Temperature for tomato seedlings: what is optimal for growing

The temperature for tomato seedlings is a variable constant, which should change depending on the phases of plant development. By varying the temperature indicators, it is possible to hold back the rapid growth of tomato tops or cause intensive branching of the root system. With the right temperature, you can stimulate the seeds to accelerate germination or prepare seedlings for planting in the ground. For growing tomatoes, maintaining the right thermometer is as important as timely watering or quality top dressing.

Thermal preparation of seeds

Heat treatment of tomato seeds is not one of the mandatory procedures for growing crops and not all manuals include this item, but it has been noticed that heated tomato seeds sprout more amicably and form a stronger sprout than unheated seeds. Options for the procedure for preparing tomato seeds depend on the preference of the owner of the summer cottage. Let's name the main methods of temperature influence on tomato seeds:

• "winter" method used at the end of March - tomato seeds are tied into a knot using a simple handkerchief and hung next to the central heating battery until the very moment germination begins - until April - May;
• on the cap of a table lamp turned upside down, a clean paper sheet is placed and a thin layer of tomato seeds is poured; warm-up time - three hours with occasional stirring of seeds;
• to make the seeds germinate faster, use an oven preheated to 50-55 ^{C, in which a baking sheet with tomato seeds is placed for two hours;}
• heating with water is used immediately before germinating the seeds - for this they are wrapped in a cloth bag and dipped in hot (50-55 ^{C) water for 2.5-3 hours; during this time, hot water is added so that the optimum temperature is maintained.}

Warming up the seed material has an impact on the quality of germination and speeds up the harvest time, the tomato grows faster, however, to resist diseases, prevent a negative reaction of tomato seedlings to possible cold snaps or excess (lack) of moisture, they use the opposite method of thermal preparation - hardening tomato seeds low temperatures.

For the procedure, tomato seeds should be placed in a saucer, pour water over them, cover first with gauze, and then with cellophane and put in the freezer for a day. At the same time, the temperature should not be higher than -1 С and not lower than -3 С.Then contrasting is performed by transferring the frozen tomato seeds for another day, at normal room temperature. In total, hardening by such methods is carried out two to three times. During processing, tomato seeds may germinate, and after this happens, the hardening is stopped.

At what temperature to germinate seeds

One and a half months before the start of the summer season and the time when tomato seedlings will need to be transplanted into the ground, germinated tomato seeds are planted in seedlings. From this moment until the first sprouts hatch, the optimum temperature for the germination of tomato seeds is 21-23 C.

With these temperature conditions and good soil moisture, you can see the tomatoes sprouted after just a week.

When this happens, seedling boxes are placed on the most illuminated window sills of the house or on the brightest areas of the greenhouse and they try to lower the overall temperature to critical levels, while the tomatoes germinate.During the day, the minimum temperature for seedlings is now 13 C, and at night 11 ^{C. Such acclimatization, during the period when the germination of tomatoes begins, must take place, since the procedure is responsible for the correct reaction of young plants to the effects of low positive temperatures.}

The next important step in growing tomato seedlings is picking seedlings into separate pots. This procedure is stressful for immature plants, so preparation for it begins 3-5 days before the manipulation and consists in placing seedlings in conditions of temperature reduced to 17 ^{С. If the climate is regulated by opening and closing the window transoms, care must be taken that the tomatoes do not end up in a drafty place.}

The appearance of cotyledon leaves serves as a signal of the readiness of tomato seedlings for picking. In pre-prepared containers, tomato seedlings are deepened to the very leaves and watered with water aged at room temperature for three days.Then the tomatoes are shaded, without limiting the passage of ventilation sufficient for he althy growth, but they remove the shelter only after three days, when the plants are well rooted.

After picking, the temperature for growing tomato seedlings is lowered, bringing it closer to those indicators that corresponded to the care of freshly germinated seeds - that is, during the day, it will be 19-21 C, and at night 12-14 ^{C. Such a competent adjustment will subsequently allow abundant flowering to form with a rather modest development of greenery to the lower fruiting brush.}

What temperature is needed for planting seedlings in the ground

After the appearance of the fifth leaf, it is no longer rational to keep seedlings in a pot, as it begins to rapidly grow and form tops. 10-14 days before transplanting to a permanent place, tomato seedlings are hardened by gradually approaching conditions that will become the norm for the plant and, accordingly, should not cause discomfort.

To start hardening prior to planting, choose a warm day without precipitation. Tomato seedlings are placed in a greenhouse with the frames removed or on a balcony for half an hour, the next day for an hour, and so on, bringing the time the plants stay in the air to six hours. Three days before transplanting, seedlings should be left in the greenhouse overnight.

Transfer plants outdoors only when the risk of frost in your area is reduced to zero. Any minus temperature for tomato seedlings is detrimental, as well as too high (more than 30 ^{С), although the degree of heat resistance increases in the plant as it approaches maturity.}

The optimal temperature for seedlings is well observed in the greenhouse, but here it is more important than protecting the tomatoes from the cold, it will not allow the plants to overheat. If the frames are not periodically opened or left ajar door, tomato seedlings can simply bake in the created microclimate.

You can regulate the temperature by spraying, using urea diluted in water at a low concentration - 2 teaspoons of urea per bucket of water. This solution also stimulates the development of the bush, and tomato seedlings grow faster.

Saving tomatoes from summer heat and spring frosts

Tomato seedlings planted in open ground are especially dependent on the influence of sunlight, which affect not only plants, but also the soil, drying it out and damaging the root system. It is possible to prevent cracking of the soil and “pull” the maximum possible amount of moisture to tomato seedlings, in the form of morning dew, by mulching with straw or freshly cut weeds. On the side where the sun's rays scorch the beds during daylight hours, it is necessary to create a natural shield over tomato seedlings in advance by planting corn, Jerusalem artichoke or sunflower.

When growing tomato seedlings, it is important not to rush into transplanting into open ground, correctly assessing the possible weather vagaries of your region. But it happens that frosts come in mid-June, when tomato seedlings are already starting to produce fruit clusters and the entire crop is at risk. In this situation, a mobile and quickly installed protection in the form of aluminum arcs, over which the film is stretched, is needed. If frosts hit the soil shortly after transplanting tomato seedlings, you can protect the plants on an individual basis by building a temporary cap over each from a plastic bottle with a cut-off neck.

As can be seen from the article, protecting tomato seedlings at the temperature level is no less important than moistening the soil or creating a comfortable nutrient medium. Starting from the moment when the seed germination temperature is put at the head of the process of laying the future crop and ending with the careful protection of growing plants from the heat and cold of the open area, it is precisely maintaining the optimal thermometer scale that will help preserve the tomato crop and make it an object of admiration for others.

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