Grow cherry tomatoes and watermelons from pot seedlings (Cherry tomato and watermelon plant care)
Growing cherry tomatoes and icebox watermelons in mulching culture. In the previous article, best soil for cherry tomatoes and watermelons. (Making a raised bed for cherry tomatoes and watermelons.) It has been about 1 month since then. This time, I will plant seedlings of cherry tomato and icebox watermelon.
I did the preparation for growing cherry tomatoes and icebox watermelons in late March. I performed soil preparation, fertilization, and made the bed.
https://www.vege-try.net/en/prepare-field-for-cherry-tomato-...The seedlings of cherry tomatoes and icebox watermelons are placed, still in their pots, into a bucket filled with water to remove the air from the soil. (It’s okay when no more bubbles come out.)
The cherry tomato and watermelon seedlings, which have been taken out of the water, will rest in a shaded area until planting.
The planting process for cherry tomato and watermelon starts with making holes in the mulch.
After making the holes for planting cherry tomato and watermelon, check the depth and size of each hole. Let’s place the potted plants into the holes. It should be easy to check once you actually place them in.
If there are any issues such as the hole being too shallow or deep, or too large or small, adjust the planting hole accordingly. Using a trowel is useful for adjusting the size of the hole.
Fill the hole with water up to 80%. Cherry tomato and watermelon seedlings should be planted after the water has drained away.
Cherry tomato and watermelon seedlings are delicate. Handle cherry tomato and watermelon seedlings gently during planting to prevent them from breaking or getting damaged. The way to plant seedlings is to first pinch the stem of the seedlings between your fingers, and turn over the pot.
Gently remove the cherry tomato and watermelon seedlings from the pot and plant in the hole. Try to avoid breaking the soil around the seedlings as much as possible.
After planting the cherry tomato and watermelon seedlings, return the previously set aside soil and fill the gaps around the hole. Once the gaps are filled, gently press down the soil around the base of the seedlings, being careful not to damage them.
Any excess soil from planting cherry tomato and watermelon should be dropped beneath the bed. If the leftover soil comes into contact with the leaves, it can potentially lead to diseases. Let’s keep the surface of the mulching film clean.
Since the newly planted seedlings are still fragile, set up stakes alongside them for support. (Insert the stakes at an angle, outside the planting hole to avoid damaging the roots.)
Tie the stem to the stake with twine. Loosely tie the stem, as it will grow thicker over time.
No intentional watering after planting. This is to strengthen the cherry tomato and icebox watermelon plants. It may wilt for a while, but if it perks up within 3-4 days, it’s a sign that it has taken root.
Following is the video for how-to. English subtitles are available.