How to properly water tomato seedlings?

Careful care and proper watering of tomato seedlings is the basis of the future harvest. If the plants are watered "by eye", then in the near future they may simply die. It is also important to consider the stage of seedling development. For example, caring for seedlings on a windowsill is fundamentally different from watering adult tomatoes in a greenhouse. Let's find out when and how often to water tomato seedlings.

What is the risk of improper watering?

Inexperienced gardeners often use insufficient water. This leads to the fact that only the upper soil layer is saturated with moisture, and the lower one dries up. Tomato roots begin to choke, dry out and die, while the soil does not look dry outwardly. To prevent this from happening, it is rare to properly water the seedlings, but abundantly. However, here, too, care must be taken: if the plants are overfilled with water, then such care will lead to insufficient oxygen supply. In addition, high humidity contributes to the development of rot. A drainage hole in the container with seedlings will help to avoid this.

Watering seedlings

For the first time after planting seeds in the ground, replenishment with moisture is carried out on the 2nd or 3rd day after mass sprouting of tomatoes. In this case, it is important that water does not fall on the plants themselves. The best way to water the seedlings is with a small watering can or by spraying. In the future, the soil should be moistened as it dries, preferably no more than 1 time per week. In addition, if the seedlings are located on the windowsill, it will be correct to water the plant in the morning, because the earth cools down in the evening and at night, and immature seedlings can quickly get sick. The last time before picking, the soil is watered for 1-2 days, so that the earth has time to dry out a little and be crumbly.

How to water seedlings after picking?

If the care of the seedlings is carried out correctly, then on the 7-10th day after the emergence of seedlings in tomatoes, as a rule, 2 true leaves appear. It is then that the plant dives (transplanted into a separate container or larger box). The first watering of tomato seedlings after picking is done on the 4-5th day. At the same time, properly moisten the soil through the pallet. This method promotes the development of a powerful root system, because the roots will tend downward for water. Then you need to water the tomato seedlings about once a week. After the appearance of 5 true sheets, this can be done more often - once every 3-4 days.

Outdoor seedling care

Seedlings grow on the windowsill for a little less than 2 months, during which time they stretch up to 30 cm in height, after which they are transplanted into open ground. Grow optimally planted seedlings in a greenhouse. Disembarkation time is usually the first half of May. In this case, it is important that planting is carried out in pre-moistened soil in the evening or on a cloudy day. After that, tomato seedlings are not watered for 2 weeks. After this period, the plants are watered according to the following scheme.

1. Before flowering - every 5–6 days. Approximate water consumption is 5-6 liters per 1 square meter. Watering is carried out at the root or between the rows.
2. During the flowering period, the volume of water should be increased to 15 liters per square meter, while the soil should be moistened 20 cm deep. Watering frequency is every 3-4 days.
3. After the tomatoes begin to bear fruit, for low-growing varieties, the water consumption is reduced to 5 liters, and for tall varieties to 10. This will help to avoid cracks and brown spots on the vegetables. In addition, excess moisture reduces the amount of sugar, tomatoes become sour, watery.

Advice

When irrigating tomatoes, make sure that the water does not expose the roots and does not fall on the leaves.Water droplets focus the sun's rays, resulting in burns and development late blight.

Important nuances

Caring for tomatoes is easy. However, you still need to know some points. For example, when is it better to water the seedlings, what should be the water temperature, etc.

1. When growing seedlings on a windowsill, the water temperature should be at least 20 degrees, for tomatoes in a greenhouse - 24-25 degrees.
2. Make sure that during irrigation the leaves of the tomatoes are not contaminated, as they will be worse for letting the sun's heat through.
3. The best moisture for a tomato is rain or melt water. If there is none, do not forget to pre-defend the tap water.
4. When growing tomatoes in a greenhouse, the room must be ventilated after each watering.
5. If we talk about when to water the planted seedlings, then it is optimal to carry out the procedure early in the morning. During the day, moisture under the scorching rays of the sun will quickly evaporate, and in the evening condensation forms in the greenhouse. If the weather is cloudy, you can moisten the soil at any convenient time.
6. The plants on the windowsill should be watered correctly in the morning, but the time of day at this stage of development is not so critical.

Advice

To get the roots more moisture, loosen the soil before watering. You can also mulch it with straw, compost or plastic.

Determining sufficient watering

Lack of water is critical only for young plants. The roots of an adult tomato grown in a greenhouse can reach up to 1.5 m in length, and at this depth there is always a supply of moisture.

So, you can determine insufficient watering of seedlings growing on the windowsill in the following ways.

• Raise the container. Dry soil is much lighter than wet.
• Pay attention to the color of the soil. A dull shade indicates that the top layer of the earth is completely dry.
• The next method is more accurate, it allows you to determine the moisture content of the lower soil layer. To do this, you need a wire about 30 cm long with a bent end. It must be hooked down into the ground to the very bottom, wiggled a little and gently pulled out. If the soil on the elongated ground stains your fingers, then you should not water the seedlings.
• Insufficient watering can be very easily identified if there is a drainage hole in the seedling container. Cover the tray with a napkin or newspaper and when the soil is saturated with moisture, it will also become wet. If the napkin is dry, it means that the care is not carried out correctly.

To determine if there is enough moisture in the tomato seedlings in the greenhouse, you need to pay attention to the leaves of the plant. With a moisture deficit, they darken and then wither.

Summing up, it should be noted that tomatoes tolerate moisture deficiency more easily than moisture excess. High humidity, especially in the greenhouse, contributes to the development of nightshade diseases. In addition, frequent surface watering at the stage of active seedling growth leads to abnormal development of the root system. The soil must be moistened to a depth of 10-15 cm.

If we talk about how often to water tomato seedlings in the open field, then it is important to take into account the variety, age and height of the tomatoes, as well as the ability of the soil to retain water. However, these factors will only slightly affect the care of the plant. Therefore, you can safely adhere to the above recommendations. Taking proper care of your seedlings will ensure an excellent harvest of tasty and healthy tomatoes.