especially important for hybrids. They germinate at a temperature of 28-30°C. Therefore, to speed up the emergence of seedlings, containers with sown tomatoes are placed on a battery. Tomatoes don't grow well. They are too cold. For varietal tomatoes for normal height a temperature of 18-20°C is required, for hybrids - 22-23°C. Hybrids can grow at 20°C, but more slowly and, accordingly, will begin to bear fruit later. Yellowing of leaves. Leaves of tomatoes grown in close quarters usually turn yellow. When the seedlings are large, there is not enough light on a cramped windowsill, and the plants shed excess leaves. In such conditions, all attention is paid to the top of the stem; the bushes try to outgrow their competitors in order to have more comfortable conditions. When the leaves turn yellow, the seedlings are spaced more freely and the air temperature is reduced. If the leaves are small, turn yellow, but the veins remain green or slightly reddish, this is a lack of nitrogen. They feed the complete mineral fertilizer. There is no need to feed nitrogen alone, otherwise the tomatoes will stretch. Limitation of power supply area. The tomatoes are already cramped in the container, the roots have entwined the entire earthen ball and further growth stops. Transplant the seedlings into a larger pot. Leaf curl. Sudden and significant changes in temperature. When growing tomatoes, you need to avoid sudden increases in air temperature. The feeding area of ​​the seedlings is limited, and the roots cannot support all the leaves in hot weather. The same thing happens during a sudden cold snap, but this is much less common at home. Blackleg. A common disease of tomato seedlings. Affects all types of plants. The disease spreads rapidly and can destroy entire seedlings in a short time. The stem at the soil level turns black, becomes thinner, dries out, and the plant falls and dies. Infected plants are immediately removed. The soil is watered with a pink solution of potassium permanganate, Fitosporin, Alirin. After this, the tomatoes do not need to be watered for a week; the soil should dry out. Growing seedlings at home is a troublesome task, but otherwise it will not be possible to reap a good harvest, especially in the northern regions and the middle zone.

Tomatoes are readily grown by most gardeners. To maximize the harvest, it is important to grow the seedlings correctly. It is its quality that subsequently ensures abundant fruiting of the bushes. Tomato seedlings can be purchased, but this is not advisable, since there is no guarantee that the plants are grown according to all the rules, and not just pumped with stimulants to temporarily give them a marketable appearance. Find out how to properly grow tomato seedlings at home.

It is not recommended to plant tomatoes for seedlings during the new moon or full moon. It is generally accepted that during this period the plants will not develop correctly and will be stunted.

Varieties that will subsequently grow in greenhouses are sown from February 15 to March 15, depending on the region. Tomato seedlings are planted in the soil after 2 months.

Tomatoes for growing in open ground are sown later - from March 15 to March 31, depending on the region. Planting in the ground is carried out after 2.5 months. For the first 2-3 weeks, you need to make a light greenhouse on arcs over the garden bed. It is required so that plants can more easily acclimatize to new temperature conditions.

If late return frosts are observed in the region, then planting is postponed until the onset of persistent heat. For hardening, seedlings are simply regularly taken outside, taken into the warmth at the time of cold weather. Larger seedling containers are required for normal, long-term root development.

It is necessary to plant tomatoes as seedlings strictly taking into account the weather conditions in a particular region. Correct timing and rules for planting seeds are important for obtaining a high-quality tomato harvest.

Sowing tomato seedlings at home

Planting seedlings consists of several stages. It is important to avoid mistakes in each of them: properly prepare the soil and seeds, choose containers in which to plant, etc. Let's look at each stage in more detail.

Preparing soil and containers

High-quality soil for tomato seedlings is the key to it proper development. You also need to select high-quality containers for planting in advance.

The simplest, but not always good option- This is the purchase of ready-made land for tomato seedlings. The advantage of such soil is its optimal balance of nutrients and mineral components. The disadvantage of ready-made soil is the high risk of its contamination with pest larvae and pathogenic bacteria, which will be detrimental to seedlings. Because of this, if purchased soil is selected, it should be completely disinfected.

