A good gardener thinks about the new harvest while fertilizing the one that has not yet been harvested. And it’s good when tomatoes from your garden beds turn out fleshy and juicy - in this case, it is beneficial to save the seeds for the next sowing. Let's consider options with purchased or new seeds, and figure out how and when to plant tomatoes for seedlings in 2019 according to the lunar calendar. Let's consider the features of planting by region and the full stage of crop germination from seeds to transshipment into the ground.
Quoting photo: kuhnyasad.ru
When to sow tomatoes for seedlings?
Tomato seedlings
The time when to plant tomatoes for seedlings is very important, because the entire future harvest may depend on it. So, if sowing is done too early, the tomatoes will stretch before being transplanted to a permanent place and will most likely die. In case of late sowing, the plants will not have time to develop before transplanting, which can lead to the development of diseases, weakness of the bush, and low yield.
Gardeners usually determine the timing of sowing seeds for seedlings according to the lunar calendar, but in addition, you need to focus on the ripening period of tomatoes.
- Extra early tomatoes are always grown for sale or fresh consumption. They grow very quickly. Therefore, it makes no sense to plant them very early. Typically, sowing time occurs in the last days of April or even the beginning of May.
- Early varieties are sown from the end of March.
Important!
Overgrown seedlings are a common problem for gardeners. Such sprouts usually have a height of more than 50 cm and die after transplantation to a permanent place.
- Mid-season species should be sown from about the end of February to mid-March.
- Late varieties need to be planted as seedlings as early as possible - from February.
Feeding seedlings
Many novice gardeners are interested in whether it is necessary to fertilize tomato seedlings. There is no definite answer here, since it all depends on the appearance of the young plant. If the seedlings have thick, strong stems and the leaves are juicy green, then such seedlings do not need any fertilizer.
But, if everything is the other way around, then it is better to feed the seedlings:
- if the lower leaves turn yellow and fall off, then they do not have enough nitrogen, you can use a urea solution;
- the presence of a purple color on the bottom of the leaf indicates a lack of phosphorus; superphosphate will help eliminate the problem;
- wrinkled shoots - lack of potassium in the soil;
- curling leaves - lack of iron.
The dream of all gardeners is to grow a rich and tasty harvest on their plot. If you follow the lunar calendar, and also listen to the advice of more experienced summer residents, you can learn how to properly plant tomatoes for seedlings, so that the summer and autumn of 2019 will delight you with tasty and juicy fruits.
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When to sow tomatoes for seedlings according to the lunar calendar in 2019?
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This is one of the main subjects of debate among summer residents; this is the question - when to sow tomatoes for seedlings according to the lunar calendar? Some gardeners begin sowing seeds for seedlings as early as late February - early March. Others are waiting until the end of March. What's the right way?
It all depends on where the tomato seedlings will grow after planting. If in a greenhouse, the seeds should be sown in mid-March. If in open ground - by the end of March or even the beginning of April 2019. You can navigate by the planting time: by the time the seedlings are planted in open ground, they should be 50 - 60 days old.
Favorable days for sowing tomato seeds for seedlings according to the lunar calendar in 2022:
February: 1, 6, 8, 12, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28 March: 1, 8, 9, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28 April: 11, 12, 17, 18, 20, 21, 27, 28, 29
Unfavorable days for sowing tomato seeds for seedlings according to the lunar calendar in 2022:
February: 5, 7, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 27 March: 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 11, 12, 13, 16, 21, 22, 31 April: 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 13, 15, 16, 19, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26
When to harvest?
Experienced gardeners noted that the harvest lasts for a longer time if it was harvested during the period when the Month was in the sign of Taurus, Sagittarius, Leo, Gemini, Aries, Capricorn, Scorpio:
| June | 11, 14, 23 |
| July | 2, 3, 10–16, 18–24, 26–31 |
| August | 4–8, 11–12, 14–20, 22–25, 28–31 |
| September | 6, 18, 24 |
| October | 1–5, 29–31 |
If the harvest was carried out in a different period, then the tomatoes must be sent for processing as soon as possible, since they cannot be stored for a long time.
Did you know? A unique landscape design in a suburban area can be created by planting bushes of small-fruited tomatoes, which retain their decorative qualities for a long time and are less susceptible to diseases and pests.
