Tomato seedlings fertilizer for growth. Feeding tomato and pepper seedlings: folk remedies and mineral fertilizers

The secret to growing high-quality tomato seedlings is determined by the physiology of young tomatoes. It is important to satisfy all their needs in a timely manner, then the bushes will grow healthy and strong. First of all, you need to prepare fertile, non-acidic soil in the fall. It is also important for seedlings to maintain temperature conditions and create additional lighting.

Good growth of plants will be ensured by foliar and root feeding. Fertilizers can be either industrial or homemade.

At all stages of development, tomatoes require a large number of nutrients. High-quality seedlings can only be obtained by growing them in fertile soil. But usually other land requirements come to the fore. It is very important that the soil is loose, allows air to pass to the roots and absorbs moisture well.

Gardeners pay more attention to the absence of pathogenic microorganisms in the soil than to its fertility. At first, the seedlings use up the supply of nutrients they received from the seed, but this does not last long. Rapidly growing seedlings require more and more nutrition every day. And here you can’t do without fertilizing.

In poor substrate, the first fertilizing is carried out at the stage of appearance of two true leaves. If fertilizers were added to the ground before planting, then you can postpone the procedure until 10-14 days have passed after picking.

In the case when plants are planted in special soil for growing tomato seedlings, a single application of fertilizer 10 days before planting the seedlings in a greenhouse or open ground will be sufficient.

How to determine what feeding is needed and what substances are missing

Most often, a deficiency of certain substances in seedlings appears when grown in ordinary garden soil. You can notice which element the plants are lacking by the following signs:

For iron deficiency seedlings begin to suffer from chlorosis. This condition manifests itself by lightening the leaf plate, on which brighter veins begin to stand out.
If the stem and underside of the leaves have acquired a rich purple hue, this indicates phosphorus deficiency.
A lack of nitrogen makes itself known by yellowing and possible falling of leaves. However, the same symptom will be observed with excessive watering. Therefore, first analyze how proper the care of the seedlings was.

If such changes occur, it will be necessary to apply the appropriate fertilizer to eliminate the deficiency of these elements. For this purpose, both chemical fertilizers and improvised means are used, which are found in every home.

It should be taken into account that an excess of nutrients is just as harmful as their deficiency, so you cannot overfeed the “seedlings”.

This is the main thing you need to remember when starting to apply fertilizer. If the seedlings grow well and look healthy, then they do not need feeding. But if the bushes look stunted, they need urgent help.

When choosing fertilizer for tomatoes, you should give preference to liquid fertilizers. Dry mineral mixtures Use after diluting with water. It is recommended to apply fertilizing in the morning, so they are better absorbed. In addition, by moistening the soil in the evening, you risk causing the appearance of fungus.

From industrial drugs the best fertilizers For tomatoes, experts consider “Rastvorin” and “Kemira Universal-2”.
If you do not find such fertilizers on sale, they can be replaced universal fertilizers- “Strong”, “Agricola”, “Ideal”. They will also be able to complete the task.
Tomatoes also respond well to fertilizing with Nitrophoska, which contains all the basic nutrients and many additional ones (1 tablespoon of fertilizer is diluted per liter of water.)
For foliar feeding, superphosphate is used (1 tbsp per liter hot water). The solution is allowed to brew for a day and the top layer is drained without sediment, which is then diluted with 10 liters of water and used for spraying on the leaf.

If industrial fertilizers are intended for feeding adult bushes, then for seedlings their concentration should be reduced by 2 times. Loosening the top layer of soil will help the fertilizer to be better absorbed. You need to loosen the soil regularly, doing this 2-3 hours after watering.

Besides chemicals can be used traditional methods, which are also very popular among gardeners. Let's talk about the most common of them.

Yeast . Fertilizing tomato seedlings with yeast not only enriches the soil, but also improves the soil structure. Fungal microorganisms, when multiplying, have a positive effect on the growth of tomato bushes and future productivity. First, a concentrate is prepared from the yeast, which is then diluted with water before use.

