How to season tomato seedlings correctly?

Tempered seedlings, like man, are even different in appearance from their brethren who do not possess such a property. It is stocky, with a thick furry stalk. It has short internodes and a developed root. Hardening of seedlings is a very important stage in the cultivation of tomatoes. The harvest of tomatoes largely depends on its correct conduct.

Errors when choosing seedlings

Beginner farmers are not always aware of this stage in the life of crops grown in seedlings, like hardening. Go such an amateur to the market and selects plants higher and brighter. Bring home and let's land. And in the evening he will look at the garden, but there is one herbarium left. All leaves turned yellow, crouched, stems withered. What is the reason? And who is to blame?

The easiest way to say "Sun!" But after all, the neighbor also has sun, but somehow the tomatoes stand and do not dry up. However, recently they were plain, violet-green. A week or two passed and they could not be recognized.

Who is guilty

The fault is, of course, the seller who brought the unplanted seedlings to the market. But the buyer is also wrong. Choosing seedlings, you need to first evaluate the prospects embedded in its stems and leaves.

Seedlings should be stable. The stem should not sag and fall under its own weight. His weakness indicates that seedlings are not thinned out, and she is not used to count on her strength. Then what will the tomato rely on after the transplant? Yes, and the root of his weak, because only after diving (transplant with a natural tearing off the tip) the plant begins to form a strong root system.

The color of the stem and leaves speaks volumes. In seasoned seedlings, it has a dark green color with a purple hue.

The presence of shaggy hairs on the stem also indicates the willingness of a tomato to take all the burdens of life in the garden.

So it will only after properly conducted hardening. How to properly season tomato seedlings? You need to start with seeds. Tempered are not afraid not only of cold, but of drought and phytophthora.

Seeding of seeds

So you decided not to buy seedlings of tomatoes and peppers, but to grow yourself. How to not miss important moments of hardening? When to start to season tomato seedlings? It's better to start before she became a seedling.

Spread the seeds in a bowl on a piece of cloth, one part of which will then cover the seeds. At the bottom pour water 1 cm high. It is good to add a couple drops of "Phytosporin" for disinfection.

Day seeds are in the room, the next they are hidden in the refrigerator. Water should take a little ice, but do not freeze completely. Two more days alternate heat and cold. Then take it out of the water and plant it in the ground.

Processed seeds in this way give plants, the fruits of which ripen two weeks earlier than grown from unoccupied. The yield of plants is increased by 40%. More fruit will have time to mature on the vine. After all, seasoned seedlings can be planted two or three weeks before unplanned.

The appearance of the first flower brush occurs four days earlier, and they are formed not through two or three sheets, as in unoccupied, but through one sheet.

When seeds of such seeds are sown, the shoots appear on the second day, and not in the form of loops, but immediately leaflets up.

It should be noted that tempering seedlings grown from unseasoned seeds, brings less benefit.

Do not be afraid that some plants will not survive this procedure. But the survivors will be able to face up to the challenges of life.

Tomatoes by Vladimir Anderson

A person with a huge range of interests, a doctor and a gardener Vladimir Anderson grows tomatoes that grow at a temperature of 8 ° C and easily survive freezing to -5 ° C. He shares some of the secrets of how to season tomato seedlings.

The secret lies in the collection of seeds. He collects them from fruits that have ripened in the garden and suffered several frosts, and not from tomatoes lying for a long time on the window of the apartment.

He pays a lot of attention to the selection of large and strong seeds. After all, small plants will not grow strong.

As a result of selection, he receives hardened seeds with 100% germination and good immunity. As a proof, Vladimir advises paying attention to plants-samoseyki, which are usually stronger than greenhouse plants.

He hardens the seedlings with a temperature drop from 35 ° C in the daytime to 4 ° C at night. He only pours cold water.

There is another similar method. Dry seeds are wrapped in cotton cloth, they write the name of the variety, roll them up with rolls and put them in a stable pan. Sprinkled with snow and left on a window or balcony. When the snow melts, the water is drained and again covered with snow. When it also melts, the water is again poured off, not bringing to 20 ° C, seeds are put on germination. This is two frosts in the garden. The seeds germinate quickly and grow strong.

