TheNaturePlanet

Want to grow tomatoes that are full of fruit? Let’s go through the steps together.

1. Best Time for Transplanting
Self-grown seedlings: When your tomato seedlings have 5-6 true leaves and strong roots, it's the best time to transplant.

Purchased seedlings: When you open the package, don’t rush to plant them. First, spray water on the leaves and the root ball to keep them moist, and thoroughly water them. Place them in a bright, indirect light area for 1 day to help them acclimate.

2. Seedling Treatment Methods
Healthy seedlings: Whether self-grown or purchased in good condition, you can transplant them directly.

Weak seedlings: If your seedlings are wilting, with yellow leaves, it’s best to pre-plant them! Use small pots (10-12cm) filled with seedling soil or regular garden soil. After planting, place the pot in a place with indirect light for 3-7 days. Once the leaves start to stand upright, move them to a location that gets 4-6 hours of sunlight daily and apply foliar fertilizer. After 10 days, new shoots will appear, indicating new roots are growing. In 15-20 days, they can be moved to a larger pot.

3. Transplanting Method
Large tomatoes: Use a pot with a diameter of 30cm and a height of 25cm or more. The larger the pot, the more fruits it will yield.
Dwarf tomatoes: A 20cm diameter pot is sufficient.

Soil and Fertilizer:

For planting, first add 10cm of soil at the bottom of the pot, then add 2 large handfuls of well-rotted sheep manure or cake fertilizer. Sprinkle one handful of wood ash and one handful of bone meal or crushed eggshells. Cover with 5cm of soil.

For general planting, simply sprinkle a small handful of compound fertilizer at the bottom of the pot, then fill with soil.

If the seedlings have long, thin stems, plant them at an angle, burying the lower stem in the soil, leaving only the top 5 leaves exposed. The buried stem will gradually grow new roots, making the plant stronger.

After transplanting, water the seedlings thoroughly, but for larger pots, only water the area around the seedling (about a 10cm diameter). If the temperature is below 18°C, avoid making the entire pot too wet, as this can cause root rot.

4. Fertilizing After Transplanting
After 7-10 days, when you see new leaves appearing on the tomato plant, this means the transplant was successful. At this point, apply diluted high-nitrogen fertilizers, such as bean dregs, to promote stem and leaf growth. Once the roots penetrate the bottom fertilizer layer and become self-sustaining, you won’t need to fertilize as frequently.

In conclusion, by following these steps, achieving "tomato freedom" is no longer a dream.