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What month do you plant tomatoes


for a bumper crop |

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Are you wondering when to plant tomatoes? Tomatoes are a flavorsome summer staple that can be used in so many recipes. Just a few healthy plants can yield a good supply of tomatoes, plus they can be grown vertically without taking up large amounts of room, so it's well worth growing them yourself. 

When homegrown, tomatoes can have a far better flavour compared to store-bought tomatoes, plus growing your own offers the chance to experiment with all sorts of different varieties. 

Whether you're planning on growing tomatoes in the greenhouse or outside, this guide will explain when to plant tomatoes from seed as well as when to plant them outside and there’s advice from gardening experts, too.

(Image credit: Peter Cade / Getty Images)

When to plant tomatoes 

As with knowing when to plant vegetables in general, when you plant tomatoes is important to ensure your crop is a success. Tomatoes are warm weather plants which need plenty of sun to thrive and  grow best at temperatures between 70 and 75°F (21 and 24°C). 

Seeds are best sown under cover in March and April ready for harvesting from July to September. Sowing times will vary depending on the variety of tomato you choose to grow, so always be sure to follow the instructions on the seed packet. 

(Image credit: Photo by Davor Denkovski on Unsplash)

When to plant tomatoes from seed

When to plant tomatoes from seed will vary depending on your climate, growing zone and, more specifically, the estimated date of the last frost in your area. It will also depend on whether you wish to grow them in a greenhouse or outside. 

Whether you plan to grow tomatoes in a greenhouse or outside, sowing the seeds under cover is recommended as they germinate at around 64°F (18°C) to 77°F (25°C).

If you are planning to transplant your tomatoes outside, then 'tomatoes can be sown indoors six to eight weeks before your local last frost date,' says Annie Singer, gardening expert and blogger at Gardening Abundance . In an unheated greenhouse this is usually between late March and early April. 

Sow thinly in trays filled with seed sowing compost, cover lightly with compost and water. Keep the seeds in a sunny spot at around 65°F (18ºC) – ideally in a propagator or covered with a plastic bag – and the seeds should germinate in around eight to 10 days. If you are looking to grow just a few plants, then sow individually in small pots.

Once the tomato seedlings have developed two 'true' leaves they should be pricked out and repotted into 3½in (9cm) pots in order to grown on before being transplanted outside.  

When sowing tomato seeds under cover for transplanting outdoors, 'don't start too early,' warns gardening blogger Mary Jane Duford , known for her step-by-step gardening tutorials. 'Leggy, root-bound, or flowering transplants can cause stunting and reduce early production.'

(Image credit: Tatiana Maksimova / Getty Images)

When to plant tomatoes in the greenhouse

The answer to the question of when to plant tomatoes if you are planning to grow them in a greenhouse is that the seeds can be sown earlier than if you are planning to transplant them outdoors.  

When sowing tomato seeds in a greenhouse they are best sown from late February to mid March ready for planting out into larger pots in late April and early May.

However, if you are planning to grow tomatoes in a heated greenhouse, seeds can be sown as early as January and then be planted out into large pots in late February or early March for a May-June crop.

Tomatoes are a great choice for growing in the greenhouse where the growing conditions can be regulated as they do not like fluctuations in temperature and grow best with temperatures regulated between 70 and 75°F (21 and 24°C). Growing tomatoes in a greenhouse is best if you are looking for an early crop.

(Image credit: Burpee Europe)

When to plant tomatoes outside

If they are sown under cover, the question of when to plant tomatoes outside is important. The answer is that the plants should be transplanted outside once the risk of frost has passed and the soil is warm – this will depend on your growing zone and weather conditions.  Consider companion planting tomatoes to boost the harvest as well as deter pests.

'Tomatoes are usually transplanted outdoors zero to four weeks after the last frost date in your local area. Most tomato plants are planted outdoors when nighttime temperature lows are at or above 50°F (10°C). This usually occurs a few weeks after the local last frost date,' says gardening blogger Mary Jane Duford. 'Tomato seedlings grow very slowly at temperatures below 50°F (10°C) and may be damaged at temperatures below 43°F (6°C).'

