It happens that tomato seedlings bloom, and it is too early to transplant. Is it possible to suspend the development of a plant and what needs to be done for this? Should they be planted directly on the beds or placed in the greenhouse first? Such questions are of concern not only to beginners in gardening, but also to experienced gardeners.

The main thing about tomatoes

The culture belongs to the Solanov family. Homeland - South America, far from Russia, presumably Peru or Ecuador. Accordingly, the plant loves sun and warmth. Suitable for growing in any climatic zone of Russia, but care in the southern regions will differ slightly from growing, for example, in the Far East region due to climatic conditions. To form a healthy bush and abundant productivity, you need to know some of the features of the plant:

  • the root system forms quickly and loves moisture;
  • watering tomatoes is recommended at the root, that is, without irrigating the foliage;
  • the more powerful the roots of the plant, the higher the yield;
  • dry air is useful for the ground part;
  • the optimum temperature for growing is 20-25 ° C;
  • lack of light retards the growth and development of culture;
  • stem erect or lodging, up to two meters or more;
  • for plentiful fruiting of tomato a bush is formed;
  • leaves are tender, divided into lobes;
  • flowers are small, of various shades, combined in a brush;
  • flowering begins from the bottom up, with the lower buds opening first in the brush;
  • fruits of different colors, shapes, fleshy and juicy;
  • the fruiting period also depends on the feeding of the plant;
  • tomato is a self-pollinating crop.

Growing tomatoes

There are three varieties of tomatoes:

  • Stamp.
  • Non-standard.
  • Potato.

Culture multiplies:

  • seeds;
  • lateral shoots (stepchildren);
  • cuttings.

Tomatoes are distinguished by the type of growth:

  • indeterminate (like vines);
  • determinant (there is a top);
  • superdeterminate (bushy, the plant is pushing).

Superdeterminate Tomatoes

Secrets of healthy seedlings

Typically, tomatoes are grown in seedlings. Each gardener has his own tricks in this. All of them have a logical explanation and useful application:

  • Immersion of seeds in a weak solution of potassium permanganate and processing in garlic gruel serve as disinfection. The same goal is for watering the land with potassium permanganate before sowing.
  • Soaking in room temperature water swells and facilitates germination.
  • Various methods of germinating the seeds before planting guarantee the germination of the seed.
  • Laying in moist soil without watering from above will prevent the seeds from deepening, and will ensure good and fast germination.
Tomato seedlings are pale and thin - what to do

Flowering begins 50-75 days after germination. The timing of the appearance of the first buds depends on the amount of sunlight, soil, watering frequency, fertilizing seedlings with fertilizers. If you are going to sow tomato seeds for seedlings, you can calculate approximately when the inflorescences appear.

Important!Sowing tomatoes early for growing seedlings can lead to flowering crops even before planting in open ground.

What to do if tomatoes bloom early

What temperature can tomato seedlings withstand

If tomatoes are sown in the third decade of March or early April, by the time they are transplanted into open ground, the seedlings will have only a trunk and a few permanent leaves. Usually shoots appear on 4-5 days. But there are times when tomato seedlings have bloomed, and it is too early to plant.This fact is facilitated by the placement of containers with sprouted tomatoes on very sunny windowsills, with abundant watering and intensive feeding. Thus, conditions are created for powerful growth and development of culture. Whereas a prerequisite for the survival and healthy growth of a plant is hardening. That is, the development of seedlings in a moderate temperature regime, but in sufficient illumination.

Seedling

What to do if tomato seedlings have bloomed at home, and it is too early to plant:

  • Plant the grown bushes in a larger container and wait for the ovary to form before planting in open ground. At the same time, do not forget to stir the seedlings to allow the flowers to pollinate. Without this, the plant will simply give a barren flower or shed open flowers.
  • Remove the buds when the plant begins to bloom, reduce watering and remove the seedlings in a cool room or covered balcony to slow the growth and development of tomatoes.
  • Cut off the trunk of the plant radically, as stepchildren will give new branches. Pruning is advised to be carried out at the level of the second true leaf, so as not to greatly harm the bush. A cut shoot can be used to form a new seedling by placing it in water for rooting.

