Planting tomatoes under the film is an important step. Seedlings can develop well in greenhouse conditions, but when faced with temperature changes and possible diseases and pests in the garden, they will receive some stress. It is very important to observe the landing dates.

Optimal disembarkation time

When to plant tomatoes under the film depends on the climatic conditions. So, in the southern latitudes of Russia, to which the Kuban belongs, seedlings are transferred to greenhouses already in April, or even earlier. In the Moscow region, the best option is May, beginning or middle, and mostly seedlings are planted here on May holidays. Accordingly, the further the region is from the south, the later the tomatoes are planted in the open ground. For example, in regions such as the Urals and Siberia, the landing may be delayed until mid-June.

On a note! There is a calendar with regional planting dates that allows you to grow tomatoes in almost most climatic zones.

The term for planting tomatoes under a film of finished seedlings can be determined not only by the region, but also by the air temperature, regardless of the climatic zone. When the average daily temperature stays at + 8 degrees for five days, you can already safely plant tomatoes in the ground.

When to plant tomatoes

Soil temperature is equally important. Even if it is planned to plant under the film, it is important to wait until the ground is completely warmed up. Sometimes it is recommended to spill the earth with boiling water before planting. This method is good if the film or polycarbonate greenhouse is constantly closed and the soil in it warms up quickly. If the film is stretched on the ground, which hibernated open and froze, even if it was covered in spring, it will not quickly warm up. You can speed up the heating of the earth by covering the beds with an old film and on top with black roofing felt. Under the rays of the sun, the area will warm up faster. For tomatoes, the minimum soil temperature is plus 12 degrees.

How to properly plant tomato seedlings

To get an early harvest and save tomatoes from rains and various diseases, they arrange greenhouses and plant tomatoes in a greenhouse. This method is especially relevant for those who are faced with such a common tomato and potato fungal disease as late blight (late blight).

Rules for planting tomato seedlings in a greenhouse and in the open field

When to plant tomatoes in the ground

Rule one: avoid crowding. Even if the plot is small, if the greenhouse is small, crowding will still not increase the yield. On the contrary, the plants will suffer, and there will also be inconveniences in cultivating the land and in harvesting. Here is how the scheme for planting tomato seedlings of different types looks like:

  • tall - these are the varieties that are good in small areas, as they give the greatest yield from one bush. One bush can form up to a dozen fruit clusters, with it there is less work on weeding and watering than with several ordinary bushes, while tall tomatoes do not shade each other. The ideal planting pattern here is a meter between rows and 70 cm in a row. In some cases, it is allowed to reduce the area under the bushes to 70 and 50 cm between rows and between plants, respectively;
  • medium-sized - these tomatoes are planted denser, leaving a distance of 80 cm between the rows, and 55 in a row. This scheme is used both when planting in open ground and in greenhouses;
  • undersized tomatoes are planted half a meter between rows, the distance from bush to bush is 30 cm. As a rule, these are the earliest tomatoes that private gardeners love to grow so much. At the same time, low-growing tomatoes are often planted in a checkerboard pattern, which compacts the planting and makes them even more productive.

Knowing the optimal distance, it is easy to calculate the planting pattern in the greenhouse. If it is small, it is wiser to make one pass between the beds. With a large greenhouse area, it is more convenient to use two rows of aisle.

Advice: tomatoes are very fond of light. In order for all the plants in the greenhouse to have enough of it, it is worth planting tall varieties closer to the center, undersized ones to the edges, that is, along the walls. And in an open area when planting in the ground, simply choose the correct location relative to the light source.

Seedling agricultural technology

Planting tomato seedlings in a greenhouse

When to plant tomatoes in open ground

Many gardeners grow seedlings on their own. But what if the window sill is not suitable for this? There is a proven way to grow seedlings directly in the soil using a film cover. In comparison with greenhouse seedlings, such seedlings have a number of advantages:

  • the seedlings grown under a film cover are more hardened, it takes root more easily and tolerates temperature fluctuations;
  • sowing seeds can be about a month earlier;
  • harvesting is accelerating.

How to care for tomatoes under plastic wrap? It is not so difficult, it is only important to choose the right varieties of tomatoes, prepare the land for planting, build a high-quality shelter.

Tomatoes should not be planted all in a row, but zoned varieties adapted to local conditions. As a rule, these varieties include cold-resistant and hybrids. Among them are, for example, Siberian early ripening, Sanka, the Far North, etc.