Express method of seed quenching

It is known that the best yield yield seeds several years after they were harvested. But it's not always possible to accurately know their age. Seeds of unknown age or last year are placed in tissue bags and placed on a battery. In three weeks they will "grow old", that is, they will have the same characteristics as two or three year olds. Fill them with hot water, the temperature of which is about 50 degrees, for two hours. Then for a couple of minutes put in cold water and sent to germination.

How to season tomato seedlings at home

Shoots do not need to be filled with water. Water them once in 5-7 days, only when the leaves begin to droop slightly. Do not fill. This accustoms seedlings to a lack of moisture.

After the seeds sprouted, and the plants had the beginnings of these leaves, they begin to harden. Once in ten days the boxes are taken out to the balcony. Before you can season tomato seedlings, you do not need to water it.

Tomato sprouts at a temperature of 25 degrees. Boxes with seedlings are taken to a cooler place.

At what temperature should tomato seedlings be seasoned?

In the daytime it should be from 16 to 20 degrees, and at night even lower, from 8 to 15 degrees. But this is not enough. Gradually, plants harden, opening the window. You can do this at night, three hours before morning.

Hardening takes place in a more extreme way. At a temperature of about 0 ° C, the plants are kept for one hour. You can not let the wind blow them at this time. Watered the next day after the procedure. After a week it is repeated, bringing the temperature to -2 ° C. This time you can keep three hours of four. Before you can season tomato seedlings, Oktyabrina Ganichkina, a well-known TV presenter, agronomist, advises putting a thermometer next to the box. And do not forget to look at him.

Hardening a little slows down the growth of the plant, but it helps actively form the root. It prevents the stretching of seedlings, from which young plants often suffer from many gardeners.

Effect of fertilizers and biostimulators

When nitrogen fertilizers are introduced, the frost resistance of tomato seedlings is reduced. Therefore, it is better not to use them at this stage of cultivation.

One of the elements of hardening can be called irrigating the planted plants "Energenom". As the name suggests, the plant will have more strength.

Hardening of plants in greenhouses

How to season seedlings of tomatoes and peppers in a greenhouse? Two weeks before landing in the ground, watering is reduced, airing longer and finally removing the film completely. At the same time, the amount of spilled water remains the same, and the gap between irrigation is increased. It is necessary to pour water up to the full wetting of the earth's coma with the plant and to ensure that it does not dry out. If, after opening the film, you notice that the leaves begin to fade, quickly close the plants. Gradually they will cease so painfully to react to sunlight. In the future they are not covered even at night. Before planting, the seedlings become sturdy and acquire a dark green color.

Hardening of plants growing in pots

How to season seedlings of tomatoes planted in pots? Two weeks before their landing, they are taken to fresh air. Carrying pots with seedlings is more convenient, placing them in plastic boxes.

At what temperature can you season tomato seedlings? It should be at least 10-12 degrees. Seedlings are left first for a couple of hours. First, plants are shaded from direct sunlight. On the second day, you can increase the time spent in the open air to six hours, and the third - leave for the whole day. Increase and the time of direct sunlight. But at night it is better to clean. Three days before the landing, the seedlings are no longer hidden.

All this time, her condition is controlled, and if significantly worsened, they are brought into the premises more quickly.

The plant needs to be hardened for at least three days. But the more this process lasts, the better.

How to season tomato seedlings, if you bought seedlings, but are not sure about its hardiness? Do not rush to plant tomatoes in the open ground. First put them in a cool room, then put in a greenhouse, if it is. You can put seedlings under a tree or in another shaded place. Hide the first couple of days with agrofiber.

Hardening of the root system helps reduce watering. They are completely stopped a week before disembarkation.

Tempering the seedlings by the wind

It must be done very carefully. After all, plants, like people, react differently to the wind, and especially to drafts. They can even get sick from their effects. Therefore, at low temperatures, plants are protected from wind.

Why harden

In the leaves and stalk of seasoned seedlings, there are various sugars. A thick layer of the epidermis protects them from changes in temperature and wind. As a result, seasoned seedlings yield a much larger yield.