Most gardeners are engaged in the cultivation of tomato seedlings. In order for the crop to be high try different methods.
One of the most effective is growing tomatoes using Chinese technology, which has become widespread among gardeners. What is the essence of this method, its pros and cons, technology features, growing step by step procedure, common mistakes - later in our article.
What is this method?
The essence of this method lies in the treatment of seeds with growth stimulants, pickling seedlings with top cuttings at the age of 25-29 days and sowing seeds on certain days. In the last century, domestic agronomists used similar technology. The seedlings grown in this way have a healthy appearance and a strong stem. Already at a distance of 20-25 cm from the ground, the first brush is formed. As a result, the first fruits appear earlier and the yield increases.
Pros and cons of technology
The Chinese method of growing tomato seedlings has many advantages:
- This is the speed of its readiness.. The technique allows to reduce the time from sowing seeds to planting in open ground for at least a month. By this time, the seedlings will fully develop, she will have:
- full root system;
- enough leaves;
- thick stalk.
- Tall tomatoes less pulled. And since the first brushes are formed low from the ground, this has a positive effect on the number of ovaries.
- Disease resistance, in particular late blight. It is easy and simple to look after such plants.
Chinese tomato growing technology has some disadvantages:
- earlier seeding;
- survival rate is 75%;
- the obligatory presence of additional shelter to create greenhouse conditions;
- the need for lighting shoots.
Training
Before sowing, seeds are soaked in advance, stratified and necessarily hardened (how to process tomato seeds before sowing, read here).
Seeds
Seed preparation for germination in the Chinese method is performed, taking into account the phase of the moon.
- Selected seeds must be wrapped in a pre-soaked cloth.
- Then they should be left for 3 hours in the ash extract, which consists of 2 tablespoons. ash and 1 liter of boiling water. Ash should be poured with water and left for a day.
- After it, the seeds are immersed for 20 minutes in a strong solution of potassium permanganate.
- Then they are washed several times and wrapped in cloth.
- In a shallow saucers need to pour a solution Epin, where to put the wrapped seeds and hold as much as indicated in the instructions.
- Then squeeze a little and put in the refrigerator.
- To carry out the stratification of the seed is placed in a plastic container, which is buried in the snow.
The soil
The soil for sowing and further picking of seedlings should be neutral - pH 6.0. Garden land needs to be shed with a solution of 1.5% potassium permanganate heated to 50 ° C.
According to the Chinese technology, the use of soil with humus is not allowed, because it remains a putrid microflora, detrimental to the seedlings. In the soil used you can make quite a bit of bottom peat.
When purchasing ready-made soil, it is necessary to study the composition, if there is peat there, then dolomite flour or other deoxidizing agents should be contained.
Chinese tomato planting procedure
Next, let's talk about how to plant the seeds of tomatoes, and write out the whole process from "A" to "Z". Land in pots, in which seeds will be sown, must be treated with a hot solution of potassium permanganate. Only then it is necessary to get the seeds out of the refrigerator and immediately start sowing in the usual way.
If you have to grow different varieties of tomatoes, then from the refrigerator they need to get alternately. It is impossible to heat the seeds.
According to the Chinese technology, tomatoes are grown according to the lunar calendar. Sowing of seed material starts during the waning moon in the constellation Scorpio. This contributes to the formation of a strong plant root system.
Sowing seeds
At the bottom of the tank for seedlings it is necessary to pour a 2-centimeter drainage layer.
To do this, you can use:
- expanded clay;
- broken brick;
- small pebbles.
- From above to fill the soil processed by a solution of potassium permanganate, on the surface of which it is necessary to make furrows.
- In them, at a distance of 4-5 cm from each other, spread the seeds, sprinkle them on top with a small layer and sprinkle with a spray bottle.
- Containers should be covered with glass or film and put in a warm dark place, you can about the heating battery.
- After about 5 days, seedlings will sprout.
- It is very important to create conditions for changing temperatures in the daytime and at night: during the day, the seeds that have been planted should be kept on a bright windowsill, and at night, to reduce the temperature, put them on the floor or in another cool place.
- The film is removed after the appearance of the first shoots.
In order for the seedlings not to be stretched, it needs a 12-hour light day.
Important! According to the Chinese technology of growing tomatoes, hardening is subjected to seedlings immediately after seedlings appear.
To do this, boxes must be carried out at night to a room where the temperature is 3-4 ° C lower than the one in which they were before. It will be a kind of imitation of natural conditions.
Care
To seed well germinated, need:
- wet soil;
- moisture retention and greenhouse effect under the film coating;
- daytime temperatures around + 25 ° С, at night + 18 ° С;
- direct lighting.
Landing and picking
- Sampling is carried out after 28 days, when the Moon begins to decline again in the constellation Scorpio.
- On the seedling should appear 2 leaves.
- The stem is cut at ground level.
- After that, it is transplanted into a separate cup with neutral peat soil.
- Each plant is watered 1 tbsp. water and covered with foil.
- Put them in a cool dark place for 5 days.
- It is necessary to water and air them regularly.
- Then the seedlings are entered into a bright room in which the temperature will be during the day - + 20 ° C ... + 22 ° C, at night - + 16 ° C ... 17 ° C.
- Watering is carried out after the earth dries. You can not pour, otherwise the disease can develop blackleg.
- After the picking, the soil is loosened, thanks to which the root system breathes. Feed plants with complex fertilizers and not earlier than 10 days after planting. Then feeding is carried out after the formation of 3 brushes. Fertilizers can simply be poured around the plant.
- Shrubs are formed by removing unnecessary stepsons. According to the Chinese tomato cultivation technology, the bushes will quickly begin to give fruit.
- The permanent seedlings are planted in late April - early May, it depends on the climatic conditions of the region. You should not linger with the landing in open ground. Hastiness is also inappropriate, because tomatoes cannot bear the sudden return of frosts.
The selection of a planting place for tomatoes should be carried out taking into account what used to grow in this area. You can not plant them after:
- potatoes;
- peppers;
- other tomatoes.
The day before planting the seedlings must be watered well. Transplant tomatoes need with a lump of earth. First you need to dig a hole, then pull the plant out of the cup and immerse it in the hole. Sprinkle with earth and squeeze. Be sure to water.
Common Errors
- Those gardeners who do not quench tomato seedlings make a huge mistake. Because this procedure guarantees the survival of the plant in the open air. Without quenching, it will be difficult for a plant to get used to changes in weather conditions - wind and rain.
- Tomatoes can not be planted too thick, because it does not guarantee a great harvest. When planting thickened they:
- grow worse;
- bloom badly;
- less knotted fruit.
- In addition, the plants often get sick, because moisture does not evaporate and does not circulate air. This leads to lightning-fast spread over the leaves of disease.
- Another mistake is a strong attraction of the plant stem to the trellis. As a result, it ceases to grow and develop normally. Constrictions appear on it, and in the worst case it breaks.
- One of the most common mistakes is improper watering. When water gets on the leaves, tomatoes can fall ill with vertex rot, so it should be poured right under the root. This work is recommended to perform in the evening when the water warms up.
Now you have learned how the Chinese sow and grow tomatoes. This technology has already been tested by many gardeners.and they speak very positively of her. As a result of obtaining strong seedlings many tasty and healthy fruits are formed.
And in this video you can look at the results of growing tomatoes using Chinese technology: