What to do when tomatoes grow poorly
Did you know that for a long time people considered tomatoes to be an aphrodisiac? Although science has not confirmed this fact, tomatoes are undoubtedly beneficial for human health. They support immunity, improve mood, and help reduce the risk of cancer.
Many gardeners grow tomatoes on their own plot. However, it happens that the miracle vegetable freezes in development and does not grow further. This happens both in immature tomatoes and in adult plants. The leaves curl, the crown turns yellow and the stems wither. Why don't tomatoes grow? Let's figure it out.
Why tomatoes don't grow well
Most common reason that tomatoes don't grow - errors in their cultivation.
What amateur gardeners most often admit:
| Error | A comment |
| Failure to comply with seed sowing deadlines | If tomatoes are planted late, the bushes will not have time to produce a full harvest before the onset of cold weather. If it is early, the roots of overgrown plants in cramped conditions will not be able to provide adequate nutrition. The tomato will be stunted. Seedlings will take root worse after picking. |
| Violation of light and temperature conditions for growing | The optimal temperature for growing seedlings in good light during the day is 25-27 degrees, at night - 12-14 degrees. |
| Improper nutrition for plants | The main reason why tomato leaves begin to turn yellow or curl. If the plants do not have enough micro- and macroelements, the roots occupy the entire space of the peat planting pot and do not absorb the incoming nutrition well.Both excess nutrition and lack of it have an equally bad effect on tomatoes.
Pay special attention to the soil. Its acidity should be close to neutral. Increased acidity of the soil has a bad effect on the plant. |
| Improper watering | Water the seedlings only with settled water at room temperature as the earthen ball dries out. Everyday watering is not necessary. The quality of seedlings is negatively affected by both drying out and waterlogging of the soil. |
| Random seeds | It is better to buy seeds from trusted sellers. Otherwise, the planting material may be expired or not correspond to the variety stated on the packaging. It is important to monitor the expiration date of seeds. |
| Incorrect dive and side steps | When picking, plants are often injured. Recovery takes time and slows down the growth of tomatoes.
Often the plant is buried above the growing point. When picking, to avoid diseases, it is worth disinfecting the seedlings. Potassium permanganate (one gram per liter of water) will help. The main reason for incorrect stepsoning is untimeliness. Stepchildren should be removed when the shoot height is three to four centimeters, no more. |
| Infestation of pests or plant diseases | You should not wait until the tomatoes get sick or are attacked by pests (for example, aphids or caterpillars). It is better to carry out timely prevention - water or spray with special means. |
How to feed tomatoes
For good growth, tomato seedlings need to be fed. How? Azofoska fertilizer and microelements are suitable. Dosage – one tablespoon per 10 liters of water. Growth stimulants will also help, for example, "Epin", "Effecton" or "Ecosil". After using them, the seedlings will become stronger.
Mature plants that have survived transplantation also need feeding.. Both ground and those growing in a greenhouse. What to do if tomatoes grow poorly in open ground? Any nitrogen fertilizer will come to the rescue: saltpeter, urea, mullein, bird droppings, horse manure. You can use store-bought fertilizers, for example, “Gumat-80” or “Gumat Universal”.
Important! When applying fertilizers, follow the dosage recommended by the manufacturer. Otherwise, the tomatoes may get burned.
Folk remedies
Also use folk remedies:
- Yeast feeding. For 100 g of yeast take three liters of water and 50 g of sugar. They leave it to wander. When fermentation is over, add one glass of wood ash or ash.
- Ash fertilizer. To 10 liters of water add one liter of ash and half a teaspoon of boric acid.
- Iodine-milk solution. To prepare it, add 10 drops of iodine and one liter of milk to nine liters of water (fat content does not matter).
If poor tomato growth is due to the fact that the plant has been attacked by pests, products such as Fitoverm or Iskra will help get rid of them.
Interesting on the topic:
How often to water tomatoes in hot weather to get a good harvest?
Conclusion
To avoid a situation where tomatoes have sprouted but do not grow, follow our simple recommendations. Use only proven seeds. Do not violate the technology of growing tomatoes. Don't forget to prevent diseases and pests. And if you see a delay in growth and development, feed the plants.
By following these tips, even without much gardening experience, you can get a good harvest of tomatoes. Good luck!
Regarding the temperature regime - during the pollination period, a night temperature of at least 15 degrees is recommended. Because at 12-13 degrees pollination stops.