Knowledge about the influence of celestial bodies on the processes of growth and vital activity of plants has been accumulated for many years, and now these observations can become significant support in the process of planting and successfully growing crops.
When to plant tomatoes for seedlings in the Moscow region?
Depending on the area in which the gardener’s plot is located, the timing of when to plant tomatoes as seedlings changes. The reason is that each region has its own climatic characteristics.
Interesting!
A popular belief says that when planting tomato seedlings, you need to focus on poplar fluff. As soon as it has flown, you can safely plant the sprouts in a permanent place.
In the Moscow region, seeds begin to be sown approximately from the beginning to the end of March. This is the optimal period so that by the time of transplantation to a permanent place the sprouts have grown, but not stretched out. As a rule, transplanting tomatoes into a garden bed or greenhouse in a given region is carried out no earlier than the end of May. The reason is both late frosts and high humidity.
Factors influencing planting time
The tomato harvest depends on the correct timing of planting. It is influenced by several factors:
- the region in which the plants are grown. Areas with warm climates provide the opportunity to plant and care for plants over a longer period. In areas with harsh weather conditions (in the Urals, Siberia), which are characterized by a short and fairly cool summer period, this period is much shorter;
- variety of tomatoes. It is advisable to plant early crops later than late-ripening varieties: in March, April or May. This is explained by the rapid development of the plant and its short growing season;
- places to grow vegetables. Tomatoes that are cultivated in open ground are more demanding when it comes to planting. Healthy and strong seedlings need to be transplanted into the beds. This significantly increases the chances of their rapid adaptation to new conditions.
Tomatoes are placed in a permanent place of growth (greenhouses, vegetable garden) when they are 1.5-2 months old. Until this time, the seedlings are actively forming a root system, strong foliage and several buds. A good harvest should not be expected from weak, non-viable seedlings with a poorly developed root system.
When tomato seedlings are planted too early, the stems of the plants become elongated, thinner, and the leaves turn pale. Late sowing leads to the fact that the crop does not have time to develop, remains weak and small, is difficult to adapt to when transplanted, and forms a small number of ovaries late.
Tatyana Orlova (candidate of agricultural sciences):
Farmers who professionally grow tomatoes believe that the most technologically advanced ones for planting are seedlings aged 35-40 days. Its height at this age is usually about 15-20 cm. Such seedlings are easy to transport to the planting site. She quickly takes root without losing her “race”. While very large, elongated seedlings “sick” longer when transplanted.
Tomato seedlings in the Leningrad region
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Tomato seedlings
The Leningrad region has a very changeable climate, so planting seedlings and, accordingly, sowing seeds for seedlings must be done with all responsibility. Seedlings must mature for approximately 60 days to fully develop. If you are guided by this, then the sowing of seeds should occur approximately in the middle or end of March, in order to plant tomatoes in a permanent place in mid-May.
Gardeners note that since mid-May it has already been quite warm in the Leningrad region, late frosts have already passed, so by this time it is possible to plant seedlings in a greenhouse or open ground.
Methods of sowing seeds
There are many methods for growing tomato seedlings. Every gardener has experimentally arrived at his or her most preferred method of sowing seeds for seedlings:
- Many continue to grow tomato seedlings in a schoolhouse , and then dive into jars or glasses. Some people leave tomatoes without picking, while leaving more space between the seeds during sowing.
- In recent years, the snail . This method allows you to not only save land, but also space when growing seedlings. This approach is fully justified in a city apartment, when there are not enough window sills to sow all the varieties of tomatoes that you want.
- It is convenient to germinate seeds in peat tablets . They sprout quickly and take up little space during the first time of cultivation. The roots of the seedlings are not damaged during transplantation, since each seed has its own “house”.
- Galina Kizima in diapers made from old newspapers for many years Advanced gardeners have perfected her method using garbage bags.
- An interesting option is to sow seeds in plastic mineral water bottles. They create a microclimate similar to a greenhouse. The method is recommended for sowing expensive and rare varieties for the purpose of their better germination and adaptation.
