![]() ![]() ![]() The routine use of a fungicidal treatment is to be recommended.Ībout the author: Philip Swindells has over 40 years gardening experience. This causes the seedlings to rot at the base of the stem and collapse. Like all seedlings, tomatoes that are raised in this manner are vulnerable to damping off disease. Once the seedlings have their two seed leaves fully expanded they should be pricked out, ideally into individual modules or small pots, although they can spend two or three weeks pricked out into flats in order to save space when this is necessary. The seed coat is generally detached by the coarser soil-based medium as the seedlings emerge. Soil-based composts also overcome the problem, commonly encountered with tomato seedlings raised in a soil-less medium, of the seed coat sticking the two seed leaves together, often making them inseparable without causing damage. Sometimes a check in growth occurs while the roots adapt, resulting in an impairment in the plant’s development. Plants that have been raised in a soil-less compost, which almost always comprises a high proportion of friable peat, often take time to adapt their roots to the more hostile and less forgiving medium of natural garden soil when planted in their permanent positions. Soil-based composts, although generally slower to warm-up, and often slightly impairing the speed of seed germination, usually yield the finest and strongest plants, especially for planting directly into the garden outdoors. There are a number of different composts available, but for the hobby gardener a good soil-based seed compost is to be preferred to a soil-less one. A sterile medium of a texture and quality that will offer the best start for the germinating seeds. A properly formulated seed compost is essential. ![]() Also when they are pricked out there is no undue disturbance of the fragile root systems through them having become entangled with each other. Spacing of Tomato SeedsĪs tomato seeds are large enough to handle individually, it is best to space them out on the surface of the prepared compost so that when they germinate they do not crowd each other. Transplanting is easier and establishment is rapid. Tomatoes can be sown directly into the open ground, where the climate and soil conditions are suitable, but much better establishment of better quality plants always results from controlled seed raising and growing the seedlings during their initial stages of growth in independent modules or pots. Please note: recent trials have shown that tomatoes germinated in seed trays or pots do far better if transplanted on within 6 days of germination Starting Tomatoes in Modules They are sub-tropical plants that require a consistent temperature of at least 13✬ (55✯) in order to germinate successfully, but a temperature of 21✬ (70✯) will produce much quicker emergence and is generally preferred.įor most gardeners, even those that live in warmer districts where tomatoes are cultivated outdoors from their very early stages of growth, it is usual to start the seeds off in pans or flats (seed trays)of compost under controlled conditions. Tomatoes, although technically short-lived perennials, are treated as annuals and raised from seed each year. Tomato Seedlings started in Modules Given warmth, good light and a damp friable growing medium tomatoes are very easy to raise from seed ![]()
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