Tomatoes for seedlings in the Moscow region
Seedling tomatoes in the Moscow region should be grown a little differently than in many other regions of Russia. This is due to the peculiarities of the climate, the requirements of plants for heat and sunlight. Also, the variety, height and ripening time affect the timing of planting tomatoes.
Receiving seedlings in the suburbs
It is possible to get high-quality tomato seedlings on time, which means an excellent harvest in the future, taking into account the peculiarities of the climate of the Moscow region:
- long night frosts;
- benefits of windy days;
- short daylight hours.
That is why the question of growing seedlings in greenhouses, hotbeds and greenhouses is acute. But even in the case when the method of growing seedlings is correctly chosen, and all the conditions for proper growth are provided for it, it is not possible to get healthy seedlings. Subsequently, it is in vain to expect from them a good return and a high-quality harvest. The cause of the above problem is the wrong planting time, as well as the choice of an inappropriate method and place for growing seedlings.
Best time to sow seeds
The timing of sowing tomato seeds for seedlings in the Moscow region depends on weather conditions and changes every year. If a steady warming in areas with flat relief begins in May 20, then in areas with elevations the heat comes a week earlier. Until that time, the seedlings must reach a certain age and height.
Tomato seedlings that have four true leaves (not counting the cotyledons), but have not yet thrown out the buds, are better tolerated and the least sick. For each variety of plants, different time passes from the beginning of germination to the achievement of the above parameters.
Planting tomato seeds for seedlings should be based on their species:
- early (ripening period 105-110 from the moment of emergence) - after March 25;
- mid-season - in the second decade of March;
- late (ripening lasts from 130 to 150 days) - from February 20 to March 10.
After the seeds are buried in the ground, the first shoots should be expected no earlier than 7 days later. All sprouts that hatch after 14 days should be removed.
The best varieties of tomatoes for the Moscow region
The weather conditions of the Moscow region require a special approach to the selection of seeds from gardeners. The best varieties and hybrids of tomatoes capable of acclimatizing in the conditions of the Moscow region are:
- De-barao, whose bushes are tall, and the fruits have excellent organoleptic qualities and shelf life. It takes about 120 days from the moment the shoots emerge to the collection of the first vegetables, so this variety belongs to mid-season varieties.
- Verlioka, whose fruits are characterized by juiciness and aroma. Plants are suitable for growing both in greenhouses and outdoors.They are resistant to most tomato diseases: fusarium and brown spot, therefore they are among the top five favorites.
- Pink flamingo, tall plants of which can give record yields, because the weight of one fruit reaches 200 g. Tomatoes are juicy and sweet. From the moment of sowing to harvest, 130 days pass, but the fruits ripen heap. The seedlings are resistant to high humidity, as well as to fluctuations in the average daily temperature. Plants are highly resistant to fungal diseases.
- Beginner. The variety belongs to the early ripening varieties of tomatoes, giving bountiful harvests in the open field. The fruits are not large, but there are many of them on the bushes. Vegetables are suitable for making tomato juice and various canned vegetables.
- Andromeda F1 belongs to the early varieties. The first harvest is read as early as 100 days after germination. Suitable for indoor and outdoor cultivation.
Growing methods
Their quality depends on the choice of the method of growing tomato seedlings. Among the popular methods of growing tomatoes in the Moscow region are the following:
- in diapers;
- in snails;
- in peat pots;
- in greenhouses on common ridges.
Tomatoes planted in snails from soaked seeds grow fastest. The slowest to gain growth and deciduous mass are plants grown in an outdoor greenhouse or in a cold greenhouse from seeds placed dry in the ground.
Reviews of experienced gardeners indicate that seed germination depends on the tall plants: low bush tomatoes sprout and develop much faster than the seeds of tall plants.
You should also be aware that the seeds of early varieties of tomatoes, characterized by rapid fruiting growth, sprout earlier than all others, because the grains have a thinner shell and a smaller supply of nutrients inside the grain. The speed of germination can boast of hybrids adapted to the conditions of a short spring in the northern regions of Russia with fertile lands. These features should be taken into account when choosing a method for obtaining seedlings.
That is why early varieties and hybrids should be planted directly into the holes in a seedless way or sown a little later than the seeds of medium-ripening tomatoes in individual pots, growing in which does not involve picking plants before planting in a permanent place.
Increased germination
To increase the germination rate of tomato seeds over time, you should use pre-sowing seed treatment with nutritious and disinfectant compounds, which will be:
- aqueous humate solution;
- potassium permanganate with water;
- hydrogen peroxide;
- 10% sodium chloride solution.
The seed holding time before sowing is 24 hours. If the time of swelling of seeds in the nutrient liquid is exceeded, then the shell of the grains may burst, which will have a bad effect on the growth of plants in the future.
Moon horoscope
You can choose the best time for planting tomato seeds for seedlings, guided by the lunar calendar. Astrologers warn that no work should be done on the new and full moon. It is better to plant seeds on days subject to the productive signs of the zodiac, which include the constellations:
- Scorpio;
- Pisces;
- Capricorn;
- Libra;
- Taurus.
The constellation Cancer is the most suitable for sowing tomatoes. It is necessary to abandon the planting of seeds on days when the satellite of the Earth passes the fire signs: Leo, Sagittarius and Aries.
Conclusion
To grow healthy and strong tomato seedlings in the Moscow region and other regions with a temperate climate, you need to be guided by knowledge of agricultural technology. It is necessary not only to observe the timing of planting seeds for seedlings, but also to choose the most suitable variety, adapted for late spring warmth and rainy short summer.All this is especially important if the seedlings are planned to be transferred to open ground in the future, and not to be cultivated in a greenhouse complex.