Why are tomato seedlings growing poorly?

Tomatoes

Tomatoes are a fairly popular vegetable crop, found in almost every garden. Growing your own seedlings requires some knowledge. Typically, care involves only watering, as the soil contains all the necessary nutrients tomato seedlings need during the initial stages of growth. However, there are situations when the soil becomes depleted of minerals, or the soil is completely unsuitable for growing these seedlings. If you're unsure what to do or what to feed your tomato seedlings when they're not growing well, it's best to turn to folk remedies.

Watering and lighting

Tomatoes are moisture-loving plants; oddly enough, it is recommended to water them very frequently.

Timely watering is the key to the most successful growth of seedlings and the formation of a good root system.

Also, avoid overwatering, as this can lead to active rotting and death of the plant. Everything should be done in moderation, and there are a number of recommendations that can help.

If seedlings are growing in boxes or small cups, the soil moisture level can be seen at the top surface. It is recommended to water seedlings grown in such conditions daily, as moisture evaporates quickly.
If you grow tomatoes in a greenhouse, you can check the moisture level with your finger, simply by inserting it 4-5 centimeters into the soil.

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The seedling containers must have drainage to prevent excess water from accumulating. This way, if there's too much water, the excess will drain away.

Regarding light, tomatoes require 12 hours of sunlight. To achieve this, you should install appropriate lighting fixtures that will replace the sun at night. It's also recommended to place the seedlings on sunny windowsills to accelerate growth.

Important!

You shouldn't rely on light alone; it's best to add a lamp that you can turn on at night.

Lack of sun is immediately visible, as the plant has a yellowish or light green color, which differs from a healthy one.

https://youtu.be/dZIdu2Pn2A8

Feeding seedlings

This work is carried out during the initial stage of seed selection. Currently, there are a considerable number of substances and vitamin complexes available for purchase in stores, but it's better to use traditional recipes. This will significantly increase seed germination and accelerate growth.

Interesting!

You can soak all the selected seeds in aloe juice for several days.

This is a crucial step that will give your seedlings a head start and reduce seedling mortality. Knowing what to feed them and what to do if your tomato seedlings aren't growing well can significantly improve your final yield. There are a number of guidelines you can follow.

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After the first true leaf appears, you can begin cultivating the soil, using various preparations:

Uniform growth,
Kemira-lux.

It is recommended to add mineral complexes based on phosphorus and nitrogen to the soil at all stages of growth.

Be sure to treat the soil with a solution of potassium permanganate, which will destroy all pathogenic microorganisms.

After picking tomatoes, add Uniflor-bud to the soil to accelerate root system development.

These are the basic recommendations and tips used by experienced gardeners. It's also worth noting the emergence of new products on the gardening market. We recommend that you familiarize yourself with the offerings in your region. Different tomato varieties require different care, and this should be taken into account.

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Homemade fertilizer recipes

At home, you can prepare your own mixture to improve the growth of your seedlings. It's recommended to order various components in advance or prepare them yourself. Few people know what to do and what to feed them if their tomato seedlings aren't growing well in today's climate.

Important!

You can’t use superphosphate alone; you need to combine it with different nutrient solutions.

There are several basic procedures with recipes that need to be carried out in stages every two weeks:

The first step involves using ready-made mineral components. Take 20 grams of superphosphate and dilute it in 10 liters of warm water. Next, add 10 grams of urea and 15 grams of potassium chloride. Water all the tomato seedlings with the resulting solution.

The second stage is carried out exactly two weeks later. Dissolve about 25 grams of pure wood ash in 2 liters of warm water. Let the solution sit for about 24 hours. Then strain it and use it to water the seedlings.

The third stage is the final one. Fill a three-liter jar with crushed eggshells and water. The eggshells should fill 75 percent of the jar's volume. Let the solution sit for about three days. Then, for watering, dilute the fertilizer with warm water in a ratio of 1 to 3.

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The methods presented are used when growing seedlings indoors, that is, in jars or boxes. In this situation, the plant's root system will be able to obtain the micronutrients it needs from fertilizer.

Fertilizing seedlings in open ground

When it's time to plant seedlings outdoors, don't forget to prepare fertilizer. In this case, your mineral solution needs to steep, so prepare it in advance. Of course, you can use ready-made micronutrient supplements, but you also need to plant the seedlings correctly.

Fact!

The more often you feed your tomato plant with various solutions based on natural ingredients, the faster you will get a harvest.

What to feed and what to do if tomato seedlings are not growing well, you can find below.

Basic rules and recommendations:

Before planting, add a small amount of a mixture of high-quality humus and ash to the hole.
To increase your tomato yield, we recommend using bread crumbs. You can collect the crumbs year-round, soak them in water, and place them under your tomato plants. This will serve as an excellent fertilizer and a key nutritional resource.
A solution of water and superphosphate is also an excellent option for fertilizing. Apply the solution directly to the bush, which will increase the absorption of the nutrients.
After planting tomatoes outdoors, it's recommended to water the bushes with an ash solution every 15 days. To do this, dilute 200 grams of ash in a bucket of water and let it steep for 3-4 hours.

Tomatoes' popularity stems from their unique flavor. Today, a wide variety of these crops are grown in home gardens. Therefore, it's important to know how to get the maximum yield with minimal effort. You can now learn all the important nuances of tomato growing, from seed selection to harvesting.

Each stage of growing tomato seedlings depends on different factors and the needs of the tomato plants. Therefore, it's recommended to stick to a schedule and utilize all professional advice to ensure a bountiful harvest.