The timing of sowing tomatoes for seedlings in the suburbs: when to plant

The varieties of tomatoes zoned for the Moscow region usually begin to be sown for seedlings from the end of February until almost the first days of April. This variation in terms is associated with the characteristics of the variety and the method of cultivation. Tomatoes with medium and long growing seasons intended for growing in greenhouses are planted earlier. Varieties with short maturation periods, in the conditions of the Moscow region, can be successfully grown without shelter. But it is for them that planting dates should be strictly observed, taking into account the agro-climatic conditions of a particular territory.

Climatic features of the region

On a very large area of Moscow and the adjacent suburbs, in a temperate continental climate, there is a spread of positive temperatures. The duration of frost-free periods varies significantly.

If the average for the region is considered to be 120-125 days, then in the Naro-Fominsk region this period, according to statistics, is only 102 days. This is due not only to the geographical location of the garden or personal plot, but also to the features of the relief, elevation changes.

When planning to grow tomatoes outdoors, it is necessary to determine the period when seedlings can be planted without fear of return frosts. For different zones of the Moscow region, the transition of average daily air temperatures in the spring, through the mark of 10 degrees, occurs at different times.

For the north and center of the region, it falls on May 8-10, and for the southeastern regions, the transition is carried out a week earlier.

In most areas, sustainable warming begins only from May 11-13. In areas with flat relief, periods of frost stop on May 10-20, but in some years it is possible to expect the return of frosts even in the first ten days of June.

Therefore, we can only talk about conditional planting dates, which each gardener must adjust for himself. Knowing the features of our site, we take the period of possible return cooling as a basis for calculations. They are the main obstacle to transplanting tomatoes in open ground in the Moscow region in early spring.

Agrotechnical practices in preparing seeds and caring for seedlings largely affect its full development and can increase or shorten the period from planting to harvest.

We calculate the timing for sowing seeds

Having determined the number from which tomato seedlings can be transplanted into open ground, we study the recommendations of the seed manufacturer. Usually, variety descriptions always indicate the age that seedlings should have by the time they are transplanted to a permanent place. This figure for different tomatoes can vary from 45 to 65 days, and is counted from the moment of germination.

To this period should be added 4-7 days for the germination period itself, and an amendment of up to 5-7 days for survival after picking. We count the resulting number of days on the calendar in the opposite direction and get the date when to plant tomatoes for seedlings.

1. Late-ripening varieties of tomatoes, for which a greenhouse will be a permanent place of growth from the beginning of May, are sown for seedlings in late February, early March.
2. Traditionally, for varieties with medium ripening dates that are planned to be planted in open ground or under light film shelters, in the third decade of May, early June, seeds are sown in late March, early April.
3. Determinant or dwarf early varieties, which are planted in the ground on June 5-10, are sown for seedlings in early April. If they plan to protect them from frost with light shelters, then the planting dates are postponed to an earlier period, in the third decade of March.

Important! By replanting hardened tomatoes in open ground at an early date, intensive growth of the root system can be achieved.

Earlier sowing dates are not always justified, because plants are very demanding on lighting. With a lack of sunlight, temperature control or additional lighting will be required. The methods of hardening seeds and seedlings also play an important role in the behavior of plants.

Changing the irrigation regimes, and carefully monitoring the condition of the seedlings, it is also possible to cultivate vegetative or generative inclinations in the plant and thereby influence the duration of the seedling period.

Checking with the dates of the Lunar calendar

Many gardeners find a rational grain, guided by the Lunar calendar during the periods of growing seedlings. You can trust or ignore such tricks, or you can familiarize yourself with and adopt someone else's experience.

If we take into account the influence of astronomical rules, then tomatoes are planted and dive, only during periods of the growing moon. In the Moscow region, the dates for sowing tomatoes for seedlings fall on the dates:

• 16, 17, 18, 21, 22, 25, 26 February;
• 20, 21, 24, 25, 26 March;
• 17,18, 21,22, 27, 28 April;
• 18, 19, 24, 25, 26 May;
• 14, 15, 21, 22 June.

These dates in 2022-2023 will help gardeners orient themselves and observe the effect attributed to the Earth's satellite. If you have a calendar at hand, you can track favorable dates for agricultural work.

During the full moon and new moon, any activities with plants, especially planting tomatoes, are not recommended.

Seed hardening reduces the seedling period of tomato development by 5-7 days, affects yield and earlier ripening of fruits.

Features of planting seeds for seedlings

Often, gardeners make the mistake of trying to plant tomatoes as early as possible. This leads to overgrowth of seedlings, often experiencing a lack of full-fledged lighting. Therefore, it is better to sow a tomato at the estimated time, but try to create conditions for the plant that will allow it to get stronger and steadfastly transfer the transplant to open ground. There are simple tricks that prepare the plant for stressful situations.

One of them is seedbed preparation:

• seed disinfection is carried out in 1% manganese solution;
• for 12 hours the seeds are soaked in a growth stimulator or clean water;
• at the next stage, for hardening they are kept for 7 days at zero degrees in the refrigerator;
• we sow seeds only in well-fertilized and moistened soil, deepening them by 1.5-2 cm;
• germination temperature for cold-resistant varieties starts from 8 degrees, but the best results correspond to 22-25 degrees;
• to speed up germination, it is recommended to mulch tomatoes with a transparent film;
• with the emergence of seedlings, the film is removed and placed in an area with good lighting, while observing the intended temperature regime.

When following these rules, tomatoes show a reduction in growth time to 7 days and a 30% increase in yield.

Also, the quality of care and adherence to agricultural practices affects the further development of the plant. Growing seedlings involves watering and good nutrition. Accurate regulation of temperature and humidity, full lighting. A couple of weeks before transplanting into the ground, plants begin to accustom to low temperatures and sunlight.

Properly prepared seedlings will take much less time to adapt.Landing in open ground will not become painful stress for her. According to experts, even cold-resistant varieties can be too pampered at home, which will certainly affect the timing and yield of tomato. Therefore, the question of when to sow seeds for seedlings will require not only general advice. It is necessary to collect data on the agro-climatic features of your site and, on their basis, make the simplest calculations.

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