To prepare a yeast solution, take 10 g of yeast, 4 tablespoons of sugar and 10 liters of water. The mixture should ferment well. Before application, 1 part of the solution is diluted with 10 parts of water.

Iodine. This element is necessary not only for humans, but also for plants. A weakly concentrated iodine solution will help strengthen the immunity of tomatoes and promote better fruiting. Also, this excellent remedy from fungal diseases.

Spraying leaves at the first signs of late blight and powdery mildew will help quickly cure plants. To prepare the fertilizer, add 10 drops of pharmaceutical iodine to 1 bucket of water. Used for root and foliar feeding.

Ash. This substance contains about 3 dozen minerals, vital necessary for plants. Moreover, all of them are contained there in an accessible form. Environmentally friendly ash, which is used as fertilizer, can be obtained from logs and boards, without the admixture of various chemicals or artificial materials. Wood ash contains predominantly calcium.

In the ash obtained after combustion herbaceous plants and straw, potassium predominates. A solution of this substance perfectly reduces soil acidity. To prepare the fertilizer, dissolve 1 tablespoon of ash in 2 liters of water and leave for 24 hours.

Hydrogen peroxide. The drug is used for plants as a fertilizer, growth stimulator and protective agent against pests and diseases. Watering with hydrogen peroxide helps seedlings absorb nutrients, supplies the root system with oxygen, improves soil structure, and neutralizes mineral salts and chlorine.

As a result, metabolic processes in plant tissues improve, and young tomatoes literally “come to life.”

To prepare a solution of the required concentration, 1/2 tbsp. spoons of hydrogen peroxide are diluted in one liter of water and replaced with this composition for regular watering.

Soil specially designed for growing tomato seedlings contains all the nutrients necessary for plant development. In soil of this quality, seedlings do not need to be fertilized. Inexperienced gardeners often confuse problems in maintaining seedlings with a lack of nutrients.

It must be remembered that young plants require a lot of light, a reduced temperature (6°C during the day and 10°C at night) until picking, and proper watering.

After germination

After emergence, the seedlings are not fed until the first true leaves form. Each seed contains a certain supply of nutrients that the plant needs to survive. initial stage growth. It is important to create for the seedlings the conditions required by the agricultural technology of the crop. If they are followed, seedlings usually do not require fertilizing.

After the pick

Picking is carried out when the seedlings become stronger and grow. Regardless of whether you applied fertilizer on the eve of picking, 10 days after the seedlings are planted in separate pots, the next stage of fertilizing begins. If you left the plants in one common container, focus on the appearance of the third leaf and apply fertilizing at this moment. After 10 days, the plants are fertilized again.

The seedlings are fed for the last time 2 days before planting in open ground. The timing of fertilizer application by specialists is indicated quite clearly, but each summer resident determines the amount of fertilizing at his own discretion based on the condition of the plants. By feeding your plants in a timely manner, you can also increase their resistance to disease.

As a fertilizer, you can take a mixture of superphosphate, urea and potassium chloride (20g/10g/15g per 10l of water). You can also use an infusion of ash (1 tablespoon per 2 liters of water, let stand for a day) and eggshells (a three-liter jar is filled 2/3 with egg shells, and then with water and infused for 3 days).

Seedling problems, what to feed

The future harvest directly depends on the quality of seedlings. Therefore, it is important that the plants are initially healthy and strong. Before planting in open ground, seedlings should be assessed so that their condition can be corrected if various problems arise.

When seedlings look frail and weak, some gardeners are afraid to plant them, believing that they will not make good bushes. But that's not true. The situation can be corrected by reducing watering, increasing lighting and lowering the temperature. Also, the pale color of the leaves can be caused by either an excess of nitrogen or a lack of it. The Atlet preparation will help make seedlings stronger and prevent stretching. Excess nitrogen is neutralized by adding superphosphate.