Algorithm:

  • If you plan to sow tomatoes under a film shelter in the spring, you need to take care of preparing the site in the fall. This is the digging of land, the introduction of organic matter and mineral fertilizers.
  • In the spring, a trench is prepared with a width equal to the film cover, no more than 20 cm deep. A layer of sawdust or straw, laid along the bottom, will protect the seedlings from the cold of the earth. This advice is especially relevant for the northern regions. Next, the dug soil is laid, on which the seeds are sown in a belt way. Usually the aisles are narrow, and the width of the film is enough for a couple of rows.
  • The shelter is made of metal or plastic arcs, films with a thickness of at least one hundred microns. The number of arcs should be such that every meter of landings there is a new arc.

For ventilation, the end side of the coating is opened, and in case of possible frost, the bed is covered with a second layer of film. When the weather stabilizes, the threat of frost will disappear, the seedling bed can be freed from the film, having previously slightly tempered the greenhouse by airing for 5 days. If heat is not expected, the film is left, limited to airing.

Tips from experienced gardeners about the rules for planting tomato seedlings

When do you need to plant ready-made seedlings in the ground?

It is usually recommended to plant plants that have reached 20-30 cm in height, this is about 45-60 days of growth. Such roots already have several real leaves and a flower lash.

When to sow seeds for seedlings?

When to sow seeds for seedlings

When to plant tomatoes under the covering material

Experienced summer residents know when it is warm in their region so that the soil can reach the desired temperature. Approximately 60-65 days should be subtracted from this date and at this time it is necessary to start sowing seeds for seedlings. The usual time for sowing in Central Russia is mid-March, but in the south they sow earlier.

Advice! If you plan to plant seedlings in a greenhouse, then the timing of sowing seeds can be shifted forward by three weeks.

Years of experience tells summer residents that seedlings grow best if they sow seeds on the growing moon. Today, the so-called lunar calendars provide comprehensive information about the permitted and prohibited days for sowing tomatoes.

How do I prepare seeds?

Seed preparation is usually necessary when using your own seeds taken from your garden. Before sowing, they must be checked for germination and selected empty, substandard. For this, the seeds are immersed in water, and those that have surfaced are removed. If there are a lot of seeds, you can check their germination by wetting them in advance and waiting until they hatch. Some summer residents are used to dressing the seeds with a weak solution of soda before sowing (2 g of soda is added to a glass of water). Someone soaks in aloe juice - it is believed that the seeds from this become more hardy. However, all these procedures are superfluous if the seeds are purchased ready-made, already processed and tested for germination. In this case, you just need to sow them correctly.

Sowing is recommended to be done in peat pots or ready-made tablets. In practice, many gardeners, in order to save space on the windowsill, use low seedling boxes. They are comfortable, ergonomic, and can be placed on any size window sill. The boxes are filled with nutritious soil, it is moistened and the seeds are sown into shallow grooves.

Picking

With a pick they achieve rooting and strengthening of plants. What if the seedlings are weak, but there are a lot of them? Many advise to dive two seedlings at once. They are transplanted together, fastening the thin stems with synthetic thread. Subsequently, when the stems grow together, forming a single plant with one powerful root, the second tip can be pinned.

Picking

It is better to plant plants in a garden bed in cool and cloudy weather. It is recommended to water, as the people say, three dawns. It means that watering is very important in the first three days after planting. At this time, the plant takes root and is in great need of watering. It is good to also fertilize the wells a little before planting.

What if the spring was cold, and the seedlings were outgrown?

Elongated seedlings can be saved if you dig a hole deeper and plant the root not on the first leaves, but a little deeper - in this case, the first leaves must be cut off. It happens that the seedlings have become so tall and thin that it is generally impossible to plant them. Experienced summer residents have two tips:

  • dig a small trench along the bed and lay the stem almost lying down, leaving the desired part on the surface of the ground. The rest of the stem will soon give underground roots and further strengthen the seedlings;
  • cut off part of the top and place in water. She will give new roots and she can also be planted in the garden. And plant the cut off part as usual.

When choosing ready-made seedlings on the market, you need to look not at their height, but at the thickness of the stem. High-quality tomato seedlings have a large root lobe, a thick, bright green stem with a dark shade, in general the bush is stocky and short. This is the best seedling, and you need to choose it.

The seedling method of growing tomatoes is a fascinating business, effective in terms of obtaining a quick harvest, and by and large is not so difficult. It is only important to follow all the rules.