Most gardeners recommend sowing tomatoes for seedlings in soil prepared independently. The soil should be prepared in the fall. It should be light and loose. The acid-base balance of the soil should be within 5.6-6 units. There are 2 optimal recipes for planting tomato seeds. The first one:

• turf soil - 1 part;
• peat – 2 parts;
• humus – 1 part;
• wood ash - 2 cups per 10-liter bucket of soil;
• superphosphate - 2 matchboxes per 10 liter bucket.

You can prepare soil for tomato seedlings using the second recipe:

• turf soil - 1 part;
• compost (or black peat) – 1 part;
• coarse sand – 1 part;
• urea solution - 10 g per 10 liters of soil;
• potassium sulfate solution – 20 g per 10 l of soil;
• superphosphate - 30 g per 10 liters of soil.

When using peat, crushed chalk is used to reduce the acidity of the soil, in a volume of 3 tablespoons per 10-liter bucket. Without this, the composition of the soil for tomato seedlings can hardly be called high-quality.

The prepared soil must be left in the cold to freeze so that pathogenic bacteria, fungi and pest larvae that may be in it die. Next, 2-3 weeks before planting the seedlings, the soil is brought into the room and heat treated.

You can calcine the soil in the oven. The soil in a metal trough is slightly moistened with boiling water and, after mixing well, placed on a baking sheet, which is placed in the oven. There the soil is left for 10-15 minutes at a temperature of 180-200 o C.

In addition to calcination, you can spill the soil with boiling water.

The final stage of soil preparation is its disinfection. The soil is spilled with a solution of potassium permanganate (potassium permanganate), for which 3 g of the substance is taken per 10-liter bucket of water.

All disinfection procedures lead to the complete destruction of microflora in the soil. Such sterility is not beneficial for seedlings, and before planting, the soil must be revived by populating it with beneficial bacteria.

In order to restore the beneficial microflora of the soil, vermicompost is added to it - 1/20 of the total volume of the soil. If it is not available, you can use Pika super-compost. You can also add humus based on manure. You can populate the soil with beneficial bacteria by watering the soil with a solution of biological products, the most common of which are “Baikal” and “Siyanie”. Such resuscitation is carried out no later than 2 weeks before planting the seeds. A 1% solution should be used for watering. After this, the container with soil is covered with black film, since anaerobic conditions are optimal for the development of bacteria.

Disinfection of purchased soil is carried out in a similar way. Even if the package indicates that the soil has undergone all necessary processing, it is better to be safe.

Boxes for seedlings can be of any kind, but it is especially convenient to plant directly in plastic pots with a removable bottom. Of these, it is very easy to plant a large bush in the ground. A tomato immediately planted in an individual container will not experience stress due to diving. Containers must be disinfected, even if they are new. To do this, they are washed and rinsed with a manganese solution.

Seed selection and preparation

When choosing seeds, you need to decide in advance for what purpose tomatoes are required. It is important to take into account such indicators of a variety or hybrid as:

• ripening period;
• volume of harvest per bush;
• intended for open or closed ground;
• keeping quality.

The seed package must not have any defects or traces of water ingress. You should not buy seeds whose shelf life is running out. You won't get good germination from them. It is optimal if the variety is zoned for a specific growing region.

Properly preparing tomato seeds for planting is very important. First of all, they are checked for germination. To do this, planting material is poured into salted water (10 g of table salt per 1 glass of water) and left for 10 minutes. Empty seeds will float on the surface, while high-quality seeds suitable for planting will settle to the bottom.

• in a solution of hydrogen peroxide, which is prepared at the rate of 100 ml of water and 3 ml of antiseptic. After this, pour the tomato seeds onto the seedlings for 10 minutes.
• in a one percent solution of potassium permanganate, into which the seed is placed for 15-20 minutes.

For germination, seed material is laid out on a soft cotton cloth (preferably white), which is moistened with settled water. The seeds are also covered with a damp cloth on top. Next, it is moved into a plastic container, leaving only a small gap for air to enter, and covered with a plastic bag, which is completely removed for ventilation 4 times a day for 10 minutes. The seeds hatch on day 4-5 and are immediately planted in the ground.

