Tomato seedlings have become very elongated immediately after germination, what to do?

Sometimes it happens that tomato seedlings become very elongated and become very thin.
Not every summer resident knows what to do in this case. Dear readers!
For you, we have created communities on social networks in which useful articles and interesting ideas are published several times a day! Subscribe and receive useful content in a convenient format! Growing seedlings is a difficult and responsible task. Even experienced gardeners can make mistakes. Any inaccuracies during cultivation can lead to problems. To be sure of the quality of tomato seedlings, you must strictly adhere to the rules of care.

Reasons why seedlings are thin

First, we will briefly list the main reasons for the stretching and thinning of seedlings, and then we will analyze each factor in more detail. So, tomato seedlings can stretch out and become thin for the following reasons:

• Lack of light.
• Excess nitrogen fertilizers.
• Overflow.
• Low humidity.
• Temperature fluctuations.

Why do tomato seedlings stretch?

If the following reasons occur, then the normal development of seedlings will be disrupted. As a result, this will lead to weakening of the tomato and thinning of the stem.

Abundant watering

If watering is too intense, the normal development of the plant is disrupted. Due to excess moisture, root growth is slowed down, and stem growth is accelerated. As a result, it becomes longer and thinner.

Low humidity

For seedlings, it is important that the air does not become too dry. If this happens, then the lack of moisture leads to stretching of the stems.

Lack of lighting

If, when growing seedlings, the owner did not provide the necessary lighting, then the seedlings will begin to weaken. Due to a lack of light, the seedlings will become thin.

Early sowing

It is recommended to plant seeds no earlier than March 20. If this was done earlier, the daylight hours will be too short and will not allow the seedling stem to strengthen.

The order of feeding is violated

Tomato seedlings should be fed according to a specific schedule. They cannot have enough of the necessary substances or have an excess. Due to improper feeding, the leaves and trunk weaken.

Wrong choice of seeds

ATTENTION: To sow tomatoes, you must use only high-quality seeds. It is best to buy them for this in a specialized store. Before planting, it is recommended to treat with a weak solution of potassium permanganate. This is necessary to disinfect the seeds.

The landing order is broken

If the seeds are placed too often, they lack vitality. Due to the tightness, the tomato seedling will begin to stretch.

Thickened planting

This reason is directly related to the previous one. Even on the brightest window, the stems stretch out and become thinner if they shade each other. The bases of the stems or only the tops of the tomatoes become weak and pale, and the internodes often become elongated.

Preventive measures:

• It is better to sow tomato seeds at a distance of 30–50 mm from each other (not more often);
• picking should be done before the third true leaf begins to grow on the seedlings;
• Picked tomatoes are placed at a distance of at least 10–15 cm from each other, subsequently preventing the foliage from tightly closing.

See also: Nuances of growing and characteristics of the French bunch tomato

Dense crops can be planted almost immediately after emergence, preventing them from being stretched out.

What to do if the seedlings stretch out immediately after the entrances

The condition of the seedlings must be closely monitored. If it becomes clear that the tomatoes are thin and elongated, action needs to be taken.

In this case, tomatoes cannot be shortened, but they can be strengthened and the growth of the above-ground parts can be slowed down. To do this, you should use several methods.

Temperature change

Tomato growing conditions must be healthy. In this case, the influence of temperature must be taken into account. If it is too high, then this leads to accelerated growth of the plant. Very soon you will notice that it has stretched out. If the temperature is low, growth stops.

IMPORTANT: To stop the growth of seedlings, it is enough to move them to a suitable place. A canopy, a barn, or a heated greenhouse are suitable for this. In such a situation, you can use the balcony in the apartment. If the seedlings are placed on the floor indoors, the temperature there will be 2-3 degrees lower.

Light

When growing, you need to provide the plant with high-quality lighting. If the box of tomatoes was in the corner, it would be better to move it to a well-lit place. If this is not enough, then add additional artificial lighting.

Top dressing

With a lack or excess of fertilizers, you may encounter thin seedlings. Excess nitrate fertilizers are especially harmful. It promotes increased growth of green mass.

As a result, the tomatoes may stretch out and become thin.

The effect of nitrates can be compensated for by an additional portion of potassium fertilizers. In this case, the growth of green mass will stop.