If, according to your assumptions, the seedlings do not have enough nitrogen, apply nitrogen fertilizer, for example, a solution consisting of 1 tbsp. l. urea and 10 liters of water. 100 ml of this fertilizer is poured under each bush and the seedlings are kept at a temperature no higher than 10°C for the next two days without watering.

As soon as growth stops and the leaves acquire a rich color, the seedlings are transferred to their usual conditions, providing them with warmth and regular watering.

It happens that seedlings begin to grow poorly after picking. The reason may be improper planting, during which the roots were damaged or bent. If the picking was done according to all the rules, but the leaves still turn yellow and there is no growth, it means that the soil was not selected well.

Poor seedlings may be due to a lack of potassium - in this case, the leaves turn yellow and curl.
Uneven leaf color indicates magnesium deficiency.
Signs of a lack of iron, nitrogen and phosphorus in the soil were written above.

Use complex mineral fertilizer with a large range of microelements to feed tomatoes. This will help solve the problem of insufficient seedling growth.

Tomatoes are considered a finicky crop; excessive feeding can only harm them. When can you be sure that fertilizers are not needed? If planting was carried out in high-quality purchased soil from a reliable manufacturer or a fertile mixture that you have compiled yourself, most likely, the question of fertilizing will not arise before you. Plants should have enough of the set of substances that are already in the soil. Especially if you used fresh nutrient soil when picking.

On a note! If even under such conditions the appearance of the seedlings cannot be called healthy, most likely the conditions were unsuitable. Therefore, lighting, watering and temperature conditions are given Special attention from the moment of sowing the seeds.

How to feed seedlings: video

Feeding and caring for seedlings: video

To summarize, we can say that tomatoes themselves signal whether feeding is needed and what kind of feeding. Even if you do not yet have experience in growing tomato seedlings, appearance plants, you can easily determine what exactly they don’t like and what is missing. If you grow seedlings according to all the rules, they will definitely please the eye and will provide you with a high-quality harvest in the future.

Not all gardeners believe that fertilizing is important for tomato seedlings at all stages of bush development. But experts say that to get good harvest it is necessary to provide plants good nutrition and at the initial stage of growth and development. This procedure will help the seedlings develop immunity and become stronger until they are transplanted into open ground.

Why fertilize tomato seedlings?

Many gardeners are of the opinion that if weeds can grow well without fertilizing, then tomato seedlings also do not need fertilizers. But we should not forget that the crops grown in our garden are already the fruits of selection, which are distinguished by high quality fruits. But in return they need additional care and nutrition, since they are not adapted to be content with the little that is in the soil.

The use of fertilizers allows you to initially strengthen the biological forces of the plant itself, and subsequently help it fully develop, bloom and bear fruit. Nitrogen and potassium are the main nutrients, and phosphorus is responsible for metabolic processes, that is, it helps to deliver essential microelements to those parts where they are required. Therefore, these 3 main components are the most important, but you need to understand when and in what quantity they should be used.

How to determine when it is needed

There are a number of signs by which you can determine which microelement is lacking in tomato seedlings.

Important! It is worth understanding that lack of nutrition, as well as excessive application of fertilizers at the initial stage of development, can significantly weaken the immunity of plants, so everything should be in moderation.

Nitrogen. The deficiency of this element is expressed by yellowing of the lower leaves, since the plant takes the necessary microelements from them for the development of more promising upper ones. In addition, the lack of nitrogen is reflected in the slow growth of tomato seedlings. However, these signs should not be confused with overflow and cool conditions, since yellowing of the foliage in these cases is observed not only at the bottom, but in all parts.

Phosphorus. Phosphorus deficiency is expressed in a purple tint on the reverse side sheet plates. If this does not affect the full growth of tomato seedlings, then you should not take decisive steps until they are planted in a permanent place in open ground.

Potassium. The lack of this microelement has a depressing effect on the development of the root system of tomato seedlings, so by the time they are transplanted to a permanent place, the seedlings do not have time to grow it in full. This negatively affects the further growth of tomatoes.

