Growing tomato seedlings using the Terekhin method

The Terekhins' innovative method for growing tomatoes has both its supporters and many detractors. The technology is based on special methods of seed preparation and seedling transplantation. Those wishing to experiment with the method developed by the Ulyanovsk vegetable growers are advised to study and follow their instructions precisely. Only then can one judge the effectiveness of the new method in their own garden.

Pre-sowing seed preparation

All tomatoes with the same ripening period are sown almost simultaneously, so Lyudmila Terekhova suggests sorting them by type, using small containers (shot glasses, plastic cups, etc.). Label each variety to avoid confusion when sowing. These items should be prepared in advance, such as sewing small fabric bags for the seeds.

To treat seeds, prepare an ash extract:

• 2 tbsp. sifted wood ash;
• 1 liter of water.

Place the ash in a suitable jar and fill it with hot water. Let the mixture steep for 24 hours, then strain and use it to soak the grains.

Place the seeds in cups and soak them in the ash extract for three hours. Then, drain the water, prepare a light pink solution of potassium permanganate, and soak the seeds in it for 20 minutes. After soaking, rinse the seeds under running water and place them in the prepared bags.

Prepare the Epin solution (follow the instructions). Place the bags with the contents in a plate or other container, pour the prepared solution over them, and leave at room temperature for 8-10 hours. This can be done in the evening so you can continue pre-sowing seed preparation for tomato seedlings in the morning.

The next step is to vernalize the seeds. The Epin solution is drained, and the container with the bags is placed on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator (at about 5°C). The seeds are cooled for 24 hours and then planted.

Rules for sowing seeds

According to Lyudmila Terekhova, the best time for sowing is during the waning moon. Ideally, the moon will be in Scorpio. The Terekhova's reasoning for choosing the right time based on astrological signs is that at this time, plants develop resistance to disease and are more likely to produce more fruit.

For sowing seeds, innovators recommend using Terra Vita soil, which is available at gardening stores. Place the soil in boxes and soak it in a hot solution of potassium permanganate. Cool the soil to room temperature, then spread the refrigerated seeds over it. There's no need to pre-warm them.

Cover the seedlings with dry soil to a depth of 0.5 cm. Spread snow on top of the soil to a depth of 2-3 cm. Leave the containers at room temperature until the snow melts, then place them in appropriately sized plastic bags. Place the seedlings in a warm location (near a radiator).

The seeds will germinate in about 5 days. Remove the trays from the bags and place them in a well-lit area. A special shelf or table near a window is ideal.

How to care for seedlings?

Once seedlings begin to grow, it's important to care for them properly. According to the Terekhins' method, seedling stretching can be prevented by regulating the daytime and nighttime temperatures at which the tomatoes are kept.

To alternate between cool and warm periods, it is recommended to do the following:

1. During the day, place the seedling boxes in a warmer location. This could be a table by a window or near a radiator.
2. At night, move the containers to a cool place. The Terekhins recommend placing the boxes on the floor or moving them to a windowsill.

As a result of such movements, tomato seedlings grow less intensively at night and practically do not stretch out.

To water tomatoes using the Terekhova method, use only snow water. Two tablespoons of lukewarm water are poured daily into a 200 ml container. The amount of water used varies depending on the size of the containers in which the seeds are sown. According to the Terekhova vegetable growers, this method prevents blackleg, which can kill young plants. After watering, it is recommended to loosen the soil.

Peculiarities of picking

When the two true leaves emerge above the cotyledons, the seedlings need to be transplanted. Pricking out tomato seedlings is done with any method of growing seedlings, but the Terekhins' method is quite rigorous and can be intimidating for those unfamiliar with it.

Pricking out tomatoes is carried out as follows:

1. Prepare the required number of Terra Vita potting soil cups in advance. Each container holds 100 ml.
2. Using a sharp knife or scissors, cut off the top of the seedling's stem. The stem should be cut 2-3 cm below the cotyledon leaves.
3. Bend the stem slightly, place it in a hole in the ground and fill it with soil, pressing it slightly near the stem.
4. Water the transplanted plants with warmed snow water and place them in a cool, dark place. Keep the tomatoes in this condition for 2 days.
5. Move the containers into the light and water the seedlings with Epin, diluted according to the instructions for the preparation.

After transplanting, seedlings should be supplemented with orange-spectrum phytolamps and watered according to the guidelines outlined above. As the tomato seedlings grow, they are transplanted into larger containers (200 ml). No additional fertilizer is needed while growing tomato seedlings, as all the necessary nutrients are already present in the soil.

Preparing the site and transplanting seedlings into the ground

Experimenters consider cabbage to be the best predecessors for tomatoes. In addition, beds under When planting tomatoes in a greenhouse, they sow green manure, and then they dig it over, removing weeds and enriching the soil with organic matter. With this approach, the soil in the greenhouse beds doesn't need to be changed.

For initial plot preparation, the Terekhins use copper sulfate. The chemical is spread early in the spring, directly on the snow in the area designated for tomato cultivation. The application rate is approximately 100 g per square meter. As the snow melts, the sulfate dissolves, killing fungal spores and pests in the soil. Digging is done using conventional methods.

Prepare the holes for the tomatoes one day before transplanting. Add the following to each hole:

• 1-2 handfuls of fine sand;
• 1 tsp potassium sulfate;
• 2 tsp. Kemira complex mixture (or other mineral fertilizer with nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and microelements);
• 1 tbsp. deoxidizer (ground eggshells, dolomite flour, chalk, gypsum, etc.).

In addition to minerals, you'll need Metronidazole (available at a pharmacy). Take four tablets of the antibacterial solution per 10 liters of water, crush them, and dissolve them in the water. Pour one liter of the solution into each hole. Gardeners claim this method helped them completely eradicate late blight from their plots within two years.

Carefully remove the tomato seedlings from their pots and plant them in the prepared holes. Cover the roots with soil, pressing lightly against the stems. Water lightly to fill any voids in the soil.

Caring for tomatoes

Ten days after planting, feed the tomatoes once with Baikal fertilizer, diluting it according to the instructions. When the three-fruit cluster appears, apply magnesium and boron supplements (Mag-bor, Sudarushka, etc.). Wood ash can also be used at a rate of 300-500 g per 1 m². These supplements can be simply scattered over the soil surface.

The Terekhins also place great importance on the formation of tomato bushes. They consider growing tomatoes on a single stem unproductive and recommend training them into two or three trunks. Using additional stems significantly increases the tomato yield. Tomatoes should be tied to supports or a trellis.

A necessary care detail is soil loosening. Vegetable growers recommend loosening the soil under tomato plants after each watering. This allows oxygen, essential for root respiration, to penetrate the soil better.

Reviews from gardeners who have tried the Terekhins' method for growing tomatoes in their plots are mixed. Some have appreciated the method and use it annually. Others believe that cutting seedlings during transplanting is impractical for certain varieties (Pink Elephant, exotic tomatoes). Each gardener can decide which method is best for them by experimenting with their own seedlings.