Growing tomato seedlings in 2018
As the new agricultural season approaches, farmers are beginning to think about sowing tomatoes. In order for tomato seedlings in 2018 to be healthy and strong, you need to know the intricacies of growing. How and when should the planting be carried out? Let's take a look at the main stages.
When to plant
To get a bountiful harvest of tomatoes, it is important to consider the requirements of the popular plant. Despite the fact that breeders have bred a lot of adapted hybrids, it is still necessary to pay attention to the climatic features of the region. Planting outdoors or in a greenhouse takes place 2 months after the seeds hatch, so the periods for all areas must be considered.
Auspicious days
When to plant tomatoes for seedlings in 2018? Experienced farmers pay attention to the period of the lunar calendar. New moon and full moon are considered unlucky days for agricultural work, and the rest are distributed by month.
- February is suitable for growing seedlings in greenhouses and in the southern regions. The periods from 16 to 18 are considered the most favorable in 2018, and then from 21 to 25 and 28.
- March is the optimal time for the regions of the Middle Lane. Sowing is better to carry out 03, then 11-12. If for some reason it was not possible to carry out an early landing, the end of the month remains in stock - on the 20th-21st and 24th-26th.
- April. The best option for the regions of Siberia and the Urals, as well as for growing late varieties. In the coming year, the recommended period will be the time intervals falling on the 17-18, 21-22 and 27-28 days.
Bad days
When is it forbidden to sow tomatoes in 2018? For the plant to thrive, it is important to choose the ideal time frame for agricultural work. The following numbers are harmful for working with tomatoes:
- February. In the last month of winter, it is not recommended to plant tomatoes for seedlings 02-03, 09-10 and 15.
- March. The abundance of sun in spring will not save the culture from unfavorable days. It is forbidden to carry out agricultural work from 08 to 10 and from 13 to 16.
- April. Late varieties of tomatoes cannot be planted between 04 and 06 and 14-16.
Farmers who do not have time to sow crops on time, it is better to beware of the above dates. The plants planted at this time will be weak and painful, which will definitely affect the future harvest. The beginning and end of the lunar calendar are also considered unfavorable days.
How to plant
Tomatoes for seedlings in 2018 are sown 60 days before the start of agricultural work. The culture is first soaked for 12 hours in a solution of trace elements, after which it is left to germinate on a damp cloth. Seeds are planted in pots or seedling cassettes to a depth of no more than 2 cm. Special soil for tomatoes or a homemade mixture of peat, earth and sand is used as soil. The containers are covered with polyethylene or glass, after which they are left on a light, warm windowsill for development.
The store sells a special soil for tomato seedlings, in which all components are already balanced in the required ratio, and it also contains neutral acidity in the range of 6.0 - 6.5.
Sowing tomatoes in 2018 requires maximum attention from the farmer. As soon as the first shoots appear, it is necessary to remove the film and reduce the temperature to 16 ° C. Thanks to this trick, the plant will not stretch. After 6 days, it can be moved back to the warm window.
When growing seedlings, lighting plays an important role. Often February and early March do not please with an abundance of sunny days, which is reflected in the appearance of the culture. To avoid possible problems, it is recommended to use artificial lighting. For these purposes, it is not necessary to purchase expensive phytolamps; simple office options are also suitable.
Dive
Developing plants need to expand their living space, so it is customary to dive tomato seedlings. The result of the procedure will be an improvement in the root system. Event when 2 adult leaves appear on the stem.
The best period for performing manipulations is considered the third week after the seed has hatched. At this age, tomatoes have strong roots, so you can safely reduce the size of the rod by a couple of millimeters. Saplings quickly adapt to new conditions, although they get sick in the first days. The procedure is contraindicated for weak bushes that can die with the slightest intervention.
Root manipulation in April will halt the development of overgrown seedlings. Novice farmers are often mistaken with the sowing period, choosing February or early March. By the end of the formation, the weather conditions are unsuitable, which is why the plants have to be overexposed. To delay the time a little, use the shortening of the rods. Up to three picks are allowed, which are repeated every 3 weeks.
When to transplant
When the ground has warmed up enough, it is allowed to start hardening the tomatoes. The bushes are taken out into the street, leaving them under the rays of the sun and the wind. Gradually, the plant will get used to natural conditions and it is allowed to start planting tomatoes in 2018.
To the greenhouse
To get early vegetables, farmers prefer to grow the crop in covered structures. It is better to transplant on certain days, which create favorable conditions for development. In the coming agrarian period, several stages were identified by months.
- February. At the end of winter, rarely anyone risks planting cultivated plants, however, it is recommended to carry out procedures from 17 to 19 and from 25 to 26.
- March. Planting tomato seedlings in 2018 is allowed at the end of the month. Auspicious days will be 21, 21 and the period from 24 to 26.
