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| Producing tomato young plants |
| Getting ready |
The production of tomato young plant are split into two phases. The germination takes place in kiemplugs or SowingCubes, and the growth after transplanting takes place in growing blocks (NEPTUNE or APOLLO).
It is very important to make sure hygiene is at a high level through-out the propagation phase. Clean the propagation area thoroughly before you start making the young plants.
Place the products on the benches.
Wet up the products completely. Pargro stonewool will only have its unique waterholding characteristics when the products have been 100% saturated with water.
Wet up the products in due time before use in order to make sure the temperature in the block reach the optimum temperature for germination.
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| Germination |
Wet up the seeding unit with nutrient solution of 2,0 mS/cm. Place the seed in the hole and cover the seed with vermiculite or alike. The cover ensures the humidity around the seed, and thereby the germination, to be more uniform.
Keep the temperature at 23º C through-out the germination phase. If you cover the blocks with foil, remove the foil as soon as the cotyledons are visible.
After the germination lower the temperature gradually to 20-21º C over a period of 4-5 days. Maintain this temperature during the rest of the propagation period.
Transplant the small plants to growing blocks 10-12 days after sowing, if sown in kiemplugs (12-14 days, if sown in SowingCubes).
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| Growth of the tomato young plant |
Wet up the growing block with an EC at 3,5-4,0 mS/cm, and transplant the kiemplants into the growing block.
Irrigate the plant when needed through-out the rest of the propagation period. It is important, that the blocks never dry out -> irrigate at the latest when block+plant weighs 300-350 grammes.
Increase the conductivity during the period. Be aware that different varieties have different needs for nutrients. Have your advisor make a fertilizer recipe adjusted to the requirement of the variety you have chosen as well as your raw water.
As the time of year for planting as well as the physiological development (age) at planting vary a lot from nursery to nursery, it is difficult to give precise advice on climate control etc. In general it is recommended to give more and more generative impulses to the plants during the propagation phase. |
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