Tomatoes - quite a popular culture in our country. And there are many ways to grow it, including various places of growth.
So seedlings for planting can be grown both at home and in the greenhouse, which will be discussed in this article.
This method is very different from planting a small amount of seeds in my apartment: here are its own growth features, and its times and times, which depend on several factors.
Our article will tell you when and how to sow tomato seeds to obtain seedlings in greenhouses of various kinds, including polycarbonate. Further on all this in more detail.
Peculiarities of growing tomatoes in closed ground
The planting time of tomatoes for seedlings depends on the technical characteristics of the greenhouse available.:
- heated and glazed-boarding in late April;
- greenhouse with additional film cover or from polycarbonate, from 6 to 10 May;
- film greenhouse on open ground, since mid-May.
There are no exact dates for planting tomatoes in the greenhouse. Be sure to take into account the climatic conditions and features of the region in which the planned landing.
What affects the sowing time?
Region and climate
How much tomatoes will depend on the region and its climatic conditions. Most often, seeds of tomatoes are sown two months before the date of landing in the ground. If the planting of tomatoes in the greenhouse in this region will be carried out in the middle of May, then you need to sow the seeds in the middle or closer to the end of March. In the southern regions with a warm climate, the period may shift to the beginning of February.
In general, the experience of gardeners shows that the warmer the climate, the earlier it is possible to sow seeds.
Before planting tomatoes, consider the climatic conditions of your region. You can see the statistics of the weather in recent years, to understand when the optimal time for planting seeds for seedlings.
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Each variety has its own ripening time, so it is important to consider this factor when planting seeds.
The main recommendations for planting varieties:
- Tall tomatoes (recommended sowing time is February 20 - March 10.
- Early with mid-season varieties (March 10-22).
- Cherry tomatoes, ultra early varieties (April 8-15).
- Late ripen large tomatoes (end of February).
It is not recommended to count only on the dates that are indicated on the package. The manufacturer can rely on Central European standards that are not relevant to the region you need.
If you focus on the vegetation period, then the time of sowing can be calculated independently. For example, in early and hybrid varieties the growing season is 100 days. This still needs to add the time it takes for the sprout to rise — about a week. Also we gain a term of survival of seedlings for three days. Total is obtained in a segment of 110 days. Now you just need to count 110 days from the expected harvest date and start sowing seeds.
Moon phases
The full moon and the waning moon are the most unfavorable phases for planting tomato seeds. It is believed that at this time the moon is aging and weakening, and tomatoes can grow "into the ground", as a result there will be a strong root, but a weak stem. It is good for root vegetables, but not for tomatoes.
Growing moon phase, when the plant actively stretches up. The duration of the period is approximately 11 days. This time before full moon is the best for planting tomato seeds.
Landing method
Planting method does not affect the planting time of tomato seeds. The main thing to consider is the climatic factors of the region in which you plan to land.
The time interval between the laying of seeds and planting plants in the greenhouse
75 days for late and 65 days for early varieties — this period is considered necessary after sowing the seeds of tomatoes. If you sowed the seeds in early March, then you should plant the seedlings in the greenhouse in mid-May.
When is it better to sow seeds in the main regions of Russia?
The main criterion to consider when planting tomatoes in a greenhouse is the air and soil temperature in the region. The air should not be below +18 degrees during the day, and the soil should not be below +13 degrees. AND it is very important to pay attention to the temperature at night. When the sun can warm the greenhouse during the daytime so that at night it remains at a temperature no lower than +10 degrees, then it is time to plant tomatoes in the greenhouse.
Depending on the region of the country, the landing time varies considerably, but there is always a main indicator on which to rely — the average daily air temperature is not below +13 degrees.
Seeds should be planted 2-2.5 months earlier.
Planting time of tomato seeds in different regions of Russia:
- Krasnodar Territory and the southern part of Russia, March 1-5.
- The Moscow region and the middle zone, March 5-10.
- Leningrad region, March 15-20.
- Ural and Siberia - the end of March and the beginning of April.
So, for central Russia, the approximate dates are mid-March. These dates are shifted in one direction or another for 10-15 days, depending on how far south or north your region is.
How is the procedure performed?
The first step is to prepare the seed, then plant. Planting tomatoes seeds occurs in different containers. These can be cassettes, peat tablets or cups, individual pots or boxes.
Peat tablets and cups are good because you can do without picks; the cartridges on the pallet are convenient with the possibility of bottom irrigation; the majority of summer residents use wooden or plastic boxes to save space.
- It is enough to take boxes 10 cm high, fill them with 2/3 prepared soil, moisten it with warm, clean and soft water. Grooves are made in the ground with a depth of 1-1.5 cm at a distance of 3-4 cm from each other.
- Then you need to take care of the seedlings in a timely and attentive manner: water, provide the right amount of light, sometimes loosen the aisles, adjust the air temperature.
- Next picking. When the plants have a third true leaf, they dive into separate cups of at least 0.5 l. The dishes are filled with the same primer as for sowing, they are moistened, a depression is made in the middle, and the plant is placed. Some growers at the same time shorten the central root, but others consider it unnecessary, because the root is still injured during transplantation.
Before planting seedlings in open ground, temperature requirements must be considered., which were given above, focusing on the weather conditions of your region. It is also recommended to take into account the lunar calendar.