- The method of sowing tomato seeds in boiling water is similar in effect to stratification, only the temperature is exactly the opposite. This method is very effective in case of expired seed material or doubtful quality.
- hydroponics in their plots for growing tomatoes . In this case, you can refuse the soil; it may contain pathogenic bacteria that cause numerous diseases.
Which sowing method to focus on is up to the gardener to decide. However, some of the seeds can be sown in a new and unusual way for you to find out whether it is suitable in specific conditions.
When to plant tomatoes for seedlings in the Urals and Siberia?
If we talk about Siberia and the Urals, then in these regions you need to be very careful when choosing the timing for sowing seedlings. In this case, early varieties need to be sown from the end of February 2022. Mid-season tomatoes can be sown from the beginning of March. As for the later ones, it is generally not recommended to grow them in these cold regions. But if you really want to grow a late variety, then seedlings need to be done from the beginning of February.
Important!
Due to the threat of return frosts, it is not advisable to plant sprouts in open ground or an unheated greenhouse in Siberia and the Urals ahead of schedule. This can cause all sprouts to freeze.
When to plant tomatoes as seedlings for greenhouses?
Tomatoes for greenhouses
The timing of sowing also depends on where the future tomatoes will be grown. So, in the greenhouse there are more favorable conditions, so you can plant not very developed and even weak shoots there. In greenhouse conditions they will quickly grow stronger.
Important!
For crops that will be grown in greenhouses, it is worth taking greenhouse soil. Then it will be easier for the seedlings to adapt to new conditions after the final transplantation.
When to plant tomatoes as seedlings depends on the greenhouse in which the plant will then be grown.
- From the first day of sowing the seeds until they are transferred to an unheated greenhouse, 50-60 days should pass. This will be enough for the sprouts to grow stronger and withstand the coolness of the spring greenhouse. Previously, on May 7, it was better not to plant tomatoes there at all, since belated frosts may still pass before then and all the seedlings will freeze.
- Tall varieties are planted in a greenhouse without heating 55-65 days after sowing the seeds.
- If the greenhouse is heated, then crops of any age can be planted in it; moreover, seedlings are often grown in such greenhouses to save space at home.
When to plant seedlings for open ground?
Growing tomatoes in open ground involves constant stress for the plant. Therefore, crops that will be planted outdoors should be subject to more careful selection. By planting tomatoes in time, you can significantly speed up the development of the plant and get a better harvest.
Important!
It is worth planting tomato seedlings in open ground after the threat of return frosts has passed.
In regions with a temperate climate, 50-60 day old seedlings are planted in open ground. This time falls in mid-late April or early May. In the southern regions, you can postpone the planting date to the end of March. That is, sowing seeds for open ground is carried out around the end of January or early February.
How to properly plant tomato seeds for seedlings?
Planting tomato seeds
When to plant tomatoes as seedlings was described above, but how exactly to do it? By following the rules for sowing seeds, you can grow resistant plants. First you need to decide on seed material and purchase it. If the seeds were purchased at the market (without branded packaging), they may be contaminated with diseases. Such seeds can be disinfected by soaking in a soda solution (half a glass of water per 0.5 kg of soda) for 24 hours or in potassium permanganate (1 g/100 ml) for 30 minutes. Of the purchased products, Fitosporin solution works well. Store-bought seeds do not need to be disinfected, since they usually undergo similar treatment at the factory, upon release.
You can buy soil in a store, take it from a greenhouse or from a garden. But it is advisable to pour it with a weak solution of potassium permanganate or boiling water before use. After the soil is processed, it is placed in a warm room for 12 days so that beneficial bacteria begin to develop. Any planting container can be used, the main thing is that it is of sufficient size, of medium depth, made of safe material and has drainage holes.
For planting, the container is filled with earth, then it is moistened and shallow furrows (1 cm) are made. Seeds are sown in them at a distance of 5 cm. After this, the furrows are covered with soil. Since the soil is wet, it is no longer watered. The container is covered with glass or plastic film and placed in a warm place for seedlings to appear.
