Tomato seedlings in peat pots: how to plant and grow

To get seedlings of young tomatoes, use peat cups. A variety of shapes and volumes allows you to grow any vegetable crop in them. A high-quality shell does not soak, does not deform, and the root system of seedlings is less susceptible to injury during transplantation.

Choose the best option

The cups include:

• moor peat - 70%;
• wood pulp - 30%.

Proportions should not be violated, otherwise tomato seedlings in peat cups will not develop fully.On the packaging, the manufacturer indicates the presence of possible stimulants and additives. Peat is an environmentally friendly material that does not contain pathogens and toxic substances.

The loose structure of peat cups promotes free penetration of air to the roots of tomato seedlings. Pay attention to the wall thickness (no more than 1.5 mm), such cups decompose in about 30 days.

Even a quality product has flaws:

1. The likelihood of hypothermia of the roots and the development of the fungus. Constant evaporation from the surface reduces the temperature of the soil.
2. The walls of the container sometimes become an "impenetrable" barrier. Tomato seedlings obtained in this way may be slightly behind in development.
3. Peat is a soil oxidizing agent, such an environment prevents the absorption of potassium necessary for the growth of stems.

Preparation of soil and planting material

To make the shell rot faster underground, the containers are impregnated with liquid mineral fertilizers, the walls can be additionally treated with foundation. It is better to sow the seeds dry to prevent the appearance of mold. If there are doubts about the quality of the material, then it is pickled with diluted manganese or a fungicide. Seeds can be germinated in soil extract. To do this:

1. The earth is flooded with water.
2. Let it stand for a few hours.
3. Soak tomato seeds until sprouts appear.

The mixture for tomato seedlings in peat pots is prepared nutritious, any baking powder is added: vermiculite, coarse sand, sawdust. Combine soddy land with humus (1: 1). Pots can be filled with coconut substrate - for young tomatoes this is a good source of nutrients.The soil, before sowing, is disinfected, kept in an oven or spilled with boiling water with potassium permanganate.

Agrotechnics of planting works

Growing tomato seedlings in peat cups lasts 55-60 days. Tomatoes for seedlings are sown according to the lunar calendar, choosing favorable days from January to March. The exact timing depends on the variety.

For planting tomato seeds, the smallest blocks of pressed peat or common containers are suitable. Grooves are made on the surface of the soil no more than 1.5 cm deep, sown one at a time, sometimes 2-3 pieces. Sprinkle with earth or vermiculite on top, then spray tomato seeds from a spray bottle.

Germination temperature +20… +25 °C. With this mode, tomato seeds will hatch in 5-6 days, if you increase the degrees to +30 ° C, then green "loops" will appear in 2-3 days.With mass seedlings, the daytime temperature is reduced to + 20 … +22 ° C, nighttime to +16 ° C. This is necessary for the normal growth of seedlings. Negative factors during this period:

• too hot, unventilated room;
• lack of light (less than 12-15 hours);
• drafts.

With a lack of lighting, an excess of fertilizers and thickening - tomato seedlings in peat pots stretch out, the stems become thinner. You can correct the situation by picking, or by adding soil. Too dense planting is thinned out.

Seedling picking

Tomato seedlings dive into peat pots after the appearance of the first pair of leaves. The taproot is pinched to 1/3, which stimulates the appearance of small suction roots. The temperature of the content is increased by 2-3 degrees.When the seedlings take root, they return to their previous regimes. In the early days, protect from direct sunlight and drafts.

Sometimes they practice such cultivation of tomato seedlings in peat pots: several pieces dive into one container at once. The stems are tightly (for fusion) pulled together with a thread. After the top of the weaker one is removed, the result is one strong trunk with a powerful “double” root system.

Possible diseases during this period:

1. Yellow lower leaves - a symptom of a lack of nutrients (nitrogen), light or beginning "black leg", brown spotting.
2. Rotting of the stems, the appearance of mold - overflow or infectious diseases.

In block containers, make sure that the roots do not grow into adjacent compartments.Single peat pots with tomato seedlings are wrapped with dark plastic wrap. This helps to prevent the drying of the earth, will not allow the crystallization of water s alts under the influence of the sun, which is a danger to the roots.

Tomato seedlings dived into peat pots are placed on a pallet, at a small distance from each other. Crowding will prevent normal air exchange and aeration of the seedlings.

Seedling care and hardening

Tomato seedlings in peat pots dive in order to provide a larger area of nutrition. Overgrowing tomatoes are retarded in this way. You can also stop growth by hardening.

With the advent of the second pair of leaves, the seedlings are kept for 2.5 weeks at temperatures:

• daily +18… +20 °C;
• night +8… +10 °C.

Afterwards they return to the modes: +14… +16 °C at night and +20… +22 °C during the day. A few days before the transplant, they are put outside all night. Hardened seedlings have short internodes, a strong pubescent stem, blue-green foliage. You can plant such plants in ridges 10 days earlier than usual.

Sowing tomatoes one at a time in a volume of 0.5 ml is impractical:

• container takes up extra space;
• more time needed for grooming.

Tomatoes, unlike peppers and pumpkin, tolerate picks easily. After a few days, the seedlings start growing together. 7-10 days after the procedure, tomatoes in peat pots are fed with a liquid solution of mineral fertilizers.

Crops grown in pots need frequent but not too much watering.Peat holds and retains moisture well, so do it as carefully as possible. This method will help to avoid the appearance of mold and fungi. Lower watering is convenient when planting containers are temporarily placed in a pan with warm water.

Transplanting in open ground

Tomato seedlings grown in peat pots are transplanted to a permanent place along with the container. Before planting tomatoes, the cups are poured abundantly with water. To prevent viral diseases, plants are sprayed with 1% Bordeaux mixture.

Peat cups are completely deepened, sprinkled with soil by 2 cm. The soil in the near-stem circle is watered and mulched. The next few days closely monitor the landing. A slight drying of the soil layers will cause "woodiness" of the walls of undecomposed containers. A developed crop with a large number of leaves will be in a limited space.

For easier root penetration, the bottom of the containers is carefully cut off. The walls can be cut or punched with a sharp tool, but not completely removed. In the future, crops are watered strictly under the root, combining irrigation with the application of liquid fertilizers.

He althy tomato seedlings in peat pots are within the power of anyone, even a novice gardener.

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