Sowing in regular containers or cups

You can plant sprouted seeds using the classic method in a common box or more conveniently - in individual cups to eliminate the diving stage. When planted in cups, seedlings will take up more space. Growing tomato seedlings using one method or another depends only on personal preference.

When landing in total capacity it is filled 2/3 with soil. Afterwards, parallel grooves are made at a distance of 4-5 cm and watered with settled water. Next, the seeds are placed in grooves at a distance of 2.5-3 cm from each other. If planted closer together, difficulties will arise at the time of diving.

When planting in cups, they are also filled 2/3 full. A hole is made in the center in which 1 seed is planted. Subsequently, pots with weak sprouts are removed, leaving only strong plants. According to gardeners, this method home growing the most convenient and effective. If disembarked early varieties, then you need to take a container with a volume of at least 500 ml, since even before planting in the ground, the seedlings form a powerful root. Planting tomato seeds for seedlings using this method is less troublesome.

In peat tablets

Peat tablets are a replacement for individual pots. When using them, diving is also not required. For tomatoes, take tablets with a diameter of 4 cm. First, they are filled with settled water at room temperature to swell. Then, after giving excess water drain from the tablets, they are placed in a tray with cells slightly larger in size than the tablet. The tray is placed in a transparent container 10 cm high. 2-4 seeds are planted per tablet if the quality of the planting material is questionable, or 1 piece each if the seeds are of high quality. Make a seed hole 1 cm deep in the center of the tablet. The seeds must be covered with soil. The top of the box with tablets is covered with a transparent lid. After sprouts appear, remove the lid.

In special cassettes with a tray

It is convenient to grow tomato seedlings in cassettes with pallets. With this method, watering is simplified, since it is carried out through a tray. Cassettes are also beneficial in terms of saving space on window sills and being reusable. Picking is not required when growing seedlings this way.

Due to the small volume of cells, agroperlite with top layer from peat. The soil is disinfected and enriched with nutrients, and peat is mixed with chalk before use.

Make holes 1-1.5 cm deep in the soil laid out in cassettes, place seeds in them that have been pre-treated before planting, and fill the holes.

Caring for seedlings at home

Proper care of tomato seedlings is the key to obtaining strong bushes for planting in a greenhouse or open ground. Often it is mistakes in growing it that reduce all efforts to zero, preventing you from obtaining a high-quality harvest. To grow tomato seedlings at home, it is important to follow a number of rules.

Temperature

The temperature regime for tomato seedlings at home is very important. In order for the planting material to germinate, it is necessary to maintain the temperature at a level of +23 to +28 o C. When the seedlings are one week old, the air temperature is reduced to +20 o C. After another 14 days, the temperature can be lowered by another 2-3 o WITH.

If there is a permanent greenhouse, seedlings are brought into it for hardening for several hours a day from mid-April. It is important that the tomatoes do not freeze or become too cold, therefore, when taking them out for hardening, you should not be distracted.

Seedlings should not be exposed to drafts. For young plants they are destructive and lead to spoilage in a short time.

Backlight

Tomato seedlings require the maximum amount of light. Proper care of tomato seedlings without lighting is impossible. With a lack of light, it stretches out and withers. In addition to natural daylight, tomatoes also need additional lighting using special lamps. In the first 3 days after germination, seedlings require round-the-clock lighting. Then the daylight hours should last 16 hours. It is useful to use phytolamps. They provide plants with the most useful light spectrum.

Watering

Before seedlings emerge, soil moisture should be checked daily. If it is insufficient, spray with settled water using a spray bottle.

After germination, tomato seedlings are watered warm water and with extreme caution. It is necessary to ensure that the soil is sufficiently moist, otherwise the sprouts will dry out in a short time. The next watering is usually required after 5-7 days. Water is poured under the sprouts and only under the stem; getting it on the leaves is unacceptable. When growing in cassettes with a tray, watering is greatly simplified. Water is simply poured into the pan and left for 2 hours. After this, the excess is poured out.

The grown seedlings are moistened as needed using a watering can for indoor plants. Starting from the moment 5 true leaves appear, the plants need to be watered once every 3-4 days.