Iron. This element plays an important role at the initial stage of development, since its deficiency affects the formation of immunity of seedlings in the future. Iron deficiency manifests itself in a light shade of leaf blades, on which dark green veins become clearly visible. This often happens with 24-hour lighting, since it is at night that the plant is able to fully absorb nutrition.

Note! Daylight hours when growing tomato seedlings should not exceed 10-12 hours; round-the-clock lighting is allowed only 3-4 days after emergence.

Calcium. This element contributes to the formation of a strong plant skeleton. Its deficiency leads to the fact that the stem becomes thin and gradually stretches upward.

When certain signs appear, you should not focus solely on the element that is missing. It is enough to carry out complex fertilizing of tomato seedlings, but ensure that this component is included in the fertilizer in sufficient volume.

Video: how to feed tomato seedlings

Timing of fertilizing

When applying fertilizers correctly, it is necessary to strictly adhere to the timing of their application. Initially, the main requirement is to plant the seeds in good and nutritious soil, which will give the young shoots the opportunity to develop fully.

first- after the appearance of the first leaves;
second— 14 days after picking seedlings;
third- 10-14 weeks after the previous one;
fourth- 3-4 days before transplanting into open ground.

Features of feeding before and after picking

Picking tomato seedlings is severe stress for plants, but at the same time it is very important for the full growth of seedlings. Therefore, fertilizing during this period should be carried out taking into account the characteristics of the crop and observing the timing of their application.

Applying fertilizers 10 days before picking will significantly enhance their development and help prepare for the upcoming stress. The higher the immunity of the seedlings, the less it will hurt after transplantation.

Feeding 2 weeks after picking will allow the seedlings to regain strength and begin to grow both the above-ground part and the root system.

Note! Ignoring the timing of fertilizing before and after picking leads to oppression of still immature seedlings.

Scheme for feeding seedlings

Feeding tomato seedlings should be done on a moist substrate, which will prevent the appearance of burns on the roots of the plants.

At the first stage During growth, seedlings especially need nitrogen and phosphorus, so it is necessary to select fertilizer taking this into account. It is best to fertilize the roots with mineral preparations during this period, avoiding contact with the leaves.
On second stage, if the seedlings develop normally, then use the same fertilizer as the first time. In the case of sprouts, nitrogen must be temporarily excluded and the length of daylight should be increased, as well as the temperature adjusted to about 18 degrees.
At the third stage apply foliar feeding of seedlings with organic preparations. This will help the seedlings recover and get stronger after picking, as well as increase their green mass.
Fourth stage fertilizing can be done using both root and foliar methods. In the case of the latter, the procedure should be applied in the morning or evening to prevent sunburn on the foliage. During this period, the use of mineral and organic preparations is allowed. But potassium plays an important role during this period, which contributes to the formation of flower ovaries.

Specifics of root and foliar feeding

There are two ways to feed tomato seedlings: root and foliar. In the first case, the fertilizer is dissolved in water and applied to the soil by watering the seedlings directly under the root. This is especially important to do on first two stages, since plants during this period are especially susceptible to fungal diseases, and moisture should not be allowed to get on the foliage, even with fertilizer. Fertilizing in this way should be applied to moist soil so as not to cause burns to the roots.

At the third and fourth stage better use foliar feeding by spraying the preparations on the foliage using a spray bottle. This will help to better absorb nutrients, since the foliage during this period is already quite developed and is able to absorb all the necessary microelements. It is better to carry out this procedure in the morning, since exposure to sunlight may cause burns on the leaves.

What and how to feed tomato seedlings

To feed tomato seedlings, you can choose any fertilizer based on the gardener’s preferences. Some use mineral fertilizers, while others use organic or folk remedies.

Mineral fertilizers

This type of fertilizer contains required amount nutrients for the full growth and development of seedlings. The most common preparations for feeding tomato seedlings so that they grow better and faster are:

Important! To feed tomato seedlings, experts recommend complex feeding using several types of mineral fertilizers at the same time.

dissolve urea (1 g), potassium sulfate (3 g) and superphosphate (8 g) in 2 liters of water, stir the resulting solution until completely dissolved and use for root feeding;
dilute ammonium nitrate (0.6 g), superphosphate (4 g) and potassium sulfate (1.5 g) in 1 liter of water, use for root and foliar feeding after complete dissolution of the components.

Organic fertilizers

Many gardeners use organic fertilizers to feed tomato seedlings. But it is worth understanding that organic matter contains for the most part nitrogen, so this type of fertilizer should be used at an early stage of seedling development.

The most common of them are:

Folk remedies

In addition to the listed fertilizers, it is allowed to fertilize tomato seedlings using common folk remedies. This fertilizer option is especially suitable for gardeners who are not ready to use chemicals.

The most popular of them are:

Video: feeding tomato seedlings with iodine

Common problems

Often, gardeners have the same problems, which are caused by improper conditions for keeping seedlings or a lack of certain microelements. To avoid them and know how to fix them, you should familiarize yourself with them in advance.

If tomato seedlings thin stems. This is a sign of excessive use of nitrogen fertilizers. In order for the seedlings to become plump, it is necessary to initially spray the plants with the Atlet preparation, and then fertilize them with superphosphate and potassium sulfide.
If the tomato seedlings have too much pale foliage and stems. This is a sign of nitrogen deficiency. It is necessary to fertilize organic means or urea.
To tomato seedlings did not stretch out to feed Wood ash should be used, but not too zealously, as it can significantly slow down growth.

Video: what to do to prevent tomato seedlings from stretching

By feeding tomato seedlings according to all the rules and taking into account all recommendations, you can achieve the desired result. And strong and strong plants will be able to withstand negative conditions in the future. external environment and give a rich harvest of fruits.

In contact with

Most summer residents in our country plant various varieties of tomatoes on their plots. After all, these vegetables are tasty and healthy. Before planting them directly in the garden, seedlings are first grown from seeds at home. The quality and volume of the future tomato harvest depends on how successful this process is. That is why it is very important to feed the seedlings correctly.

Every year, specialized stores offer an increasing selection of fertilizers that are suitable for tomatoes. And the question of what is the best way to feed seedlings worries many gardeners.

Experts recommend feeding tomato seedlings for the first time at the moment when the very first leaf appears on the surface of the earth. Especially if the summer resident fails to create ideal growing conditions for it. But this feeding is not mandatory.

When the tomato seedlings grow a little, you will need to dive. It involves transplanting each plant into a separate hole. The second feeding is carried out approximately 10–12 days after the dive. If the plants are not seated in individual holes, then the next feeding is carried out in the phase of the third true leaf. It is recommended to move on to the third after another 10 days. And by the fourth - two days before planting tomato seedlings in open ground.

Generally the amount of fertilizing depends on the conditions, in which future tomatoes are located. Mandatory procedures only two - during the formation of 3 leaves (or two weeks after the dive) and 10 days after the first. Next, you can water the seedlings with the mixture useful substances every 10–12 days, depending on the needs of the plant. Personal observations of seedlings are very important.

What substances do seedlings lack?

The summer resident must monitor the growth rate and appearance of the seedlings. Plants themselves are able to signal what substances they lack for normal development.

Lack of iron. In this case, the leaves of the tomato seedlings noticeably turn pale, and bright green veins become clearly visible on them;
Lack of nitrogen. If the plant lacks this substance, the leaves wither, turn yellow and quickly begin to fall off. In addition, seedlings can grow extremely slowly. But it is important to remember that similar symptoms are also observed when certain growing conditions are not met - lack of light, too low or high temperature;
Lack of phosphorus. In this case, the seedlings acquire a purple tint.

Such observations will help you choose the appropriate means for feeding at any stage.

