One of the STAR of the summer garden.... The tomato

The tomato is undoubtedly one of the most common horticultural species and gives great satisfaction to the grower.

How to choose the right plant

Observing the young seedlings, we must first verify their condition; they must have robust stem and green leaves. It is necessary to avoid the "leggy seedlings" small plants, thin plants, often the stem bends under the weight of the leaves; in the field, they die quickly.

It is also important to count the number of foliar insertions (the crossing point between the main stem and the branches carrying the leaves); the smaller the distance between two foliar insertions, the greater the number of fruits.

Very important: it is always good to check the conditions of the root system!

The roots should be white and not in massive tangle. A small plant is better than a plant kept in a pot too long.

Finally, it is preferable to use single-bred seedlings, which allow transplantation with the whole root-ball, that is with all the undamaged roots.

We help our seedlings during the transplant

The transplantation is quite delicate since the plant must acclimatize in a totally new environment. It is very important to prepare the ground for the young seedling. It will be necessary to work the soil, shredding it and levelling it to avoid water stagnations harmful to small plants. The application of organic substance to the soil is also very important at this stage.

We help our seedlings during the planting phase

Remove the seedling from the pot very gently, trying to avoid breaking roots or stem by pulling. Create a small hole in the ground, which is at least 2 times the depth of the whole plant root-ball. Immediately after, place in the ground and cover well the soil around, watering abundantly to facilitate the integration between the soil and the plant root-ball.

We help our seedlings to overcome post-transplant stress and to grow in a healthy and balanced way - Icas recommends....

To facilitate the rooting, it is advisable, before planting, dipping the roots in a solution of the product ACTIVE ROOT; based on mycorrhiza, Active root also allows the protection of the roots after transplantation. The formulation of the product stimulates the root system, promotes in the rhizosphere the assimilation of nutrients, and stimulates the development of microbial flora in the soil.

To promote the development of the root system and avoid post-transplantation stress, ICAS recommends RADIS UP, a product based on seaweed extract, rich in natural cytokinin. It promotes the development of the root system and stimulates the biological activity of the plant. It is applied after 5 days from the post-transplant phase.

Fertilization

To promote balanced development Icas recommends MAGNUS 21-12-21, complete NPK fertilizer, added with amino acids and seaweed extracts, that naturally stimulate the metabolism of the plant. It is used from 15 days after the post-transplant phase and for the whole life cycle of the plant.