Preparing tomato seeds for sowing as seedlings: methods, photos, instructions

When to plant tomatoes for seedlings

The quality of seedlings and obtaining a rich harvest depend on the time of sowing seeds. When determining the date when to sow tomato seeds, you need to take into account several factors: what type the selected variety or hybrid is, the climatic conditions of the region and where the seedlings are supposed to be planted in the future.

Important! It takes 2-2.5 months to grow standard tomato seedlings . Based on this period + the date of expected planting in the ground or greenhouse, you should start sowing the seeds.

Favorable days according to the lunar calendar 2021

It is best to start sowing seeds during the waxing moon. This phase promotes the growth of the above-ground parts of plants.

You cannot sow seeds during the New Moon and Full Moon, and also abstain one day before and after. Aries, Gemini, Leo, Virgo, Sagittarius, Aquarius are considered unfavorable for sowing tomatoes for seedlings.

In January 2021, favorable days for sowing tomato seeds according to the lunar calendar are from 16 to 22, 26 and 27 . Especially if your site has a heated greenhouse, which will already be warmed up at the time of planting the seedlings. You cannot sow seeds from January 12 to 14 and 28.
In February, the most favorable days for sowing seeds for seedlings are from 13 to 19, 23 and 24 . The days from 10 to 12 and 27 February are considered unlucky. This is the most suitable month for planting seedlings. The sun is already coming, although it is still cold. These tomato seedlings will be ready for planting in early April. Therefore, February sowing is used in the southern regions, in heated greenhouses and when constructing warm beds.
In March, the best days for planting seeds are from 15 to 18, from 22 to 24 . It is not advisable to plant seeds from March 12 to 14 and 28. This month the main sowing work is carried out. It is these seedlings that are optimally suited for planting in closed ground in May, and in the southern regions - also in open ground.
In April, according to the lunar calendar, the optimal days are from 18 to 20, 25 and 26 . Bad days for sowing tomatoes are considered to be from April 11 to April 13 and April 27. This is the period for sowing early ripening varieties for the northern corners of the country. For other regions, you can sow seeds directly into the ground. For this purpose, varieties that do not require picking are suitable (otherwise they will not have time to harvest before the cold snap).

In order to obtain your own seed material, it is better to sow some of the seeds when the Moon passes through the signs of Libra or Capricorn.

When sowing seeds in Scorpio, plants develop a powerful root system, so they have a high stem and large distances between inflorescences. Such tomatoes can only be planted by those who have high greenhouses.

Seed sowing dates for different regions

Climatic conditions greatly influence the time of planting tomato seedlings. In the southern regions, seed sowing begins much earlier than in the North-West region:

In the south of Russia, you can start sowing seeds from February 25 . You can sow early-ripening tomatoes until March 5, and mid-ripening ones until March 10.
In the Central Black Earth Region you can sow early ripening varieties and hybrids from February 25 . It is better to sow mid-season tomatoes from March 1 to March 10 .
In the central regions of the country, mid-ripening and late-ripening tomatoes are sown in the second ten days of March , and early-ripening tomatoes are sown on March 10 - April 15 .
For the Urals and Siberia, the best dates are April 1–5 and March 10–22, respectively, for early and late varieties.
In the Far East, sowing begins in early March . It is necessary to complete sowing of early tomatoes by March 25, and mid-season tomatoes by March 20–30.

Depending on the early maturity of the variety

Not only the climatic region matters, but also the duration of the growing season and the early maturity of the selected variety. To grow tomatoes from seeds, you can calculate the sowing time yourself.

According to early ripening, tomatoes are divided into:

ultra-early varieties ripen 80-90 days after seed germination;
early tomatoes ripen in 90–100 days;
mid-early - on days 100–105;
mid-season - on days 105–115;
Late-ripening varieties ripen up to 130 days from the first shoots.

Landing Features

Knowing the days of germination of tomato seeds, you can calculate the approximate date of their planting in open ground. When the seedlings are already strong, they are planted in the garden. To do this, first prepare the planting holes, pour a little water into the pots with seedlings and replant the plants only after the liquid has been absorbed. This procedure is necessary so that the roots are not damaged when the seedling is removed from the pot.

The plants are taken out of the container as follows: you need to lightly knock on the pot, and then tilt it a little and take out the seedling, holding it by the roots with your hand. It is important to capture the plant together with a clod of earth.