- April. Transplanting plants to a permanent place of growth in a greenhouse is best done from 20 to 22 and from 25 to 27.
- May. In greenhouse conditions, planting is carried out on dates from 9 to 11, as well as on the 18th.
Tomatoes for early seedlings in 2018 are not recommended for planting in a greenhouse in January. Despite the lengthening day, the culture has little natural light. Additional lamps will have a positive effect on the future harvest.
In open ground
Planting tomato seedlings in 2018 in the garden is also carried out at certain times. Favorable periods for tomatoes are recorded in the agricultural calendar. What landing days are the most successful?
May holidays are the most common time for outdoor agricultural work. In the southern regions and the Middle Lane, the land has already warmed up, so you can deal with seedlings without fear. However, in the coming season, it is recommended to postpone the procedures at the end of the month - to the 18-19 and 24-26 days. By this time, you can not be afraid of recurrent frosts.
For the northern regions, the calendar for planting homemade tomatoes in 2018 advises starting work no earlier than June 14-15, or even moving it to 21-22.The power of the moon during this period is most favorable to plants, so the seedlings quickly take root and begin to actively develop. If you do not meet the deadlines for the events, then the tomatoes will not have time to ripen.
Care
To grow a crop, you need to properly care for the crops. Tomato planting in February 2018 needs additional lighting, and in March and April there will be enough natural light. In addition, there are a number of requirements, without which it is difficult to achieve full return.
Watering
After the tomatoes are planted for seedlings in 2018, they must be properly irrigated. Excess moisture is just as dangerous as lack of moisture. In wet soil, harmful microorganisms develop, provoking the appearance of fungi. At this age, young plants have a fragile root system, so the soil must dry out between waterings.
Planting tomato seedlings in 2018 is carried out in moist soil. To do this, it is not necessary to fill the containers with water, just spray from a spray bottle. Seedlings should be irrigated in the same way. On the day of planting in a permanent place of growth, the seedlings are advised to water and carefully remove from the cassettes.
The liquid for irrigating seedlings should always be at room temperature: cold water slows down development and provokes the death of the seedling. This is especially important in the first 3 weeks after germination and after diving of the roots.
Fertilizers
Tomatoes for seedlings in 2018 need to be fed. Growing plants with limited crockery can cause nutrient deficiencies. With a nitrogen deficiency, the seedling redirects the desired trace element from the lower leaves to the upper ones, so the greens begin to dry and crumble. Purple plates indicate a lack of phosphorus, and wrinkled veins - potassium.
The first feeding is carried out 2 weeks after the dive. At an earlier age, the root is not yet fully formed and will not absorb fertilizer correctly. Before the procedure, the ground must be irrigated, after which it is watered with a solution of nitrophoska. For 35 bushes, it is enough to dilute 1 tbsp in a liter of liquid. l. substances.
The next stage is carried out 14 days after the first application. During this period, it is necessary to pay attention to the appearance of the seedlings. The elongated tomatoes are fed with superphosphate, it is enough to fertilize healthy specimens with the “Effecton” preparation. Further, the application procedures are carried out every 10 days.
Before transplanting to a permanent place, feeding is stopped. In the open field, it is advised to grow a crop on a "nutrient cushion", which will give the plant all the necessary trace elements for the first months of development.
Planting tomato seedlings in 2018 is more successful in "oily" soil. To do this, wood ash and a spoonful of ammophos are mixed with the ground. These products have enough ingredients to form roots and young greens.
Temperature regime
After sowing tomatoes, the containers must be moved to a place comfortable for plants. During this period, care must be taken that the temperature does not fall below 20 ° C, although heat above 26 ° C is also dangerous. During growth, it is advised to put a measuring device nearby.
In the first week after hatching, it is necessary to keep the culture cool - from 15 to 16 ° С during the day and 13 ° С - at night. Gradually, the heat bar is raised to 19-20 ° C. The optimum temperature in the dark should be at 17 ° C. During the dive period, the degree of the ground should not fall below 15 ° C.
Disease prevention
Tomatoes in the spring of 2018 must be protected from ailments. Even insignificant thermal fluctuations with abundant humidity can provoke the activation of phytophthora. To protect the plants, it is necessary to dilute copper sulfate and boric acid in 3 liters of liquid (each drug is on the tip of a knife). The bushes are sprayed with a solution several times a week.
Fungicide "Maksim Dachnik" can be treated with seed material before planting or irrigate the soil in planting cassettes or pots. The product has a long duration, so the bushes will be protected for a month. On the day of planting, it is advised to water under the root with a solution of a chemical.
To get a bountiful harvest of tomatoes, you need to know all the intricacies of growing and care. It is not enough just to plant seeds in the ground for a full return.