Potassium monophosphate is often used for this purpose. Pekacid has the same composition, but in slightly different proportions. The result of use will be the cessation of growth of the above-ground part and the accelerated development of the root system.

Some people use more abundant watering to get rid of excess nitrogen. This method does not lead to the desired result. The reason is that nitrogen cannot escape from the container, and high humidity can lead to root rot or fungus.

Watering

Although the plant loves moisture, it must be taken into account that the green mass will grow faster. Watering should be optimal - no more and no less than normal. With a lack of water, the plant will weaken, become thin and stretched. Therefore, when the growth of seedlings increases, the moisture supply should be reduced, but at the same time the seedlings should not be allowed to dry out.

Picking

Doing a pick is another way to deal with the problem. After the second leaf appears, follow this procedure:

1. It is necessary to prepare individual containers for the sprouts.
2. The volume is filled halfway with the substrate.
3. They take out the sprouts. This can be done conveniently using special wooden pegs.
4. The root, together with a lump of earth, is not installed vertically, but flat.
5. The stalk is laid out in a wide spiral, sprinkled with substrate. It is necessary that only the top of the thin plant remains on the surface.
6. The sprout is placed in a cool and brightly lit place.

When choosing suitable pots, it is important to remember that you cannot use those that have too small a volume.

Bending and replanting tomatoes as a way to eliminate the defect

What else can be done if the tomato seedlings are overgrown? There are several methods that not only shorten the stem, but also strengthen the roots of the plant.

1. Sprinkle in a large container. Pay attention to the stem of the overgrown seedling. You will see tubercles at the bottom of the stem. These are the beginnings of the roots. The plant itself tells us what to do. In a large pot or box, for example, tilt the tomato so that it reclines when covered with soil. The top and 2-3 true leaves should remain above ground level. Compact the soil a little and water. The tubercles we talked about will immediately take root.
2. If the tomato seedlings have become very elongated, you can transplant them into a new large container with simultaneous diving. This can be a cut plastic bottle in which both drainage and drainage are made. Pour soil into the bottom and plant the elongated plant. Then the earth is filled to the required height. Watered abundantly. The result is similar to the previous option.
3. Recently, it has become popular to sow seeds in cups made from a laminate base or in a “snail”. When making such cups, a fold is made, which is carefully unscrewed if the plant outgrows. There is more space, the elongated stem is bent to the ground and the glass is filled with earth to the first true leaves. The soil is compacted a little and watered. Again, additional roots appear and the plant’s nutrition improves. Moreover, without any injury, it is completely safe.
4. If the stalk is overgrown, the snail is unrolled, the overgrown seedling is carefully taken and transferred to another, larger piece. When picking, we roll up the stem to form new roots and slow down development, sprinkle it with damp soil and roll up a new snail.

How to save elongated shoots

If the seedlings have already stretched out, the following actions must be taken:

1. Keep the plant watering to a minimum.
2. Maximize lighting. It is useful to additionally use a special blue lamp for this purpose.
3. Increase the dose of fertilizing with superphosphate or potassium sulfate. These fertilizers slow down the growth of stems and leaves, promote the growth and development of the root system, making the tomato healthier and thicker.
4. Use growth regulators. When using them, you must carefully follow the dosage and rules specified in the instructions for use.
5. Trim off the lower leaves on the stem. This measure will temporarily slow down further stretching of the plant.

You can cut off the top part of the seedlings with 4-5 leaves, root them in water and plant them separately.

Untimely dive

There is no rush to pick tomato seedlings only if the plants are planted in separate cups. Such sprouts should be transplanted into a large container only after their root system has fully entwined the lump of earth in the container.

When growing seedlings in a common box, you should pick out the bushes when 2 true leaves appear on the sprouts. Delays in transplantation will provoke competition between seedlings and subsequent stretching of crop stems.

Picking plants at the 2-leaf stage will provide maximum illumination for each sprout and create the necessary space for proper development. Manipulation will slow down the growth of seedlings and allow the roots and stem to grow stronger. It is recommended to resort to the picking procedure 7-10 days after pecking of the seedlings.

If the shoots of grown tomato seedlings begin to stretch intensively, urgent measures should be taken to correct the situation.

