When should tomatoes be planted outside
Growing Tomato Plants | General Planting & Growing Tips – Bonnie Plants
Learn how to grow tomatoes. Get tips about growing tomatoes in the ground, raised beds, or containers. Care for tomato plants from planting to harvesting.
Choosing tomato varieties can be confusing because there are so many, so use our Tomato Chooser to help you pick the best for your garden. Our article "Learn Tomato Terms" explains some basic (but important) tomato terms, such as hybrid, indeterminate vs. determinate, and VFN (disease resistance). It's a good idea to grow a range of varieties, including at least one or two disease-resistant types, since, of all veggies, tomatoes tend to be the most susceptible to disease.
How to Plant and Care for Tomatoes
- Tomatoes run on warmth; plant in late spring and early summer except in zone 10, where they are a fall and winter crop.
- For a head start on growing, plant starter plants instead of seeds. Choose young tomato plants from Bonnie Plants®, a company that has spent over 100 years helping home gardeners grow their best gardens.
- Devote a prime, sunny spot to growing tomatoes. Tomatoes need at least 6 to 8 hours of sun to bring out their best flavors.
- You will need to stake, trellis, or cage most tomato plants to keep them off the ground. Decide on a support plan before you set out your plants, then add that support directly after planting.
- Give each plant enough room to grow. Space robust, long-vined, indeterminate varieties about 3 feet apart. Stockier determinate plants can be grown 2 feet apart. Improve the planting area by mixing in a few inches of high quality garden soil, like aged compost-enriched Miracle-Gro® Performance Organics® All Purpose In-Ground Soil, with the top layer of existing soil. If growing in containers, you'll need at least a 24-inch pot for an indeterminate variety, or an 18-inch pot for a determinate variety. Be sure to fill containers with premium potting mix, such as Miracle-Gro® Performance Organics® All Purpose Container Mix, for best growth.
- Tomatoes take up nutrients best when the soil pH ranges from 6.
2 to 6.8, and they need a constant supply of major and minor plant nutrients. To provide needed nutrients, mix a continuous-release fertilizer with calcium, like Miracle-Gro® Performance Organics® Edibles Plant Nutrition Granules, into the soil as you prepare the planting holes. Continue feeding during the growing season as the label directs. This will help protect fruit from blossom end rot, a problem that can occur when the plant isn't getting enough calcium. - At the same time, mix in 3 to 4 inches of compost, which will provide minor nutrients and help hold moisture and fertilizer in the soil until it is needed by the plants.
- To grow a really strong tomato plant, we recommend burying two-thirds of the stem when planting. This crucial step will allow the plant to sprout roots along the buried stem, so your plant will be stronger and better able to find water in a drought. Please note that this deep-planting method only works with tomatoes (and tomatillos), not other veggies.
- Immediately after planting, water seedlings to help settle them in.
- You can combine fast-maturing varieties with special season-stretching techniques to grow an early crop, but wait until the last frost has passed to plant main-season tomatoes.
- Cover the ground with 2 to 4 inches of mulch to minimize weeds and help keep the soil evenly moist. Straw and shredded leaves make great mulches for tomatoes.
- Water regularly, aiming for at least an inch of moisture per week (through rain or watering), more in the summertime. Feel the soil; if the top inch is dry, it's time to water.
How to Troubleshoot Tomato Problems
- As summer heats up, some tomatoes have trouble setting fruit. Be patient, and you will start seeing little green tomatoes again when nights begin cooling down. Meanwhile, promptly harvest ripe tomatoes to relieve stressed plants of their heavy burden. If you live in an area in which summertime temperatures are typically in the 90s, be sure to choose some heat-tolerant tomato varieties, bred for their ability to set fruit under high temperatures.
- If summer droughts are common in your area, or you tend to forget to water, use soaker hoses, drip irrigation, or other drought-busting techniques to help maintain even soil moisture. Not only will this help prevent cracked fruits, but also help keep blossom end rot at bay. (Moisture fluctuations can reduce the amount of calcium the plant is able to take up, which can lead to blossom end rot.)
- Humid weather creates ideal conditions for fungal diseases like early blight, which causes dark spots to first form on lower leaves. Be sure to remove any unhealthy looking or diseased leaves throughout the season. Late blight is a more devastating disease that kills plants quickly; the only way to control it is to protect against it by spraying the leaves with an approved fungicide such as chlorothalonil or copper, and to keep the garden clean of plant debris.
- You'll also want to be on the lookout for pests. In mid-summer, for example, big green caterpillars called tomato hornworms eat tomato foliage and sometimes damage fruits.
One or two hornworms can strip a plant leafless in short order! Deal with pests as soon as you spot them. - By late summer, plants that began producing early in the season will show signs of exhaustion. With just a little effort, you can extend the life of those sad tomato plants by pruning away withered leaves and branches. Then follow up with liquid plant food and treatments for leaf diseases or insects, if needed.
- Check out our article on Tomato Quirks for more troubleshooting information
How to Harvest and Store Tomatoes
- As tomatoes begin to ripen, their colour changes from vibrant medium-green to a lighter shade, with faint pink or yellow blushing. These "breakers," or mature green tomatoes, can be chopped into salsas, pickled, or pan-fried into a crispy appetizer. Yet tomato flavours become much more complex as the fruits ripen, so you have good reason to wait. The exact signs of ripeness vary with variety, but in general, perfectly ripe tomatoes show deep colour yet still feel firm when gently squeezed.
- Store picked tomatoes at room temperature indoors, or in a shady place outside. Never refrigerate tomatoes, because temperatures below 55° cause the precious flavour compounds to break down.
- Bumper crops can be frozen, canned, or dried for future use.
They are so sweet that they might all get eaten in the meantime. Seriously.FAQs
Your plant tags say to plant tomatoes deep: two-thirds of the plant underground. Is that really a good practice?
Yes, we recommend this because the more plant you put under the soil, the better the root system. The buried stem of a tomato plant will sprout roots. However, this is not true for all vegetables, only tomatoes and tomatillos.
The tag says full sun, but in Arizona with temperatures reaching over the 100 degree mark, is that going to be an issue with this plant?
We recommend that you give your tomatoes some afternoon shade in summer. They need some relief.
What is meant by "maturity is reached in __ days"?
The maturity is the number of days from planting the seedling until the fruit is ready to pick. This varies a little with weather and region, but the "days to maturity" is a good way to see what will be ready early, mid, and late season.
What size cage should I use for my tomato plants?
Most tomatoes work best with a 5- to 6-foot trellis, stake, or cage.
Buy the largest cage possible or make your own from concrete reinforcement wire. The vines of indeterminate tomatoes can get longer than 6 feet, but just let them climb to the top and droop over and down if that doesn't bother you. Otherwise, you'll be harvesting with a ladder!
When the plant says full sun, what exactly does that mean?
Full sun means no shade all day, but in many cases in the summer, that’s too much. In hot climates, herbs and some vegetables appreciate a little shade in the mid to late afternoon.
Is it a good idea to always stake or cage my tomatoes?
Yes. Staking tomatoes helps to increase yield and prevent rotting and diseases.
Can I plant one tomato plant in a five-gallon bucket on my patio? How large should the container be for a tomato?
Yes, a 5-gallon container is the minimum size for a tomato plant. A container should be at least 18 inches wide at the top for a tomato, preferably 24 inches for an indeterminate tomato plant.
Also, make sure your container has drainage holes.
What do the letters VFFN stand for in the names of your tomatoes?
These letters represent problems that a variety resists, which means that it should not succumb to the problem. V=Verticillium wilt, F and FF=Fusarium wilt races 1 and 2, A= Alternaria leaf spot. The N is for nematode resistance; nematodes are not a disease, they are tiny eel-like pests that ruin roots. There are other designations, too, which are included in the tomato variety descriptions in our online plant catalog.
Is there such a thing as nematode-resistant tomato plants?
Yes, many varieties are resistant to nematodes. Look for the "N" after the name, which stands for nematode resistance. To find these varieties, check the catalog section of our website. Our tomato descriptions list plants' resistance to nematodes and other problems.
Should I be pruning off the lower branches of my tomato plants? How far off of the ground should the lower branches be?
Pruning is not necessary, but some people do it to keep soil that might harbor diseases from splashing up on the leaves; 12 to 18 inches from the ground ought to do it.
Is it true that pinching off the flowers on the tomato plant helps it to produce more fruit?
It will not help production, but it could increase the size of the tomatoes left on the vine by a little bit.
I just planted my tomatoes and found out that it is too early. Should I put something over them to protect them at night?
Your tomatoes should be okay if you cover them to protect them from frost and cold, strong wind. Don't let the foliage touch the cover unless it is a material that doesn’t transfer the cold easily, such as bonded polyester row cover, a cardboard box, or a blanket. Avoid metal cans or plastic unless it does not touch the plants.
What causes tomatoes to turn black on the bottom?
They call that blossom end rot. It is thought to be caused by lack of calcium and drought stress. One way to add calcium is to lime the soil. This will help future crops. To help the current crop, purchase a calcium solution, such as Stop-rot, that you spray on the plants.
Do I have to replant tomatoes every year, or do the plants come back when the time is right?
Tomatoes are annuals that are killed by frost. They need to be replanted each year.
Caring for Tomatoes Growing Techniques Growing Tomatoes Planting Tomatoes Staking Tomatoes Tomatoes Urban Gardening Vegetables
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This Is the Best Time to Plant Tomatoes
Photo: istockphoto.com
Q: The home I recently moved into has plenty of outdoor space for growing tomatoes—my favorite ingredient to cook with—but I have little gardening experience. To give myself the greatest chance for success, can you tell me when is the best time to plant tomatoes?A: The answer for when to plant tomatoes depends on whether you start from seed or transplant seedlings. Getting an early start with seedlings ensures tomatoes have enough time to reach maturity. For transplants, the key is to plant early enough to give tomatoes time to mature but not so early that they succumb to freezing conditions. With a bit of careful planning and weather monitoring, you can grow thriving tomato plants that provide some delicious fruit.
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Consider the days to maturity needed for the tomato varieties you plan to plant.
When it comes to starting from seed, tomato plants need enough time to reach maturity before cold fall and winter weather sets in. In warm climates, it’s possible to direct-sow tomatoes outside. But for those living in locations with short growing seasons, it’s necessary to start tomato seeds indoors. Most tomatoes take a long time to mature and bear fruit—typically around 100 days. Large tomatoes tend to take longer to produce a usable harvest, while cherry and mini tomato varieties mature faster.
The ideal strategy is to grow varieties of tomatoes that mature and produce fruit at different points in the season. Plant a mix of early, middle, and late-season types, including determinate and indeterminate tomatoes, for a consistent supply of the tasty fruits.
Tomatoes can also be planted late in the growing season. Still, it’s essential to note the variety’s days to maturity. If planting later in the season, pick a tomato variety that takes fewer days to reach maturity and produce a harvest—ultra-compact varieties like Micro Tom may be a good choice.
Short-season tomatoes tend to be indeterminate varieties, which are plants that continue to set fruit throughout the season.
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Other faster-growing tomato varieties to consider include:
- Early Girl
- Fourth of July
- Sun Gold
- Black Prince
- Siberian
Photo: istockphoto.com
Planting tomatoes indoors helps them get a jump-start on growing until they can be transplanted outside; these heat-loving plants need about 6 to 8 weeks indoors. It’s critical to get the timing right, so resist the urge to start too early. One may assume an earlier start means getting an earlier tomato harvest, but it can be difficult to deal with bulky plants when short on indoor space. And hardening off large transplants can be awkward. One exception is perhaps if you have a greenhouse space to hold your tomatoes early in the spring.
To figure out the exact seed-starting date, find out your region’s last and first frost dates. Then, count backward from your average last frost date.
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Plant tomato seedlings outdoors when overnight temperatures remain above 50 degrees Fahrenheit.Don’t rely solely on the average last frost date, however. Generally, tomatoes can go outside about a week or two after the last frost in an area, but this isn’t a strict rule. Weather conditions can vary from year to year.
Because tomatoes require warm weather to thrive and don’t do well in cool temperatures, it’s imperative to wait until nighttime temperatures are consistently above 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Keep in mind that a frost can occur even if it’s warm during the day.
Use the frost date as a guide and keep tabs on the weather forecast to inform your decision of when to transplant. Additionally, remember that tomatoes and other seedlings shouldn’t go straight into the ground.
Transplants require a period of hardening off to become accustomed to outdoor conditions—think of it as an icebreaker for plants. They need some time to gradually warm up to outdoor life and wind.
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Soil temperature is another good indicator of when it’s the right time to transplant tomatoes. Aim to plant tomatoes when the soil temperature is consistently between 65 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
Consider your garden location and when it receives 6 to 8 hours of full sun per day.Photo: istockphoto.com
Don’t forget to consider location when planting tomato seedlings. Even if a garden is technically in USDA hardiness zone 6, there are microclimates within these zones that tend to be warmer or cooler than the rest. Make sure to plant tomatoes in a spot that receives at least 6 hours of full sun per day—8 hours is even better.
If tomatoes must be planted early, use protection like row covers or cloches to keep plants nice and toasty until warm weather sets in for the season.
Just know that planting earlier doesn’t usually speed up time to harvest and comes with risks, such as exposing tomato seedlings to a killing frost.
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How to plant tomatoes in the ground: instructions and tips
Published:
Tomatoes are grown in seedlings to speed up the vegetation process. How and when is it better to plant tomatoes in open ground? Study the instructions and valuable care tips, then each bush will take root and give a generous harvest.
How and when to plant tomatoes in the open ground
Tomatoes are a vegetable crop that is distinguished by selective diversity. In the spring, seedlings are grown from seeds and planted in open beds. To get the result, take into account the optimal timing of planting and the characteristics of growing tomatoes.
When to plant seedlings in the ground
Heat-loving tomatoes grown for seedlings are sent to an open bed only after the onset of real heat. Observing the weather conditions in your area, make a decision about planting plants in the ground. The following conditions will be optimal:
- frost-free weather at night;
- air temperature not lower than +15 °С;
- the soil is warmed up to +10 °C to a depth of 10 cm.0005
- for the southern regions - at the beginning of May;
- for temperate regions - in mid-May;
- for the northern regions - at the end of May-beginning of June.
In spring, the weather is changeable, so seedlings from the windowsill can be transplanted into a greenhouse, and only after the arrival of heat can be sent to the garden.
When to plant tomato seedlings in the ground: Pixabay
For greenhouse equipment, use covering material (film, agrofibre). Cover seedlings at night and open during the day when the air warms up. How to prepare seedlings for planting in the ground
Tomato seedlings grown indoors will suffer a lot of stress if they are sent directly to the open ground. Therefore, before transplanting, prepare the seedlings according to the following plan:
- Start hardening seedlings in pots 7-10 days before planting. Take the plants out into the open for 2-3 hours at first. Gradually increase your sun exposure to 8-10 hours a day. In the last days, leave them to sleep outside if there is no threat of frost.
- Water the tomatoes generously during the hardening process so that the plants do not stop growing. In the last days before planting, reduce watering to preserve the earthen clod on the roots.
- Reduce the amount of nitrogen fertilizer and fertilize the seedlings with a solution of phosphorus-potassium fertilizer a week before planting in the ground.
You can replace them with an infusion of wood ash (1 tablespoon per 1 liter of water).
Select a well-lit area in the garden. It is advisable to plant seedlings in a place protected from strong winds and drafts - closer to the fence or under the southern wall of structures. The best predecessors of tomatoes are pumpkin crops and cabbage.
Oktyabrina and Alexander Ganichkin, the authors of the book “All About Tomatoes and Cucumbers”, advise growing tomatoes on light loamy or sandy loamy, well-warmed soils with a high content of organic matter.
How to prepare seedlings for planting in the ground: PixabayHow to properly plant seedlings in the ground
Ready for planting tomato seedlings have a stem height of 15–25 cm, 6–8 leaves and lay the first cluster. If the seedlings have outgrown, Anna Zorina, author of the book Tomatoes, Cucumbers, advises laying out a long stem in a spiral when transplanting into the ground and covering it with earth. Thus, shorten the stem and create conditions for the formation of additional roots.
When planting seedlings in a permanent place, do the work step by step:
- Water the plants 1 hour before planting in the ground.
- Dig holes in the bed to the size of the pot in which the seedlings grew.
- Place a handful of wood ash, crushed eggshells, onion skins and 1 tsp. superphosphate.
- Water wells with yeast solution (10 g per bucket of water) to stimulate seedling growth.
- Place the seedlings with the clod of earth into the hole so that the roots hang down. To form additional roots, dig the stem deeper into the soil than the plant grew in a pot.
- Sprinkle the root system with loose earth, compacting the soil, pour water.
- Cover the hole with dry soil or compost.
Choose a planting pattern depending on the seedling variety:
- plant undersized tomatoes at a distance of 60 cm between rows and 30-40 cm between plants;
- for tall varieties, make holes 50 cm apart and 70 cm between rows.
How to properly plant seedlings in the ground: Needpix How to care for tomatoes after planting in the ground
In order for the adaptation and survival of plants in open ground to be successful, seedlings need to be looked after, watered and fed in a timely manner, protected from diseases and pests.