Whether they are ready to be transplanted outside will depend on the size of your plants, too. In order to be planted outdoors young tomato plants should generally be around 9 to 12 inches tall (23 to 30cm) and will require a phase of hardening off advises Annie Singer.

'Make sure to slowly expose them to the outdoor world over the course of one to two weeks before planting them directly in the earth to allow them to adapt to direct sunlight, wind, and temperature changes,' she says.

Remember that pruning tomato plants if they are indeterminate – cordon or vine – varieties is a task worth undertaking once the plants are large enough.

Look out for signs of disease so you can adopt tomato blight treatments as necessary for outdoor-grown tomatoes, although you should be aware that it could also strike greenhouse-grown plants.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

What is the best month to plant tomatoes?

What month to plant tomatoes will depend on your climate and growing zone as well as whether you plan to grow them outside or in the greenhouse. 

It is important to remember that tomatoes are warm weather plants and will not grow in temperatures below 50°F (10°C). The soil should also be warm enough – ideally 60°F (16°C).

In general, 'if you’re growing tomatoes from seeds you can sow indoors any time from March to the end of May. The tomato plants should be ready to plant outside by the end of May or early June when the threat of late frosts is minimal,' advises Jill Vaughan of Defland Nurseries Ltd, a member of the British Tomato Growers’ Association .

These timings, however, vary with geographic location and weather, so it is possible to plant out in early to mid-May with earlier sowings. Later sowings are also possible – up until late May with varieties like ‘Veranda Red’ – to yield a good crop in October. Larger fruited varieties are best sown in mid to late April to ensure a good crop of ripe fruit by mid-September.

If you are growing tomatoes later in the season, look at how many days to maturity it states on the seed packet or plant label. As long as this is less than the number of days until the expected first frost, you can still plant the tomatoes.

If you are growing your tomatoes in a greenhouse, then the seeds can be sown earlier, from late February to mid March. 

(Image credit: Getty Images)

How late can you plant tomatoes?

How late you can plant tomatoes will depend on the variety you grow, as growth rates and harvesting times can vary between cultivars. To be harvesting tomatoes over a longer period, consider growing a range of different varieties.

'Big heirloom tomatoes typically need to be planted in May or early June at the latest in most temperate gardening climates. Smaller varieties can be planted a little later as the fruits don’t take as long to ripen,' explains Mary Jane Duford. 

'For instance, the top-tasting cherry tomato “Sun Gold” has an outdoor growing period of only 57 days to maturity. This means that in optimal conditions, it will take only 57 days between the seedling plant being planted outdoors and the first tomatoes starting to ripen. So for a crop that starts to ripen at the beginning of September, it would be possible to plant a seedling from the garden center as late as the beginning of July and enjoy a reasonable early fall harvest in many climates.'

(Image credit: merlinpf / Getty Images)

Pippa is Content Editor on Homes & Gardens online contributing to Period Living and Country Homes & Interiors print issues. A graduate of Art History and formerly Style Editor at Period Living, she is passionate about architecture, creating decorating content, interior styling and writing about craft and historic homes. She enjoys searching out beautiful images and the latest trends to share with the Homes & Gardens audience. A keen gardener, when she’s not writing you’ll find her growing flowers on her village allotment for styling projects.

When to Plant Tomatoes | Gardener’s Path

It can be confusing to try to figure out the right time to start tomatoes.

If you wait too long to plant them you may not have enough time in the season to harvest a full crop. But on the other hand, if you start them too early you might risk stunting or even killing the plants.

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There are a few key factors that go into determining the optimal start time for growing tomatoes.

Read on to learn how to calculate the best time for planting tomatoes in your climate. This article will help you figure out how early to start seeds indoors as well as when and how to transplant seedlings to the garden.

What You’ll Learn

Growing tomatoes is an investment.

