Pickling seedlings - a procedure for transplanting young plants from containers when they reach a certain age. Dive tomatoes are made into the ground on pre-prepared beds, or in larger containers. The correctness of this task depends on whether the plants will take root in the new conditions, and how large the crop will be.
What is a pick and what is it for?
Pick-up is the process of transplanting seedlings, which is carried out after at least two leaves appear in young plants. When transplanted, the root system of tomatoes and other vegetable crops develops better, so that they become stronger.
When the pick is not carried out, the plants weaken and die as they grow. This is due to the fact that the root system does not have enough space for development, as a result of which the seedlings do not receive the necessary amount of nutrients. After transplanting, the root of the plant can freely develop in the soil, without competing with other seedlings. The leaves of neighboring bushes do not obscure the plant, so it is provided with a sufficient amount of sunlight.
In most cases, young plants are transplanted into a large-sized container. Less often - in the ground on a garden plot.
The main objectives of the pick are:
- providing conditions for the free growth of seedlings;
- selection of stronger plants;
- the fight against diseases that affected part of the seedlings;
- yield increase;
- acceleration or inhibition of growth.
At the time of the dive, part of the main root is cut off. This action stimulates the growth of lateral roots. With a standard transplant, the root is preserved, and the plant does not need to tolerate additional stress. This is the main difference between picks and regular transplants.
Optimal timing
With good lighting, tomato seedlings grow from seeds within 10-14 days. During this period, 2-3 leaves appear in young plants, and you can pick. If the sprout has less than two leaves, this indicates not fully developed cotyledons, and it can not be transplanted.
After a pick, the plant is taken almost immediately. This will not happen only if it has been affected by the disease.
The exact timing of the pick does not exist. Plants develop individually, depending on a complex of factors. Sometimes tomato sprouts can develop too quickly, and transplantation is required earlier.
Also, the dive time depends on what kind of seeds were planted. In early, medium and late varieties of tomatoes, the growth energy is different, so they are transplanted at different times, even if they were planted at the same time.
According to the lunar calendar, days from March 23 to March 31 are best suited for diving tomatoes. If the seedlings are planted in a greenhouse, it is better to postpone the dive to the end of April - beginning of May if the soil temperature reaches +8 degrees Celsius.
How to dive tomato seedlings? (process description)
Of all plants, tomatoes have one of the highest survival rates after a dive. When transplanting tomatoes, it is necessary to optimally select the timing of the procedure. Tomatoes do not like crowding, therefore it is better to transplant them ahead of schedule than later. If the appropriate time for the pick will pass, but it will not be made, the seedlings will gradually wither and die.
What do you need?
Before you begin the process of diving tomatoes, you should prepare the necessary tools and materials for this. The procedure is carried out if:
- pre-watered seedlings;
- pots or boxes in which plants will be transplanted;
- special soil (standard grade soil is suitable for transplanting);
- a peg or shoulder blade for extracting plants from the ground;
- fertilizers for the soil (potassium sulfate, vermicompost, superphosphate).
Planting seeds for growing seedlings is carried out in two ways: in the total capacity and in individual pots. The second option is better for further diving. But keeping tomatoes in individual pots will require more time and resources. If plants are planted outside, it is necessary to equip a greenhouse in advance.
Step-by-Step Dive Process
Before transplanting plants, seedlings must be prepared. This task involves watering, which is carried out no later than an hour. If you water the seedlings immediately before the pick, the earth may not have enough time to soak in moisture. When transplanting plants without watering, there is a risk of damage to the root, because of which seedlings will not take root in new soil.
The picking procedure is carried out in stages:
- pre-purchased soil is poured into a box or cups (it can be purchased in specialized stores);
- with the help of a pointed peg or a special scapula, the plant is hooked and removed from the ground (soil should remain on the root);
- if the lower part of the root is not damaged, it is carefully cut, after which the plant is immersed in a new container with earth;
- after the sprout is in the recess, the earth around it needs to be compacted (given the small size of the plant, this action is best performed with a finger);
- at the next stage, the seedlings are poured with warm water;
- the final step is placing the plants in a darkened room for 2 days.
When the seedlings are taken, it can be moved to a well-lit place.
As containers for transplantation, it is recommended to use disposable glasses with a diameter of at least 10 centimeters. They should be made of paper or cardboard. After a certain period, such material will soften and begin to collapse, so that the plant can be planted with it.
