Strong and healthy tomato seedlings - the dream of every vegetable grower. Great popularity among gardeners acquires the original method of growing seedlings in toilet paper.
The technology helps to save time and effort, as well as to avoid the laborious work with the ground in the initial stages. The seedling on toilet paper develops beautifully and turns out strong and healthy.
The article will tell you about this interesting method: you will learn how to properly prepare the seeds, as well as how to make the whole process of planting with a roll of ordinary toilet paper.
Little about the hygienic paper
Paper for hygienic purposes was first used in China. In the middle of the XIX century in the United States began the production of toilet paper, cut into sheets and packaged in a box.
Reference. The perforated roll paper was invented in Germany at the beginning of the 20th century.
Toilet paper is made from gray paper (waste paper) and white paper (cellulose). At the final stage of production, it becomes soft, hygroscopic, acquires the ability to easily break, as well as disintegrate into individual fibers in water. May be gray, white or colored with hypoallergenic dyes.
Why is it an excellent growing substrate?
Toilet paper is a great substrate for growing seedlings. Seeds in the process of germination use their own proteins, starch and oils stored in special tissues for nutrition. There is no need for additional useful elements and nutrients from the soil.
The use of toilet paper as a substrate is possible due to its special properties. Toilet paper is soft and able to absorb moisture from the environment.. Warns of tangling appearing roots, simplifies picking.
The advantages and disadvantages of the "paper" method
The popularity of the "paper" method of growing seedlings of tomatoes is due to its numerous advantages, among which the following should be noted:
- At the first stages of cultivation does not require much space in the apartment.
- The method is inexpensive. A minimum set of tools and materials is required.
- The percentage of germination of small seeds is higher than in the ground.
- Toilet paper does not contain a large supply of nutrients, which accelerates the development of the root system, and not the stem and leaves.
- The technology allows the awakening of old seeds that have expired.
- It is convenient and simple to care for plantings.
- There is no contact of seedlings with the ground, which eliminates the risk of infection of the black leg and other diseases.
- Seedlings grown on toilet paper, stronger and stronger than that which is cultivated on fertile soils.
- Seedlings are not injured when picking.
Disadvantages of technology:
- Young plants may be deficient in light.
- Thermophilic cultures after germination in paper and before planting in a permanent place must be kept in small pots of soil.
Tomato seed preparation before planting
Tomato seeds must be sorted before sowing. - choose large and heavy.
- Prepare a weak salt solution: 30 grams per liter of water. Pour the seed into the solution.
- After 10-15 minutes, the bad grains that have risen to the surface, collect and discard.
- Rinse the remaining seeds at the bottom with warm water and dry.
Sowing and germinating seeds - step by step instructions
Below are a few step-by-step ways to plant vegetable seeds and grow seedlings at home on toilet paper without soil.
Moscow
Prepare tools and fixtures: toilet paper in white or gray, medium density polyethylene, scissors, disposable plastic cups, a spray bottle with water.- Cut the polyethylene into strips no longer than 40-50 centimeters. The width should match the width of the roll of toilet paper.
- Write on the cups the name of the variety and the date of sowing.
- Lay out on the table strips of polyethylene.
- Place a strip of toilet paper on the tape.
- Dampen paper with warm, defused water from a spray bottle.
- Retreating from the top of the strip by one centimeter, lay the seeds on paper. Between the grains leave an indent of two centimeters.
- Cover with a second strip of toilet paper and plastic wrap. In polyethylene, make a couple of holes for ventilation.
- Carefully roll the strips into a roll.
- Pour the distilled water into a plastic cup to the level of 5-10 mm.
- Put a roll of seeds in the glass with the bottom edge down.
- You can put several rolls in one glass.
- Cover the glass with a plastic bag. Keep warm by changing water regularly.
- The first shoots appear after seven days. When shoots seem, remove the bag and put the glass in a well-lit place. Regularly add water to the container.
Prepare tools and fixtures: toilet paper in white or gray, medium density polyethylene, scissors, disposable plastic cups, a spray bottle with water.Then you can watch a video on how to plant seeds in this way:
In a bottle
- Prepare toilet paper, the lower half of plastic bottles, strips of plastic film slightly wider than toilet paper.
- Spread polyethylene strips.
- Lay the paper on top.
- Moisten with water from a spray bottle.
- Spread the seeds in a row at a distance of three centimeters from each other. From the top edge to recede by one and a half centimeters.
- Cover with paper.
- Dampen paper with water.
- Cover with a layer of plastic film.
- Twist into a roll.
- Put on his gum.
- Pour water into the lower halves of the bottles.
- Place the roll into the bottle so that the edge where the seeds are located closer remains at the top.
- Cover the roll loosely with the second half of the container.
- Write on the bottle the name of the variety and the date of sowing.
- Put the bottle in heat. Unscrew caps for airing.
- When shoots appear, remove the top half of the bottle and place the container with the sprouts in a well-lit place.
With boiling water
- Prepare toilet paper, plastic containers with lids, boiling water.
- At the bottom of the container lay the paper in six or seven layers.
- Moisten with boiling water.
- Spread the seeds across the surface.
- Pour boiling water on the sides of the container from the inside, without getting on the seeds.
- Close container with lid.
- Wrap in a towel.
- After 50 minutes, remove the towel.
- Place the container in a lit place at a temperature of + 25 ° C. You can arrange additional lighting with special lamps.
A photo
Below you will see what tomato seedlings grown in toilet paper look like.
Picking
Procedure:
- Fill containers with universal soil mixture for seedlings.
- Expand the roll, carefully separate each sprout, pinch the roots and transplant in the prepared container.
- Weak instances immediately reject.
Below you can watch a video on how to sop down seedlings grown in toilet paper:
Care
- Shine. With the advent of the first shoots of seedlings put on a well-lit place. In winter, fitolamps are installed for additional lighting.
- Temperature. For seed germination, the temperature is maintained from +25 to + 27 ° C. After the emergence of shoots it is reduced to room.
- Watering. As it dries, pour water into a glass or bottle where the paper with the seedlings is located. Picked up in cups seedlings watered with hydrogen peroxide solution. Two tablespoons of the drug is diluted in a liter of water. The solution is also used for spraying young plants.
- Top dressing. After the emergence of shoots spend fertilizing mineral fertilizer, diluted in water in a ratio of 1: 1. When the first leaf appears, the seedlings are fed a second time.
How to plant in the ground?
Strong plants are planted in the soil with a thick stem, on which there should be from six to eight leaves. When landing in open ground, you must choose a site that is well heated by the sun and protected from the effects of wind. Landing is recommended in the afternoon.
Do not water the seedlings before the procedure. - dried up ground is easier to remove from the glass without damaging the roots.
- In the selected area you need to make rows at a distance of 70 centimeters from each other.
- Dig rows along the rows with a spade at 40 centimeters. The depth depends on the height of the sapling.
- During planting, pour plenty of hole, then fill the seedling with dry earth or humus.
Growing tomato seedlings on toilet paper is easy and convenient. Not only an experienced gardener can handle the technology, but also a beginner. The main thing - to properly prepare the seeds, not to deviate from the instructions and carefully care for the seedlings. The "paper" method allows you to get healthy and strong plants without special expenses.