If you decide to start feeding after the first leaf has appeared, then at this moment you need to prepare copper solution and generously water the seedlings with it. You can purchase this substance in a specialized store. A remedy is prepared from 1 teaspoon of copper and 10 liters of clean water. This solution can be stored for an unlimited amount of time. If there is a lot of fertilizer left after watering, you can pour it into a plastic bottle and leave it even until next year. Thanks to this procedure, young shoots will reliably protected from late blight.

For the second feeding after diving, you can use urea. After all, for good growth of green mass, seedlings need a large amount of nitrogen. For 10 liters of clean water you will need 1 tablespoon of urea. The resulting solution is watered abundantly on the seedlings.

For the third feeding of tomatoes, the mineral fertilizer nitrophoska is ideal. A solution is prepared from 1 liter of clean water and 1 tablespoon of the specified substance. The resulting fertilizer is enough for a large number of seedlings.

The following feedings are repeated as needed. You can prepare the solution according to the second recipe or use it for this organic fertilizers. Compost, which is poured into boxes with seedlings, is excellent. Or you can continue to feed tomatoes using the foliar method, spraying leaves with a spray bottle. The solution for this method of feeding is prepared from 1 tablespoon of superphosphate and 1 liter of hot water. The liquid must be heated to approximately 80 degrees. After infusing the solution for 24 hours, its light part is poured into a separate container and diluted with water to 10 liters. The fertilizer for spraying is ready.

How to properly feed tomatoes?

There are several basic rules that are important to follow during the fertilization process:

Plants can be fertilized exclusively in the morning or evening hours;
After each procedure for applying root fertilizers, seedlings must be thoroughly watered clean water, this will allow you to wash off the residue from the leaves and prevent them from getting burned;
it is very important to purchase soil in advance, which will already be enriched with everything necessary for seedlings nutrients, it will act as the main main feeding during the entire period before planting the seedlings in the ground.

Thanks to careful care and competent regular fertilizing, the summer resident will be able to get an excellent harvest of ripe and tasty tomatoes in the future.

Material prepared by: Nadezhda Zimina, gardener with 24 years of experience, industrial engineer

Plants that have a long growing season are usually grown from seedlings. This helps to get a good harvest from heat-loving vegetable crops even in unfavorable climatic conditions. Many popular annual flowers are also propagated from home seedlings, which with this method of cultivation can be planted in flower beds already in bloom.

Growing seedlings is a responsible process that requires knowledge and experience. To get a good result, many factors should be taken into account. Planting time, soil composition, fertilizing, watering - all this affects the quality of seedlings and has its own characteristics for each plant. Young plants at the initial stage of growth are still weak, and even a small mistake can destroy them, so you should follow the rules that will help you achieve good results when growing seedlings at home.

Tomatoes

It can be called one of the most popular crops, which is cultivated everywhere. By planting nightshade seedlings yourself, you can be guaranteed to grow your favorite varieties adapted to the climate of a certain area, rather than playing the lottery by buying young plants in the store.

Soil preparation

In order to grow the right tomato seedlings, the soil must be prepared in advance, in the fall. It is kept in a ready-made state all winter, on a veranda or glassed-in balcony, and before use it is brought into a warm room for a day. There are many recipes for soil mixtures for tomatoes, but the most optimal is classic recipe, which always allows you to get a good result:

All components are thoroughly mixed and sifted through a sieve. IN ready-made mixtures for seedlings sold in stores, the size of the lump does not exceed 8 mm. It is difficult to make such soil at home, and there is no point in trying to do so - even if there are lumps in it bigger size, they can be placed at the bottom of the seedling container while it is being filled.