Top dressing

Feeding tomato seedlings is mandatory, since nutrients she doesn't have enough soil in the limited portion of soil in the pot. Fertilizers are applied for the first time 2 weeks after germination in phase 1 of the true leaf. Then fertilizing is carried out every week. Good results gives the use of the drug "Effect" with strict adherence to the instructions.

When using any fertilizer, care must be taken to avoid getting it on the leaves and stems. If this happens, you should carefully dry the leaves using a piece of toilet paper. Tomato seedlings must be cared for with special care.

Picking

Picking seedlings is required if they are grown in a common box. Tomatoes are planted in the phase of 3 true leaves. The volume of the diving cups should be from 500 ml so that the plant can fully develop. If the cups are smaller in size, then repeated replanting will be required in the future, which is harmful.

The seedlings are carefully removed from the box using a wooden stick. After this, the main root is pinched to 1/3 of its length. However, such injury to the roots of tomato seedlings is a rather controversial method, and not all gardeners adhere to it. Often picking is carried out without pinching. The roots of the plant should be free and vertical in the pot. Having filled the soil and pressed it around the stem, water it with warm water. After transplantation, the seedlings are left at elevated temperatures for 4-5 days.

Picking into polyethylene is possible. In this case, the plant finds itself in a state of stress, which subsequently activates its fruiting and increases productivity. Take pieces of film 20 by 30 cm. Pour 1 tbsp of soil onto the upper left corner. l., after which the seedling is placed on the soil without pinching the root, and covered with the same volume of soil. Next, the film is wrapped to form a pot. All bags of seedlings are placed close together in a tray. In the phase of 5 true leaves, the bags are unwrapped and another 1 spoon of soil is added to them. Water the plants from a teapot, combining watering with fertilizing. Before transportation, plants are not watered for 2-3 days. Such tomato seedlings, grown at home, are particularly productive.

Maria Vlasova

Gardener

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Proper cultivation of tomato seedlings ensures a high yield. By following the rules of the process, even a novice gardener can get his own seedlings.

Tomatoes are a vegetable that any housewife’s kitchen cannot do without. While you can always buy a tomato at the market or in a store, a fragrant vegetable grown in your own garden will always be better! I think that it makes no sense to list all those dishes that include tomatoes - they will always be used in the kitchen :)

And, I hope, you have already sowed, and in this article we will plunge into growing tomato seedlings from seeds at home, so that you can eat tomatoes from your garden all summer and autumn.

Tomatoes are a rather capricious plant that requires attention and care at any age. However, you shouldn’t be afraid to grow tomatoes, especially when you have detailed instructions at hand. To grow strong and strong fruit-bearing plants, you need to create certain conditions:

• a large amount of lighting - if natural light is not enough, you need to use lamp lighting;
• fairly high humidity - how to maintain it, read detailed instructions care below;
• warm - during the day optimal temperature for tomato seedlings is +18-25°C, at night +12-15°C.

When to plant tomatoes from seeds for seedlings according to the lunar calendar 2018

It is important to correctly determine the timing so as not to overexpose the seedlings on the windowsill, as this may lead to a decrease in yield.

It will take 5-10 days after sowing for seeds to germinate, plus 45-60 days for further care for seedlings. In total, the average time before planting seedlings in open ground will be approximately 55-65 days.

In the table lunar calendar 2018 indicates the following dates favorable for tomatoes:

• February - 18-20, 25-28 for planting seeds
• March - 1, 17-20, 24-28

For individual regions, it is necessary to take into account their own characteristics to determine the timing of sowing tomato seeds for seedlings, since temperature regime varies by region:

• in the southern regions of Russia and Ukraine - seeds for seedlings can be planted from February 20 to March 15, planting in an open area - from April 15 to May 20;
• in the central regions of Russia and the Moscow region - from March 15 to April 1, we sow seeds, from May 10 to the first days of June we plant them in open ground;
• in the northern regions, such as Siberia and the Urals, from April 1 to April 15, respectively, we plant seeds, and from May 25 to May 15, we plant seedlings in the garden.

Important! You need to know when frost usually ends in your area. From this date, count back 55-65 days and get the answer to the question of when to plant tomato seeds for seedlings.

