Content
This is a relatively new way of growing tomatoes, but it has managed to win the love of summer residents. Tomato seedlings the Chinese way resistant to late blight. The technique has other advantages.
- Ready for planting 1.0-1.5 months earlier than the usual method;
- After picking, the plants take root completely;
- Increase in yield by one and a half times;
- Shorter stem length in tall tomato varieties (after planting in the ground).
Tomatoes grown this way have developed stems that do not need to be deeply buried in the ground. The distance from the soil to the first flower clusters is 0.20-0.25 m, which increases productivity.
Preparation, planting seeds and caring for seedlings
Before planting tomato seeds in the soil, they need to be prepared. Place them sequentially in an ash extract and a solution of potassium permanganate - for 3 hours and 20 minutes, respectively. After this, place the seeds in Epin's solution for half a day. The final stage of preparation is keeping it in the bottom drawer of the refrigerator for 24 hours.
You can stratify the seeds in another way: place them in a plastic container and bury them in the snow.
Planting seeds
Fill the container with the soil mixture and pour the hot manganese solution over the soil. Plant the seeds immediately after you remove them from the refrigerator. Make sure that the planting material does not heat up. Cover the containers with polyethylene or glass to create a greenhouse effect. It is advisable to keep containers close to the battery. Then the seeds will receive enough heat. Shoots appear after 5 days. Now you can remove the polyethylene and place the pots in a more illuminated place. The stems will not stretch.
She does not get sick and tolerates temperature changes well.
Picking
The pick is made a month later, with the position of the Moon in the constellation Scorpio.
- Cut the plant at soil level.
- Transplant the stems into prepared containers with soil.
- Water with a little water and cover the plants with plastic.
- Keep the picked seedlings in a dark and cool room.
You need to replant the cut stems into a purchased peat-based soil mixture. Ordinary garden manure soil is not suitable for this, since humus contains bacteria that can harm not fully formed seedlings. Why is it so important to trim stems with scissors? Maybe this is some kind of special ritual of Chinese gardeners? It turns out that everything is simple. All diseases that were in the seeds will remain in the old soil. The plant is planted in new soil free from accumulated “sores”. There is every chance to grow tomatoes strong and healthy.
Features of care
Young tomatoes need good lighting so that the stems do not begin to stretch. You can use a lamp as additional light. The Athlete remedy is suitable for growth inhibition. Picked plants need loose soil, otherwise the root system of tomato seedlings obtained in the Chinese way will not receive enough oxygen. Water the seedlings as the soil dries, at the rate of 1 tablespoon of water per 0.1 liter container. This organization of watering allows you to avoid “black leg”.
The Chinese way of preparing and caring for seedlings is quite labor-intensive, but the result is worth it! It is especially good for tall varieties of plants. Reviews from summer residents are mostly positive.
