DUMPING TOMATO SEEDLINGS IN A DIAPER: HOW TO PROPERLY SEED AND THEN TAKE CARE OF SEEDLINGS, AS WELL AS THE NUANCES OF GROWING TOMATOES IN THIS WAY

Increasingly, you can hear about non-standard solutions and experiments of gardeners in the issue of growing seedlings.

One of the latest know-hows is sowing and germinating seeds in the most ordinary plastic film, sometimes without using soil!

How to sow seeds, as well as then dive sprouts? This method will be discussed in this article.

General provisions

Reference. A diaper is a small bundle of cloth (usually from a paper towel or toilet paper) and plastic film (plastic bag, stationery file, notebook cover, etc.) in which seeds are sown and seedlings are swooped.

The percentage of seed germination with this method of sowing is quite high. This is explained by the fact that they fall into the ideal environment for germination and growth: high humidity, supported by the constant moistening of paper, and the temperature rising inside the polyethylene diaper, create together a "greenhouse effect" that has a beneficial effect on the development of the future plant.

Description of the method

How to grow tomatoes in this way? The method of germinating seeds in a diaper is quite simple. Sow seeds of tomatoes in paper, which are distributed on a wet paper strip, which, in turn, is located on a plastic strip of the same size.

Paper-polyethylene tape with seed rolled into a "roll" and is immersed in a container at the bottom of which water is constantly located. The principle of wrapping seeds is similar to the principle of swaddling a baby - hence the consonance of the names.

Advantages and disadvantages

Recently, this method of sowing seeds has been very popular, especially among residents of big cities: the diaper method is ideal for small apartments, since seedlings grown in this way do not occupy a large area, and all containers can be successfully placed on a single window sill.

Another plus: the way will help save money . A gardener will not have to spend money on the purchase of a substrate, fungicides for its processing, containers; cut polyethylene tapes can be stored for years, and, in the case of the purchase of poor quality seed, it can be easily replaced without feeling significant losses both in material terms and in terms of physical effort.

There are also disadvantages: plants in a diaper and their root system develop more slowly than in a container; also seedlings will have to replant anyway in a large container.

Seed preparation

Disinfection. Most of the infectious diseases of tomatoes are transmitted through the soil, capacity and seed. Since the method of germination of seeds in a diaper does not need a large amount of substrate or capacity, the question of the disinfection of sowing material comes to the fore.
For these purposes, the seeds can be immersed for 20 minutes in a 1% solution of potassium permanganate (1 gram per 100 ml of water) or for 8 minutes in a 2 - 3% solution of hydrogen peroxide heated to + 40 ° C.
Treatment. After disinfection, the seeds are recommended to be immersed in a growth stimulant nutrient solution to ensure a greater percentage of germination: you can use both commercial preparations (Epin, Zircon, Heteroauxin, etc.), as well as those prepared with your own hand (aloe juice solution (1: 1) or honey water (1 tsp to a glass of water).
Soak. Also experienced gardeners advise before sowing seeds soak for 12 hours in warm water (+ 25C), which must be changed every 4 hours.
Germination. And for one of the methods, which will be discussed below, already germinated seeds will be needed. For these purposes, you need to prepare a saucer, cloth, gauze or paper towel.
Moisten the fabric, place it flat on a saucer, pour on it and distribute the seeds of a single-grade tomato on the surface, cover the container with a plastic lid or plastic bag and put in a warm place (+ 23С - + 25С) for 3 - 5 days.
Important. All this time it is necessary to ensure that the fabric is constantly in a wet state, otherwise the seeds simply wither.

Use of already germinated seed

How to plant tomatoes using germinated seeds:

Prepare everything you need: plastic film, stationery gum, substrate (any composition suitable for growing tomatoes), germinated seeds, container, scissors, spray.
Rectangles are cut from the film, the size of which is close to the size of a school notebook.
In the upper left corner of the prepared rectangle is placed 1 tbsp. wet substrate.
A germinated seed is placed on top of the substrate in such a way that its cotyledon leaves are above the film.
On the sprout - another 1 tbsp. substrate, which is also moistened from the spray.
The bottom edge of the film must be bent, and the entire rectangle to twist into a roll. Spin should be free to ensure unhindered access of oxygen to the roots.
The resulting bundle is fixed with a rubber band and placed in a container. All convolutions in the tank are located close to each other.
Above the tank can be covered with a transparent plastic wrap in which holes are made for air circulation.
A container with sprouts is placed in a well-lit and warm place.

Cultivation of tomatoes "Moscow"

It is necessary to prepare plastic wrap, toilet paper, seeds, scissors, rubber bands, small containers (disposable plastic cups), a spray bottle.
Polyethylene is cut into strips 10 cm wide, their length, like the length of strips of toilet paper, should be about 50 cm, but it all depends on the number of seeds.
On a strip of polyethylene, you must lay out the prepared toilet paper, which is moistened with a spray bottle.
Seeds are laid out on the surface with a step of 3 - 5 cm, retreating from the edge of 1 - 1.5 cm.
Paper-plastic tape covered with another strip of paper, which also needs to be moistened, and plastic film.
The tape is wrapped in a roll, fixed with a rubber band.
The bundle is placed in a container, at the bottom of which water is poured (1.5 - 2 cm).
Note. Growth stimulant can be added to the liquid.
The container is covered with a bag with ventilation holes made in it and placed in a warm and bright place.

Planting with substrate

Procedure:

You will need plastic strips (10 to 50 cm), a substrate for tomatoes, seeds, rubber bands, containers, a spray bottle, scissors.
Lay out a layer of soil on the film strip, moisten it.
Departing from the edge of 1.5 cm, spread out the seeds, keeping a distance of 3 - 5 cm.
Above - a layer of moistened substrate, and then - polyethylene tape.
All this must be rolled up, secured with a rubber band and placed in a container.
Place container in a warm and well-lit place.

Picking

One of the important stages of growing seedlings is the dive stage. It can be produced by analogy with the method number 1: gently unwinding the diaper before the first sprout, separate it with a spatula or fork from the substrate and place it on the plastic bag in the center of the "pillow" from the ground; having filled it with a handful of soil, the young plant is wrapped in a "glass", the bottom of which is the wrapped edge of the bag.

Dives can be made immediately into a container with a wet substrate.: the roll unfolds, the sprout is removed along with the toilet paper and carefully planted in a small depression on the ground surface. You can deepen the plant before the first seed leaves, the distance between them - up to 8 cm. After planting - watering.

Below you can watch a video about picking up tomato seedlings in a diaper:

Care

The system of care for seedlings in diapers includes the following elements:

Systematic (1 time per day) removal of condensate from the bag covering the container with diapers.
Regular watering (but not excessive).
Feed twice a week with fertilizers based on humic acids (the concentration for not strong sprouts should be 2 times less than indicated in the instructions).
Shining a fitolampa in case of a lack of sunlight.

How to place in the ground?

The best option - planting seedlings from diapers directly into the open ground. This can be done without problems if there is a greenhouse on the plot. In case of its absence, sufficiently weak seedlings will need to be “warmed” in the open field: sawdust (straw, feathers) should be poured at the bottom of the planting furrow, a little soil should be put on top, and young tomatoes will be planted in it; it is better to cover the saplings with a film or plastic bottles at night or under the threat of return frost.

Despite the fact that the seedlings grown by the diaper method are not as strong as from the container with the ground, with careful care, it can please the summer resident with a good harvest. And this is with a minimum of time and money! Do not be afraid to experiment, and everything will turn out.