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Experienced farmers know that for a successful seedling growth tomatoes require not only regular watering and feeding, but also the presence of a favorable temperature regime. Depending on the stage of development, the recommended temperature for tomato seedlings is different. So, for example, using this adjustable indicator, you can harden tomatoes, accelerate or slow down their growth, prepare for planting in the open priming... In this article, you can find out detailed information about which temperatures are best for tomato seedlings and how you can adjust their values.
Seed treatment
Even before sowing tomato seeds in the ground, you can use the effect of temperature on the crop. So, many gardeners warm up and harden tomato seeds before sowing. The heated seeds germinate quickly and evenly, forming strong, healthy sprouts. In addition, it has been noticed that when using heated seeds, the yield of tomatoes increases significantly.
There are several ways to warm tomato seeds:
- In winter, regardless of when it is planned to sow seeds into the soil, they can be warmed up with heat from a heating battery. For this, tomato grains should be collected in a cotton bag and hung near a heat source for 1.5-2 months. This method does not create much trouble and effectively heats the tomato seeds.
- Tomato seeds can be heated using an ordinary table lamp. To do this, put a piece of paper on the ceiling turned upwards, and on it the seeds of tomatoes. The entire structure must be covered with a paper cap and left to warm up for 3 hours.
- You can warm tomato seeds in the oven by placing them on a baking sheet, which is placed in an oven preheated to 600C. This heating should last at least 3 hours, subject to a stable temperature and regular stirring.
- Immediately before germination you can warm tomato seeds with warm water. For this, tomato grains must be wrapped in a rag bag and immersed in water heated to 600From at 3 o'clock. In this case, the temperature of the water can be adjusted by periodically adding boiling water.
- Long-term heating is carried out by the method of variable temperatures: 2 days of tomato grains must be kept at a temperature of +300C, then three days in conditions with a temperature of +500From and four days with temperatures up to + 70- + 800C. It is necessary to gradually increase the temperature during prolonged heating. It is worth noting that this method gives the gardener a lot of trouble, but at the same time it is highly effective. Plants grown from seeds heated in this way are highly drought tolerant.
It is recommended to warm up the seeds of their own harvesting and purchased in sales networks. This procedure improves the sowing quality of tomatoes and stimulates early fruiting.
Low temperatures can also be used to prepare tomato seeds for seedling. So, hardening the seeds makes tomatoes highly resistant to cold weather, endows plants with increased vitality. The hardened seeds sprout quickly and evenly and allow the seedlings to be planted in the ground earlier than without going through a similar heat treatment.
For hardening, tomato seeds should be placed in a humid environment, for example, wrapped in a wet piece of cloth, and then in a plastic bag that will not allow the liquid to evaporate.The resulting package must be placed in a refrigerator, the temperature in the chamber of which is -1-00C. At such a low temperature, the seeds should be kept for 12 hours, after which they must be placed in conditions with a temperature of + 15- + 200From also at 12 o'clock. The above method of hardening with variable temperatures should be continued for 10-15 days. Seeds can sprout during hardening. In this case, their stay in conditions with elevated temperatures should be reduced by 3-4 hours. You can also find useful information about hardening tomato seeds in the video below:
It is worth noting that to harden tomato seeds during moistening, you can use biological products, growth stimulants, nutrient or disinfectant solutions, for example, an ash broth or a weak solution of potassium permanganate.
Germination temperature
It is recommended to sow only germinated tomato seeds in the ground for seedlings. So, seed germination can begin already during hardening, otherwise the tomato grains should be additionally placed in humid conditions with an increased temperature.
The optimum temperature for tomato seed germination is + 25- + 300C. Such a warm place can be found in the kitchen near the gas stove, on the windowsill above the heated radiator, or in the pocket of your underwear. For example, some representatives of the fair sex claim that by placing a bag of seeds in a bra, tomato seeds germinate very quickly.
After sowing
Germinated tomato seeds can be sown in the ground for seedlings, but it is also necessary to carefully monitor the existing temperature regime. So, it is especially important at the initial stage to place crops in a warm place in order to get seedlings as soon as possible. That is why, after sowing and watering, the pots with crops are covered with a protective film or glass, placed on a surface with a temperature of + 23- + 250FROM.
After the emergence of seedlings, not only temperature is important for seedlings, but also lighting, therefore, containers with tomatoes are best placed on windowsills on the south side or under artificial lighting. The temperature when growing tomato seedlings should be at the level of + 20- + 220C. This will ensure uniform, healthy plant growth. If the temperature in the room deviates significantly from the recommended parameter, then you may encounter the following troubles:
- At a temperature of + 25- + 300With the stems of the seedlings stretching excessively upward, the trunk of the plant becomes thin, fragile. Tomato leaves may begin to turn yellow, which over time leads to their falling off.
- Temperature below +160C does not allow the green mass of tomatoes to grow evenly, slowing down its growth. However, it should be noted that at temperatures of + 14- + 160The root system of tomatoes is actively developing.
- At temperatures below +100With the development of seedlings and its root system, it stops, and the temperature indicators are below +50C lead to the death of the plant as a whole. Therefore +100C is considered the minimum temperature for tomato seedlings.
Given such an ambiguous effect of temperatures on the growth of tomato seedlings, some experienced farmers recommend maintaining a temperature of + 20- + 22 in the daytime.0C, and at night, lower it to indicators equal to + 14- + 160C. This alternation of slightly low and high temperatures will allow the green mass and the root system of tomatoes to develop harmoniously at the same time. Seedlings in this case will be strong, strong, moderately vigorous.
When observing temperatures, it is worth paying attention not only to the air temperature directly near the growing tomatoes, but also to the soil temperature. So, the optimum soil temperature is + 16- + 200FROM.With this indicator, the root system safely absorbs nitrogen and phosphorus from the soil. At temperatures below +160The roots of tomato seedlings shrink and no longer absorb moisture and nutrients in sufficient quantities.
Many gardeners sow tomato seeds in a single container and, with the appearance of several true leaves, dive the tomatoes into separate containers. During transplantation, the roots of the plants are damaged and stressed. That is why for a few days before and after picking, tomato seedlings are recommended to be placed in conditions with a temperature of + 16- + 180C. It is possible to regulate microclimatic conditions in a closed room by opening the vents, but it is imperative to exclude drafts that can destroy the seedlings.
Planting time
It is time to prepare the grown seedlings with 5-6 true leaves for planting on a "permanent residence" by hardening. You need to start the preparation procedure 2 weeks before the expected disembarkation. To do this, take out tomato seedlings outside: first for 30 minutes, then gradually increasing the time spent outside until full daylight hours. When hardened, tomato seedlings adapt to the temperature, humidity and light conditions of the open field. For more information on hardening tomato seedlings can be found in the video:
Tomatoes should be planted in open ground no earlier than late May - early June, when the threat of low temperatures has passed. At the same time, a very high daytime temperature can also negatively affect the survival rate of dived tomatoes. So, the temperature is below 00C is capable of completely destroying the plant in a few minutes. The upper temperature limit for planted tomato seedlings should not exceed +300However, adult tomatoes are able to withstand temperatures up to +400FROM.
Greenhouse conditions are more adapted for growing tomatoes. When planting seedlings there, you do not have to worry about night frosts, however, daytime temperatures should be controlled. In a closed greenhouse, microclimate values may exceed the upper temperature limit. To reduce the temperature, ventilate the greenhouse without creating a draft.
You can also save tomatoes from the heat in the greenhouse by spraying. To do this, you need to prepare a urea solution: 1 tablespoon per 10 liters of water. It is worth noting that such spraying will not only protect the tomatoes from burning, but will also become a source of essential trace elements.
Heat protection
Prolonged, exhausting heat deprives tomatoes of vitality, dries out the soil and slows down the development of the root system of plants. Sometimes a hot summer can even be fatal for tomatoes, so gardeners offer some ways to protect plants from the heat:
- You can create an artificial shelter for tomatoes using a spunbond. This material is good for air and moisture, allows plants to breathe, but at the same time does not allow direct sunlight to pass through, which can burn tomato leaves.
- You can prevent the soil from drying out by mulching. To do this, cut grass or sawdust must be placed in a thick layer (4-5 cm) at the trunk of the tomatoes. It is worth noting that mulching also protects the soil from overheating and promotes natural irrigation in the morning through dew penetration.
- A natural screen of tall plants (corn, grapes) can be created around the perimeter of growing tomatoes. Such plants will create shade and provide additional protection from drafts.
The use of the above methods of protecting tomatoes from heat is especially relevant for open ground conditions during flowering of plants and the formation of ovaries, since the heat is over +300C can significantly damage plants, because of which they "throw off" flowers and resulting fruits. Such exposure to high temperatures significantly reduces crop yield.
Rescue from frost
With the arrival of spring, I want to quickly taste the fruits of my labors, which is why gardeners are trying to plant tomato seedlings in greenhouses, greenhouses, and sometimes in open ground as soon as possible. However, even at the end of May, unexpected frosts may strike, which can destroy young tomatoes. At the same time, by monitoring the weather forecast, anticipating severe cold snaps, negative consequences can be prevented. So, to save seedlings in the open field will help a temporary film shelter on arcs. Cut plastic bottles or large glass jars can be used as insulated, individual seedling shelters. In case of short frosts with relatively low humidity, paper caps can be used, the lower edges of which must be hermetically sprinkled with soil.
During frosts, shelter is the best protection for tomatoes, as it will keep the heat given off by the soil. So, low greenhouses are really able to prevent the freezing of tomato seedlings even at a temperature of -50C. Greenhouses have rather high walls with a large area, due to which the air is very quickly cooled. The paper caps or rags described above can provide additional protection for tomatoes in unheated greenhouses. So, some owners cover the greenhouse with old rugs or shabby clothes at the time of frost. This measure allows you to increase the coefficient of thermal insulation.
In central Russia, only in mid-June can we say that the threat of frost has completely passed. Until that time, each gardener should carefully monitor the weather forecast and, if necessary, provide for a measure to protect tomato seedlings from low temperatures.
Tomatoes are indigenous to South America, so it is quite difficult to grow them in the domestic climatic latitudes. The farmer tries to compensate for the discrepancy between natural humidity and temperatures by additional heat treatment of the seed, the creation of artificial shelters, wind barriers, and in other ways. The tomato reacts very actively to temperature changes, therefore, the regulation of this indicator allows not only to preserve the viability of tomatoes, but also to accelerate, slow down their growth, and increase the volume of fruiting. That is why we can safely say that temperature is a tool that should always be in the skillful hands of a master gardener.
