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Tomato seeds germinate within 1-1.5 weeks, less often up to 15 days. Germination is influenced by several factors, including the quality of planting material and care conditions. How to speed up this process is described in the article.
What determines the germination of tomato seeds?
Normally, tomato seedlings appear after sowing in 8-12 days. However, it also happens that time has passed and the sprouts have not yet formed. There are several reasons for this phenomenon. They are often associated with insufficient quality seeds or improper care. The main factors are described in more detail below.
Seed age
Regardless of the variety, tomato seeds can take a relatively long time to germinate. It is best to take fresh seed from last year. It is also allowed to use grains aged 2-3 years. But if you take seeds 4-5 years after collection, there is a serious risk that they will not be able to germinate.
The fact is that the old seed gradually dies off, and the reserves of nutrients, including fats and carbohydrates, decrease. In addition, it is unknown in what conditions it was stored. Therefore, it is necessary to carefully examine the seeds - only healthy tomato grains without wrinkles, cracks and other defects can germinate normally.
Variety
The characteristics of the variety partly influence how quickly tomato seeds germinate. So, if the grains are large, with a dense shell, the sprouts will take a little longer to emerge, for example, after 12-15 days. If the grains are small, they will sprout in 5-8 days.
It is also worth considering that in some varieties germination persists for 5-7 years. This is a high-quality planting material that can be used after such a long time. But in any case, it is better not to take risks and take grains no more than three years old.
Seed quality
Seeds of even last year's tomato harvest may not germinate due to poor quality. This occurs due to violation of any storage conditions:
- temperature no more than +18 OWITH;
- low air humidity;
- complete absence of water (even droplets);
- dark room.
High-quality tomato seeds have very high germination rates
If the seed is poorly stored, it may not germinate. And even if the sprouts appear, they will turn out to be weak and will begin to lag behind in development. Therefore, it is advisable to buy grains only from trusted suppliers with many years of experience and positive reviews.
Preliminary processing
It is known from experience that tomato seeds soaked for seedlings germinate noticeably faster. If you hold them for just a few hours in a solution of a growth stimulator, the period is reduced by 1.5-2 times - the sprouts begin to sprout within 5-7 days. As a rule, first the grains are placed in ordinary settled water for 4-5 hours, and then in a solution of a drug that activates growth processes:
- "Epin";
- "Zircon";
- "Heteroauxin";
- "Energen".
If you don’t have anything at hand, a growth stimulator that will allow tomato grains to sprout faster, you can also use aloe juice. Grind several leaves, squeeze through cheesecloth and obtain a clear liquid. It is diluted with water twice and then the seed is placed for several hours or overnight. The effect will be about the same.
It should be understood that there are often coated or encrusted grains on sale. They are already disinfected and treated with growth stimulants - covered with a special powder. Such grains cannot even be soaked in water; they are immediately planted dry. Moreover, they begin to sprout literally after 5-7 days.
Soil quality
Tomatoes are quite demanding, and in poor soil they will sprout poorly or not sprout at all. The soil must meet several requirements at once:
- fertility, nutrient diversity;
- loose structure (absence of a large amount of clay, lumps);
- pH in the range of 6-7 (the environment is slightly acidic or neutral, but definitely not alkaline).
The soil for growing tomatoes must be fertile and loose
To ensure that tomato seeds can germinate normally, purchase universal soil for seedlings that meets all these parameters. On the other hand, you can create a fertile mixture yourself.
To do this, take a surface layer of soil (turf) and add compost or humus, as well as peat and sand in a ratio of 2:1:1:1. It is first recommended to keep it in the freezer for several days or pour it with a weak solution of potassium permanganate. This is the best way to disinfect.
Planting depth
This factor is also important, since planting too deeply leads to the fact that the sprouts do not break through. If planted directly on the surface, the grains may dry out due to poor contact with soil particles. Therefore, you should place the seeds like this:
- small in size to a depth of 0.5 cm;
- large - 1 cm, but no more.