Other gardeners and gardeners do not see the problem of planting tomatoes in open ground in the flowering stage. It is advised to only temper the plants a little. If there is no balcony, you can do this by opening the window. First for a few minutes. Having warmed up on the windowsill under the warm rays of the sun, the seedlings may die from a sharp change in temperature. If there is no such possibility, it should be transplanted into a large container, limit watering and remove from the windowsill. However, not in a dark place, otherwise the seedlings will simply stretch out. The plant needs light.

Tomato seedlings bloomed: what to do

Whatever decision is made regarding flowering seedlings, the time comes to plant them in open or protected ground. The indication for a transplant is the temperature of the soil and air. It cannot be lower than 10 ° C, otherwise the pollen will not ripen, the flowers of the culture will not be able to pollinate, and there will be no harvest.

Tomato seedlings bloomed

Tomato seedlings have outgrown - what to do

The recommended distance between the bushes is 40-50 cm. Such a seating scheme will provide access to light and airing for tomato seedlings. Once again, there is no one-size-fits-all option in soil preparation. Ideally, if carrots, pumpkins, cabbage or zucchini were previously grown in the garden. As a legacy to tomatoes, these plants will leave practically prepared soil.

Important!For healthy growth of all crops in the fall, after harvesting, the soil is cleaned of organic residues, debris and dug up. If possible, liming is carried out.

Before planting seedlings in the ground, it is recommended to prepare the soil in a special way:

  1. Given the rapid growth of the root system of tomatoes, it is recommended to dig a large hole. The more powerful the root of the tomato, the stronger the stem and the richer the harvest.
  2. Add at least a third of a bucket of humus to the prepared hole and mix with the ground. You can add a small handful of ash or superphosphate and potassium sulfate according to the recommendations on their packaging.
  3. Pour water into the hole so that the soil is well saturated, and transfer the tomato seedling along with a lump of soil from the seedling pot. In other words, it is best to plant in mud, not wet soil.
  4. Cover with earth and carefully tamp, so as not to damage the still fragile stem of the plant.

It is better to transplant a flowering plant by the "transshipment" method, that is, without freeing the roots from the ground.

Transplanting tomato seedlings

In the process of growth and maturation, the culture requires no less careful care, as when growing seedlings:

  • 10 days after planting, when the plant takes root, it should be sprayed with Fitosporin-M or Ordan and HOM preparations;
  • constantly monitor the reproduction of stepchildren (side shoots) and remove them;
  • cut off the lower and dried leaves of tomatoes in order to provide ventilation and good lighting;
  • it is recommended to remove stepchildren and prune leaves in dry weather in the morning, so that the cuts dry out and drag on until nightfall;
  • to produce a garter of the crop to ensure the integrity of the stem and the safety of the crop;
  • make regular feeding.

Important!You can not pinch the ovaries on the crop planted in the garden in June. Otherwise, the harvest may not appear.

If the flowering of seedlings at home does not bother you, you should still be careful when transplanting tomatoes into open ground so as not to damage the peduncles and the root system.

Interesting!If you put a handful of ground rye crackers and the same amount of ash from burnt wood material in each hole when planting tomato seedlings, the bushes will be strong, fruitful, and the fruits will be large.

Nasturtium and calendula next to a tomato garden attract pollinating insects, which is beneficial for fruiting. Marigolds, carrots and garlic repel pests.

The question of what to do when tomato seedlings are blooming, and it is too early to transplant them into open or protected ground, each gardener and gardener decides for himself. Someone relies on their own growing experience, while others are guided by recommendations obtained from the media, books and other sources.

If a decision is made to shorten the plant, it is better to do this 2-3 weeks before planting in the ground, so that the tomato gives new shoots, but does not form buds. By a similar procedure, re-laying of flower buds in a plant is achieved. It is advisable to combine it with a transplant in a more capacious container or an elementary addition of fresh earth to seedlings.