Whether you are spending good money on nursery stock or putting in the time and energy it takes to grow them from seed, you certainly don’t want to risk ruining your crop by planting too early or too late.

If you really want a stellar harvest of juicy, sweet fruits, it is important to get the timing right.

To figure out the best time to start tomato seeds and plants, it is helpful to first figure out when you plan to plant them outside in the garden and work backwards.

Calculate Your Optimal Planting Date

First and foremost, you absolutely need to wait until after the last expected frost date according to your USDA Hardiness Zone.

I know from unfortunate experience that this can be hard to do. But even if you have an unseasonably warm stretch of weather in the spring, do not be tempted to plant early!

Tomatoes are true warm-weather crops. If you plant them too soon, you risk killing them. Even if early transplants survive a few unexpected frosty nights, their growth may be stunted and struggling plants will be more susceptible to pests and disease.

So if you pay attention to nothing else, be sure to check the expected last frost date for your growing zone and wait until after that date to plant.

If you are unsure of your growing zone, you can use this tool from the USDA to determine your hardiness zone and climate based on your zip code.

When you’re looking at first and last frost dates, keep in mind that these dates are just ranges based on the average for your growing zone.

Since we all live in unique microclimates, it is always a good idea to keep a yearly garden journal with your own data on frost dates.

While this is an important starting point, if you really want to pinpoint the perfect starting time, there are several additional important factors to consider.

Temperature

For tomatoes to grow well, nighttime temperatures should be consistently above 50°F. Additionally, it is best to wait to plant until soil temperatures are around 60°F.

If you don’t have a soil thermometer, a makeshift method is to stick your finger a couple of inches into the soil. If you are unable to keep it there comfortably for a minute, the soil is likely still too cold.

You can spread a layer of thick mulch or black plastic out in the garden to help the soil warm faster in the spring.

Sunshine

In addition to warm temperatures, these plants need adequate sunshine to be happy.

Before planting them, make sure the sun is high enough in the sky for enough of the day for the site to receive at least six hours of full sun exposure.

The only exception to this is for gardeners in very hot climates, where some shade – particularly in the afternoon – can be helpful to protect plants on scorching days.

Days to Maturity

So this is where things can get a tad more complicated. While it is true it may be safe enough to plant immediately after the last frost, waiting a few extra weeks until the temperatures have warmed and the days are longer may result in healthier, happier plants.

Some varieties take a long time to mature, though, and it is equally important to make sure there are enough warm days for plants to produce fruit before they are harmed by fall frosts.

Looking at the number of “days to maturity” on the back of your seed packets will help you to determine the ideal planting window for your growing zone.

First, figure out when the first frost of fall is expected for your region. Count backwards from this date, using the number of days to maturity listed on the seed packet or plant tag.

You can safely plant tomatoes in the garden between the last frost of spring and this date.

For instance, I live in USDA Hardiness Zone 4b with an average first frost date of September 25th and last frost around May 21st. Let’s say I have a packet of seeds that says “90 days to maturity.”

Counting backwards from September 25th by 90 days, I would need to plant seedlings out in the garden after May 21st but before June 27th.

The safest bet would be to find a date in that window with some wiggle room on either side, such as the first weekend in June.

There is a wide range of growing times for tomatoes and many varieties to choose from. Some cultivars mature in 50 days while others can take up to 100 days to harvest.

You can use this information to select cultivars based on a number of days to maturity that will work well with your growing zone.

Photo credit: F-Focus by Mati Kose / Shutterstock.com

If you live in a cold climate or get a late start on your garden, choose a variety with a shorter number of days to maturity.

Now that you know when to plant tomatoes in the garden, you can use this information to determine when to start seeds indoors.

When to Start Seeds Indoors

There is some debate on how early to start tomato seeds indoors. It is typically recommended to start them six to eight weeks before transplanting outside.

Many gardeners, however, choose to start even earlier, up to 12 weeks before the expected transplant date, to give their seedlings extra time to grow before planting them out.