Step-by-step instructions for growing tomato seedlings at home

Well, after the issue has been resolved with the date of planting the seeds for seedlings, you can begin the process itself. I will try to describe and show in specific steps how to properly grow healthy and fruitful tomato seedlings.

1. Preparing seeds for planting as seedlings

First, let's decide on the variety. To do this, you need to understand for what purpose you need tomatoes - for salads, for pickles, juice or for other needs. The choice of variety will largely depend on this.

We also take into account ripening time, yield, and endurance. You can see all this data on the seed package and choose the best variety for you.

When purchasing, pay attention to the integrity of the packaging and expiration date. Take as new as possible; fresh seeds germinate best from a year to three years (it’s better not to skimp on this).

Before planting seeds, be sure to check them for germination. Rejection can be done with salted water in a ratio of 10 g of salt per 200 g of water, soak in the solution for 5-10 minutes and remove those that float, and take those that drown for seedlings.

After culling, disinfect the seeds. Even the highest quality seeds can be contaminated with pathogens, so it’s better to play it safe, and it’s easy to do - choose one of the proposed solutions:

• 1% solution of potassium permanganate (1 g per 100 ml of water), dip the seeds in it for 10 minutes. How to prepare the solution, watch the video:

• 0.5% soda solution (0.5 g per 100 ml of water), keep the seeds in it for 24 hours.
• Fitosporin solution. It is sold in liquid and powder form, follow the procedure according to the instructions, you can keep the seeds in it for up to 2 hours

Then the seeds need to be germinated, wrapped in gauze or a cotton cloth moistened with water at room temperature. Then place in a jar or other container and cover with film.

Ventilate periodically up to 4 times a day and wait for sprouts. Germination will take 4-5 days.

2. Prepare the soil and containers for planting seeds

The soil also needs to be disinfected, both homemade and purchased in stores. I repeat - tomatoes are very picky about caring for seedlings, so you need to play it safe.

I will list the most effective ways disinfection of soil for seedlings:

• frying in the oven or on a broiler - place the soil in an oven preheated to 180-200°C for 10-15 minutes;
• disinfection with boiling water in a container with holes - place it in the container and treat it with boiling water several times;
• treatment with a strong solution of potassium permanganate.

Disinfection of the soil should be carried out in advance in order to have time to keep it moistened at above-zero temperatures for 10 days so that the soil can “come to life” after disinfection.

3. Sowing tomato seeds for seedlings

Pour the prepared soil into the treated container, level it and moisten it with settled water at room temperature. We make grooves about 1 cm deep, keeping a distance of 3-4 cm between rows. If planting in cups, make a 1 cm deepening.

Carefully place the sprouted seeds into the grooves with tweezers, keeping a distance of 2 cm between the tomato seeds. It is enough to place one seed in individual containers.

Carefully fill the holes or furrows with soil, and cover the containers with film or a piece of glass.

Place in a warm place and wait for germination. The first sprouts will appear in about 3-5 days.

Important! The air temperature for growing tomato seedlings must be at least +25 degrees.

4. Consistent care of tomato seedlings

When caring for tomato seedlings, you need to maintain humidity, temperature, fresh air, and sufficient lighting at the proper level.

Lighting tomato seedlings

To fully grow tomato seedlings, you need to maintain a lighting regime of 16 hours a day. In February-March, the daylight hours are shorter, so you need to organize additional lighting, and it is better to place the seedlings on the southern windowsill, since it is the lightest.

Humidity and watering of seedlings

At first, tomato seedlings need very high humidity, so do not rush to immediately remove the film or glass. Ventilate a little every day so that the seedlings get used to fresh air, and after 1.5-2 weeks it will be possible to fully open.

You need to water carefully at the root, preferably with a pipette or thin watering can. At first, watering will not be necessary, since the seedlings will be covered with film; you just need to make sure that the soil does not dry out, checking it with a toothpick when airing it.

When you remove the film completely, it is important to monitor the soil moisture, as the sprouts will get stronger and will drink more moisture. Check and water better in the morning so that all the moisture does not disappear during the day. If you see that the sprouts are a little sluggish, water immediately.