Seed preparation

The procedure for preparing seeds for planting tomato seedlings is mandatory, it helps to select the best seed material and disinfect it. To prevent sprouts from dying from blackleg or other fungal diseases, tomato seeds are disinfected using potassium permanganate, for this:

a teaspoon of granules is dissolved in 1 liter of warm water, and the seeds are placed in it. The water must be stirred, then the full-bodied, most best seeds will sink to the bottom, and the empty ones will remain floating on the surface. All tomato seeds with good buoyancy must be collected from the surface of the water and discarded. They won't grow into seedlings. The remaining seeds are “pickled” in a weak solution of potassium permanganate for 20 minutes, then placed in a strainer and washed with running water.

Whether it is worth germinating seed material for tomato seedlings - opinions differ. Many gardeners claim that plants obtained by direct sowing of unsprouted seeds in the soil grow stronger and have greater resistance to various diseases. At the same time, when germinating seeds for tomato seedlings, you can get quick and reliable seedlings by selecting the very first of the hatched seeds for planting seedlings, since they have greater vitality. Germination is also used for seed material, whose expiration date has come to an end.

Usually the seeds are soaked in plain water, but for better results the following solutions can be used:

Aloe juice. It acts as a natural biostimulant and has good disinfecting properties, so pre-soaking tomato seeds in potassium permanganate is not required.
Epin. This stimulant is diluted with water at room temperature in a proportion of 8 drops per 1 liter. Under its influence, tomato seedlings acquire powerful immunity and high resistance to negative environmental factors.
. Recommended dosage – 4 drops per 1 liter. This drug helps plants form a strong root system, which is very important when growing tomato seedlings.

In all these solutions, the seeds are soaked for a day, after which they are placed in a damp cloth and wait for shoots to appear. Typically, tomato seed germination at home lasts from 36 to 48 hours.(appearance of a root shoot), but if the seeds are old, it may take 3-4 days. The most important thing in the germination process is not to miss the moment of biting. As soon as the seed bursts and a white tail appears from it, plant it, placing it down the hole, with the seed facing up. The depth of the hole into which the sprouted tomato seed is placed should not exceed 2 cm.

Growing tomato seedlings

The calendar for planting tomato seedlings depends on the region and variety. All information on growing times is usually placed on the seed packaging. It also indicates the time interval from the appearance of full shoots to the ripening of the first fruits. If a period of more than 110 days is specified, such varieties must be planted in mid-March. In colder regions - 10 -12 days earlier. Also, in the middle of the first spring month, seedlings of those tomatoes are planted, which are transplanted into a warm greenhouse at the end of April. Mid-ripening and early-ripening varieties with a growing season of 55-65 days should be sown in early April. This allows you to grow the right seedlings, which will not stretch out or turn yellow due to lack of space and light.

After the first shoots appear, homemade tomato seedlings begin to receive additional light. To do this, use fluorescent lamps, which are placed at a distance of 15-20 cm from upper leaves plants. Hanging higher is not recommended, as this may cause young tomatoes to stretch out. It must be remembered that tomatoes grow quite quickly, so the height of the lamp should be adjusted almost every day so as not to burn the young leaves.

Feeding tomatoes

To grow healthy seedlings, it must be fed properly. In principle, if you have high-quality nutritious soil, you can get good results without fertilizing. But, extra food Getting small tomatoes at an early stage will help you get a more abundant and high-quality harvest from them in the future. Therefore, there is a reason to spend time on this and feed the young plants several times.

The first fertilizing is done after the fully developed third leaf appears on the plant. Complex fertilizers with a predominant nitrogen content are used for it. At this stage, young tomatoes can be fed with preparations such as “Forward” or “Agricola No. 3”.
The second feeding of tomatoes is carried out on the 12th day after picking. For it, use it by dissolving half a tablespoon of fertilizer in five liters of water. Consumption – 100 ml of solution per plant.
The third feeding of seedlings - after two weeks, it completely repeats the second feeding.

The fourth feeding of tomato seedlings is carried out when the plants reach two months of age. At this stage, they have already gained sufficient green mass, the need for it decreases, the need for it increases. To feed grown tomatoes at this stage, prepare the following cocktail: For 5 liters of water take 0.5 tbsp. simple spoons and 1 tbsp. a spoonful of wood ash. Plants are watered with this composition at the rate of 0.5 cups per plant.

