Content
Growing tomato seedlings is a little troublesome, but enjoyable. It’s very joyful to grow exactly the variety that you love. Many summer residents like to experiment and grow new varieties. They are trying to find ways to get a harvest from tomatoes that were not previously planted on their site. But in some cases, seedlings have an unusual appearance. Then the question arises - why are tomato seedlings thin and long?
Tomato seedlings require certain conditions. Strong, healthy tomato seedlings are the key to your harvest.
But sometimes the seedlings become very elongated and become pale and weak. In this case, many gardeners are already beginning to worry about further success. Many questions arise. Why did the tomato seedlings turn out to be overgrown? What to do if tomato seedlings have stretched out? How can this be corrected or avoided in the future? How to tell if your tomato seedlings are stretched. The first indicator is the large distance between nodes.
Important factors when growing tomato seedlings
The stretched seedling does not look very good:
- the stem is long, thin and weak;
- the color of the seedling and leaves is pale;
- the whole bush is flimsy and bendable.
To prevent this from happening, you need to know the basic parameters, the violation of which leads to the fact that tomato seedlings begin to stretch. Let's list the main ones:
Lighting
All plants need light, especially during the growing season. Therefore, tomato seedlings are drawn to the light to ensure good life. Summer residents create the shortage of light for seedlings themselves. Firstly, it is a thickened sowing of seeds. Each hatched seed needs light; the seedlings begin to stretch upward to receive it in sufficient quantities. It’s worth thinking about what would be better – a lot of frail seedlings and a few, but powerful and healthy ones. Secondly, it is easier to care for a smaller number of strong tomato bushes than a group of sickly ones. You will have to spend more effort on restoring the seedlings and maintaining them in good condition.
Ambient temperature
It must be maintained depending on the phase of development of the seedlings. If this parameter is violated, the tomato bushes also lose their rhythm and begin to drag.
Changing weather conditions
Growing seedlings is troublesome in early spring due to unstable climatic conditions. Grown seedlings may find themselves in conditions with insufficient lighting precisely when intensive growth is needed. When planning spring work, take this factor into account.
Watering
Here it is necessary to maintain the norms for young plants. Excessive moisture pushes tomatoes to grow rapidly, and at this moment the seedlings do not have time to absorb a sufficient amount of nutritional components.
Feeding
Excessive application of nutrients stimulates increased growth of stems and leaves.The harmonious development of all life processes is disrupted, and tomato seedlings are stretched.
These are the main reasons for pulling tomato seedlings, although there are others. For example, choosing a variety. Tall tomatoes require a slightly different regime. Some elite varieties also need to be kept in different conditions. Be sure to consider these factors as well.
Summer residents need to understand two issues. The first is how to prevent tomato seedlings from being pulled out (preventive measures). Second - what to do if the tomato seedlings have stretched out? Let's start with prevention. Therefore, it is better to know useful information before sowing seeds. This will save time, effort and budget from re-purchasing seeds.
Preventing tomato seedlings from being pulled out
Why do tomato seedlings stretch? In order for tomatoes in seedlings to grow correctly, you will have to follow simple recommendations.
Tomatoes are sown as seedlings in early spring. At this time, the sun is not yet actively giving off heat and light. When growing tomato seedlings on a windowsill, provide additional lighting. Place it on top and side. In this case, the seedlings will not lean in one direction. It is necessary to ensure that the degree of illumination from different sides is equal. To ensure that tomatoes receive the right amount of light, gardeners use energy-saving lamps, such as daylighting.
Tomato seedlings need to be provided with full daylight hours. It equals 15 hours per day. Therefore, the seedlings are illuminated to this parameter.
The second important condition is that before the tomatoes sprout, place the containers in a place with an air temperature of 25°C to 28°C.However, after they appear, urgently lower the temperature to 15-17 degrees. Otherwise, with good moisture and warmth, the sprouts grow rapidly without becoming stronger, which leads to elongated seedlings. An indicator of correctly maintained temperature will be a thick stem, dark green color of the leaves and low growth of stocky bushes. After two to three weeks, increase the temperature to allow the seedlings to grow.
If the tomato seedlings not only stretch out, but also become pale in color, you will have to feed them. For such feeding you will need urea as a source of nitrogen. It is diluted in water (1 tablespoon per 10 liters of water) and watered over small tomatoes. Then provide a cool temperature (10°C). The seedlings will stop growing, but will regain color.
Of course it's easier to warn outgrowing tomato seedlings, but this happens to many gardeners.
We correct shortcomings
And now the second option, when the tomato seedlings have stretched out, what to do? If some points are missed, the tomatoes have managed to outgrow, you still shouldn’t give up and you need to try to correct the situation. In this case, you will have to perform some actions:
Ensure a proper balance of nutrients in the soil. Gardeners use stimulants and fertilizers. For example, "Athlete". The drug will stop the growth of above-ground parts of seedlings and strengthen the root system. The action lasts a week, then the procedure is repeated. It is possible to spray tomato seedlings with the preparation. Don't overdose! This is signaled by white spots on the leaves. After a while they will disappear and then you can continue.
Another option for reducing growth:
If the seedlings are very overgrown, then each stem can be cut into two parts.
The upper part is placed in a container of water for root development. This will take about 7 days. As soon as good roots appear, the seedling is placed in a planting pot with nutritious soil.
It will take root and you will get an extra tomato bush. As soon as the top shoot reaches a size of 5 cm, all lower stems are removed. This procedure must be done 18-20 days before planting tomato seedlings at a permanent place of residence (open ground or greenhouse).
The second way to preserve seedlings is used already during planting. To do this, the elongated stem is buried in the ground. Do not dig a deep hole and plant tomato seedlings in unheated soil. It is enough to dig shallow grooves (up to 10 cm), add a nutritious soil mixture and fill with water. After absorbing moisture, place the seedlings by placing them at the bottom of the groove. Maintain a distance of 50 cm between the tops of the bushes.
Additional roots will form on the stem lying underground, and the tomato seedlings will be strong and healthy.
Experimental gardeners use Mitlider's advice - cut off the lower leaves on seedlings. This is done as soon as the leaves of neighboring seedlings begin to touch. Stress causes tomato seedlings to stop growing for a week.
All of the above methods work, try it and grow strong tomato seedlings for your plot.