While this may give you a head start on the season, starting too early can also mean you risk stressing and stunting young plants. Often, the smallest seedlings I plant out in the garden are the ones that grow the largest and strongest.

How early to start may vary depending on the climate of your indoor growing space as well as the selected cultivar.

If you have a warm, humid space with lots of light, seedlings are likely to germinate faster and six weeks may be enough. Ideal temperatures for starting tomatoes are between 65 and 85°F. In this temperature range, seeds should germinate in a week or so.

If you don’t have a warm, bright space to start your seeds, or if you have a really short growing season, starting even earlier can be advantageous.

Start seeds in two- to four-inch pots in a lightweight seed starting mix, covering the seeds with a quarter-inch of soil. Mist and keep the soil moist until sprouts appear.

Set your containers in a warm location or on a heat mat, covered with a humidity dome if you have one to speed germination.

Once the seeds have germinated, remove the lid and place your pots in a sunny window or under grow lights for 10 to 14 hours a day. Using artificial grow lights is especially helpful if you choose to start seeds on the early side when days are still short.

Keep the soil moist but not soggy. The best method for watering tomato seedlings is bottom watering.

Set the pots in a tray and add half an inch of water to the bottom every few days when the soil feels dry. Let the roots soak up the water for 10 minutes or so, then dump out any excess water from the tray.

Once they have developed a few sets of true leaves, transplant to four- to six-inch containers.

Whenever you transplant tomatoes, you want to sink them low enough in the pot that you bury the lower third of the stem in soil. This will encourage them to grow more roots, resulting in stronger, more robust plants.

If you started seeds early, you may need to repot a second time in even larger pots before they are ready to be planted out. It is important not to let them become rootbound.

Harden off the seedlings once soil temperatures have reached about 50°F outdoors.

Set the pots in a sheltered location outside for an hour or so, increasing the length of time each day over the course of a week or two until your plants have adjusted to the outdoor conditions.

Planting in the Garden

When at last it is time to plant tomatoes in the garden, find a spot with well-draining soil that receives full sun, or in hot climates, just a little bit of afternoon shade.

Prepare the garden bed by working a few inches of compost into the soil. Dig deep holes 18 to 36 inches apart, burying the bottom two-thirds of each plant so only the topmost leaves are above the soil.

Refill the holes, lightly tamping the soil around each one as you do so.

Water thoroughly and add a few inches of hay or straw mulch around the base of each plant, leaving a few inches bare around the stem.

Depending on variety, you may also need to add cages or stakes as they grow to keep them upright.

Doing this when you plant is an excellent option, to avoid damaging the roots after they have become more established. You can learn more about growing and caring for tomatoes in our complete guide.

Planting Tips for Abundant Harvests

Since tomatoes really need a few months of summer heat and sunshine for good yields, if you live in a warm climate with a long growing season, it doesn’t hurt to wait a few extra weeks after the last frost before planting them out.

If you have the time and materials, you can start seeds indoors under grow lights as early as 12 weeks before moving them to their permanent location outside, transplanting to larger pots as they grow.

If growing in colder zones, look for varieties with a shorter number of days to maturity.

A layer of black plastic or thick mulch can help the soil to warm up faster. While it is still important to wait until after the last frost, warmer soil will certainly help newly planted tomato seedlings to adapt and grow faster.

Timed to Perfection

So when should you start your tomatoes? It may seem like a simple question initially, but as you can see, the ideal time to plant tomatoes depends on a number of factors.

Though it takes a bit of research and observation to figure out what is best for your garden, once you do, you may find yourself with more healthy and fruitful tomato plants than you know what to do with!

What are your tips for starting tomatoes from seed or transplants? Share your experience in the comments below.

Want to become a tomato gardening expert? Check out these articles next for more useful information:

favorable planting days according to the lunar calendar

Almost all summer residents grow tomatoes - this is perhaps the most popular vegetable. And it is necessary to prepare for sowing already now. We tell you when to plant tomatoes in 2023 according to the lunar calendar

How to determine the planting dates in your region

This is one of the main subjects of dispute among summer residents. Some begin to sow seeds for seedlings in late February - early March. Others are waiting for the end of March. But how is it right?

