10 rules for successfully growing tomato seedlings in an apartment

For tomato seedlings, it is important to get good lighting, have a comfortable temperature and moderate humidity. And also what else do you need to know about growing tomatoes in an apartment?

Even the most experienced gardeners have problems growing tomatoes. For some, the seedlings do not germinate, for some they are very weak, and for some they have sprouted, and then they suddenly disappear and gradually die. This is all due to the fact that it is difficult to create comfortable conditions for seedlings in our apartments. It is very important for tomatoes to get plenty of light, be at a comfortable temperature, and be in moderate humidity. In this article, these important details will be discussed.

1. Tomatoes in the apartment: no need to rush to sowing

Quite often, inexperienced summer residents, in pursuit of an early harvest, cannot determine the date when to plant seedlings. This seedling naturally outgrows, and then when it is planted in the soil on the site, it gets sick for a long time. Therefore, it is very difficult for her to get a good and early harvest. Seedlings that have been sown later than in due time begin to bear fruit early. The timing of when you need to plant seedlings in most cases depends on the region in which you live and its climate. It is also important to decide where you will plant the seedlings later, in a greenhouse or in open soil. You should not plant seedlings just as early if they are planted in the ground and you will not have the opportunity to come to the site often. Because there may be situations such as the return of cold weather and it will be necessary to cover the seedlings in order to preserve them. A fairly convenient way to calculate the dates of sowing tomatoes is in this way. It is necessary from the approximate date of planting seedlings in the soil to count back the age recommended for growing and the time for seed germination, you should get about a week. On the basis of practice, reference data have been developed, that is, the age of growing tomatoes. For late varieties, the best period is 70 days, mid-ripening - 55-60 days, early-ripening varieties - 45-55 days. But of course, in all these terms, you need to take into account the weather conditions of the region.

2. Tomatoes in the apartment: do not forget about preparing the soil

In the soil, there is almost always the so-called "black leg", or, in a scientific way, the causative agent of diseases "rot of the root collar of seedlings." Therefore, if you do not want your seedlings to die from this disease, it is imperative to decontaminate the soil. In order not to suffer with soil cultivation, you can use the modern drug "Fitosporin". It is used strictly according to the instructions for it, and what is not unimportant is not a chemical, but a biological one.

3. Tomatoes in the apartment: seed treatment before sowing

Not all summer residents know that, in addition to the soil, pathogens can also persist in seeds. And there are quite a few such diseases in tomato seeds. Therefore, it is a very important procedure to treat seeds for various diseases. The simplest and cheapest way to process seeds is by etching in a solution of potassium permanganate (1%). Processing lasts no more than half an hour. After that, the seeds must be rinsed with water.

4. Tomatoes in the apartment: you need to sow tomato seeds correctly

When sowing tomato seeds, the distances between them must be strictly observed. Because if you do not keep the distance, when the seeds germinate, they will interfere with each other, and this will also provoke their diseases. Therefore, the seeds must be planted in rows of 4-5 centimeters between them, and 1-2 centimeters between plants, to a depth of about one centimeter. It is best and more convenient to die out all this with a ruler, and then carefully, using tweezers, already sow tomato seeds.

5. Tomatoes in the apartment: temperature control

The optimum temperature for germination of tomato seeds is about 22-25 degrees Celsius. Therefore, it must be borne in mind that even if you placed the seedlings by the window, the temperature in the apartment is lower than outside the window. Therefore, if you put containers on the windowsill and think that this is enough, you are mistaken, because the seeds simply will not germinate. In order for the seeds to sprout in this case, you need to create conditions there, it can be a window sill insulation, or put a curbstone or a chair to the battery near the window and place a container with seedlings there. In order not to miss the temperature regime, you can put a thermometer next to it. Because seedlings can die not only because of the cold, but because of the heat too. After the seeds germinate, the seedlings can be hardened, that is, the temperature can be reduced to 12-15 degrees Celsius, for about a week. After the seedlings get stronger, the temperature needs to be kept at 18-22 degrees during the day, and 14-16 degrees at night. If the temperature is higher, the seedlings will outgrow. It is very convenient to monitor the temperature on modern plastic windows, besides, it is very easy to ventilate without creating a draft.

6. Tomatoes in the apartment: supplementary lighting of early sowing of seedlings

For the normal development of tomatoes, a lot of light is needed, so it is important to determine the amount of seedlings and whether you can provide this amount with comfortable conditions. Also, seedlings with early sowing need to be supplemented, many gardeners do this using ordinary daytime lamps, because it is not possible to buy phytolamps designed for this, since they are very expensive. In order for tomatoes to fully develop light, they need 11-13 hours a day. Usually, with early sowing, the seedlings are illuminated in the morning for 2-3 hours and in the evening. Also, in addition to highlighting, you can place foil in front of the seedlings.

7. Water the tomatoes in the apartment in moderation

You cannot overdo it with watering tomato seeds, because if there is a lot of water in the soil, the seeds will begin to rot. Therefore, it is better to spray seedlings from a spray bottle, rather than water, thereby maintaining the soil in a slightly moist state. The water must be warm. If she is from the tap, then she needs to be allowed to settle a little so that the chlorine disappears. You need to water the tomatoes during the day, you cannot at night.

8. The pick must be done on time

If your seedlings are grown in a common container, then they will need to be sown. This is necessary so that it develops normally and does not need additional lighting, nutrition and moisture. Because, being in crowded conditions, the plant does not develop the root system properly, and this will affect the very development of the plant and its yield. Usually, a dive is made when the plant has two leaves, but experienced gardeners insist that a dive be done when four leaves appear, because they believe that it is at this moment that the plants are quite strong. When picking, the plants are seated one by one in cups. It is also advised to put 2-3 superphosphate granules at the bottom of the container when diving. Some gardeners insist on pinching because they believe that it is necessary for the formation of a branched root system. But here opinions are divided, since another part of gardeners believes that this is not necessary. After the picking has been completed, the tomatoes should in no case be exposed to the window, since the roots need to be given time to take root.That is why plants need to be placed in a cool place, covered with foil and sprinkled under it. In these conditions, it will be easier for them to settle down. While tomatoes take root, feeding them is not recommended. Because you can burn the root system, you can start feeding 10-14 days after the pick.

9. Correct feeding of seedlings

It is very difficult to grow good tomatoes without feeding seedlings. But very often gardeners overfeed. Top dressing is done every 10 days. When feeding, the soil must first be moistened, only after that start feeding, so as not to burn the roots. If the leaves of tomatoes are raised up, and the edges curl inward, then this is a sign of a lack of phosphorus. Also, such symptoms can occur if there is not enough light and heat. When the tips of the leaves dry out, this is a sign that the tomatoes lack potassium. If the color of the leaves has changed and become pale with a yellow tint, then this is a sign of a lack of nitrogen. But more often all these signs have seedlings that are "overexposed".

10. Before planting in the ground, the seedlings must be hardened.

The conditions under which the seedlings are grown in an apartment are very different from the conditions in the soil on the site. Therefore, before planting in the ground, the seedlings must be hardened so that they take root and begin to grow in the planted place. Hardening should be started about ten days before disembarkation. You need to start, therefore, at night to lower the temperature to twelve, plus fourteen degrees. Most often, seedlings are hardened on the balcony, so the easiest way is to let them get used to the change in temperature and light. Also, at the same time, you need to reduce the number of seedlings watering. Gradually, the seedlings will get stronger and grow.

Dear Readers! From this article, you realized that the conditions for creating tomato cultivation are not as difficult as they seem. You just need to remember them and follow them, then it will not be difficult for you to grow a good harvest of tomatoes.