When to plant seedlings of tomatoes in 2022 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. ” Healthy Food Near Me” tells when to plant tomatoes in 2022 according to the lunar calendar

How to determine landing dates in your area

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 then grow. 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.

Favorable days for sowing tomato seeds for seedlings according to the lunar calendar: 4 – 7, 11 – 17 March, 1, 8 – 9 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.

With boxes, you can save space on the windowsill – they fit 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 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.

Sow the seeds to a depth of 1-2 cm.

Do I need to dive tomato seedlings

On this occasion, summer residents also have a lot of controversy, but the meaning is very simple. If you pinch the central root of a tomato, it begins to actively build up 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 form the first pair of true leaves,” says agronomist-breeder Svetlana Mihailova. – Plants are dug out of the box or taken out of the 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 a rather laborious work, so if the tomatoes were originally sown in cups, you can do without a pick. 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, in order to save space on the windowsill, you can also not dive into cups. 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.

Favorable days for picking tomato seedlings according to the lunar calendar: 26 – 26 March, 5 – 7, 10 – 15 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 are stretched and how to fix it

There are two reasons for this:

1. A little world. 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

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 a 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.

Favorable days for planting tomato seedlings in a greenhouse according to the lunar calendar: April 25 – 26, May 1 – 15, 31.

Favorable days for planting seedlings in open ground

In open ground, tomato seedlings begin to be planted from the beginning of May – under a film or non-woven fabric.

Without shelter, tomato seedlings can be planted in the garden when the threat of frost has passed – after June 10. 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).

Favorable days for planting tomato seedlings in open ground according to the lunar calendar: 1 – 15, 31 May, 1 – 12 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.

Sources of

1. Ilyin O.V. and a group of authors. Vegetable grower’s guide // M.: Rosselkhokhizdat, 1979 – 224 p.
2. A 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.