At the bottom of each glass must be openings to remove moisture. Plastic containers are less suitable for this purpose, since such a similar method of disembarkation is not provided for them. When transplanting, the glass will have to be cut, because of which there is a risk of damaging the root.
By picking, the roots of seedlings can be further treated with potassium permanganate. It will help eliminate dangerous bacteria, increasing the survival of seedlings.
When using special purchased soil, it is not necessary to additionally fertilize the soil after planting - it was originally supplemented with useful nutrients.
If the sprouts are deepened into the ground above the growth point, their development process will slow down. After a dive, at least two weeks should pass before a second transplant can be carried out.
Transplanting elongated seedlings
In some cases, seedlings can stretch in height above the permissible norm. This phenomenon is observed for the following reasons:
- sprouts receive insufficient sunlight;
- watering the soil is carried out in too large a volume;
- seedlings grow in high temperature conditions.
The picking of seedlings allows you to solve this problem. Transplantation of elongated shoots is carried out in a standard way. But, when performing the procedure, extreme care should be taken, since such plants are very fragile. If the sprout breaks, it makes no sense to plant it.
The only difference between the picks of elongated seedlings is the level of the recess. Such plants need to be immersed in the earth to a great depth down to the cotyledon leaves. It is necessary to wait for the sprouts to take root, and only then expose them to the light. In the future, they will develop as ordinary plants.
Seedling care after picking
After diving, seedlings must be kept in a temperature-controlled room. It varies depending on the age of the plant:
- during the first three days after transplantation - from +15 to +18 degrees Celsius in the daytime, and from +18 to +20 degrees Celsius in the night;
- from the fourth to the seventh day after transplantation - from +18 to +20 degrees Celsius in the daytime, and from +15 to +16 degrees Celsius in the night;
- after the tenth day, the temperature can not be regulated, and the plants begin to be taken out daily for half an hour.
In order for the tomatoes to grow well, it is periodically required to use top dressing once every two weeks after watering. Feeding is recommended to buy in specialized stores. If necessary, it can be made independently. At home, a mixture of:
- 10 liters of water;
- 2 grams of potassium sulfate;
- 35 grams of superphosphate;
- 4 grams of urea.
The listed components are mixed and infused, after which they are used by analogy with standard irrigation.
For information on how to grow strong tomato seedlings, look in this article.
Possible mistakes
After transplanting, seedlings should be watered with plenty of water, but rarely. The next watering is done only when the topsoil is dry. Too much water causes the development of diseases that affect seedlings. Most often, young plants suffer from a black leg and late blight.
You can not plant tomato bushes in open ground if:
- the thickness of the main stem did not reach 1 centimeter;
- bush height less than 30 centimeters;
- less than 8 leaves on the bush and no flowering.
If you plant a plant too soon, it will die.
When transplanting, it is necessary to monitor the root of the sprout. In the case of severe damage, picking can slow down the development of the plant for a whole week, or lead to other unpleasant consequences. In the absence of a special peg or scapula, you can use a toothpick.
Early picking increases the risk of damage to the sprout, while late picking worsens its acclimatization.
To accurately select the time for the landing, it is necessary to count. Many inexperienced people make a mistake by counting 10-14 days after planting seeds. This period must be counted after the appearance of the first shoots.
If the root of the plant received damage during transplantation, it should not be trimmed. When the plant is removed from the ground, you can hold onto the leaves or the soil lump surrounding the root. Do not touch the bare root with your hands.
A plant can stop growing if it does not receive enough trace elements. To determine what kind of nutrients are not enough seedlings, you can by its appearance:
- the appearance of a red tint in the leaves indicates a lack of phosphorus;
- the cause of yellowing and curling of the leaves is a lack of potassium;
- if the plants stopped developing, but did not change their appearance, or the leaves became faded, they lack iron.
If such signs occur, it is necessary to use top dressing with the element whose seedlings are deficient. Most often, tomato seedlings are fed using: Effekton, Nitrofoski, Agricola No. 3. Dilution and use of substances is carried out strictly according to the instructions indicated on the package.
It is impossible to plant healthy seedlings with the weak and sick. Firstly, they can infect healthy seedlings, and secondly, this will negatively affect the quality of the crop.
The recess for planting should be wide. Otherwise, the roots may be bent, and the development of the plant will be inhibited. After planting seedlings, the soil must be carefully tamped. The formation of air cavities can adversely affect the growth of seedlings.
Pikivka is a transplantation method that strengthens plants and increases productivity. The technology of picking tomatoes is simple, but if it is performed incorrectly, it can harm the plant.