How to protect plants from negative weather factors
In the first days after transplanting, protect delicate greenery during the day from scorching sunlight, and at night from returning frosts. To do this, build temporary shelters:
- place low arcs over the seedlings and stretch the agrofibre;
- leave the ends open so that the bed is ventilated and the plants do not suffocate from lack of oxygen;
- remove the cover after 10 days, when the seedlings are strong and rooted in the ground.
Temporarily cover the seedlings by using available materials: plastic boxes, newspaper paper caps, burlap and cut tree branches.
Protect low-growing varieties from the cold by high hilling. How to properly water tomatoes in the ground
Do not water tomatoes too often, so as not to activate the reproduction of fungal diseases (gray rot, late blight). But the lack of moisture can cause damage to the ovary and green fruits with blossom end rot.
Watering rules are as follows:
- Water tomato seedlings only under the root. Sprinkling causes a decrease in air and soil temperature, which negatively affects flowering and ovary formation.
- Start watering 10-12 days after transplanting seedlings outdoors.
- Irrigate in the absence of rain once a week, pour 3-5 liters of water under each bush. During fruit ripening, low-growing varieties should be watered less often, and tall ones more often.
After fruit set, mulch the tomato bed with straw or sawdust to retain moisture.
How to properly water in-ground tomatoes: Unsplash/Sophie DaleFeeding in-ground tomato seedlings
For active growth and fruiting of tomatoes in the garden, feed at least 4 times a season:
- The first dressing should be carried out approximately 20 days after planting the seedlings in the ground.
Use a solution of 0.5 liters of liquid mullein and 1 tbsp. l. nitrophoska in 10 liters of water. For each plant, spend 0.5 liters of solution. - Second top dressing during flowering. In 10 liters of water, dilute 0.5 liters of chicken manure, add 1 tbsp. l. superphosphate and 1 tsp. potassium sulfate. Water the tomatoes under the root, spending 1 liter per bush.
- Apply the third dressing while the third flower cluster is in bloom. To do this, take 1 tbsp. l. liquid potassium humate and nitrophoska per 10 liters of water. Consume 5 liters of liquid per 1 m².
- Apply the fourth dressing 70 days after planting the tomatoes in the ground. Use to feed fruit-bearing plants 1 tbsp. l superphosphate, dissolved in 10 l of water. Apply 1 liter of solution under each bush, combining with watering the plants.
Famous horticulturalist Galina Kizima, author of the book “What You Plant, You Eat. Part 3. Tomatoes, pumpkins and related crops, does not recommend fertilizing tomatoes with fresh manure.
How to properly feed tomatoes in the ground: Pixabay
Such a fertilizer causes an increase in green mass to the detriment of fruit formation. How to increase the yield of tomatoes in the ground
To get a generous harvest of juicy tomatoes, carry out the following measures: .
- Hill up tomatoes to grow side shoots and strengthen the main stem in undersized varieties.
- Remove weeds while weeding, leaving seedless small plants in the garden as mulch and fertilizer.
- Stabilize side shoots, thin out ovaries, remove lower leaves, pinch tops of indeterminate varieties.
- Carry out preventive spraying of tomatoes against diseases (phytophthora, gray rot, fusarium) and pests (whiteflies, aphids, spider mites), use copper-containing preparations and folk remedies (ash or iodine solution, infusion of garlic, celandine, wormwood, yarrow).
Even in a small area, you can get a generous harvest of tomatoes, if you follow all agrotechnical standards for planting seedlings in open ground.
Take the advice of experienced gardeners and ensure proper care. Then the plants will quickly take root in a new place, give a good color and ovary. Original article: https://www.nur.kz/household/garden/1849657-kak-sazat-pomidory-v-grunt/
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. Komsomolskaya Pravda tells when to plant tomatoes in 2022 according to the lunar calendar
How to determine the planting dates in your region
This is one of the main subjects of controversy 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: 4 – 7, 11 – 17 March, 1, 8 – 9 April.
What to grow seedlings in
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 will still have to be picked out 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 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.comSummer 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 tomato seedlings 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 smallest 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: March 26 - 26, April 5 - 7, April 10 - 15.
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 that 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 planted 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: April 25 - 26, May 1 - 15, May 31.
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: May 1-15, May 31, June 1-12.
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 from the top of the fruit to the soil surface it is 10 cm. 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.
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