Why tomatoes do not sprout and grow slowly: what to do

The timing of planting tomatoes is calculated based on the duration of the growing season of the variety and the harvest period. Therefore, the question of why tomato seedlings grow poorly is extremely relevant. Any delay in the development of plants during the seedling period affects their further productivity.

The germination of seeds and the growth rate of seedlings are affected by a complex of factors that are not so easy to control at home. First of all, this is the quality of the seed, how the tomato seeds are prepared for planting. The main influence is exerted by the air and soil temperature, their humidity, and the level of illumination.

For nutrition and rapid formation of the seedlings' root system, the soil structure must be breathable, with the necessary set of chemical elements. Only an analysis of all the data will make it possible to figure out why tomato seedlings are not growing at home, what should be done.

Important! Seedling retardation affects ultimate plant productivity.

Reason for slow seed germination

Sometimes the problems start as soon as the seeds are planted. If sprouts do not appear within a week, the question arises why the seeds do not germinate. It should be borne in mind that the germination and emergence of seedlings is affected by soil moisture, temperature, and the deepening of seeds during planting.

One of the reasons for poor germination of seeds may be their unsatisfactory quality. To avoid such an incident, it is enough to place the seeds in a glass of plain water. Empty seeds will remain on the surface, they are discarded, do not even try to germinate.
With a small amount of seedlings, the seeds are germinated before sowing, placing on a damp, paper towel. Germinated seeds are planted in the ground, being very careful not to damage the sprout. This method is 100% germination, but requires accuracy.
Under all conditions, tomato seeds germinate fairly quickly in 3-4 days, but in most cases it takes 7-14 days to germinate. So worrying ahead of time why the tomatoes do not sprout is not worth it. You need to keep the temperature in the range of 22-25 degrees, and the soil in a moist state, which will help the seeds germinate.
If the box with seedlings is covered with film or glass, and is located on the window, then in the daytime under the rays of the sun, the temperature under the film can rise significantly. What can cause the steaming of seeds and the death of a hatched sprout. At temperatures above 30 degrees, the film is removed. Until the seedlings have risen, the boxes should be in a dark place.
When planting seeds in the ground to a depth of more than 2 cm, and abundant watering, a layer of soil stuck together can be the reason why the seedlings cannot sprout. It should be noted that the structure of the soil should be light, moisture-absorbing and breathable. Heavy, acidic soil can cause seeds not to germinate. This must be taken into account when preparing the soil substrate.
When planting deeply, seedlings are weakened, have too elongated hypocotyl knee. If the seeds are located too close to the surface, then there is a danger of them drying out. In both cases, you will have to wait longer for shoots, in a more extended period.

Seeds in preparation for sowing are disinfected, hardened and saturated with microelements, in the hope of getting he althy plants from tomato seedlings. The soil is used only clean, without pests and weeds. All these measures are not unreasonable and can significantly affect the development of plants.

What delays the growth of seedlings

With the advent of seedlings, the plant begins to develop rapidly, building up the root system and forming the first real leaves. At this stage, it is necessary to reduce the temperature and provide the plant with adequate lighting.

Lack of light development retardation

Newly hatched sprouts have a very limited supply of food. From the soil, the sprouted shoots receive only mineral substances, while organic substances must be produced independently.

When there is insufficient light, photosynthesis is so reduced that most of the organic matter is burned in the process of respiration. Plants germinated in such conditions, the green mass is poorly formed. They are strongly drawn out, having used up the reserves of nutrients from the seed. Weakened, frail growth runs the risk of getting sick with a black stalk.Fungal diseases not only slow down growth, but can destroy a fragile plant.

Therefore, in the first days, 2-3 days, round-the-clock illumination is used, then the illumination lasts up to 15-16 hours. With sufficient light, the process of photosynthesis is accelerated. The plant produces an order of magnitude more organic matter than it uses for respiration. This allows the plant to actively develop. After 15-20 days, tomato seedlings not only look stronger, but are also ready for picking.

Stunting after picking

The question of why seedlings do not recover well after a pick arises quite often. Perhaps mistakes were made during transplantation, you did something wrong. For a plant, this is a serious stress when up to 50% of the integrity of the roots is violated.

Important! Simultaneously with the growth of the first leaf on the main root, root tubercles are actively formed, which are not damaged during transplantation.

Seedlings dive in order to increase the feeding area of seedlings, to enable the root system of the plant to fully develop. Picking should be carried out when the first sheet appears. At a later date, when the roots have already sprouted, the damage will be more significant.
When picking, growth stops due to the rooting process of seedlings, which can last 10-14 days. It seems that tomato seedlings are not growing. But at this time, the lost roots are actively restored. This process is especially successful in young plants. In a day they form separate new roots.
Tomato seedlings grow slowly, the picking of which was carried out at a later age, when the central and lateral roots had already grown. Their violation leads to an imbalance in the size of the root system of the plant and its aerial part. Such seedlings are restored for a long time, which also affects the quality of the plant itself.
When picking, pay attention to the fact that it is more efficient to grow seedlings in boxes, because it is in them that the root system does not encounter obstacles for growth for a long time. Tomatoes grown in containers up to 0.2 liters are of lower quality. The root system, not being able to fully develop, gives a signal to the plant about the impossibility of further growth. A program of low yields is being laid, plants take root worse.

Plants may have a different length of rooting period. If some tomato seedlings are poorly restored, what to do, how to help her. You need to be patient and after a couple of weeks to carry out individual feeding, taking into account the condition of the seedlings. In this case, it is necessary to strictly observe the light and temperature balance. Moderate watering should be combined with subsequent loosening of the soil.

If the plants have overcome the first, most difficult stages of development for them, then worries about why tomatoes do not grow have already ended. With increasing daylight hours, stronger seedlings will require simpler care, which comes down to regular watering.