Rules for sowing tomatoes in boiling water, advantages and disadvantages of the procedure

By sowing tomatoes in boiling water, gardeners can increase the plant's yield. This method helps reduce the risk of pathogenic microorganisms and improve the chances of seed germination. Although there are two techniques for sowing tomatoes in boiling water, the procedure is the same in each case. However, different tomato varieties are suitable for this method.

Why are tomato seeds treated with boiling water?

The effectiveness of this sowing method is explained by the fact that the boiling water creates a steam bath effect. Therefore, after planting the seeds, it is recommended to cover the containers with plastic wrap or glass.

Boiling water treatment is similar to shock therapy. Under this influence, the tomato plant mobilizes the forces necessary for survival, thereby increasing the likelihood of seed germination and shortening the period before fruiting.

The second effect of treatment with boiling water is that the first shoots appear after three days.

Such rapid growth is explained by the fact that the shell covering the seeds is destroyed under the influence of temperature.

What varieties of tomatoes are suitable?

The greenhouse method of sowing seeds, which involves pre-treating the soil with boiling water, is suitable for all tomato varieties. However, this method yields the best results when sowing late-ripening crops. This is because these plants germinate later.

What is needed for the procedure?

Sowing seeds using boiling water is no different from planting similar crops using other methods. In addition to hot water, you'll need a container and pre-prepared soil.

Containers for planting

Any container (including plastic) 4-5 centimeters deep can be used as a planting container. Alternatively, you can use another container. However, planting seeds in deeper containers is not advisable, as they will take up a lot of space.

Selecting the appropriate soil composition

Suitable for sowing seeds:

• purchased peat;
• a mixture of peat and coconut flakes;
• coconut filler without impurities.

There's no need to pre-treat the soil. Boiling water will kill any pathogens present in the soil.

What kind of water is best to use?

When treating seeds with boiling water, it's recommended to use clean or spring water. Tap water is also an option. However, this water may contain heavy metals, which can be harmful to the plant.

How to plant tomatoes using boiling water?

There are two ways germinating tomato seedsThe first requires pre-treatment before planting, while the second can be omitted. In both cases, you first need to pour soil into prepared containers and then boil the water.

The step-by-step process of sowing tomatoes according to the first algorithm looks like this:

1. The soil in the container is watered with boiling water. It is important to ensure that the soil is evenly moistened.
2. The seeds are slightly placed into the soil (a few millimeters) and covered with plastic film.
3. The container is placed on the radiator for half an hour, after which it is transferred to a warm room.

The landing algorithm for the second method is slightly different:

1. Tomato seeds are laid out on the surface of the prepared soil.
2. The soil together with the seedlings is watered with freshly boiled water (recommended straight from the fire).
3. The seedlings are covered with plastic film.
4. The container is placed on a radiator for 50 minutes, after which it is transferred to a warm room.

Once planting is complete, all that's left to do is wait for the first shoots to appear. This usually occurs within three to five days.

Advantages and disadvantages of the method

The main advantage of this method is that the first shoots appear earlier after treatment. Other advantages of this method include the following:

• high seed germination rate, reaching 100%;
• low risk of plant infection by pathogenic bacteria found in the soil;
• You can sow any variety of tomatoes.

A disadvantage of this method is that it's difficult to predict how the temperature will affect the crop after boiling. It's possible that the resulting plant will not produce a harvest, or the number of fruits will be insignificant.

Further care

The rules for caring for seedlings in this case are no different from those provided for when sowing using other methods.

For "boiled" seedlings

Maintaining moist soil is essential for successful germination. A lack of water is indicated by the absence of condensation on the surface of the film. During the first few days, it is recommended to regularly lift the plastic film to allow air to pass through. Excessive condensation should be removed.

Until sprouts appear, the container with the seedlings should be kept indoors at a temperature of 25 degrees Celsius. For the first two days, gardeners recommend placing a fluorescent lamp over the container.

For tomato seedlings

Once the first sprouts appear, remove the plastic film, and if the soil is not moist enough, water the roots with warm water (at least 20°C). Since the seeds remained near the soil surface during planting, the sprouted plants need to be buried deeper.

In this case, you can immediately transplant the plant into separate containers or do this later.

After the first sprouts appear, it's recommended to move the container to a room where the temperature is maintained at 18 degrees Celsius. Daylight hours at this stage of plant development should be 15 hours. Once two large leaves appear, the tomatoes are pricked out.

Video and photos of the technological process

Although sowing seeds in boiling water shouldn't pose any serious difficulties, to avoid mistakes (especially for inexperienced gardeners), it's recommended to look at photographs and videos showing the process of planting the crop in the ground.

Reviews from gardeners and vegetable growers

Using boiling water for planting tomatoes has become a relatively recent trend. Therefore, this method is used less frequently than other sowing methods. However, gardeners who have tried sowing tomatoes in boiling water report its high effectiveness. Gardeners note that this method is simpler than the traditional one, as previously, cheesecloth was used for seed germination, which required constant moistening. The soil stays moist longer.

Another important detail noted by gardeners in their comments is that there's no need to sort the seeds, leaving only those that are expected to germinate. Sowing in boiling water increases the likelihood of sprouting. Furthermore, some gardeners have used this method for planting cucumbers, with similarly positive results.