Lighting
Tomato shoots appear literally 8-12 days after sowing. However, for this it is important not only to prepare a fertile mixture, but also to provide the correct lighting. Grains for seedlings are planted from the end of February, when the sun is still low.
Therefore, it is recommended to hang phytolamps or ordinary diodes above the boxes. They should be at a height of 40-50 cm. The total duration of daylight should be 14-15 hours, so in the first month additional lighting is required both in the morning and in the evening.
Temperature
Tomatoes are thermophilic - their seeds can germinate only at a temperature of 23-28 degrees, i.e. above room temperature.Boxes with seedlings are placed on a well-lit windowsill not far from the radiator, but not next to it (dries out the air). At night the temperature can drop to 20-22 degrees, but not lower.
Tomato seedlings grow well at temperatures above room temperature
If it is less than +18 OC, there is a risk that the tomato seeds will simply rot. To prevent this from happening, they are covered with film and removed regularly for ventilation. And when the sprouts begin to sprout, the shelter is finally removed. It is also important not to create drafts to avoid temperature changes.
Soil moisture
It is known that tomatoes are a moisture-loving crop, like many other plants (eggplants, peppers, cucumbers). Therefore, when planting, it is important to moisten the soil generously with a spray bottle, then cover it with film and create a greenhouse effect.
On the other hand, if you overdo it and make the soil too wet, it will lead to the opposite effect. The soil will become too dense, the seeds will lose access to oxygen and may “suffocate”. In addition, due to excess moisture, some of the grains may rot.
How many days does it take for tomato seeds to germinate in the ground?
Typically, tomatoes sprout after planting in 8-12 days. This is an average range though, as it depends on several factors. Moreover, the main thing is pre-sowing treatment - if there was pre-soaking, the period is significantly reduced.
How long does it take for tomato seeds to germinate after soaking?
The soaking process speeds up the emergence of sprouts. If you put tomato seeds not only in water, but also in a solution of a growth stimulator, they will begin to sprout literally in 5-7 days. This is especially important in the case of late sowing, in order to then have time to pick up the seedlings and transfer them to open ground.
How many days does it take for tomato seeds to sprout without soaking?
Dry tomato seeds germinate for seedlings in about 10-12 days, i.e. within 1.5 weeks. The exception is those grains that are produced in coated form. They have already been treated with growth stimulants and disinfectants, so they will probably sprout twice as fast.
What tomato seedlings look like
Tomato seedlings first appear as whitish, greenish sprouts that break through the surface layer of soil. Quite quickly they produce the first pair of leaves. The plates are very narrow, literally 3-5 mm, light green in color. At this point, you should remove the film and continue to water the seedlings regularly.
After a few days, the leaves greatly increase in size and acquire a brighter green color. If some part of the seed has not begun to sprout by this moment, there is no longer a chance.
As soon as 1 or 2 pairs of true, rather large, lanceolate-shaped leaves appear, you should start picking. However, if you initially plant the grains in separate containers, as shown in the photo, this step is skipped.
Tomato shoots in separate cups
What to do to make tomato seeds germinate faster
To help tomato seeds germinate faster, you can take several measures:
- Choose really high-quality planting material from a reliable supplier.
- Carefully study the characteristics of the variety in the description, and also consider the grains themselves. If some of them are dried out and wrinkled, discard them.
- If the seeds are not treated by the manufacturer, soak them in water for several hours, then put them in a growth stimulator solution overnight.
- Prepare fertile soil and water it well, plant the grains at a suitable depth.
- Provide not only regular watering, but also warmth and sufficient lighting.
Conclusion
Tomato seeds germinate within 8-12 days, sometimes slower. To speed up the process, it is important to soak them in advance in both water and a growth stimulant solution. Thanks to this, seedlings will appear within 5-7 days after sowing.