Picking tomatoes

To increase the feeding area of tomato seedlings, they need picking, during which young plants from a common container are transplanted into separate pots. This procedure is carried out after the plant reaches the age of 14 days, but no later than a month after the appearance of full shoots. To prevent home seedlings from getting sick after transplanting, pots with soil are prepared in advance and the soil must settle. Two hours before picking, the soil in individual pots and in a common container is well watered. Then the young plants are carefully separated, and holding clods of soil in the root zone with their fingers, they are transferred to individual pots.

Picking sequence

When replanting, the tomato root must be shortened by a third. In the future, this will help to form a stronger and more branched root system. Another feature of picking tomatoes is that the plant is planted in a new place deeper than it grew before. There should not be more than 1 cm from the level of growth of cotyledon leaves to the ground. This action is aimed at strengthening the root system, since additional roots are formed on the stem buried in the soil over time, providing additional nutrition to the plant.

Landing in the ground

Tomato seedlings begin to be transplanted into the greenhouse in April (depending on the region), into open ground, with a favorable weather forecast - from May 10. For soil, seedlings must first be hardened off by taking them outside with the onset of warm days.

At the end of the hardening period, young tomatoes should be left quietly outside all day. During the hardening period, you should take a close look at home seedlings. Changes in environmental conditions are a strong stress for plants, and if they lack nutrients during this period, this will immediately become noticeable in the changed appearance of young tomatoes.

For example, if the seedlings turn yellow, then most likely they were underfed with potassium. To eliminate the deficiency of this element, it is necessary to feed the seedlings with an ash solution - 1 glass of ash per 10 liters of water. One liter of solution is spent on two tomato bushes.

If during the hardening stage the tomato leaves turn violet-purple, and begin to take on a lumpy shape, then most likely the plant lacks phosphorus. But there is no need to rush to feed tomato seedlings with this element. Most likely, hardening occurred too quickly, and young tomatoes did not have time to adapt to the uncomfortable temperature regime and stopped absorbing phosphorus from the soil.

In this case, they need to be allowed to rest for several days in their usual home conditions. If the leaves begin to turn green again, then everything is in order, and after a few days you can begin to progressively harden the plants. If the tomatoes do not “depart” and remain purple, then we can state a lack of phosphorus, which was revealed by lowering the ambient temperature. In this case, it is necessary to feed the tomatoes with superphosphate, and only then resume hardening.

By the time of planting in open ground, tomato seedlings should reach the age of 2-2.5 months. Younger tomatoes cannot be planted. Even if favorable weather conditions have established and night temperatures do not fall below 15 ° C, the plants have not yet acquired the necessary vital fluid to quickly adapt to replanting. Yes, most likely they will take root, but the acclimatization period will drag on for a long time, and the seedlings will not grow and develop during this time. As a result, the resistance of tomatoes to various negative factors will decrease. external factors, and as a result, you can’t expect a good harvest from this bush.

Video: tomato seedlings - sowing seeds

Video: tomato seedlings - from germination to picking

Video: tomato seedlings - from picking to planting

Video: tomato seedlings - planting in a greenhouse

Peppers

Soil for seedlings

Growing seedlings is in many ways similar to growing tomato seedlings. Despite the fact that these plants belong to different classes(nightshade and pepper), their habits and needs are similar. Pepper also loves loose, nutritious soil, warmth and moderate humidity. In order to plant seeds for seedlings, you can use either purchased soil (Living Earth Terravita, Krepysh, Malyshok) or prepare soil for peppers with your own hands:

All components of the soil mixture must be thoroughly mixed, sifted through a sieve with large mesh (1-2 cm), distributed into containers for growing seedlings, and frozen for several days. Then the prepared soil can be brought indoors, after 2-3 days it is ready for replanting.