These heat-loving annual plants have long gained worldwide popularity. However, not many people know that tomatoes were not originally used as a food product, but only to decorate the palaces and park areas of European monarchs. The Italians, who were the first to taste this red fruit, were able to “open” tomatoes for us. Nowadays, many are engaged in the cultivation of tomatoes on their site. After reading the article, you will learn how to plant tomatoes in open ground with seedlings.
Preparation for disembarkation
You can plant everything, but not everything is able to grow and bring a wonderful harvest in this case.
It should be remembered that tomatoes are grown on soils – mixtures of several components. The characteristics of the optimal soil include:
- porosity 70-75%;
- low moisture capacity – 50%
- small air capacity – 20-25%;
- soil density should be 0,4 – 0,6 g / sq. cm.
If you work in a greenhouse, tomatoes will grow well on mineral wool. If you decide to grow seedlings as well, then take into account that the maximum temperature for its growth is 25 degrees Celsius. For each month, the time of its cultivation is different. So, in summer it is 5 weeks, in autumn – 6 weeks, and in winter – 9 weeks.
However, it should be remembered that for different climatic conditions the results will not be the same. Therefore, it is also important to pay attention to the area. It is also important to decide on the landing site. 
First, select a special area for the tomato. Next, prepare the seedbed. Disinfect it, adjust the lighting, good air ventilation and temperature control so that the seedlings do not wither. The double film will provide a constant microclimate inside the nursery, as a result of which the seedlings will be comfortable. Now you are ready to land.
And when to plant the seedlings themselves? Usually gardeners sow seeds in late March – early April, and in May they reach the size we need. First, seedlings for tomatoes are placed under a film and only then transplanted into open ground. But, as already mentioned, it is necessary to plant seedlings, taking into account different climatic conditions. The main guideline in planting tomato seedlings is the onset of heat.
Already in open ground, seedlings can be planted in the last days of May, and even better – in June. Here it is important to remember about temperature indicators: frosts should pass during this period, attacks as temperatures below 150 negatively affect the state of tomatoes. At the same time, tomato seedlings should be planted when flowers bloom in the first brush. However, if planted earlier, then high humidity and low temperature will positively affect its condition. Do not be too lazy to open the weather forecast and find out its indicators for the near future. The film will also not be superfluous: you need to cover the seedlings with it in order to create the optimum temperature for the plants.
It is important to carefully treat the soil and the plant itself before planting: apply complex fertilizer to the soil, and treat the seedlings with potassium permanganate or Bordeaux liquid. This is all done to prevent the occurrence of diseases.
Landing scheme
You need to plant a plant in the afternoon or, better, in cloudy weather. In this case, the seedlings will not wither and will “feel” better. If, nevertheless, you decide to plant tomatoes before noon, then this evening it is better not to water them.
Scheme of transplanting tomato seedlings
Further, holes are made in the dug-up earth somewhere about 30 by 30 cm. Compost and a little ash or superphosphate must be added to it. You add water. You take out seedlings from cups (if you bought them on the market) or take them out of a container made by yourself (if you grew them yourself) and lower them into the hole – plant them. Seedlings should be planted carefully, in no case do not damage it.
Gardeners usually plant a plant either to a depth corresponding to the height of the glass in which the seedlings were purchased, or so that the first leaf is above the soil. This makes it easier for you to plant and the plant to take root.
Care after landing
Proper care of tomatoes after planting is the key to a good harvest. Therefore, it is very important to know all the subtleties of this action. All care can be divided into four types of work: watering, loosening, fertilizing and picking.
Before the seedlings fully take root, you need to monitor the condition of the soil surface. So, the soil should be loose. Otherwise, the cracks that appear will affect the resulting roots. As a result, they will break. Then there are two scenarios for the development of events: either the seedlings will slow down development, or they will die altogether.
Watering tomatoes must also be correct. It should be done accordingly:
- when planting seedlings in the soil in one hole 1,5 – 2 liters.
- flowering time – 20-35 liters per 1 m2.
- ovary formation time – from 40 to 50 liters per 1 m2.
- during the numerous formation of fruits – from 70 to 80 liters per 1 m2.
At the beginning of fruit collection, watering of the grown bushes of the plant should be gradually reduced. This has a positive effect on tomatoes: it protects against late blight, fruit cracking and other diseases.
Loosening is an important stage in the care of tomatoes. Therefore, after planting, it is necessary to loosen the soil every 3-4 days. Planted seedlings should be planted immediately after their survival and ten days later. Loosen the soil under the tomatoes every time after watering by 10-12 cm, not deeper. Otherwise, there is a chance of damaging the roots of the plant. Only after a month, you can add 2-4 cm, and loosen already at a distance of up to 16 cm. Before closing the tops, the soil is slotted so that air and moisture can better penetrate into it. The process is not complicated: cracks are made in the soil at a distance of a meter – one and a half meters from one another and a depth of 60 cm.
It is correct to carry out the first top dressing of tomatoes 14 days after planting seedlings in the ground. For one sq.m. soil is required to open from 8 to 10 kg. saltpeter, 5-6 kg. urea or 10 to 12 kg of nitrophoska, 20 to 35 g of superphosphate and potassium salt.
The second feeding – 20-25 days after the first. The same fertilizers are taken in the same proportions. Also take into account the “recipe” for feeding tomatoes if they begin to fade. This is due to the negative impact on plants of weather conditions. Solutions are taken: mullein with water (1:10) or bird droppings (1:14). Both mullein and litter are soaked for a day. Then half a liter of one solution is mixed with 10 liters of water, and you water three plants. Repeat after a week.
It is necessary to remove the lower leaves of planted tomatoes after 1,5 – 2 months. The three bottom sheets are subject to liquidation. After that, a day later, the plant must be watered. This procedure is carried out once a week. If this is not done, air stagnation will form and diseases will begin to develop. And then all your work, everything that you planted and looked after, will go down the drain.
Thus, planting tomato seedlings in open ground is not such a difficult matter. The main thing is to know the course of the process and all its subtleties. Thanks to this article, you were able to discover the basic nuances of how to properly plant tomatoes in open ground. Planting tomato seedlings just got a whole lot easier!
Good harvest!
Video “How to grow tomatoes”
On the recording, a woman talks about when to plant tomatoes in open ground and how to properly care for them.