Preparing tomato seeds for planting
Keep in mind that the guaranteed seed germination rate declared by the manufacturer is, in practice, still lower by an average of 10 percent. After opening the package, inspect the seeds visually; they should be the same color without damage. If you purchased seeds of hybrid varieties, you can try sowing them directly into the ground. But still, experienced gardeners advise that at the beginning, pre-prepare the seeds. This is necessary to awaken the seed, disinfect it and subsequently protect it from germs. There is a whole system of preparatory work. Disinfection. To do this, you need to wrap the seeds in gauze and leave them to soak in a prepared one percent solution of potassium permanganate for 12-24 hours. Then we activate the internal processes in the seeds by washing them for thirty minutes with water at a temperature of 60 degrees. For the soaking procedure, you need to place the seeds in a gauze bag in water at a temperature of about 25 degrees for 24 hours. To increase the resistance of seeds to temperature changes, they are placed in the refrigerator for a day, as if hardening them.
How to care for tomato seedlings?
Approximately 7 days after sowing the seeds, shoots should appear. The seedlings are transferred to a cool, bright place and they begin to care for the sprouts.
- Until the first pair of leaves, you need to spray all the time, not water. But after the leaves appear, they stop spraying and water from a watering can about once a week. When 4-5 leaves appear, watering is carried out every 3-4 days.
- The room temperature should be moderate, not lower than +18 degrees, but better within +20.
- Drafts are completely eliminated, but it is advisable to ventilate the room.
- Daylight for seedlings should last for 16 hours. If the weather does not allow this, then you need to organize lighting.
- Drinking into separate cups is desirable, although it is often neglected. It is carried out 2-3 days after the appearance of 1 full leaf.
- Fertilizer is usually applied if the sprouts are not growing well. In this case, a light solution of mineral complex fertilizers or organic matter, such as banana peels, wood ash, or a weak infusion of compost, is suitable.
- Hardening is necessary to increase the resistance of sprouts to temperature changes. It is carried out when it is at least +15 degrees outside. Plants are taken out into the open air (balcony, yard, loggia) and kept there for 2-3 hours. In subsequent days, the amount of time is increased by 15-30 minutes and so on for 2 weeks.
Planting seedlings in open ground or in a greenhouse is carried out no earlier than 50 days after sowing the seeds. Although seedlings can be planted in a heated greenhouse at any time. The main thing when replanting is to make sure that there are no late frosts and that relatively warm, stable weather outside is established.
Knowing exactly when to plant tomato seedlings and how to do it correctly, you can achieve good sprouts and, accordingly, a high-quality, abundant harvest. Therefore, gardeners try to make seedlings themselves, and not buy them from hand, because this does not always give a positive result. And seedlings grown with your own hands will meet all the criteria a gardener needs.
Preparatory activities
When growing tomato seedlings at home, it is important to create optimal temperature, lighting and humidity. The composition of the soil in which the seeds will be planted is of great importance.
Sowing work begins with the acquisition of seeds, soil and preparation of equipment. There is never enough light to grow early seedlings. Therefore, it is worth taking care of additional lighting in advance.
Selecting a variety and purchasing seeds
Today there is a huge variety of varieties with different heights, growing seasons, variety of colors and fruit sizes. To choose seeds for sowing seedlings, be sure to read our rating of the best tomato varieties.
When purchasing seeds, preference should be given to reliable agricultural companies and breeders who have proven themselves to be the best. These can be websites of seed manufacturers or online garden stores.
Calculate your capabilities, how many seeds you will need for sowing and how many seedlings you can plant in your garden or greenhouse. The number of seeds is indicated on each bag. Also check the stated expiration date.
Experienced gardeners collect seeds from their gardens only if they are varietal tomatoes. It is not possible to obtain high-quality seeds from hybrids - they do not produce a harvest in the second generation.
Where to plant - containers for seedlings
You can use any convenient container as containers for growing tomato seedlings.
Wooden boxes are used to sow seeds in a schoolhouse . They are filled with prepared soil, and then the seeds are laid out. If the box is large, you can make several grooves and place seeds of several varieties in them.
Important! It is necessary to maintain the distance between seeds when sowing in large containers. Otherwise, the seedlings will stretch out and interfere with each other's growth.
For many years, gardeners have successfully used peat pots . They come in different sizes and are easy to choose for seedlings of any size. It should be noted that this is an environmentally friendly material that completely decomposes in the soil after planting.
