A convenient technique for growing seedlings of tomatoes: the secrets of planting tomatoes in twist

Experienced gardeners claim that self-grown tomato seedlings are one of the pillars of the success of the future harvest. You can be completely sure that the planted variety is the one that was on the seed packaging. In addition, such a seedling is always better transfers landing on a permanent place and is characterized by strength and health. But in the conditions of the apartment, not everyone has a free space on the windowsill. An interesting method of growing seedlings "in self-rolls" helps to save space and grow many plants.

The essence of the method

This the method was invented in the 60s by the Soviet agronomist Kerimov and got the name "Moscow seedlings". At present, Yu. Minyaeva has proposed an improved version of it. Now more often this method of cultivation is called: "Cultivation in paper rolls", or "Cultivation in roll-ups".

So what is it? The essence of this method is very simple. Evenly distribute the seeds on the material, cut into long strips, and twisting these strips into a roll. Most commonly used strips of toilet paper.

Advantages of the method:

• saving space on the windowsill;
• saving time when picking - seedlings at a certain distance from each other;
• saving soil mix, you can do without land;
• seedlings differ friendly germination;
• availability and low cost of materials;
• water is constantly supplied to the seedlings, not falling on the leaves;
• You can adjust the light by turning the container around its axis;
• with the groundless method of growing in roll-ups, the seedlings are not ill with the black leg.

disadvantages:

1. If the seedlings are poorly lit, the seedlings are drawn out.
2. The place is saved only while the seedlings are in roll-ups. Tomatoes with the appearance of 2 pairs of leaves dive into plastic bags. This is where space saving ends.
3. It is necessary to monitor the water at the bottom of the glasses and to prevent the seedlings from drying out.

Rolls need to be twisted rather tightly to prevent “falling” of shoots in the lower part of the cochlea.

Preparing for planting tomatoes in twist

Various materials can be used to make roll-ups.. It can be:

• toilet paper and polyethylene;
• newspaper and film;
• thin substrate for laminate;
• non-woven and toilet paper;
• earth and plastic film.

The most common type is the use of toilet paper and plastic film. In order for the seedlings to be of high quality, and the shoots to be friendly, the seeds for sowing need to be prepared (about processing the seeds of tomatoes before sowing, read here). First, select the viable seeds:

1. To do this, the seeds from the bag should be poured into a container with a weak salt solution (100 g of salt per 1 liter of water).
2. Within a few minutes, all viable seeds will sink to the bottom of the tank.
3. After checking for germination, you can soak the seeds in a manganese solution of a slightly pink color.
4. Also, an excellent stimulator “Epin”, or a solution of hydrogen peroxide 3% (dilution of 2 tablespoons per 1 liter of water) is an excellent option for soaking seeds.
5. Seeds stand there for 30 minutes and dried.

For growing tomatoes in roll-ups are suitable:

1. Determinant Varieties:
   • "Rio Grande";
   • "Bobkat F1" - for open ground;
   • Yamal;
   • "Grotto";
   • "Oak" for greenhouses.
2. Early ripe for an open ground:
   • Benito F1;
   • Aphrodite F1;
   • "Explosion";
   • "Maxim".
3. Early ripe tomatoes for greenhouses:
   • "Early Greenhouse F1";
   • "Raspberry Sugar Plum";
   • "Pinocchio".
4. Cherry Tomatoes:
   • "The yellow Thunderbolds of Ildi";
   • "Pink Cherry";
   • Mariska F1;
   • "Balcony miracle";
   • "Honey drop."
5. Subspecies of tomatoes variety De Borao:
   • "Giant";
   • "Orange";
   • "Gold".

Before sowing, strips of the selected material 40 cm long and 6-10 cm wide are cut. If a laminate substrate is used, then its thickness should be no more than 2 mm.

Step-by-step instruction

Terms of planting tomato seeds in roll-ups are the same as for other methods of growing seedlings. The ideal time for sowing seeds for seedlings is from March 1 to 25. There are 2 options for planting tomatoes - using land and without soil.

