How to grow tomato seedlings at home on a windowsill

What varieties to choose

Low-growing varieties with medium-sized fruits are suitable for planting tomatoes on the windowsill. It will be more convenient for you to take care of them indoors. The advantage of this species is early fertility, small size of bushes and determinant type of structure. The latter means that the vegetable will grow to the height intended for it by nature and no more. Small tomatoes are more resistant to late blight compared to other hybrids. Phytophthora does not affect them, since low-growth vegetables grow and bear fruit quickly.

For tomato seedlings on the windowsill, choose the following varieties: "Aquarelle", "Supermodel", "Skorospelka", "Golden Stream", "Red Fang", "Garden Pearl". The last variety is characterized by fertility - the harvest is obtained all year round. On the Minibel bushes, the fruits reach the size of a small ball weighing 25 g each, and the height of the bush is 30-40 cm. Growing Andreyka is simple - these plants do not require seedlings. "Arktika" is a cold-resistant cherry weighing 30-40 g. The fruits of the "Room surprise" tomato resemble a plum, and the plant height is 50 cm. the end of fruiting - 70, 50 and 30 g.

You should not be afraid of tomato hybrids - they will grow well on the windowsill. Crossbreeding frees from pinching. If the package contains the letter F, this is a hybrid.

Growing

For proper cultivation, adhere to the main rule - undersized tomatoes do not like excessive fertilization. When you have decided on a tomato variety, choose garden soil. It must be pre-steamed in the oven at a temperature of 100 degrees with the door open. This operation is carried out in order to neutralize the larvae that are possible in the soil. It will be useful to add sand and ash there (the latter can be found in the store).

Peat tablets are also suitable for tomatoes. The plant needs a sufficient amount of soil, otherwise the lower leaves turn red and signal a lack of soil. Then you select containers or pots in which vegetables will grow, be sure to make drainage holes so that the water does not stagnate.

Seed preparation

To prevent diseases, tomato seeds must be processed in a solution of potassium permanganate. For this purpose, they are placed in cheesecloth and immersed in the substance for 20 minutes, but not overexposed, then rinsed with water. To prepare a solution, you should take 1 gram of manganese and 1 glass of water, stir. Tomato seeds will come off the same way thanks to the nutrition.

Melt water is beneficial for future plants, which accelerates their germination. This procedure can be performed when it is snowing in the yard. It must be collected in a bucket and allowed to melt a third of the entire mass: drain the resulting water, and discard the rest. Freezing in the refrigerator will also have a good effect: when more than half of the liquid turns into ice, you need to throw it away, and use the rest to stimulate seed germination.

Natural bioregulators "Zircon" and "Immunocytofit" are suitable for processing.

The following schemes can be used:

1. Heat treatment for 25 minutes at 50 degrees; then soaking for 18 hours in an epin solution at 23-30 degrees; after that sowing. A solution of epin is prepared as follows: 2 drops of the substance are added to 100 milliliters of water.
2. Soaking in manganese solution for 15-20 minutes; soaking in an epine solution (see the first method).

It is permissible to replace Epin with undiluted aloe juice squeezed from the leaves and kept in the refrigerator for 5 days. The seeds are soaked in juice for a day. All of these substances have a beneficial effect not only on future plants, but on the quality of the fruit.

Do not forget the following nuances: first, tomato seeds are disinfected, then bubbled (soaked in air-saturated water). "Immunocyphyte", "Zircon" and other biologically active substances are used after disinfection and at a temperature of at least 20 degrees, since the procedure will be ineffective otherwise.

Sowing seeds

Swollen seeds signal that they can be planted in the ground. The soil should be moist and slightly compacted. Do not make any grooves - take tweezers and spread the tomato seeds in rows on the surface of the soil. The distance between the rows should be equal to 3-4 centimeters, and between future seedlings - 2 centimeters. Stick to this rule, otherwise mature plants will get a "black leg" - a disease that appears when planting too densely. The decomposed seeds should be gently pressed into the ground by a centimeter and covered with soil.

Care

Growing tomato seedlings on a windowsill requires a lot of light, heat and regular watering. It is very important to provide constant fresh air - these plants love it, and if there is insufficient ventilation, they can grow slowly. The humidity in the room should be between 50-60%. Avoid drafts. Temperature comfortable for germination is not lower than 20 and not higher than 25 degrees.

When the first shoots appear, it is important to provide enough light so that the plants do not stretch out. Thin stems lead to further delay in yield, poor growth or death when diving seedlings.

About landing in the ground

The main rule here is to carry out this procedure correctly and in a timely manner, which will ensure rich and equal fruiting of the tomato. The area with open soil should be well lit and protected from drafts. Avoid too moist soil, places where potatoes used to grow. It is better to plant on the ground where root crops, green or legumes used to grow - so your plants will not become infected with late blight.

Immediately before planting in a permanent place, it is necessary to moisten the soil in a container with plants so that the seedlings can be safely removed. Break the earth with holes, pour water and immerse the plant there. After tamp the soil lightly, sprinkle with dry earth.

Overgrown tomato seedlings should be planted in grooves 15 cm deep. Remove the lower leaves on the plants, and sprinkle the stems with soil so that a root system forms on them. After planting, it is useful to mulch the soil near the seedlings, that is, sprinkle with cut grass, branches, sawdust, straw, peat, cardboard. This will prevent rapid evaporation of moisture and weed growth.

Video "Some secrets of growing tomato seedlings ”

In the video, the famous gardener Oktyabrina Ganichkina talks about how you can grow healthy tomatoes on your windowsill, loggia or balcony.