Now the seedlings can be lowered into the hole, holding the stem with one hand and filling the hole with the other. Afterwards, it remains to compact the soil well around the stem and water the tomatoes with a small amount of water. If the soil was already wet, you can do without watering.

Thus, the period of seed germination depends on numerous factors that should be taken into account when preparing seedlings and calculating the date of their planting.

Methods of sowing seeds

There are many methods for growing tomato seedlings. Every gardener has experimentally arrived at his or her most preferred method of sowing seeds for seedlings:

Many continue to grow tomato seedlings in a schoolhouse , and then dive into jars or glasses. Some people leave tomatoes without picking, while leaving more space between the seeds during sowing.
In recent years, the snail . This method allows you to not only save land, but also space when growing seedlings. This approach is fully justified in a city apartment, when there are not enough window sills to sow all the varieties of tomatoes that you want.
It is convenient to germinate seeds in peat tablets . They sprout quickly and take up little space during the first time of cultivation. The roots of the seedlings are not damaged during transplantation, since each seed has its own “house”.
Galina Kizima in diapers made from old newspapers for many years Advanced gardeners have perfected her method using garbage bags.
An interesting option is to sow seeds in plastic mineral water bottles. They create a microclimate similar to a greenhouse. The method is recommended for sowing expensive and rare varieties for the purpose of their better germination and adaptation.
The method of sowing tomato seeds in boiling water is similar in effect to stratification, only the temperature is exactly the opposite. This method is very effective in case of expired seed material or doubtful quality.
hydroponics in their plots for growing tomatoes . In this case, you can refuse the soil; it may contain pathogenic bacteria that cause numerous diseases.

Which sowing method to focus on is up to the gardener to decide. However, some of the seeds can be sown in a new and unusual way for you to find out whether it is suitable in specific conditions.

Germination

When all the preparatory work is completed, you can germinate the tomato seeds. However, before this, you need to figure out how to properly germinate seeds.

First you need to start preparing all the necessary materials. To do this, you will need medical gauze or a small piece of cotton cloth. Also, some vegetable growers are trying to germinate tomatoes on cotton pads.

When everything is ready, the cloth or cotton pad is placed in a small plate and filled with heated water. The liquid should not be cold, as cold water can spoil the seed. Seeds are laid out on damp material in several rows. Then they are covered with a cloth, which should also be soaked in warm water.

The container with seeds is transferred to a room with a stable temperature of about 20-30 degrees. You must constantly ensure that the fabric with the seeds is damp. If you do not moisten it periodically, the moisture will quickly evaporate and the seeds will not be able to germinate. You need to be very careful when moistening the fabric so as not to add too much water.

Preparatory activities

When growing tomato seedlings at home, it is important to create optimal temperature, lighting and humidity. The composition of the soil in which the seeds will be planted is of great importance.

Sowing work begins with the acquisition of seeds, soil and preparation of equipment. There is never enough light to grow early seedlings. Therefore, it is worth taking care of additional lighting in advance.

Selecting a variety and purchasing seeds

Today there is a huge variety of varieties with different heights, growing seasons, variety of colors and fruit sizes. To choose seeds for sowing seedlings, be sure to read our rating of the best tomato varieties.

When purchasing seeds, preference should be given to reliable agricultural companies and breeders who have proven themselves to be the best. These can be websites of seed manufacturers or online garden stores.

Calculate your capabilities, how many seeds you will need for sowing and how many seedlings you can plant in your garden or greenhouse. The number of seeds is indicated on each bag. Also check the stated expiration date.

Experienced gardeners collect seeds from their gardens only if they are varietal tomatoes. It is not possible to obtain high-quality seeds from hybrids - they do not produce a harvest in the second generation.

Where to plant - containers for seedlings

You can use any convenient container as containers for growing tomato seedlings.

Wooden boxes are used to sow seeds in a schoolhouse . They are filled with prepared soil, and then the seeds are laid out. If the box is large, you can make several grooves and place seeds of several varieties in them.

Important! It is necessary to maintain the distance between seeds when sowing in large containers. Otherwise, the seedlings will stretch out and interfere with each other's growth.

For many years, gardeners have successfully used peat pots . They come in different sizes and are easy to choose for seedlings of any size. It should be noted that this is an environmentally friendly material that completely decomposes in the soil after planting.

How to properly plant tomatoes for seedlings: step-by-step instructions

The timing of planting tomato seeds for seedlings without picking is late (late spring). In this case, they are sown in separate containers, each seed in its own peat or plastic cup.

