How a gentle bath lifts the germination mood
Experience has shown that tomato seeds respond remarkably positively to a mild bath prior to sowing. The following variants have turned out to be very promising:
- Soak in lukewarm water overnight
- Place in hand-warm chamomile tea for 6-8 hours
- Put on the garlic stock and soak in it for 2-3 hours
- Pickling in 2 percent valerian flower extract for 15 minutes, strengthens the resistance to mold
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The desired temperature of the water or the broth can easily be maintained in a thermos. Garlic stock is easy to make yourself. Two cloves of garlic are pureed, dissolved in 10 liters of water overnight and sieved. What is not needed for preparing the seeds can later be used as a flavor-enhancing irrigation water in beds and pots. Valerian flower extract is available from specialist retailers.
So germination progresses quickly
The soaked seeds are sown in seed compost without delay. As a light germinator, the seeds may be covered with substrate or sand a maximum of 0.5 centimeters. A distance of 3 centimeters between the tomato seeds is considered optimal. Place the nursery pots (€ 14.90 at Amazon *) in the partially shaded window seat. The ideal germination temperature fluctuates between 20 and 24 degrees Celsius.
A warm, humid microclimate noticeably promotes germination of the seeds. You can create these tropical conditions in a heated indoor greenhouse. Alternatively, you can stretch cling film over the pots. In both cases, regular ventilation must be ensured to prevent mold from forming.
Under the conditions described, you can assume a germination time of 10 to 14 days. During this time, make sure that the seeds do not dry out or are drowned. Pouring from below has proven to be advantageous. To do this, place the seed pots a few centimeters in water. Thanks to the capillary forces, the water is sucked up to the surface without washing away the seeds.
Tips & Tricks
The resistance of young tomatoes to diseases is strengthened with the help of horsetail broth. While the seedlings flourish indoors, the bed in the field or in a greenhouse is repeatedly showered with the plant stock.
