The timing of when to plant tomatoes for seedlings for the Moscow region
Tomato varieties zoned for the Moscow region usually begin to be sown for seedlings from the end of February and almost until the first days of April. Such a spread in terms is associated with the characteristics of the variety and the method of cultivation. Tomatoes with medium to long growing seasons for greenhouse production are planted earlier. Varieties with short ripening periods, in the conditions of the Moscow region, can be successfully grown without shelter. But it is for them that the 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 territory and the adjacent Moscow region, in a temperate continental climate, there is a range of positive temperatures. The indicators of the duration of frost-free periods differ significantly.
If the average indicator 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 position of the garden or personal plot, but also to the features of the relief, elevation differences.
When planning to grow tomatoes in the open air, it is necessary to determine the period when seedlings can be planted without fear of recurrent 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, steady warming begins only from May 11-13. In areas with flat relief, the periods of frost end 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 the 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 the basis for calculations. They are the main obstacle to transplanting tomatoes into open ground in the Moscow region in early spring.
Agrotechnical practices in the preparation of seeds and care for seedlings largely affect its full development and can increase or decrease the period from planting to harvest.
We calculate the timing for sowing seeds
Having determined the number from which you can transplant tomato seedlings into open ground, we study the recommendations of the seed manufacturer. Usually the variety descriptions always indicate the age that the seedlings should have at the time of transplantation to a permanent place. This figure for different tomatoes can vary from 45 to 65 days, and is calculated from the moment of emergence.
To this period, 4-7 days should be added for the germination period itself, and an amendment 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.
- 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.
- Traditionally, for varieties with medium ripening periods, which are planned to be planted in open ground or under light film shelters, in the third decade of May, early June, the seeds are sown in late March, early April.
- 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 early, intensive root growth can be achieved.
Earlier sowing dates are not always justified, because plants are very demanding on lighting. With a lack of sunlight, you will need to comply with the temperature regime, or additional lighting. Also, the methods of hardening seeds and seedlings play an important role in the behavior of plants.
By changing the irrigation regimes, and carefully monitoring the state of the seedlings, you can also cultivate vegetative or generative tendencies in the plant and thereby influence the duration of the seedling period.
Checking the dates of the lunar calendar
Many gardeners find rational grain, guided by the lunar calendar during the periods of growing seedlings. You can trust or ignore such techniques, or you can familiarize yourself and adopt someone else's experience.
Considering the influence of astronomical rules, tomatoes are planted and dived only during the growing moon. In the Moscow region, the dates for sowing tomatoes for seedlings fall on the dates:
- February 16, 17, 18, 21, 22, 25, 26;
- March 20, 21, 24, 25, 26;
- April 17, 18, 21, 22, 27, 28;
- May 18, 19, 24, 25, 26;
- June 14, 15, 21, 22.
These dates in 2018 will help guide gardeners 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 moments of the full moon and new moon, any actions with plants, especially planting tomatoes, are not recommended.
Seed hardening reduces the seedling period of tomato development by 5-7 days, affects the yield and earlier ripening of fruits.
Features of planting seeds for seedlings
Often times, gardeners make the mistake of trying to plant tomatoes as early as possible. This leads to overgrowth of seedlings, which often lack adequate lighting. Therefore, it is better to sow a tomato within the estimated time frame, but try to create conditions for the plant that will allow it to grow stronger and steadily transfer the transplant to open ground. There are simple techniques that prepare the plant for stressful situations.
One of them is pre-sowing seed preparation:
- seed disinfection is carried out in a 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 a refrigerator;
- we sow seeds only in well-fertilized and moist 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 accelerate 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.
Subject to these rules, tomatoes show a reduction in growth time to 7 days and an increase in yield by 30%.
Also, the further development of the plant is influenced by the quality of care and adherence to agricultural practices. 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 themselves 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 more than general advice. It is necessary to collect data on the agro-climatic features of your site and, on their basis, make the simplest calculations.
Can you trust the author if he uploads a photo of sowing cucumber seeds in an article about tomatoes?