It all depends on where the tomatoes will grow next. If in a greenhouse, seeds should be sown in mid-March. If in the open field - at the end of March or even the beginning of April. You can navigate by the timing of planting: by this time, the seedlings should be 50 - 60 days old.

Auspicious days for sowing tomato seeds for seedlings according to the lunar calendar: April.

How to grow seedlings

Tomatoes are not afraid of transplanting, moreover, it only benefits them, so you can grow tomato seedlings both in boxes (1) and in cups.

Drawers can save space on the windowsill by holding more plants. But this is not for long - then the tomato seedlings should still be picked in separate cups.

Seedlings in cups take up more space on the windowsill, but in this case, you don't need to dive - you will save time on laborious work.

What kind of soil to use for growing seedlings

The best option is a mixture of peat and humus in a ratio of 2:1.

It is useful to add a liter can of sand to a bucket of such soil. And fertilizers: 2 tbsp. spoons of double superphosphate, 1.5 tbsp. spoons of urea, 1 tbsp. a spoonful of potassium sulfate and 1 cup of ash.

Seeds are sown to a depth of 1-2 cm.

Is it necessary to dive tomato seedlings

Photo: pixabay.com

Summer residents also have a lot of disputes about this, but the meaning is very simple. If you pinch the central root of a tomato, it begins to actively grow lateral roots, the bush forms a powerful root system that can absorb more nutrients. And the better the food, the higher the yield.

- Tomatoes dive when the seedlings have the first pair of true leaves, - says agronomist-breeder Svetlana Mikhailova. - Plants are dug out of a box or taken out of a cup, the earth is carefully removed at the bottom of the clod so that the main root is exposed. It is cut by a third. After that, the tomatoes are planted in separate cups (if they grew in a box) or in larger cups.

This is quite laborious work, so if the tomatoes were originally sown in cups, you can do without picking. What about root pinching? You can not do this. But when planting in the ground, deepen the seedlings of tomatoes along the cotyledon leaves - then additional roots form on the shoot.

If the seedlings are in a box, they can also not dive into cups in order to save space on the windowsill. And so that the tomatoes do not outgrow much and form more roots, they need to cut the roots.

Root pruning is carried out with an ordinary knife: the soil in the box is cut lengthwise and across, as if it were a pie. In this case, the seedlings should be in the center of each "piece". During the growth of seedlings, it is useful to do 2 - 3 such operations. The first - when the seedlings form a second true leaf, and the last - 4 - 8 days before planting in open ground. The cut lateral roots give new tiny branches. As a result, the area of ​​​​contact of the roots with the soil increases significantly. This means that the tomato will receive even more nutrients, - explains agronomist Svetlana Mikhailova.

Auspicious days for picking tomato seedlings according to the lunar calendar: 15, 26 - 29, 30 March, 3 - 6, 13, 23 - 26, 30 April.

Tips for caring for tomato seedlings

There are several problems that arise when growing tomato seedlings. Let's take a look at them in detail.

Why seedlings stretch and how to fix it

There are two reasons for this:

1. Not enough light. On the southern and eastern windows, tomato seedlings usually have enough light, but on the northern and western windows they need illumination - special fitolamps, which are sold in garden centers, will do. It is necessary to highlight tomato seedlings 12 hours a day, for example, from 8.00 to 20.00. The lack of light leads to the fact that the seedlings are stretched, grow weak, flowering and fruiting are delayed (2).

2. Too hot. The optimum temperature for tomato seedlings is 18 - 19 °C. If the apartment is warmer, and usually it happens, the seedlings will quickly outgrow. There is only one way out - to ventilate the premises.

However, there is one more trick - violently growing seedlings can be "pacified" with superphosphate (2 tablespoons per 10 liters of water). Water every 2 weeks.

