Growing tomatoes according to the Lunar calendar in 2022

In winter there is enough time to plan spring work: prepare the soil and containers for sowing, decide on the choice of varieties and, of course, study the Lunar calendar. It is not for nothing that popular wisdom says: “If you sow on the moon, you will reap twice as much.”

Tomato is a favorite vegetable of many gardeners. Its yield is influenced by many factors: soil preparation, sowing time, bush care, etc. Even experienced tomato growers rely on the lunar calendar when planning all stages of working with this crop.

How do the phases of the moon affect growing tomatoes?

New Moon . The day before the new moon, weeds and damaged shoots are removed. On the day of the new moon itself, you cannot carry out any manipulations with tomatoes. The only thing you can do on this day is loosen the soil and collect seeds. Seed material collected on the new moon is very well stored.

Waxing Crescent. The average duration of this period is 11 days. At the beginning of the phase, seeds should be sown, and determinate varieties of tomatoes should be planted in the ground. Indeterminate varieties are planted closer to the full moon, since during this period the plant actively stretches upward. During the waxing Moon, it is recommended to loosen and replant tomatoes, because roots react poorly to damage.

Full moon . The shortest period during which it is necessary to remove weeds and combat diseases. Sowing, planting in the ground, and forming tomato bushes should be postponed until better times.

Waning moon . The period lasts about 12 days. At this time, pressure in the root system increases, so any damage can lead to serious consequences. You should not pick up tomatoes and plant the bushes in a permanent place.

Which zodiac signs are most favorable for planting tomatoes?

The development of plants is influenced not only by the phases of the Moon, but also by the zodiac signs in which it is located. “Fertile” signs : Taurus, Capricorn, Pisces, Cancer, Scorpio, Libra. “Infertile” signs : Aquarius, Aries, Virgo, Gemini, Leo. “Wet” signs : Cancer, Scorpio, Libra, Pisces (suitable for feeding). “Dry” signs : Sagittarius, Aries, Aquarius, Gemini (suitable for harvesting on the waning Moon).

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Features of picking

You can start immediately after the seedlings have formed two true leaves. There is no point in doing this before. The sprouts are still weak. Late diving leads to a decrease in the likelihood of settling in a new place and susceptibility to disease. There are a number of signs by which you can determine the degree of readiness of seedlings for picking:

1. The tomatoes have reached their age. Seedlings have a well-developed root system and high immunity.
2. The planting is too dense. A sufficient distance between sprouts is 5 cm. Otherwise, growth and development will be slowed down. Dense placement will not provide the plant with normal lighting and will reduce the metabolic rate.
3. Pulling out sprouts. If the tops are thin and the stems are weak, then picking is the only way out. This mainly happens when there is a lack of light.
4. The seedlings have a depressed appearance. Cramped conditions negatively affect the health of tomatoes. Thin stems, even those growing well, will not produce the desired yield.
5. There is a sign of the presence of disease. Blackleg is especially dangerous. It spreads very quickly and can destroy all shoots.

How to determine the timing of sowing tomatoes in your region

The timing of sowing tomatoes for seedlings is often in doubt. Some people start sowing seeds at the end of February, but many wait until the middle or even the last days of March so that the seedlings do not outgrow by the time they are planted in the ground.

It all depends on the region, variety, and also on the conditions in which the seedlings will then be exposed. If after germination you have the opportunity to transfer the boxes with seedlings to a heated greenhouse, you can start sowing in February. In the first weeks of plant development, the optimal temperature for tomato growth is 14-15°C at night and 18-20°C during the day.

If the seedlings are kept at room temperature all the time, they will quickly stretch out. In this case, the sowing dates should be moved closer to mid-March. You can navigate by the date of planting the bushes in a permanent place: by this time the seedlings should be about 60 days old. If you are going to plant tomatoes in an unheated greenhouse or in open ground, you can sow until mid-April (ultra-early varieties).

As a rule, late varieties of tomatoes are sown first, then mid-season tomatoes, and last of all are early varieties, which can be planted in open ground when the threat of return frosts has passed.

When to plant tomato seeds for open ground seedlings

Planting in open ground is radically different from greenhouse planting in terms of climatic indicators. If for greenhouses air temperatures are of little importance, then for open ground this is the main indicator. Accordingly, the seeds are sowed in such a way that the finished seedlings can be planted in the ground on time.

