Most gardeners complain that after planting tomato seedlings in open ground, it does not take root, grows poorly and practically does not bear fruit. The reason may be non-compliance with all the rules for planting a plant in a permanent place. So that such problems no longer arise, we will consider in more detail the technique of planting seedlings.

What you need to know about tomatoes

Tomatoes are very healthy vegetables, they are placed on the same level with potatoes and cannot imagine a day without preparing a dish with the addition of a tomato or its processed product. Therefore, they are popular with gardeners.

This culture is grown in three ways:

  1. Outdoors. To grow a vegetable and get a good harvest in this way, you need to follow three tips, namely:
  • Choose the right place for landing;
  • Provide constant sunlight;
  • Water in a timely manner.
  1. In the greenhouse. In this case, it is imperative to follow all the recommendations for growing and care, since in these conditions not only the plant develops well, but also microorganisms that are harmful to the growth of tomatoes;
  2. Upside down. This is a completely new method of growing tomatoes. They are placed in an overturned dish, covered with earth and hung. This method is good for those with small gardens and little space to grow vegetables. Tomatoes in this form will become a decoration on the personal plot.

Of the above methods of planting seedlings, we will focus on the first option. That is, we will consider how to properly plant tomato seedlings in open ground.

When to plant tomato seedlings

Planting cucumber seedlings in open ground

Many are interested in the question of when to plant tomatoes in open ground with seedlings? Since tomatoes are very demanding to plant, you need to choose the right time for this process. The best time for the lunar calendar is the month of May.

Planting tomatoes in spring

But the timing also depends on the regions. In warmer ones, it is optimal to plant in May, for cold ones, it is better to wait until June. For the Moscow region and the region, you can determine the landing date using a thermometer. The main condition is the air temperature during the day. It should be between twenty-two and twenty-five degrees. At the same time, at night, the mercury on the thermometer should not fall below fifteen degrees.

Seat selection

Planting tomato seedlings in a greenhouse

The choice of location plays a significant role in planting tomato seedlings in the ground. Since tomatoes love the sun and warmth, it is recommended to plant them in a place that is constantly illuminated by the sun's rays. It should also be taken into account that tomatoes do not like excess moisture, therefore, when choosing a place, the level of groundwater is taken into account. If the site is swampy, it is better to leave it for another crop.

You should also remember about crop rotation and not plant a crop for several years in the same place. In addition, it should be taken into account that the predecessors of this plant should not be potatoes, peppers and eggplant. They cannot even be planted next to tomatoes, since they tend to get sick with the same diseases. If you plant onions, cabbage or mustard nearby, then the yields will be excellent.

The soil for seedlings has been prepared since autumn. To do this, the garden plot is plowed or dug up, in parallel, organic and mineral fertilizers are applied, such as:

  • humus;
  • peat;
  • superphosphate;
  • lime.

Before the tomato is planted in the ground with seedlings, fertilizers are reapplied. In this case, superphosphate, potassium and nitrogen-containing fertilizers are used. In order to prevent the seedlings from getting sick with fungal diseases, the site is disinfected: copper sulfate is diluted and the soil is watered abundantly with this solution.

Seedling preparation

How to stop the growth of tomato seedlings

By the time the tomato seedlings are planted, they should look like small bushes. There are times when the plant grows quickly, stretches and outgrows. To make it feel good outdoors, you need to remove the lower leaves, in the place of which roots will subsequently grow. Thanks to them, the stem will be strong.

Important! It is recommended to treat seedlings with copper chloride before planting. It will protect the plant roots from fungi. If the root system is dipped in a solution of potassium permanganate, then the tomatoes will quickly take root in a new place.

How to plant tomatoes correctly

Before starting work, they choose which method the seedlings will be planted by. There are four of them today, although they still have common landing rules:

  • Each tomato bush should grow at a certain distance from each other, so as not to interfere with development and receive enough light for neighbors;
  • The distance between the rows is set at half a meter, between the bushes - at forty centimeters.

Landing patterns

Square-nested

This method is good for tomatoes, the bushes of which grow tall - it is possible to loosen the soil, remove weeds. In this case, the territory is divided into squares and tomatoes are planted in each corner. Thanks to this scheme, plants receive proper care in a timely manner, as a result of which they bear fruit abundantly.

Tape

A small trench is made, in which holes are dug for seedlings. Moreover, the moat should not be deep, its size should not be more than thirty centimeters. The distance between the pits is made standard - forty centimeters, between the trenches - eighty centimeters.