What to do if there is no space for seedlings on the windowsill

Photo: pixabay.com/

Few people know, but tomatoes can be grown without seedlings - sow seeds immediately in open ground or in a greenhouse. But not all tomatoes are suitable for this. Without seedlings, only early varieties can be grown. They are sown at the end of April, after the 20th. And better on warm beds. If there are none, then a few days before sowing, the soil should be covered with any black material so that they warm up.

- In open ground, tomatoes are sown in holes in several pieces. And when the seedlings have 1 - 2 true leaves, they are seated in a permanent place, - recommends agronomist Svetlana Mikhailova.

Crops must be covered with non-woven fabric - otherwise frost will kill them.

Harvest with this method ripens a couple of weeks later. But the plants themselves are more resistant and get sick less, because from a young age they grow in harsh conditions.

Favorable days for planting seedlings at home or in a greenhouse

Tomato seedlings can be planted in greenhouses from mid-April - they are less demanding on heat than peppers and eggplants. But provided that the soil is already well warmed up.

You can speed up the warming up of the soil - pour it with hot water and cover it with a black film - in a week it will be ready for planting tomatoes.

Auspicious days for planting tomato seedlings in a greenhouse according to the lunar calendar: May.

Favorable days for planting seedlings in open ground

Tomato seedlings are planted in open ground from the beginning of May - under a film or non-woven fabric.

Without shelter, tomato seedlings can be planted in the garden when the danger of frost has passed - after June 10th. But it is still better to plant it on May 20 - 25, but in this case you need to make sure that when the temperature drops in the evening, cover the seedlings for the night from possible frost. Plants planted at the end of May yield 30-40% more than those planted at the beginning of June (3).

Auspicious days for planting tomato seedlings in open ground according to the lunar calendar: 1-4, 6, 9-10, 13-14, 18, 20-24, 28-31 May 10 - 11, 14 - 15 June.

Popular questions and answers

Tomatoes are a popular crop, a lot has been written about it, but summer residents always have additional questions. Let's take a look at some of them.

Can I grow tomatoes from my own seeds?

Yes, you can. Tomatoes are self-pollinating plants, by themselves they do not interbreed with their neighbors, so the varieties retain all the characteristics of their parents. But only varieties - F1 hybrids do not retain their characteristics, they can only be grown from their purchased seeds.

Is it possible to sow tomatoes before winter?

Yes, there is such a technology. In this case, they are sown in open ground in October, immediately after the first frost hits. But not seeds are sown, but whole fruits. At the same time, they need to be planted to such a depth that there is 10 cm from the top of the fruit to the soil surface. For winter, such crops are mulched with dry leaves with a layer of 10–15 cm.

Is it possible to sow tomatoes for seedlings earlier, for example, in February?

Tomatoes grow very quickly, and modern varieties give a harvest quite early, so it makes no sense to sow seeds before the end of March - the seedlings will simply outgrow, stretch out, it will be difficult to transport them to the site, it is problematic to plant, and they get sick longer after transplanting into open ground.

Sources

  1. Ilyin O. V. and a group of authors. Vegetable grower's guide // M.: Rosselkhokhizdat, 1979 - 224 p.
  2. Group of authors, ed. Polyanskoy A.M. and Chulkova E.I. Tips for gardeners // Minsk, Harvest, 1970 - 208 p.
  3. Gavrish S.F. Tomatoes // M.: NIIOZG, publishing house "Scriptorium 2000", 2003 - 184 p.

When to plant tomatoes for seedlings in 2022, in which month: choose the planting dates

With the beginning of the new year, the summer season begins. Gardeners and gardeners, long before they start going to their plots, are sowing seedlings. Sweet, juicy and tasty tomatoes are a very popular crop in our gardens, therefore, this vegetable crop is grown from seeds very often. But in any gardening business, it is very important to know the appropriate timing of the event, and especially the time for planting seeds for seedlings. Following them will help you grow healthy, strong tomato seedlings that will be ready for optimal planting in the open field or greenhouse. When to plant tomato seeds for seedlings in 2022, in what month?

