Pickling seedlings is a troublesome procedure. It takes a lot of effort and time, and for inexperienced summer residents it becomes a difficult test.
The root system of seedlings is fragile, improper handling leads to a decrease in immunity, plants often get sick, die. It is easier for beginners to get by with the proposed methodology, which gardeners with experience will readily use.
Advantages of the method of growing tomatoes without picking
Once having grown strong seedlings without additional transplants, culture lovers rarely return to the grandfather method. There are several reasons:
- Lower costs for seedlings, soil.
- Time saving.
- Young plants are not stressed.
- The root root fully develops, which is pinched during a pick. The factor reduces the number of irrigation of tomatoes in the beds.
- Seedlings quickly take root in a permanent place, since when planting, even the thinnest are not damaged.
Planting seeds and caring for young tomatoes are similar to the traditional way of obtaining healthy seedlings.
Different methods of growing without picking
The initial stage is fully consistent with the traditional. Seeds undergo pre-planting treatment, make up and disinfect the substrate, select containers. The choice of packaging affects the next steps.
Peat pills
The method requires material costs, but saves the gardener from the hassle of the substrate. Tablets are taken of medium diameter, soaked and sown. When the roots begin to break through the protective shell, the seedlings are transplanted into pots, on greenhouse beds or under film shelters, if climatic conditions allow the cultivation of tomatoes in open ground.
Peat tablets are reduced in cost by using tea bags - seeds need only heat and moisture to germinate successfully.
Plastic cups
Such a container is inexpensive. If necessary, during the winter they collect food packaging, plastic bottles from various drinks. Standard recommendation - volume should be 0.5 liters. If the tomatoes will grow in a heated greenhouse, cost smaller containers.
The glasses are disinfected, they make drainage holes in them. Soil is filled into a third of the volume and 2-3 seeds are planted. When the first sprouts appear, they leave the strongest. The weak are trimmed with nail scissors, the normal ones are planted to get more seedlings.
As the Sentsi grows, they add soil, stimulating the development of additional roots.
Similarly, they sow seeds in special cassettes sold in stores. A small volume of cells does not cause difficulties, since soft walls make it easy to remove seedlings and transplant them into the ground.
Bagging
Dense plastic bags, home-made or from dairy products, are used. They are thoroughly washed and disinfected beforehand. At the sowing stage, the edges are wrapped, then they are gradually straightened, the soil is added. Before planting seedlings, the bags are carefully cut, the plants, together with the lump of earth, are placed in the planting holes.
Large containers
If there is no necessary container, they are sown in ordinary seedling boxes made of wood or plastic according to standard technology. The difference in the distance between the seeds is 10 x 10 cm. When the first seeds sprout, they are separated by partitions made of cardboard or plastic. Such walls prevent weaving of seedling roots.
Pots made of peat or pressed cardboard
The method is costly, it is usually used for germinating seeds of exotic expensive or especially productive varieties at home. Sowing is carried out in the usual manner. The main difference from plastic containers is that there is no need for drainage holes. Before planting seedlings on the beds, it is enough to carefully remove the bottom so that the core root penetrates unhindered into the ground.
Seedlings in toilet paper
The method is gaining popularity because it is practically free, does not require much space at the initial stage. This is the so-called "snail" - rolled up toilet paper or filter paper in two layers. Seeds are placed between the layers; a polyethylene tape is used as a moisture-saving substrate. The option is especially valuable if there are a lot of seeds, and their germination is in doubt. Rolls unwind without extra effort, choose full sprouts, plant them in pots.
Mr. Dachnik recommends: an economical way to grow tomato seedlings without dive in five-liter bottles
The maximum savings are achieved by growing tomato seedlings in five-liter bottles. The seeds are soaked and immediately planted in a container, cut in half along. Do this as follows:
- Punch drainage holes, pour a layer of crushed eggshell.
- Pour pure sand 2 cm, on top - 10 cm of nutritious soil mixture.
- Hatching seeds are placed in increments of 7 x 7 cm, sprinkled with a substrate.
The bottle is kept on a well-lit windowsill, regularly watered. Top dressing is applied twice during the growing period.
The grown seedlings are transplanted into the ground. To unravel the roots, they wash the earth off with a little warm water.