If you plan to plant seedlings, then all the seeds are sown in one common container with soil in February. At the same time, be sure to mark the rows with different varieties so as not to get confused in the future. The harvest with both methods is obtained simultaneously, since in the first case the seeds are sown later.

Sowing in a common container

A small layer of drainage is poured into the prepared and disinfected box. This can be either fine gravel, expanded clay or broken ceramic shards. The selected soil is poured over the drainage layer and watered well until completely soaked. It is advisable to fill containers 2-3 days before the intended sowing.
In the disinfected soil, grooves are made at a distance of 3 cm and a depth of up to 1 cm.
The sprouted seeds are placed in the recesses, keeping a distance of 1–2 cm between them.
The seeds are sprinkled with a layer of soil up to 1 cm on top.
Cover with glass or plastic wrap and place the container in a warm place. Until the first seedling loops appear, lighting does not matter.

In separate containers (without picking)

Those who do not like to pick up seedlings like to sow in separate cups. They must have drainage holes.

Why are seeds germinated?

With the help of germination, the seedlings will be more tenacious and subsequently the tomato bushes will produce more tomatoes.

The complex of operations brings great benefits:

Allows you to remove empty seeds and select only the strongest among them for sowing seedlings.
Increases the resistance of seedlings to infection and high soil moisture. Otherwise, this may cause the death of tomato seeds even before the first seedlings appear.
Improves germination. Preparation reduces the germination period, facilitates the pipping and appearance of seedlings.

Thanks to these operations, the shoots will emerge evenly, and everyone will be at the same level of development.

How to care for seedlings

The optimal germination temperature for tomato seeds is considered to be +23–25°C . Also, after planting the seeds, maintain high humidity.

Until the moment of germination, that is, until the first shoots appear, the crops must be periodically ventilated and watered when the top layer dries out. After airing for 20 minutes, wipe off excess water from the glass or bag and only then cover it again.

How long does it take for seeds to germinate?

Properly prepared seeds germinate within 5-7 days .

If tomato seeds do not germinate for a long time, the following problems or mistakes by gardeners are possible:

low-quality seed material: the expiration date of the seeds has expired (6-7 years) or their storage conditions have been violated (temperature no higher than 19 degrees);
the preparatory work was carried out incorrectly (soaking and disinfection of seeds);
the seeds were planted too deeply in the ground; The optimal planting depth for tomato seeds is 6-10 mm.
unsuitable conditions for seed germination - too cold a temperature or inappropriate humidity (the soil is too dry or overwatered and the seeds rot).

After the first shoots, the covering material is not removed immediately, but gradually. At first it may be 2-3 hours during the day, and at night - shelter. Within 3–5 days the structure can be completely disassembled.

Subsequent care of seedlings

For proper development of tomato seedlings, it is necessary to create optimal conditions. One of the most important is lighting.

Seedlings need 12–15 hours of full light . The best place for seedlings are windows facing south or southwest. If there is a lack of light, you will have to add additional lighting, especially on cloudy days.

To prevent tomato seedlings from stretching out, in the first days, as soon as the first seeds hatch, the temperature is lowered to +14–16 °C. The duration of such a temperature of 7 days will be quite sufficient. After a week, the temperature can be raised again to +20–22 °C during the daytime and +16–18 °C at night. Then the seedlings will turn out thick, low and strong.

Young seedlings should be watered only with warm, settled water. It is better to spray from a spray bottle after drying the top layer of soil.

Planting seedlings in the ground

By the time of planting in a greenhouse or open ground, the seedlings should have a height of 25-35 cm and 8-12 developed leaves . There should not be more than 1 formed inflorescence on it.

Early varieties of tomatoes are planted in the ground when the seedlings are 40-50 days old. Mid-season - 50-60 days. And late and large-fruited varieties 60-70 days after the first shoots.

How much time will it take?

Germination time depends on:

Shelf life. Old seeds take longer to hatch; those that have been lying around for 3 years will germinate in 7-9 days. When purchasing seed, you need to make sure that the seeds are fresh. They can be stored for no more than 5 years.

Humidity and temperature. At 25-30 degrees, seedlings will appear in 3-4 days, tomato grains will germinate in 3 to 4 days, at 20-25 degrees it will take 5-6 days. If it is cool, within 13-19 degrees, germination will take up to 13 days. If the temperature is lower, then you can wait more than 2 weeks for the sprouts.

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