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Growing tomato seedlings can't do without picks. Tall varieties have to be replanted twice. Therefore, many gardeners ask questions about how to care for tomato seedlings after picking.
After all, the quality of the future harvest depends on competent and careful supervision of pickled seedlings. Let's look at the main stages of caring for tomatoes after picking.
What is proper care for pickled tomatoes?
For picked tomato seedlings, it is necessary to create conditions for rapid establishment in a new place. This will help the tomatoes restore their vital activity and begin to grow. Let's start with the moment of transplantation. As soon as the tomato seedlings are placed in a new container, remove the seedlings from direct sunlight and ensure the air temperature does not exceed 16°C. To do this, we remove boxes from window sills and also away from heating appliances. After three days you can return them to the windowsill.
The list of procedures for further care of pickled tomatoes contains the following items:
- repeated picking (if necessary and for tall tomatoes);
- timely watering;
- balanced feeding;
- optimal temperature regime;
- sufficient lighting.
Gardeners provide all this for their pets. Caring for pickled tomato seedlings should begin from the first minutes after transplantation. Let's consider the main nuances.
Repeated dive
Some gardeners pick any tomatoes twice. They believe that this will prevent the seedlings from being pulled out. But it is better to use this technique only for tall varieties. The second transplant is carried out 3-4 weeks after the first and only if necessary. This will happen if the container size was chosen unsuccessfully the first time, and it turned out to be too small for the growth of seedlings. But this does not mean that for the first time you need to transplant tomato seedlings into a large container. It is difficult to control watering in it, which leads to stagnation of water, lack of air and stopping the development of the root system. Such seedlings stretch out and grow very weak.
Watering seedlings after picking
The water requirements are classic. It should be at room temperature to avoid the risk of seedlings getting sick with blackleg. At the same time clean and settled. Seedlings, picked once, are watered weekly. Criteria for good watering:
- all soil in the container is moistened with water;
- no moisture stagnation;
- the crust does not cover the top layer of soil;
- takes into account the individual needs of the plant.
Moisturizing is necessary when the soil dries out; tomato seedlings should not be flooded.
Therefore, if the temperature allows you to reduce watering, then you need to do this so that the roots do not rot in the ground. In this case, the picked tomato seedlings will grow strong and healthy.
Lighting
An important factor for the proper development of tomato seedlings.He especially needs to pay attention in the phase of 3 true leaves on seedlings, when the first inflorescences begin to form. Gradually accustom tomatoes to light. The containers are periodically rotated around their axis so that the stems do not tilt in one direction. Light deficiency leads to pulling tomato seedlings. This also occurs from the shading of the stem by the lower leaves.
On tomato seedlings, it is permissible to remove 3 pairs of lower leaves at intervals of 2 weeks. In case of insufficient natural light, tomato seedlings are illuminated.
Temperature
At the beginning of the growth of pickled seedlings, the temperature is slightly reduced from the recommended values for 2-3 days. The rest of the time it is maintained at intervals - during the day from 16°C to 18°C and at night about 15°C. Be sure to ventilate the room.
Hardening
A necessary item for pickled tomatoes intended for planting in open ground. First, they simply open the window for a while, then acclimate the seedlings to the outside temperature by taking the container out onto the balcony or into the yard. Before planting, you can leave the containers in the open air all night.
Feeding
Feeding tomato seedlings after picking is just as important as during the entire development of the crop. Typically, seedlings are fed twice during the period before planting for permanent residence. Nutritional compositions can be:
- purchase ready-made;
- cook it yourself.
Various composition options are used.
Feeding tomato seedlings raises many questions, so let’s take a closer look at this important stage of care.
We feed seedlings after diving without errors
During the period of seed germination, tomatoes have enough vitality and nutrients in the soil. And then the growth process takes up a huge amount of energy, which is necessary for the development of a full-fledged plant. Therefore, you need to feed tomato seedlings after diving in a timely manner, without waiting for signs of a deficiency of mineral components. When feeding seedlings, watering is carried out secondarily.
How to feed tomato seedlings after picking? What interval should be maintained between repeated procedures, which formulations are best suited for pickled seedlings? All these questions concern summer residents and require quality answers. There is no consensus, but there is a rational approach to growing crops.
First feeding tomato seedlings after picking it is carried out 14 days later. The second with the same interval after the first. For those who prefer organics, bird droppings or mullein are the best choices. Tender tomato seedlings require careful application of nutrients. Therefore, organic matter is diluted with water and allowed to brew. Requirements for the infusion:
- warm water;
- ratio with organic matter 1:2;
- The fermentation process must complete.
The readiness of the mixture can be determined by the return of the original volume and settling of the contents.
The fermented composition requires further dilution to feed the picked seedlings. It is done just before feeding. The infusion of bird droppings is diluted with water 1:12, and mullein 1:7. Repeated feeding is done with an infusion of stronger concentration - litter 1:10 and mullein 1:5.An excellent option is to add 10 g of superphosphate per bucket of water to the organic infusion.
After feeding the picked tomato seedlings, water them immediately. They have a dual purpose - they wash away the remaining fertilizer from the leaves and stems of the plant and help the liquid components to be absorbed faster.
The seedlings respond well to feeding with an infusion of wood ash (1 tablespoon per 2 liters of hot water).
Mineral fertilizer is applied in the following compositions:
- The first time, 5 g of urea with 35 g of superphosphate and 15 g of potassium sulfate are mixed into a bucket of water.
- In the second, the concentration of the components in a bucket of water is increased - 10 g of urea, 60 g of superphosphate and 15 g of potassium sulfate.
A convenient option is the drug "Agricola". Breed according to the instructions and feed the tomato seedlings after diving.
The third feeding can be carried out when the growth of tomato seedlings is slow and painful. Both mineral complex fertilizers and organic mixtures will work well here. It is beneficial to use the same “Agricola”, combined with spraying of seedlings with “Fitosporin”. This will be foliar treatment of picked tomato seedlings, which will give good results.
There are signs that indicate a lack of certain nutrients.
As soon as you notice yellowed or fallen leaves (under normal temperature conditions and watering!), nitrogen is required. The purple tint of leaves and stems signals a lack of phosphorus. Pale, veined leaves need iron. But all signs need to be checked carefully. After all, they can manifest themselves in other disorders.
Watch the seedlings carefully; they will tell you what fertilizing needs to be done.Do not avoid traditional methods, but also do not neglect mineral fertilizers. Together they will help grow strong and healthy tomatoes.
