Revolutionary cultivation method promises to simplify growing tomatoes and increase yield
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2:16 PM EST, February 10, 2024
Substitute multiple pots with a single, spacious container
Employing this innovative method, all you require is a sizeable container, with a minimal depth of 2 inches. Optimally, the base of this container should be 70% saturated with a soil that is abundant in compost, lime, and phosphorous. Ensuring that the soil's pH ranges between 5.5 and 6.5 would be beneficial.
Once the base is adequately lined with soil, it should be overlaid with a layer of paper, preferably grey. If you are planning on cultivating multiple tomato varieties, consider the addition of long thin markers, like barbecue skewers. These can be aligned along the container, signifying rows, similar to a garden.
The subsequent phase includes dampening the paper, ensuring that it's thoroughly moistened and also moistens some of the underlying soil. On this damp base layer, tomato seeds may be positioned about an inch apart and approximately 1.6 inches apart from each other in separate rows. After this, the sticks can be discarded.
Choice of substrate is the crucial element for success — tomatoes should populate within three days
The concluding step of this process involves enclosing the seeds with an appropriate substrate, the coconut or peat substrate being recommended. It is crucial to ensure that the substrate is permeable, light and free-flowing, and also devoid of any bacteria and pathogens. The substrate layer should ideally not surpass a height of 0.4 inches. Following this, the entire set-up should be dampened, preferably with a sprayer, and the container holding the seeds should be placed in an environment where the temperature is maintained at or above 77 degrees Fahrenheit. Assuming all these conditions are met, your tomato seeds should sprout within three to four days.
Providing the seeds with nutrient-dense soil while maintaining optimal moisture levels creates a favourable environment for their germination. This, in turn, leads to the development of a robust root system, which is an assurance of a plentiful harvest.