Content
Growing tomato seedlings is a common thing for experienced gardeners.
However, beginning vegetable growers are not always confident in their abilities. Picking is considered the most important step in caring for tomato seedlings. What is picking tomato seedlings? Why is this procedure carried out, which is so scary for novice gardeners? Diving, or planting tomato seedlings in larger containers, is done for specific purposes. Picking is carried out in order to help the root system develop well and gain strength before planting the tomatoes for permanent residence.
According to the rules, picking is the removal of the lower part of the central tap root in order to ensure the development of lateral roots.
Usually, tomato seedlings are picked once, but experienced summer residents know that for tall varieties, tomato seedlings need to be replanted.
The optimal time for picking is the appearance of two or three true leaves on the seedlings. Why is picking tomato seedlings necessary? It allows:
- weed out diseased, damaged or weakened plants;
- select the strongest and healthiest seedlings;
- create optimal and comfortable conditions for their development.
The third leaf appears on the seedlings 10 days after seed germination.At the moment the tomato seedling pecks and emerges, the root system is still very weak. Therefore, small seedlings only need a little space. As soon as the seedlings begin to grow, the plant will need optimal conditions to form a full-fledged root system and above-ground part. These conditions are what gardeners create for their “wards”. Some of the most necessary are the volume of soil in which tomato seedlings will grow and shortening the stem so that the plant does not stretch.
When to replant seedlings? Many gardeners check their deadlines with the recommendations of the lunar calendar in order to minimize trauma to the plants. If the sowing of tomato seeds for seedlings was also carried out taking into account the lunar sowing calendar, then the picking time will coincide in all respects. Why do you need to meet deadlines? Up to 10 days of age, the seedling has one tiny root, which is very problematic to replant without damaging it. Recovery will be delayed, and tomato seedlings will lag behind in development. At the age of over 15 days, the roots of densely sown plants will have time to intertwine with each other. By pulling one seedling, we damage the roots of neighboring ones, which also leads to an extension of the plant’s recovery time after picking.
Preparing tomatoes for picking
What needs to be taken into account in order for picking tomato seedlings to bring it maximum benefit? First, moisten the soil.
Watering should be carried out four to ten hours before picking. It is undesirable to replant tomato seedlings immediately after watering for certain reasons.
- Too wet soil becomes heavy. At the time of transplantation, there is a risk of breaking the delicate stem of the tomato seedling or tearing the thin roots.And if you delay replanting, the dry soil will fall off the roots, leaving them bare and unprotected from damage. In addition, dry roots can bend upward when picked, which can even lead to the death of a tomato seedling.
- The second factor is containers for picked seedlings. The volume of the planting pot must be sufficient for normal development of the root system. Otherwise, when planting in the ground, damage will occur, which will affect the survival rate of seedlings and the timing of harvest. Correct picking of tomato seedlings ensures that the seedling is shortened by 1/3 of its length and the plant is transplanted into a new larger container.
How to properly plant tomato seedlings? Let us dwell on the main stages and nuances of the procedure.
We pick tomatoes competently and without loss
At the very beginning of the process, we prepare everything necessary:
- Taru. Cups made of any material are suitable for picking - paper, peat, plastic. An excellent option is a nursery.
You can buy ready-made or make it yourself. Many summer residents cut used plastic bottles to the desired height and plant tomato seedlings in them. Paper and peat cups are particularly popular. They do not require subsequent transplantation of tomato seedlings into open ground. Just place the seedling along with the container in the ground and dig in. Paper easily decomposes in the soil, and the root system does not suffer when moving the tomato to a permanent place of residence. Plastic containers are also easy to cut without removing the seedling, which preserves the lump of earth around the roots.It is good to provide the container with drainage or a hole for water drainage. - Priming. An excellent option if you prepare a larger quantity of soil mixture in advance (at the time of sowing). In this case, you will be able to plant tomato seedlings into the prepared soil without wasting time on preparing it. Before planting seedlings, spill the soil with a disinfecting solution (potassium permanganate, Fitosporin).
- Dive tool.
A convenient peg, a teaspoon, or a wooden spatula will do. Some people work well with a toothpick. These devices are needed to dig up a seedling from the ground.
How to plant tomato seedlings so that the seedlings grow healthy?
We check the level of soil moisture in the pot with seedlings and start picking.
We fill the new container with prepared soil. Its temperature must be at least 20 °C. The soil in the pot is filled to 2/3 of its volume. Make a hole in the center with a pencil or stick, into which water is poured.
Then we remove the seedling from the ground along with the lump and place it in the hole made. You need to take a tomato seedling by the root ball. This technique protects the stem from damage.
Be careful not to bend the roots. The seedling is immersed in the soil up to the cotyledon leaves, but no more. This will lead to the rapid formation of new lateral roots. Then the soil is compacted around the stem.
One more nuance. Many gardeners are inclined to pinch the root of the transplanted plant. And some consider this technique optional. In both cases, picked tomato seedlings grow lateral roots. Therefore, you can choose any option.
This leads to the formation of a crust and makes it difficult for air to reach the roots.
How to plant tomato seedlings in new containers? During the procedure, you should try to touch the tomato seedlings with your hands as little as possible. If you can’t pick up a lump of earth, then use fabric gloves. In this case, take the seedling by the leaves. They are easier to restore than the edge of the stem.
The planting scheme for tomato seedlings when diving is maintained: for low-growing varieties 8x8, for tall varieties - 10x10. In a large planting container, it is better to place the rows in a checkerboard pattern, then the seedlings will receive enough light. An excellent help for those who are doing this procedure for the first time will be a video with a detailed explanation of the process of picking tomatoes:
How to care for tomato seedlings after picking
After an important procedure, plants need to adapt. For the first 4-5 days, we do not water the picked tomato seedlings. Just don’t forget to slightly rotate the container around its axis once a day so that the seedlings grow evenly.
Then we resume regular watering. It is optimal to water the seedlings no more than twice a week during this period.
Pickled tomato seedlings respond well to feeding. Any complex fertilizer is suitable. Two feedings at intervals are enough:
- the first time 2 weeks after the pick;
- the second time 15 days after the first.
Tips for gardeners when picking tomato seedlings:
- Do not bury seedlings above their growing point.
- Do not delay the dive time. Small seedlings take root faster.
- Disinfect the soil to help the seedlings resist pathogenic bacteria.
- Don’t rush into feeding immediately after picking. Wait for the required time.
Take into account the recommendations of experienced gardeners and specialists, watch videos, read specialized literature and apply the knowledge gained. Your seedlings will be the strongest and healthiest!