Seeds are sown during the waxing moon. The most favorable days for sowing seeds will be in May 2, 3, 8, 9 and from 15 to 18.

In addition, depending on climatic conditions, you can also sow seeds on the following days:

• January: 2,14,17,18,20;
• February: 6,7,8,9,11,12,14;
• March: 7,8,9,10,15,16;
• April: 6,7,11,12,17,18.

It is recommended to sow late varieties from the last days of December. January and February are more suitable for seedlings that are intended for greenhouses.

Planting in open ground can be timed to coincide with the following days:

• April: 2,7,11;
• May: 8,9,12,13,14,15,16,17,18;
• June: 5,6,9,10,11,12,13,14.

When planting tomatoes in open ground, depending on the conditions, you can also cover them with film. In this case, they are planted in the ground 10 days later than in the greenhouse, and directly in open ground, without any shelter, another 15 days later.

Unfavorable days for planting, as well as other work with tomatoes, are the following days:

• January: 2, 3, 10, 25, 31.
• February: 8, 9, 21, 22, 26, 27.
• March: 7, 8, 25, 26.
• April: 3, 4, 15 to 17, 20 to 22, 30.
• May: 1, 13, 14 and 18, 21, from 27 to 29.
• June: from 9 to 11, 14, 15, 16, 24, 25.

Planting finished seedlings in open ground

Depends on its age and variety.

When to plant tomato seedlings according to the Lunar calendar in 2020

Picking of tomato seedlings is carried out at the stage of appearance of two true leaves. When sowing is thickened, you should not delay picking, as the seedlings stretch out and grow weak. Astrologers advise diving during the waxing moon, because... these days, the root system of plants tolerates stress most easily, and tomatoes quickly begin to grow new roots. It is advisable to pick when the Moon is in the sign of Pisces, Capricorn, Cancer. The period when the waxing Moon is in the sign of Virgo is also suitable for picking, especially those tomatoes that were sown in Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces.

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The meaning of zodiac signs for plants

The Moon passes through all 12 signs of the zodiac in one lunar month. Its presence in this sign affects plants. Planting seedlings when the Moon is in Aquarius, Sagittarius, Leo and Aries leads to infertility of the crops. Experienced gardeners do not graft, sow or carry out other treatments at this time. It is not recommended to sow seeds when the Moon is in Cancer and Virgo, the plants will grow slowly and their root system will be fragile and weak. The fruits of such plants will not last long, and the seeds will have low germination.

Vegetables planted during the Moon in Taurus will have excellent properties. They grow well and produce a rich harvest. The only drawback of such tomatoes is their susceptibility to disease.

The time of the Moon's passage through Libra and Scorpio is the most favorable time for vegetable crops. All agricultural practices will have a beneficial effect on plants.

Because of the influence of the Moon on plants, gardeners carefully study the lunar calendar.

When to feed tomato seedlings according to the Lunar calendar in 2020

During the first weeks, the seedlings have enough of the nutrients that are in the seed itself. A week after picking, the first fertilizing is done, combining it with watering. The next feeding can be done 2 weeks after the first. For this you can use nitrogen-phosphorus fertilizers. At the beginning of the growing season, seedlings need nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus. An infusion of green mass of nettle and dandelion would be a good potassium supplement.

Tomatoes are very responsive to liquid root and foliar feeding. The first fertilizing after planting in open ground or in a greenhouse can be done within a few days. Usually 3-4 feedings per season are enough for tomatoes. The greatest effect is achieved by feeding carried out on days when the Moon is in the constellations Cancer, Pisces, Libra, Virgo and Scorpio.

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Seed preparation

If the seeds are fresh and purchased in a store, their preparation for sowing includes a minimum of activities, and often the bag even says that the seeds are fully prepared. Preliminary preparation of seeds by the manufacturer may include various operations, and the gardener can reduce their result to zero through inept actions. The maximum that can be done with such seeds is to soak them in plain water before sowing, if such a prohibition is not indicated on the packaging. You need to tinker a little with your own seeds from previous harvests.

