How to sow tomatoes for seedlings step by step with photos and videos

Beginning gardeners are wondering: "How to grow tomato seedlings before the start of the season?". Preparing seedlings is one of the most important things that every gardener should be able to do. In the event that you have decided to purchase seedlings immediately ready for planting in the ground, it would be better to refuse it. You cannot be 100 percent sure that it will eventually germinate and produce a crop. The presence of a large number of leaves and a strong stem is not always an indicator of the he alth of seedlings.

It will be much better and more efficient if you do everything yourself. After reading this article, you will learn how to sow tomatoes for seedlings step by step.

Timing matters

The first thing to consider is the timing of seedlings. There are a wide variety of tomato varieties that require different start times for preparation and seedlings. There is the following division of tomato varieties according to the criterion of ripening speed:

Early. Tomatoes of this variety have the highest ripening rate. It is from 90 to 100 days;
Mid-ripening. The ripening rate is from 110 to 120 days;
Late-ripening. This variety of tomato requires the longest time for its own ripening. It can last from 130 to 140 days.

In order to find out the ripening period of a variety, you do not need to look for the appropriate reference book. In most cases, it is indicated on the package with seeds. In the event that you purchased the seeds, for example, in a regular plastic bag, then ask the seller about the ripening period of the purchased variety.You can also read about any variety of tomato on the Internet, since the descriptions of the varieties are present in sufficient quantities and you should not have any problems finding the necessary information.

Knowing the timing of ripening will allow you to accurately calculate the date of receipt of the first harvest. Another important factor to consider when calculating the date of receipt of the first fruits is the region in which you are going to sow your tomatoes. The further south your site is located, the earlier the ground will thaw, which will allow you to plant seedlings in full-fledged soil earlier.

In the event that your tomatoes grow in greenhouse conditions, then this period may be even earlier. Based on all of the above, it can be calculated, for example, that to start preparing tomato seedlings in the central strip of Russia for greenhouses should be in the third or fourth quarter of March.

How to prepare seeds for sowing

Preparing seeds for planting is an extremely important step. Unprepared seeds may not germinate or subsequently give a diseased bush that will not survive half the season, dying without a crop.

It doesn't matter how and where you got the seeds: bought in a bag at the store or harvested from your previous crop. In any case, they must be disinfected with special means. This procedure is necessary if you do not want the grown seedlings to die due to disease.

The most popular disinfection method involves placing seeds wrapped in gauze for half an hour in a solution of potassium permanganate. The solution should have a dark pink color. To achieve the required concentration, it is necessary to dissolve two and a half milligrams of potassium permanganate in a glass of water with a volume of two hundred milliliters. After this procedure, the seeds must be washed well in running water and dried.

The next step in the preparation of seeds is their germination. This procedure will speed up the seedlings of the plant. To do this, you will need a paper towel, which must be moistened with water. After that, fold it in half, and place the seeds between the sides. Wrap the napkin in a clear plastic bag. Put the napkin with the seeds on a plate or saucer and place in a warm place. At home, you can put the seeds under the battery.

Important! Do not forget to moisten the napkin, otherwise the seeds will simply dry out and you will not get any result.

Seeds will begin to germinate within 3-5 days. Select germinated seeds from those that failed to sprout. You can discard the latter. Even if they germinate later, the likelihood that they will give a he althy bush is extremely small. Most likely, bushes from such seeds will be weak and affected by a fatal disease.

How to prepare soil for seedlings

In order to start sowing germinated seeds, we, oddly enough, need soil. Not any land that you can find will do. It is recommended to purchase a special soil for seedlings. You can find it in absolutely any gardening store. In most cases, the packaging indicates that the soil is intended for growing seedlings of vegetables and flowers.

Some gardeners advise diluting the soil purchased at the store with soil from the garden.

In their opinion, this will reduce the likelihood of adverse consequences. But you can’t just take and fill up the earth brought from the garden and mix it with the purchased soil. First, you need to warm it up to room temperature. To do this, you can simply put it in the premises and wait a week. Secondly, the ground must be disinfected.This requires a solution of potassium permanganate. The solution should be pink. The final step will be mixing in equal proportions the purchased soil and what you brought and processed.

Capacities in which the tomato will grow

The right containers in which a new fruit-bearing plant will be born is something that in no case should be forgotten or not given due attention to. Depending on where your tomato meets its first days, its entire future fate depends.

You can sow the seeds in a separate container each or all together in one large container. Modern stores offer an extremely wide range of different containers that are suitable for any purpose, volume and wallet. If you don’t have extra money, then you can buy simple plastic cups at any grocery store. Professionals recommend planting each individual seed in a separate cup.This will avoid the dive procedure and plant sprouts immediately in open ground.

Sowing seeds

If you have purchased special containers, then you have already done most of the work and saved your time. If you decide to use improvised materials, then they need to be prepared before planting a plant in them.

First of all, consider the option of using a plastic cup as a container for the growth of grains separately. First, make a small hole in the bottom of the glass. Then pour pebbles or ground, but not much, egg shells into a glass.

Filling is required for one tenth of the total volume of the cup. Next, fill it with earth and water it well with warm water. After that, push small holes in the soil and place two, or better three, germinated tomato seeds there. Put a few pieces in case not all seeds germinate.Cover the seeds with earth and moisten the top layer of soil. A spray bottle is perfect for this. Cover the cups with cling film and put in a warm place so that the seedlings grow well. If the landing was done correctly, then soon you will see the result.

In the event that you decide to put everything in one large container, then repeat the same thing, but without making a hole in the bottom. Plant seeds 3-4 centimeters apart.

Now you know how to plant tomatoes for seedlings.