It is necessary to pick the seedlings into separate containers (8x8 or 10x10 cm). The soil mixture is used purchased or prepared at home (sand, turf and peat are mixed). When transplanting elongated sprouts, it is recommended to bury them slightly into the substrate.

After manipulation, the seedlings are watered abundantly and left at the following temperature conditions:

• during the day - from +18 ⁰С to +20 ⁰С;
• at night - from +16⁰С to +18⁰С.

What drugs can be used to prevent seedlings from stretching?

In order to avoid pulling the seedlings, you can use specialized preparations. “Stop growth” and “Athlete”. They contain substances that enrich the soil with essential microelements. After the treatment, the growth of the above-ground part of the tomato stops, and the tomato itself becomes thicker. At the same time, accelerated development of the root system occurs.

When using growth regulators, you must strictly adhere to the recommended dosage. Processing is carried out following the instructions. For example, when using the drug "Tura" you need to use personal protective equipment.

Common mistakes

If seedlings are grown correctly, the stems will not stretch. Inexperienced gardeners may make the following mistakes:

1. Apply fertilizing more often than once every 10 days. As a result, the tomato receives too much fertilizer.
2. The first feedings are especially important for the development of tomato. If their order is disturbed, the plant will not be able to fully develop. The first feeding is carried out 10 days after planting. This should be a nitrophoska solution. After another 10-12 days, fertilizing with a solution of wood ash and ammonium nitrate will be required.
3. After seed germination, containers with seedlings are not transferred to a cool place. It must be remembered that from now on the gardener must provide 16-18 degrees during the day and 12-14 at night. The transfer is done after the first seed has hatched. There is no need to wait until all the tomato seedlings have sprouted.
4. The humidifier has not been installed, which leads to dry air. To avoid this, you can place a container of water nearby or spray with a sprayer.
5. Sufficient lighting level is not provided. For seedlings to be healthy, the tomato must receive enough light. If it is given in fits and starts, the sprouts will turn out weak.
6. The seeds were planted too often. To do everything correctly, you need to place 2-3 seeds in one hole. They are buried to a depth of 2-3 cm in the ground. The distance between sprouts should be 8-10 cm.
7. The ground was not disinfected. When planting seedlings, the soil must be disinfected with a weak solution of potassium permanganate.

Careful adherence to the rules of care will avoid the formation of elongated stems.

When are tomatoes ready to be planted in the ground?

Properly grown seedlings are strong, resistant to disease and take root more easily after planting. When planted in open ground, tomatoes should have a height of 25 to 30 cm, a bluish-lilac slightly pubescent stem about 1 cm thick, 8-10 leaves, perhaps even a formed first raceme.

Tomatoes are planted in late May or early June, when the threat of late frosts has passed. To do this, you need to choose a cloudy day. If the weather is clear for a long time, then the seedlings are planted in the evening, watered abundantly, and shaded from direct sunlight in the morning.

I hope that this article will help you grow strong tomato seedlings, which will delight you with a bountiful and tasty harvest in the summer!

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Answers to frequently asked questions

Question: “Why are seedlings with overgrown stems undesirable?”

Answer : “Such seedlings are not only weaker, but also have poor disease resistance. It is particularly affected by unfavorable weather conditions. Long stems have low mechanical strength and can break easily. The harvest is later than usual. This is due to the fact that usually the first flower clusters dry out.”

Question: “Will there be enough light for the seedlings if they are kept on the windowsill?”

Answer : “This is enough if the weather is clear and sunny. In cloudy weather without additional lighting, the tomato will weaken. In order to avoid this, it is necessary to organize additional artificial lighting.”

Question: “Why can’t seedlings be planted too early?”

Answer : “The days are shorter at this time. The length of day and night is such that it weakens the vitality of the sprouts. It is believed that tomato seeds should be planted around March 20.”

Video material on the topic

Are tomato seedlings stretching? How can this be stopped? - video

The best solution for already stretched tomato seedlings! - video

Even experienced gardeners cannot always avoid mistakes, but if possible, it is better to avoid them. By following the agricultural techniques for growing tomatoes, starting with sowing, you will save yourself from further hassle with overgrown seedlings. But if an undesirable event does occur, do not give up. The plants will definitely respond to your care and will not disappoint during the fruiting period.