After successful cultivation, repotting in the tub is now on the agenda for young tomato plants. The following lines explain which factors play a role precisely, concisely and in a way that is easy to understand.
The right materials - the best substrate
After successful sowing followed by pricking out, strong tomato plants, up to 40 centimeters tall, have developed. Before the youngsters move onto the balcony from mid-May, they are repotted into their final bucket for the summer. The following materials should be available:
- a bucket with a volume of at least 20, better 40 liters and an opening in the bottom
- good vegetable soil as a substrate, enriched with compost and horn shavings
- coarse, inorganic material for drainage, such as gravel, grit (46.95€) or crushed potsherds
- a stable climbing aid, such as a bamboo stick, a fiberglass stick or a trellis
Those who prefer to mix the soil for tomatoes themselves can combine loamy garden soil with compost, horn shavings (€32.93) and a little sand for permeability.
Step-by-step instructions
Before you start the actual repotting, put the tomato plant in a container with room-warm water. Here the root ball can soak up water until no more air bubbles rise. Proceed as follows:
- Spread the coarse material for drainage over the floor opening
- fill the pot one third full with substrate
- unpot the tomato plant and shorten the longest root strand a little with your fingernails
- place in the middle of the bucket and anchor the climbing aid
- fill in the rest of the substrate and press down
- leave a pouring edge of a few centimeters and pour on
Always plant tomatoes as deep as possible. The soil should reach the cotyledons. A possible grafting point must nevertheless be just above the surface of the earth. It is advantageous to use the young plant at a slight angle. As an adventitious root, a tomato also develops roots from the stalk, which is beneficial for stability.
tips and tricks
The drainage immediately loses its function against waterlogging if it becomes clogged with fine, crumbly substrate. Knowledgeable hobby gardeners spread an air and water permeable weed fleece (21.70€) over it before they fill in the vegetable soil.