The full cycle of seed preparation includes the following operations:

1. Calibration. This is done by shaking the seeds in a 3% solution of table salt. It is better not to plant those seeds that do not sink after 5–7 minutes. After this bathing, the good seeds should be rinsed with water.

   Since the seeds are not very small, initial manual calibration is also possible

2. Disinfection. It is carried out for 20–25 minutes in a strong solution of potassium permanganate, after which the seeds are washed with water.

   To disinfect the seeds of any vegetables, the potassium permanganate solution is made strong and dark purple in color.

3. Soaking until biting. The seeds are kept in a damp cloth until some of them show miniature roots.

   1–3 days after soaking, long roots may already appear: the seeds shown in the photo are already a little scary to put in the refrigerator, but most likely they will survive and harden there

4. Hardening. When several seeds have sprouted, the cloth with all the seeds is placed in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. It is advisable to periodically remove them from there for 2–3 hours and put them back.

In addition to these traditional operations, some fans also soak seeds in solutions of various adaptogens, for example, in diluted agave juice. This operation is very useful for capricious eggplants, but you can also treat tomato seeds in this way, and it won’t get any worse.

When to plant tomato seedlings in the ground according to the Lunar calendar in 2020

Tomato seedlings are planted in a greenhouse or open ground 50-60 days after sowing, when warm weather sets in. Seedlings are usually planted in a greenhouse several weeks earlier than in open ground. On the eve of transplanting into open ground, the seedlings must be hardened off and covered with spunbond after planting.

Astrologers recommend planting tomato seedlings on the waxing Moon in the constellations Cancer, Scorpio, Libra, Capricorn and Pisces.

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Why do you need dives?

To grow seedlings, you need to sow tomato seeds in any large container. The seedlings will hatch in about 14 days. Initially, they receive the required amount of light and nutritional components. But as the seedlings grow, they become cramped in one container, and there are no longer enough microelements.

This leads to the fact that the seedlings begin to grow more slowly or, conversely, become very elongated.

To create favorable conditions and further normal development, it is necessary to carry out a dive. Thanks to the procedure:

• young shoots get more space;
• roots develop fully;
• tomatoes are fully prepared for “moving” to a permanent bed.

If done correctly, the vegetable crop will be healthy and give a rich harvest.

Advantages of picking

In the process of planting plants, it is easy to get rid of weak seedlings. Gardeners recommend their novice colleagues to carry out manipulation. Advantages of diving:

• saving space on the windowsill in winter - initially the seeds are sown in one container;
• During the procedure, the soil is renewed, so there is more space for the growth of the root system;
• developed roots consume more nutrients from the soil;
• after diving, the green mass will develop a little slower for some time, because all the forces of the tomatoes will be directed to the growth of the root system. Therefore, the transplant can be carried out a few days later.

If you follow the timing of picking, the roots of adjacent sprouts will not intertwine.

Disadvantages of diving

Gardeners often use the planting method. Thanks to this, fruiting begins earlier, the plant develops faster and hardens. During the procedure, you can get rid of weak seedlings. But there are also disadvantages to this method:

• labor-intensive and time-consuming method;
• after diving, the sprouts need to be watered more often due to the developed root system;
• If the planting dates are not met, the tomatoes will lag behind in development.

There is an opinion among farmers that it is advisable to plant only early varieties of vegetables. In addition, they believe that this need not be done. The seedlings only need to be well buried when planted in a permanent bed.

When to water tomatoes according to the Lunar calendar in 2022

Water the seedlings as the soil dries, and always before planting. Watering is especially important during the period when fruits set and ripen en masse. If you water tomatoes very rarely, especially in hot weather, the fruits will begin to crack. Watering according to the Lunar calendar is possible both on the waxing and waning Moon, but it is better to carry it out at a time when the Moon is located in “water” signs: Cancer, Pisces and Scorpio.

When to plant tomatoes according to the Lunar calendar in 2022

Throughout the growing season, excess shoots must be removed from most tomato bushes. Many determinate varieties do not require pinching: they themselves regulate the growth of shoots and bushes. Semi-determinate as well as indeterminate varieties need pinching. Excess shoots that thicken the bush are removed as they grow, and with the onset of cold weather the tops are pinched so that all the fruits have time to ripen. It is better to pick stepsons from tomatoes when the Moon is in the constellations Gemini, Scorpio, Capricorn, Leo and Virgo.

