The right soil for planting tomatoes. What kind of land does a vegetable love - sour or alkaline? Is it possible to make the soil by yourself?

Tomato is one of the most capricious plants regarding care and soil. This vegetable is very picky about soil composition and moisture.

Experienced gardeners can prepare the ground for planting tomatoes on their own seedlings. The alternative is to buy ready-made soil in the store.

It is much more convenient to use ready-made soil mixture than to cook it yourself. But minus the finished products - low quality.

Importance of proper soil

Preparation or acquisition of suitable soil is the main and most important step in the cultivation of seedlings. How strong the seedlings will be depends mainly on the quality of the soil and its composition. The correct chemical composition of the earth has a beneficial effect on seedlings..

The soil for tomato seedlings should have the following qualities:

• friability;
• porosity;
• ease.

Also the ground must have a high water capacity. A suitable level of acidity is almost neutral.

Consequences of wrong choice

In the case when the soil for the seedlings of tomatoes is inappropriate, the consequences can be dire. The seedlings may simply not grow, and an inexperienced gardener will be left without a tomato crop.

To avoid negative consequences, you should follow several rules.

1. For growing seedlings can not use organic fertilizers in the stage of decay. Such fertilizers burn tomato seeds.
2. Clay content in sand is contraindicated. Such sand makes the soil heavier, which has a detrimental effect on seedlings.
3. The soil should not contain heavy metals, therefore, it should not be collected near factories and highways.

In which soil to plant: the necessary substances and chemical elements in the composition

Soil is the main source of nutrients consumed in the process of growth by the plant. The ground for tomato seedlings must be rich in trace elements and vitamins. Otherwise, the seedlings will fall sick and die. The correct composition of the soil must include:

• nitrogen;
• phosphorus;
• magnesium;
• potassium.

Thanks to these very chemical elements, tomatoes grow strong and healthy.

In the standard composition of any component can be replaced by a similar or add other substances. The following components may be present in the ground composition:

• Moss sphagnum It improves air permeability.
• Meadow and sod soil.
• Conifer needles. They protect young seedlings from pests and aphids, and also contribute to higher yields.
• Peat. Improves looseness and moisture capacity. Due to the fact that the acidity of peat increased it is recommended to dilute with dolomite flour or chalk. The large fibers that make up peat contribute to the entanglement of the root system. For this reason, peat is recommended to pre-sift.
• Leaf soil. It gives lightness to the soil and makes it loose, but contains a small amount of nutrients. Therefore, the composition of the leaf soil will have to add the missing components.
  Tomatoes react very negatively to tannins; therefore, it is not recommended to collect leaf soil under oak or willow for seedlings.
• Sand - a natural baking powder. A prerequisite is that the sand used to grow seedlings must be clean, washed, without pieces of clay. Before making the composition of the soil, the sand must be well washed with running water and calcined in the oven.
• Perlite is used as a baking powder and a moisture retaining component.
• Humus. In order not to ruin young tomato shoots, you need to use only well-rotten humus. Before making the component requires mandatory sifting.
• Sawdust can easily replace peat or sand that is part of the soil. When preparing soil mixtures for seedlings, it is recommended to use clean sawdust, pre-scalded with boiled water.

How to cook yourself?

Many experienced gardeners prefer to prepare the soil for tomato seedlings on their own than to buy in a store.

Begin training in the fall. To do this, pour the earth into the box and leave it on the street or on the balcony until spring. During the period of frost, all harmful microbes die, and the earth itself becomes sterile. About a week before sowing seeds, soil should be brought into the house for warming up.

After the ground has thawed, you can start mixing all the necessary components. This should be done a few days before sowing tomato seeds.

There are several options for preparing soil for tomato seedlings.:

• For the mixture in equal parts is taken leaf soil, earth, humus and sand. All components are mixed. The ground for seedlings is shed by a previously prepared special solution consisting of 30 g of superphosphate, 10 g of urea and 25 g of potassium sulphate. After a few days, seeds can be sown in the ground.
• In equal parts is taken soddy soil, sand and peat. All components are mixed. In the finished soil is added 500 g of ash and 2 tbsp. superphosphate. Again, everything is mixed and left for a few days. Then you can start growing seedlings.
• 1 part of humus is mixed with 1 part of sand and 2 parts of turf soil. Also added to the composition of 500 g of ash. All components are mixed and after a few days you can start sowing seeds into the ground.

It is important to remember that the seeds before sowing must be sorted out. This is done in order to avoid the cultivation of obviously sick tomatoes.

Varieties of finished compost

If it is decided to purchase a soil for seedlings, then it should be done correctly. Otherwise, the seedlings just die. Best for growing tomato seedlings fit universal species.

What kind of soil do tomatoes like? Sour or alkaline?

Before sowing seed tomatoes it is recommended to clarify which soil is best used for growing seedlings of tomatoes (and peppers, if you plant next) - sour or alkaline.

The soil for growing tomato seedlings should be slightly acidic.. The ideal pH level for tomatoes is 5.5-6.5. Acidity is determined by a special tool, which can be purchased at any store.

Alkaline soil is not acceptable for tomatoes, as it promotes drying and burning of seeds. And this adversely affects the yield.

Differences soil for growing

It should be noted that land for seedlings is different from land for growing tomatoes. Their main difference is the composition of the finished soil. To grow tomatoes, you can take a more dense soil than for seedlings.

The soil for seedlings should contain the maximum amount of beneficial micronutrients and vitamins that contribute to the early germination of seeds. This is due to the fact that adult bushes are already strong and can adapt to any kind, and the seeds require a lot of strength to germinate.

Many people wonder why they die tomato seedlings, because the land is the same as in the garden. But not everyone knows that For seedlings, it is necessary to use a soil specially prepared and enriched with useful substances.. In order not to get into such an unpleasant situation, you need to carefully examine the composition of the soil on the package or find out how to prepare it.

Watch the video: How to Amend the Soil in Your Organic Garden (May 2024).