Trench way

The advantage of this method is that the planting area is significantly saved, in addition, thanks to the trench, watering is much easier. This scheme is recommended for use in small gardens.

Ribbon-nesting

This method also saves the area for planting, while allowing you to plant more bushes of a given culture. It is recommended for low tomato varieties. The territory intended for planting is divided into furrows, the width of which is about one and a half meters. Tomato bushes should be planted on each side of the furrow. This method is a bit similar to the square-nesting method, with the difference that in this case a larger number of seedlings are planted per square meter. At the same time, plant care remains convenient.

Chess

This method is similar to the ribbon-nesting method, with the difference that the seedling bushes are planted in a checkerboard pattern on both sides of the trench. Thus, the optimal distance between the plants is maintained, which allows them to grow and develop.

Planting tomato seedlings in open ground

Each of these schemes has the goal of saving space and providing the plants with the desired distance. Low-growing varieties are best suited for growing tomatoes in open soil, their yield will not disappoint the gardener.

Step-by-step instruction

When transplanting a plant, it should be remembered that this is a strong stress for it, so you need to perform this process as carefully as possible so that it is almost painless. In most cases, it all depends on:

  • in what container the seedlings grew;
  • what is her age and size.

The easiest way is to plant plants that were grown in peat pots or tablets. In this case, the pits are simply prepared, and the culture sits down along with the container.After which the pits are covered with earth and tamped to eliminate the void. Finally, the plant is watered abundantly.

Plants grown in paper containers are planted as follows. The glass should be cut and the tomato removed from it along with the earthen lump. The seedling is placed in a dug hole and sprinkled with earth. Further actions are similar to the first method.

Important! For the plant to take root well, it must be planted in accordance with the weather. If the sun is shining brightly on the day of planting, then this process is postponed to the evening; on a gloomy day, you can plant seedlings in the morning.

Seedlings are carefully removed from plastic dishes, while holding the stem and the edge of the container with one hand, and in the middle of the container with the other. After that, it is turned over, removed, and the seedlings are immediately planted in the prepared hole. After the root system is covered with earth, tamped and watered.

Important! A few days before planting, the seedlings need to be watered abundantly so that the earth becomes light and the seedlings are removed painlessly.

The plant is removed from the cassettes using a spatula, with which the roots are carefully lifted along with a lump of earth. In a common box, the land is divided into small squares. It is necessary to remove the plant with a scoop so that the earth does not crumble from the roots.

How to plant tomatoes correctly

In the event that the height of the plant is not more than ten centimeters, and it has developed no more than eight leaves, it is recommended to plant in the usual way. To do this, you need to dig a hole, the depth of which will slightly exceed the earthen lump on the root system. A plant is placed in it in an upright position and covered with earth. Seedlings are deepened into the ground to the lower leaves.

If the seedlings are outgrown, then they are planted in one of the following ways.

The hole is dug ten centimeters deep and thirty centimeters long. The plant is placed in it at an angle of forty-five degrees, while the roots should be located to the south, and the top to the north. In addition, you need to carry out the process so that the trunk does not touch the soil. In order to achieve a similar effect, the lowest leaves are removed, and those that remain must be fifteen centimeters above the surface.

Planting seedlings at an angle

In the second method, two holes are dug at once. One of a larger size is dug to a depth of fifteen centimeters, the second is dug in the bottom of the first eight centimeters deep. This time, the seedlings are planted in an upright position and at first only the inner hole is covered. Only a few days later, when the plant begins to grow, you need to fill in a large hole. Thus, an additional root system is formed on the stem of the tomato, thanks to which the plant will receive even more nutrients.

Diseases and pests

Caring for tomatoes is not only about timely watering and feeding. The most important thing to watch out for is the appearance of pests and diseases, it is also necessary to fight them. The most common tomato diseases are:

  • Mosaic;
  • Late blight;
  • Top rot;
  • Brown spotting;
  • Gray rot of fruit;
  • Fomoz;
  • Root rot;
  • Stem rot;
  • Fruit cracking;

To combat these diseases, you should know exactly the cause of their occurrence and take all the necessary measures. The most dangerous pests of tomatoes are:

  • Medvedka;
  • Wireworms;
  • Colorado beetle;
  • Whitefly.

In order to fight them, plants are treated with special preparations.

If the cultivation of a tomato is taken with responsibility, then the plant will thank you with a generous harvest. The most important thing is to adhere to all the rules and recommendations written by experts and gardeners with extensive experience in growing tomatoes.