How to properly water tomato and pepper seedlings

Only those gardeners who know how to properly water their tomato and pepper seedlings can delight themselves and their loved ones with a delicious and nutritious harvest. This applies not only to the frequency of watering and the use of treated water, but also to taking into account the seedlings' current development stage and the conditions they will need to grow.

Secrets of Proper Watering of Seedlings

The key feature of nightshade crops is that the yield and vigor of the plants themselves directly depend on the health of their roots. Therefore, proper care for growing fruits should begin from the moment the seeds are planted in the soil, and then continue throughout the process of pricking out the seedlings and transplanting them to their permanent location.

Features of watering planted seeds

It's important to remember that seeds planted in the ground should not be watered at all. The soil should be loosened and moistened beforehand, before the pepper or tomato seeds are planted. Cover the soil with a thin layer of dry soil and leave it undisturbed (in a well-lit, warm place) until the first sprouts appear.

Watering seeds that have not yet sprouted can pull them deeper into the soil or cut off essential oxygen supply, which can delay germination or prevent the sprouts from emerging at all. As a last resort (if the soil is very dry), you can carefully spray warm water at room temperature using a spray bottle.

Rules for watering sprouted seedlings

Water small, still-fledged seedlings with extreme caution and be mindful of the soil thickness. If the seedlings are grown in soil no more than 3-4 cm thick, periodically topping up the water in the tray or at the very bottom of the pot will be sufficient.

For deeper soil layers, experienced gardeners recommend using syringes to moisten the soil at a depth of 4-6 cm. This procedure should be performed no more than once every 6-8 days. It's best to leave the top layer of soil loose and dry, which will protect the still-small and fragile seedlings from diseases such as blackleg. Excess water blocks oxygen from reaching the developing roots, causing the root zone to turn black.

To monitor soil moisture levels, you can plant seeds for seedlings in containers with transparent sides. It's best to water again only after the moisture has reached the roots and the soil around the edges has become dry. In any case, it's important to remember that under-watering is always better than over-watering for growing nightshades. The soil should be dry, but not parched.

Recommendations for watering seedlings after picking

The first transplant of seedlings is recommended after the shoots have developed 2-4 full-fledged (non-cotyledon) leaves. The last watering should be done no later than two days before the planned transplant. This will ensure the soil is moderately moist and crumbly when the root systems separate, preventing unnecessary loss of lateral roots.

Seedlings should be transplanted into already moist soil, as the next watering is only possible after four days. This is necessary to allow the roots to quickly and thoroughly adapt to the new conditions, and then to absorb nutrients for the continued growth of nightshade crops. This will result in more developed and robust seedlings. Subsequent waterings should be limited to 10-day intervals. It's best if the container where the tomatoes and peppers will be grown has holes in the bottom, and the container itself is placed on an additional tray to drain excess moisture.

While it is recommended to spray the soil and the plants themselves with a spray bottle at the stage of the first seedling emergence, after the first picking, watering should be carried out in such a way that only the soil is moistened, without touching the leaves and stems of the plants.

Rules for watering seedlings in a greenhouse

When planting tomato and pepper plants in a greenhouse, it is recommended to water immediately after digging the holes and filling the roots. The next watering should be done no sooner than a week later (preferably about 8-10 days later). Subsequently, in the spring, it is recommended to water the plants weekly, applying 2-3 liters of water per plant. With the onset of summer heat, more frequent watering is allowed – every 3-5 days. Watering is best done early in the morning or late in the evening. After a thorough watering, it is recommended to thoroughly loosen the soil.

Peculiarities of watering seedlings after planting in the ground

The last full watering of seedlings before planting should be done no later than 2-3 days before. A few hours before transplanting, the soil should be generously watered, and the plants themselves, including their roots, should be carefully removed along with a clod of soil.

The first watering of already planted tomato plants and tomatoes in open ground should be done no sooner than 10 to 15 days later. After this, the next watering should be done after every 4 to 7 days. Regarding the amount of water, a typical amount of 3 to 3.5 liters per developing plant is recommended. Slightly more water is needed if tomatoes and peppers are grown in hot southern regions. For maximum effectiveness, it is recommended to loosen the soil to a depth of 6 to 8 cm after such watering.

How to determine the adequate soil moisture level

Since the soil for growing pepper and tomato seedlings should always remain moderately moist, it's important to determine the appropriate level in advance. If the seedlings are left in overly dry soil, their development may be stunted, meaning the harvest won't be as abundant and lush. At the other extreme, constantly overly wet soil can cause root rot and even the complete destruction of the plants. To prevent excess water accumulation, make drainage holes in the very bottom of the container to allow excess water to drain.

There are two ways to check if the soil is sufficiently moist:

1. Using a spoon or wide spatula, scoop a small handful of soil from the bottom of the container and try to form it into a ball. If the ball remains intact and doesn't fall apart, add enough water. Otherwise, there isn't enough water for the seedlings to fully develop.
2. Using a wooden stick or just your finger, make a 5-7 cm depression in the soil and then pull it out. Your finger or stick should be wet and dirty. If the depression is dry, increase the watering frequency or shorten the interval between waterings.

Features of water treatment

Regardless of the development stage of nightshade seedlings, particularly peppers and tomatoes, water is considered suitable if it's settled and warm (room temperature). If watering is done with regular water from a central water supply, it's recommended to further purify it with special filters for drinking water. The water should be left to settle for at least 8-10 hours, so it's best to fill the prepared containers in the evening, cover them, and use them for watering the seedlings in the morning.

Alternatively, you can use melted water. To do this, fill bottles or other suitable containers with regular water and leave them in the freezer until completely frozen. Afterward, remove the containers and allow the ice to melt completely at room temperature. Before watering, the water should not only be completely thawed but also warm (room temperature). Otherwise, the still-fragile seedlings may die from blackleg.

Gardener mistakes that cause seedlings to stretch

Stretched, weakened pepper and tomato seedlings can result if basic growing guidelines are not followed. This primarily applies to:

• insufficient lighting;
• too small a distance between holes with seeds or seedlings;
• excessively frequent and abundant watering;
• incorrectly selected temperature conditions.

To promptly address the elevated air temperature, move the containers with seedlings to a cooler location. Many gardeners recommend using special preparations to strengthen and stimulate (regulate) the further growth of seedlings, but in such cases, the grown seedlings, and therefore the harvest, will be no different from regular store-bought tomatoes and peppers, which are not environmentally friendly or clean. Therefore, it's important to ensure appropriate conditions for further care of the seedlings in advance.

Features of watering with fertilizers

Fertilizer can be added to the water every 3-4 weeks, followed by watering and strengthening the seedlings. Special mineral complexes or organic substances, such as mullein or sifted wood ash, can be used for this purpose.

In the first case, it's important to maintain a proper ratio of the complex to water (no more than 1 to 10), as an excess of the chemical composition can cause burns and further damage to the seedlings' root systems. When using mullein and wood ash, use clean, settled liquid (one liter of the substance per bucket of water). Watering should be directed at the root zone of the soil, avoiding contact with green leaves and stems.