Taming overgrown tomato seedlings. A touch of affection could be the key

The sowing season has already passed, and many seedlings have quickly sprung up, which should not necessarily be a cause for celebration. Overgrown tomatoes are quite a problem since there is still plenty of time to plant them in the ground. How can the growth of tomato seedlings be slowed down? Show them a little affection.

Many gardeners have different methods to deal with overgrown seedlings, which do not look good. If you do not stop the seedlings stretching out now, you might not expect abundant harvests in the season. What to do to prevent tomatoes from becoming overgrown? There's a natural, effective, and extremely pleasant trick for them!

Several factors cause tomato seedlings to become overgrown, and few people are aware of them. Sowing seedlings early in spring is a completely normal and necessary procedure in the gardening calendar, but this does not mean that the seedlings will grow without any problems. The biggest ally of overgrown tomato seedlings is the limited access to light, which comes from the side and not from above the plant.

Then, the shoots become long and flimsy, but that's not all since the temperature of the seedlings also plays a significant role. Too high a temperature leads to the seedlings stretching out, and the past month was exceptionally warm. The optimal temperature for tomatoes should be a maximum of 16 degrees Celsius. Overgrown tomato seedlings are also favored by too frequent or ample watering and the lack of thinning or pricking out. As a result, the seedlings grow in the blink of an eye, and instead of using chemicals, you can stop them with a simple method.

Experienced gardeners know that caressing overgrown tomato seedlings is the best trick to slow them down. This procedure, done regularly for at least two weeks and five times a week, will reduce the length of overgrown stems by nearly 40 percent! The whole process is based on the fact that the stretched-out seedlings experience mechanical stress, which causes them to produce ethylene. As a result, the stems, leaves, and even the stalks of the tomatoes become stronger, but they stop growing so vigorously.

Many people stop the growth of tomato seedlings by brushing, which requires a piece of styrofoam, paper, cardboard, or even a plastic tube. The key to reducing the lushness of their seedlings is to rub the tops so that they slightly bend but do not break! This trick to prevent tomatoes from becoming overgrown will also positively affect their resistance and subsequent cultivation, which will be trouble-free. Instead of special brushes, you can easily use your hands, and the effect will be the same.