Content

  • 1 Why is it important to sow seeds for seedlings on time
  • 2 How to choose the right sowing time of tomatoes for seedlings
    • 2.1 SENTARY CITITIONS
    • 2.2 according to the recommendations of manufacturers and variety
    • 2.3, Depending on the region
      • , depending on the region 2.4 Dates according to the 2022 lunar calendar

Why is it important to sow seeds for seedlings on time

It would seem, why do we need to bother with the timing, if you can intuitively choose any time at the end of winter or at the beginning of spring and plant tomatoes for seedlings. But it was not there!

Firstly, for different vegetables and different varieties of tomatoes, the periods of germination, development of seedlings, adaptation after picking can vary greatly in duration, therefore, the time for growing seedlings is different. And secondly, the planting of any seedlings (both vegetable and flower crops) has its own acceptable time for planting in open ground.

Thus, if we add the above 2 data together, it turns out that if you plant tomato seeds on seedlings too early, then it will outgrow, stretch out, after planting in the garden it will take root slowly and poorly, and if you sow the seeds too late, then the plant will not will have time to develop and give a normal harvest.

What are the consequences of all this? Not the most pleasant - you can be left without a crop or you can get few vegetables that do not have very high palatability .

How to choose the right time for sowing tomatoes for seedlings

You can choose the most suitable time for sowing tomato seeds for seedlings according to several criteria:

  1. According to the recommendations on the package with seeds.
  2. According to the climatic conditions of the region in which the crop is planned to be grown.
  3. According to the lunar calendar.

Each of the listed criteria is important, but it is especially necessary to pay attention to the first two indicators when choosing terms. Let's consider each of the presented indicators in more detail.

Self-calculation of terms

As you know, there are different varieties of vegetable crops and they are planted in the ground at different ages:

  • mid-season - 50-60 days;
  • late ripening - 60-70 days.

    • This information makes it easy to calculate dates. To do this, add up: pre-sowing treatment (from 0 to 3 days) + germination (from 4 to 10 days) + adaptation period after picking (from 7 to 10 days) + seedling age depending on the variety (from 40 to 70). It turns out the figure is from 50 to 90 days. It is for this number of days (depending on the variety) that you need to plant tomato seeds.

    Manufacturer's recommendation and Grade

    When buying high-quality tomato seeds from a reliable manufacturer, the packaging will necessarily contain detailed information: information about the variety, recommendations on the timing of sowing seeds for seedlings, planting in open ground, and ripening time.

    The dates for planting tomato seeds for seedlings indicated on the package are calculated taking into account the variety, so the manufacturer's recommendations must be followed!

    Region dependent

    Different weather and climate conditions in different regions dictate different conditions and rules for growing flower and vegetable crops. They also affect the timing of sowing seedlings, planting in open ground.

    Be sure to pay attention to the different sowing dates for tomato seeds in different regions of our country:

    • 0013 at the beginning of February.
    • Siberia and the Urals - since the regions are in the zone of risky farming, it is better not to rush. It is optimal to sow the seeds of at the end of March or at the beginning of April.
    • Leningrad region - the region cannot boast of ideal conditions for growing vegetables, but if all agrotechnical rules are followed, success will undoubtedly await. The culture should be planted in the middle and end of March.
    • The middle zone (including the Moscow region) is characterized by relatively mild climatic conditions;

    Subject to the optimal time for planting tomatoes in different regions, it is possible to plant seedlings in open ground:

    • In the South - in the 2nd and 3rd decade of April.
    • In the Middle lane - you can plant seedlings in the garden already in the middle or end of May.
    • In the Urals and Siberia - mid-June.
    • In the Volga region - at the beginning of summer.
    • In the Leningrad region - in the middle of June.

    Important! Plants can be transplanted to greenhouse conditions about two weeks earlier than to an open-air garden bed.

    Dates according to the lunar calendar 2022

    The lunar calendar helps gardeners and vegetable growers to carry out their summer cottages more efficiently.

    Learn more