If there is a desire to plant in the ground, then polyethylene or laminate substrate is used as a material. We will consider in detail the landless way of growing tomatoes in roll-ups made of polyethylene and toilet paper (alternative-newspaper):

1. Pre-soak the seeds in any of the solutions:
   • manganic acid potassium;
   • "Epin";
   • hydrogen peroxide.
2. Cut the plastic film 12 cm wide, 40 cm long. It should be 2-3 cm wider than the paper.
3. Folded toilet paper in several layers placed on the film.
4. Dampen paper with water and Epin or hydrogen peroxide. These stimulants accelerate the process of seed germination. It is most convenient to wet paper using a medical pear or a hand sprayer.
5. Spread tomato seeds evenly. The seeds of the tomato are small, so the distance should be kept about 2-2.5 cm. It can be laid out with tweezers. Seeds should be placed at the top of the paper, departing from the edge of 1 cm.
6. Cover the tape with another layer of toilet paper and sprinkle everything from the spray bottle.
7. Close the entire “pie” with a layer of polyethylene and roll it into a rather thick roll. If the roll-up roll is too weak, the seedlings will “fall” to the bottom of the roll as they grow.
8. Minimize to roll. fix the roll-up with a rubber band and put in a plastic cup. You can immediately put a few roll-ups in a plastic container.
9. At the bottom of the container pour 4 cm of water and monitor its evaporation. It is useful to add 3% hydrogen peroxide to the water. To prepare the solution, 2 tablespoons of peroxide diluted in 1 liter of water. Hydrogen peroxide is an excellent stimulator of seed germination.

Roll-up containers must be placed in a warm place. and cover with a plastic bag to increase the humidity.

Attention! Shoots in roll-ups appear before the standard methods of planting tomatoes on seedlings - in 3-5 days.

Now Tomato seedlings are important not only heat, but also light. It is necessary to choose the brightest window in the apartment or place it under the fitolamp.

Further care

• It is important to monitor watering in a timely manner. The separated water at room temperature is carefully poured into a glass or tray. Top roll-out moistened with a spray.
• If roll-up is made of laminate backing or ground film, here you will need to keep an eye on the ground. Land rash may occur when careless watering or roll out. In any case, the ground should be gently poured.
• When seedlings appear, seedlings are fed. Humic fertilizers are suitable for top dressing. For example, “Gumat”, “Gumat Organic”. The first feeding is carried out with the appearance of the first two true leaves. Also suitable for any complex mineral fertilizer. “Kemira Kombi” and “Crystalon” have proven themselves well. Further feeding is repeated every 10 days.

If the seedlings began to stretch, it means she does not have enough light. In March, the daylight hours are still short. If necessary, seedlings of tomatoes in twists are completed using luminescent or special sodium lamps and fitolamps in the morning and evening hours. Lamps are placed at a height of 15-20 cm.

When young seedlings of tomatoes appear 2-3 true leaves, it dives into separate containers. Instead of pots and cups you can use plastic bags.. Very often, seedlings do not grow the same. What is the seedlings strong and strong, grow quickly. Others are slow and weaker.

In the case of a roll-up, everything is simple: turn around the roll, carefully pull out strong plants, dive only them. The rest is rolled back. Pour water with Appin and continue to care.

Mistakes when growing seedlings in roll-ups

• Seedlings stretched. There may be two reasons:
  1. Late removed the package from the top of the roll-ups. Polyethylene should be removed immediately when shoots appear, as excessive air humidity provokes rapid plant growth.
  2. Another reason lies in the lack of light.
• Rush picking seedlings. Tomato seedlings from roll-ups should be dived when the plants have 2-3 true leaves, and the roots that appear from the bottom of the roll-up are visible.
• Loose rolling of the roll causes the seedlings to slide down the coil. This greatly affects the germination and germination of future seedlings. Seedlings have to spend a lot of effort to get to the top of the roll-up.

The method of growing tomatoes in roll-ups impresses with an inexpensive price of materials and space saving. Many experienced gardeners have already tried this interesting method. To evaluate its effectiveness, you need to test it in your conditions. If everything is done correctly and the necessary conditions of care are maintained, the seedlings from roll-ups grow strong, quickly take root, they are ill little. And all this is the key to a good harvest!

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