Ventilation of home seedlings

Even if there is a calm, sunny day in March, the temperature on the balcony or under the canopy on the south side of the house can reach 15-20°C! If such a day coincides with the emergence of seedlings, you need to take the seedlings out to bask in the sun, since on the first day after germination the sprouts have innate protection from ultraviolet rays sun and this will give them additional heat resistance for the entire period of life.

If you did not have time to expose the seedlings to the sun on the first day, then you can no longer do this after 1-2 days - the innate hardening has disappeared. In this case, you will have to gradually accustom the sprouts to the sun. The first day – 5 minutes is enough. Then, every day you can increase the duration of your walks by another 5 minutes.

Feeding tomato sprouts

The first feeding will need to be done 2-3 weeks after the appearance of the first shoots, the guideline will be the appearance of three full-fledged leaves. At this point, the sprouts no longer have enough nutrients. For feeding it is best to use natural organic fertilizers from manure or grass. You can also purchase special fertilizers for seedlings. We dilute the fertilizer with water and feed it at the root with watering.

5. Picking seedlings

After the first true leaves appear on the tomato seedlings, provided that the seeds were sown too densely, it is necessary to carry out a pick - transplanting the seedlings into separate containers: cups, seedling pots. Despite the fact that tomatoes tolerate transplantation quite well, this procedure must be done carefully.

You can learn how to properly pick seedlings by watching the video:

6. Preparation for planting seedlings in a permanent place

The appearance of the first clusters of flowers will be a signal that after 10-15 days the seedlings need to be planted in open ground (or in a greenhouse). It is better not to delay replanting in order to get the maximum yield from your seedlings.

If suddenly, for some force majeure reason, you need to keep the seedlings on the windowsill for longer than 45-60 days, you need to provide about a liter of soil for 1 plant, or if you transplant it into large capacity If it doesn’t work, you can tear off the first flower cluster, this will save you about a week of time.

It is important that tomatoes in small containers do not have time to bloom, as this will slow down their development and the expected harvest will not be obtained, but you don’t want that!

Before planting, good tomato seedlings should have thick stems, large leaves, powerful root system and developed buds.

7. Planting tomato seedlings in open ground

Planting tomato seedlings in open ground is best done in calm, cloudy weather, as this makes it easier for the seedlings to take root in a permanent location. To keep the soil around the root stronger during replanting, you need to stop watering a couple of days before planting. Make a hole of a suitable size in the ground, place your tomato seedling in it, water it and cover it with soil.

Video instructions for growing tomato seedlings

Check out our guide to growing tomatoes from seeds.

I tried to explain everything clearly, if you have any questions, write them in the comments, I’ll try to answer.

Have a great harvest!

Growing tomato seedlings allows you to get a good, early harvest. But only high-quality seedlings can provide the gardener with rapid plant growth and fruit ripening. How to grow tomato seedlings at home, and what needs to be taken into account, will be described in detail below in the article.

Why make tomato seedlings?

Why make tomato seedlings if you can sow the seeds directly in open ground and not think about how to grow tomato seedlings at home. Yes, sowing in open ground is very popular in southern, hot cities and countries. But residents of server and middle regions should grow seedlings, and there are many reasons for this.

• Such plants will be less susceptible to diseases and pests.
• Seedlings allow you to get a harvest faster.
• A plant grown through seedlings perceives weather conditions and temperature changes more calmly than something that originally grew in open ground or even in a greenhouse.
• It becomes possible to grow almost any variety of tomatoes, from early to late, from local to foreign, which rarely take root in other climates.

When to sow seeds for seedlings?

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How to grow tomato seedlings? This is a question that interests many gardeners, but before moving on to technology, you need to find out when it is necessary to sow. The fact is that very often gardeners plant seedlings incorrectly and at the wrong time, and this only leads to negative results.

Approximately 55-65 days before planting seedlings in open ground, you need to sow the seeds. For development in room conditions this time is quite enough. It will take approximately 5-10 days for germination, and the rest of the time the crop will be able to gain plenty of strength. However, sometimes it is difficult to determine the planting date due to climate conditions. And here a simple diagram will help.

• In the southern regions, seedlings are made from mid-February to mid-March.
• In middle regions, seeds can be sown from mid-March to April 1.
• In server cities, you should start preparing seedlings from April 1 to April 15.

