Content
Growing tomato seedlings is a little troublesome, but pleasant. It is very joyful to grow exactly the variety that you love. Many summer residents like to experiment and grow new varieties. They are trying to find ways to get a harvest from tomatoes that have not previously been planted on their site. But in some cases, the seedlings have an unusual appearance. Then the question arises - why are tomato seedlings thin and long?
Tomato seedlings require certain conditions. Strong healthy tomato seedlings are the key to your harvest.
But sometimes the seedlings are strongly stretched, they become pale and weak. In this case, many gardeners are already beginning to worry about further success. There are many questions. Why did the overgrown tomato seedlings turn out? What to do if tomato seedlings are stretched out? How can this be corrected or avoided in the future? How to tell if your tomato seedlings are elongated. The first indicator is the large distance between the nodes.
Important factors when growing tomato seedlings
The elongated seedling does not look very good:
- the stem is long, thin and weak;
- the color of the seedling and leaves is pale;
- the whole bush is flimsy and bending.
To prevent this from happening, you need to know the basic parameters, the violation of which leads to the fact that tomato seedlings begin to stretch. Let's list the main ones:
Lighting
Light is essential for all plants, especially during the growing season and growth. Therefore, tomato seedlings are drawn towards the light to ensure good life. Summer residents create the lack of light for seedlings themselves. First, it is a thickened sowing of seeds. Each seed that has hatched needs lighting, the seedlings begin to reach up to get enough of it. It is worth thinking about what will be better - a lot of frail seedlings and a little, but powerful and healthy. Secondly, it is easier to care for fewer strong tomato bushes than for a detachment of painful ones. You will have to spend more energy on restoring the seedlings and keeping them in good condition.
Ambient temperature
It must be maintained depending on the phase of development of the seedlings. If this parameter is violated, the tomato bushes also lose their rhythm and begin to stretch.
Changing weather conditions
Growing seedlings is troublesome in early spring due to unstable climatic conditions. The grown seedlings can find themselves in poorly lit conditions exactly when intensive growth is needed. Consider this factor when planning spring work.
Watering
Here it is necessary to adhere to the norms for young plants. Excessive moisture pushes the tomatoes to grow rapidly, and the seedlings at this moment do not have time to assimilate a sufficient amount of nutrients.
Feeding
Excessive introduction of nutrients stimulates the increased growth of stems and leaves. The harmonious development of all vital processes is disrupted, and tomato seedlings are stretched.
These are the main reasons for pulling tomato seedlings, although there are others. For example, the choice of a variety. Tall tomatoes require a slightly different routine. Some elite varieties also need to be kept in different conditions. Be sure to consider these factors as well.
Summer residents need to understand two issues. The first is how to prevent tomato seedlings from pulling out (preventive measures). Second - what to do if tomato seedlings are stretched out? Let's start with prevention.Therefore, it is best to know useful information before sowing seeds. This will save time, effort and budget from re-buying seeds.
Preventing the pulling of tomato seedlings
Why are tomato seedlings pulled out? In order for the tomatoes in seedlings to grow correctly, you will have to follow simple recommendations.
Sow tomatoes for seedlings in early spring. At this time, the sun is not yet actively giving off heat and light. When growing tomato seedlings on a windowsill, provide additional lighting. Place it on the top and side. In this case, the seedlings will not lean to one side. It is necessary to ensure that the degree of illumination from different sides is equal. In order for tomatoes to get the right amount of light, gardeners use energy-saving lamps, for example, daylight.
Tomato seedlings need to provide full daylight hours. It equals 15 hours per day. Therefore, the seedlings are illuminated to this parameter.
The second important condition is that before the tomato sprouts appear, place the containers in a place with an air temperature of 25 ° C to 28 ° C. However, after their appearance, urgently lower the temperature to 15-17 degrees. Otherwise, with good moisture and warmth, the sprouts grow intensively without getting stronger, which leads to elongated seedlings. An indicator of a properly maintained temperature will be a thick stem, dark green color of leaves and low growth of stocky bushes. After two to three weeks, raise the temperature to allow the seedlings to grow.
If the tomato seedlings are not only stretched out, but also have acquired a pale color, then you will have to feed them. For such feeding, you will need urea as a source of nitrogen. It is diluted in water (1 tablespoon per 10 liters of water) and watered with small tomatoes. Then provide a cool temperature (10 ° C). The seedlings will stop growing but will regain their color.
Of course, it's easier to warn overgrowth of tomato seedlings, but this happens in many gardeners.
We fix bugs
And now the second option, when the tomato seedlings are stretched out, what to do? If some moments are missed, the tomatoes have outgrown, you still should not give up and you need to try to correct the situation. In this case, you will have to perform some actions:
Provide a proper balance of nutrients in the soil. Gardeners use stimulants and fertilizers. For example, "Athlete". The drug will stop the growth of the aerial parts of the seedlings and strengthen the root system. The action lasts a week, then the procedure is repeated. It is possible to spray tomato seedlings with a preparation. Do not overdose! This is indicated by white spots on the leaves. After a while, they will disappear and then you can continue.
Another option for reducing growth:
If the seedlings are overgrown, then each stem can be cut into two parts.
The upper part is placed in a container of water for root development. This will take about 7 days. As soon as good roots appear, the seedling is placed in a planting pot with nutritious soil.
It will take root and you get an extra tomato bush. As soon as the upper shoot reaches a size of 5 cm, remove all the lower stems. This procedure must be done 18-20 days before planting tomato seedlings for permanent residence (open ground or greenhouse).
The second way to preserve seedlings is used already at planting. To do this, the elongated stem is buried in the ground. Do not dig a deep hole and plant tomato seedlings in cold ground. It is enough to dig shallow grooves (up to 10 cm), put a nutritious soil mixture and fill it with water. After absorbing moisture, place the seedlings by laying them on the bottom of the groove. Maintain a distance of 50 cm between the tops of the bushes.
Additional roots will form on the stalk lying underground, and tomato seedlings will be strong and healthy.
Experimental gardeners use Meatlider's advice to cut off the lower leaves on the seedlings. This is done as soon as the leaves of neighboring seedlings begin to touch. Stress causes tomato seedlings to stop growing for a week.
All of these methods work, try and grow sturdy tomato seedlings for your site.