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When to process tomatoes according to the Lunar calendar in 2022

The frequency of treating tomatoes against diseases depends on the chosen means. If you use folk remedies (diluted whey with iodine, garlic infusion), as well as biological products, you need to treat it approximately once every 10-14 days throughout the entire growing season. Treatment with chemicals is stopped a month before eating fruits. The right time for treatments comes when the Moon is in the signs of Aries, Scorpio, Gemini, Sagittarius, Capricorn.

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Favorable conditions for sowing, growth and development of tomatoes

For tomatoes, the most important thing is warmth and light . The more intense the light, the faster the crop will ripen. Due to lack of light, tomatoes will grow weak and elongated.

Temperature regime . Seeds germinate best at temperatures between 20 and 25 degrees Celsius. If the air temperature is less than 8-9 degrees, you will not see sprouts. In the future, for the normal development of the crop, a temperature range from +15 to +35 degrees is required. At values ​​outside the normal range, tomatoes will lose their ability to flower. If even slight frosts occur, the bushes will die.

Feeding . Air and soil humidity should be moderate. The culture requires fertile soils. At the initial stage of root formation, an element such as phosphorus is of great importance. This mineral is necessary for tomatoes in the future.

In combination with potassium, phosphorus has a positive effect on the flowering process, fruit formation, and plant immunity.

Nitrogen fertilizing is necessary for tomatoes in the initial stages of growth. In the future, excess nitrogen can negatively affect fruiting; all the plant’s forces will be directed to the growth of the vegetative mass.

The soil . Sandy and loamy soils are suitable for growing tomatoes. The ripening of crops on such lands is faster; fruits can be obtained in 1-1.5 months.

Crop rotation . For good tomato growth, crop rotation must be observed. You cannot grow tomatoes after potatoes; these two vegetables have common pests and diseases. Legumes, cabbage, and cucumbers are great as predecessors. If tomatoes are grown in open ground, the bed must be located in a well-lit, elevated place.

Helpful advice! Tomatoes grow well after green manure. After the crops of lupine, peas, vetch or mustard sprout, they are mowed, crushed and buried in the ground. This organic fertilizer will be an excellent source of nitrogen for tomatoes and at the same time improve the soil structure.

Then plant tomatoes

Weeding tomatoes according to the Lunar calendar in 2022

Many astrologers believe that the best time to control weeds is the waning moon in the sign of Capricorn, as well as the full moon. Loosening and mulching the soil and weeding tomatoes is also good in Gemini, Aquarius, Aries and Cancer. However, remember that on the waning Moon you need to loosen the soil very carefully so as not to damage the roots of the tomatoes.

When to collect tomatoes for storage and obtaining seeds according to the Lunar calendar in 2022

Tomatoes that you want to store or ripen in order to get seeds from them soon, do not remove them from the garden on days when the Moon is in “water” signs. It is recommended to collect tomatoes for seeds on the full moon, as well as on the waxing moon in the constellations of Aries, Leo, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius and Libra.

To obtain seeds, select the largest and most ripe tomatoes from the second and third clusters of the most powerful and productive bushes. The fruits must have pronounced characteristics characteristic of this variety. Do not forget that seeds cannot be obtained from hybrids.

Tomatoes are quite demanding plants. It is especially important to adhere to the Lunar calendar when sowing seeds and when planting seedlings in the ground. Then the bushes will be strong and will delight you with a good harvest.

What soil is suitable for seedlings

Tomato seedlings are not very picky about the soil, but in any case it should be light, moisture-absorbing, and necessarily breathable. The ideal composition is a mixture of equal quantities of turf soil, peat and humus. If you add a handful of ash to this mixture, then perhaps the seedlings will not require additional feeding. However, the soil prepared independently would need to be disinfected. This is easy to do: a week before sowing the seeds, the soil is generously watered with a warm pink solution of potassium permanganate.

Any soil must be sifted well, removing large and foreign objects.

Anyone who grows a small number of seedlings buys ready-made soil mixture in the store. Most often, it contains everything you need and does not even require disinfection. Just don't buy the cheapest options. It is also desirable that the soil be intended specifically for growing tomato seedlings (universal soil is also suitable for vegetable seedlings, but it is better not to use it for flowers).