How to treat seeds before planting?

In order for the seeds to germinate quickly, you need to sort them out before sowing, removing all empty and damaged ones. Then processing is carried out. First, they are dipped in a solution of potassium permanganate (4 g/liter of water) for 20 minutes, then taken out, washed and dried. Such treatment will allow you not to wonder how to grow tomato seedlings at home that are healthy and resistant to pests and diseases.

After the seeds have been disinfected, they need to be germinated. To do this, they are posted on cotton fabric or a napkin, wrap it, water it and put it in a plastic bag. Now all that remains is to put it in a warm place and open it 2-3 times a day for ventilation. After 2-3 days, you can observe sprouts emerging from the seeds. Such seeds are quite suitable for sowing seedlings.

What kind of soil do tomato seedlings need?

Before growing tomato seedlings, you need to decide what kind of soil to use for this, because it is the soil that plays a key role in the growth and development of any plant. The soil should be nutritious, loose, drained, with a pH level in the range of 5.5-6.0. You can make this mixture yourself or buy it in a store.

• For 1 part of chernozem, take 2 parts of humus, mix and use for their intended purpose.
• Second option: take one part each of sand, soil for seedlings and black soil and mix well.
• The third type of soil is 3 parts peat and 1 part sand. The soil turns out to be very light and nutritious - ideal for tomatoes.

There are many other options, but you need to try it in practice to determine which option is most preferable for each individual case, because even fertilizers and types of soil mixtures may not always be available.

As for the container, you can take any convenient one, the main thing is to wash it and disinfect it with a manganese solution to get rid of possible pests.

Sowing technology

So, how to grow tomato seedlings at home? To do this, you need to plant the seeds correctly and provide them with optimal conditions for germination.

Drainage (crushed shell, crushed stone or something like that) is laid out at the bottom of the container to a depth of no more than 0.5 cm. A mixture of earth is poured on top and watered. After 1-2 hours it will be well saturated with moisture and you can start sowing.

Using a match or a toothpick, small holes are made, 0.5-1 cm deep, and 1 seed is placed in each hole. The rows should be located at a distance of 3-4 cm from each other, and 2 cm should be maintained between individual pits free space for the growth and development of tomatoes. After planting the seeds, crush the holes, press the soil a little, cover with film and place in a warm place. To germinate seeds, the room must be at least +23 degrees day and night.

How to care for tomato seedlings?

Knowing how to grow tomato seedlings, you can simplify the annual cultivation of the crop and save money on buying seedlings. Above we discussed how to prepare the soil, seeds, and how to sow tomatoes for seedlings. All that remains is to figure out how to care for the seedlings until they are planted in open ground or a greenhouse.

When the sprouts appear, remove the film and place the seedlings in a bright place. Watering is carried out as needed, but overmoistening should not be allowed, otherwise blackleg may develop. Water needs to be at room temperature, settled or rainwater.

After about a week, when the sprouts begin to stretch, the room temperature is lowered to +17...+19 degrees. This is necessary so that the tomatoes do not stretch too much and the stems do not start to fall. At the same time, you can plant the seedlings into separate peat cups, where they will grow until their last transplantation. permanent place. The soil for this is taken the same as previously for seedlings. The sprouts are carefully removed and placed in cups one at a time.

Tomatoes need a lot of light, since it is almost impossible to grow tomato seedlings in the shade, so you need to find the sunniest place for them or arrange additional lighting. But, in addition, sprouts need moisture. To provide optimal humidity they are sprayed 2 times a day.

About 1 week before planting in open ground, you need to start hardening off the plants. To do this, the window is not closed at night, and during the day the seedlings are transferred to summer kitchen, on the street or windowsill. This will increase the resistance of the sprouts to an aggressive environment.

If signs of diseases or pests appear, it is worth using specialized products (Trichodermin, Actofit, Aktara, Fitoverm, etc.) to treat seedlings. Only the concentration should be weak (usually 2 times lower than normal, this is indicated on the packaging) so as not to harm the plants even more.

VIDEO - 5 main mistakes when growing tomato seedlings