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Did you know that one of the most delicious and healthy vegetables, the tomato, from a botanical point of view, is not a vegetable at all? Biologists say that it is a fruit, and its fruit is a berry. But this won’t make us love tomatoes any less. In addition to excellent taste and dietary qualities, a large amount of vitamins, organic acids and other useful substances, tomato supplies our body with lycopene. This substance has antioxidant properties, slows down the development of atherosclerosis, and most importantly, inhibits the development of tumors at the cellular level. Dried tomatoes contain the most lycopene. So, when growing seedlings of this wonderful fruit or vegetable on the windowsill, remember that this is not only a valuable dietary product, but also a whole pharmacy in one berry. Today we will look at the reasons for withering tomato seedlings.
Why do seedlings wither?
In order to answer this question, you need to know what is needed to successfully grow tomatoes:
- Neutral or slightly acidic soil;
- Intense lighting for 12 hours a day;
- Uniform and moderate soil moisture;
- Dry, warm air;
- Regular ventilation;
- Phosphorus supplements.
It definitely won’t do any good for tomatoes:
- High humidity of both soil and air;
- Excessive fertilizing, especially nitrogen;
- Cold content;
- Watering with cold water;
- Thickened plantings;
- Air temperature exceeding 36 degrees;
- Dense acidic soils.
All these factors will negatively affect the development of an adult plant, but they can simply destroy delicate seedlings with a thin root. It is very unpleasant when carefully grown seedlings begin to wither. There may be several reasons, and they are very different, but they are always associated with a violation of one or more of the above conditions for successful growing of tomatoes. This:
- Waterlogging or drying out of the soil;
- Wet air;
- Insufficient or excessive lighting;
- Thickened plantings;
- Too hot or cold;
- Incorrect feeding;
- Unsuitable soil;
- Drafts;
- Wrong place for growing seedlings;
- Diseases and pests;
- Adaptation after transplantation.
To make it easier for tomatoes to adapt after picking, treat them with a solution of epin on the leaf, and spill the soil with a solution of humate.
Let's take a closer look at the reasons for wilting of tomato seedlings. It should be noted that diseases are almost always caused by improper care or unsuitable soil. Pests either were originally in the soil for seedlings or got onto it from other indoor plants.
Soil as a cause of wilting
Not every soil is suitable for growing tomato seedlings. Acidic or dense soil itself can cause wilting and subsequently death of seedlings. If you make a mistake, replant it in the “correct” soil as quickly as possible. Fortunately, tomatoes tolerate transplantation well.
If you make the soil yourself, be sure to treat all its components in order to destroy pests and diseases. Even purchased soil needs to be steamed by placing a bag of it in a bucket and pouring boiling water over it.
Unsuitable place for growing seedlings
Do not place containers with seedlings directly under the window - tomatoes do not like drafts. Even if it does not open, cold air can leak through the cracks. The same goes for holes in window frames. The worst thing will happen to the seedlings when the cold wind blows towards the window. To avoid trouble, seal all holes.
Tomato seedlings can wither on the windowsill due to the fact that the plants located in close proximity to the window glass are cold.
Thickened plantings
If tomatoes are sown too thickly, the seedlings may not only stretch out, but also fall. In addition, thickened plantings can cause disease. black leg, which will definitely lead to the death of plants. If the seedlings turn out to be too thick, don’t expect trouble - pick it up as early as possible so that there is enough space for the tomatoes.
When the tomatoes grow up, thickened plantings will cause them to suffer from a lack of moisture and fertilizers - each root needs its own feeding area.
Errors when feeding
The reason that tomato seedlings wither may be a lack of nutrients in the soil. Most often this happens when we prepare the soil ourselves. Don't forget that fertilizing is vital for plant development, especially in the early stages. After all, nutrients are the building blocks from which a plant is formed. Read our article on feeding seedlings and follow its advice. Purchased soil contains a certain amount of fertilizer, but tomatoes quickly use it up.
You can feed tomatoes correctly, but keep them at such a low temperature that they will not absorb nutrients.
The cause of wilting and lodging of seedlings can also be excess fertilizer, especially nitrogen - from its excess it becomes very stretched and can turn yellow or simply die due to root burn.
Watering errors
Tomato seedlings can wither from both overwatering and lack of moisture. This may seem strange, but the least dangerous is short-term drying of seedlings. If she has hung her ears, water her, but carefully. The worst thing you can do is immediately water wilted plants deeply. First, lightly moisten the soil, then after a couple of hours, water a little more. Most often, seedlings restore turgor without any damage to themselves.
Overwatering plants is much more dangerous. It can lead not only to seedlings withering, but also to root rot and blackleg. If you overwatered the seedlings slightly and immediately noticed it, just dust the soil with wood ash and be more careful in the future.
In case of severe overwatering or when the tomatoes have withered and died, urgent measures will be required:
- Remove the plants from the wet soil and clean the roots from the soil;
- Dip them into new, slightly damp soil;
- Using a teaspoon or tablespoon, depending on the size of the seedlings, carefully pour each plant with a faint pink solution of potassium permanganate;
- Treat the tomatoes leaf by leaf with Epin solution.
If we spray the tomatoes too hard (this should only be done if the air in the room is not just dry, but very dry), the soil will be black and appear damp. In fact, if you pick it out with a match, it may turn out that only the top layer is wet. Water the seedlings carefully in several stages.
Excess fertilizer can cause a whitish crust to form on the soil surface, which will interfere with normal watering. Try to carefully remove the top spoiled layer of soil. If it does, do the next few waterings with a weak solution of humate - it not only acts as a light fertilizer and stimulant, but also improves the soil structure. If the tomatoes grow too thick or the soil is hopelessly damaged, urgently plant the seedlings in another substrate.
Incorrect lighting
Without light, plant photosynthesis is impossible - this is the only source of energy that provides it. A lack of light for plants is no less dangerous than a lack of fertilizers and mistakes in watering. One of the signs of a lack of light is wilting and yellowing of the above-ground parts.
Tomatoes must be illuminated at least 12 hours a day. At the time when we grow seedlings, there is usually not enough natural light. Illuminate it with fluorescent lamps, or even better, with a phytolamp.
Less dangerous is excess light - a plant, like a person, needs a period of rest during the day. Some processes in it occur only in the dark, for example, the absorption of nutrients.
If you do not have the opportunity to install a lamp above the seedlings, install foil on the side of the box opposite the window - it will reflect sunlight and increase the light intensity.
Temperature
Tomatoes love heat, but there is a limit to everything. At temperatures above 36 degrees, tender seedlings may die - they will simply overheat, wither and dry out. It is unlikely that the room temperature will be so high in winter, but anything can happen.
At temperatures below 15 degrees, tomatoes stop absorbing phosphorus, which is vital for them, and at 10 degrees, nitrogen. The best temperature for growing tomato seedlings is 18-22 degrees, immediately after emergence - 3-4 degrees lower.
Conclusion
Provide your tomatoes with comfortable conditions, and they will reward you with a bountiful harvest.
