When to plant tomatoes in open ground | Website about growing plants

It’s probably not worth planting tomato seedlings in open ground, looking at your neighbors and friends. Choose more reliable reference points. For example, the average daily air temperature, ask about the weather forecast for the coming days. Even in May there can be a sharp cold snap.

Of course, you can cover the planted seedlings before frost. But sometimes even double film does not save plants. In addition, film will not protect plants from stress.And this is fraught with weakening of the immune system and, as a result, diseases. And now about how and when to plant seedlings of our main vegetable crops in the ground.

Timing for planting seedlings in beds

Tomato is heat-loving. The optimal average temperature for its growth and development is 24 degrees: 18-28 during the day, 15-18 degrees at night.
Tomatoes continue to develop even at 15 degrees, but their flowering is delayed.
For a long time, tomatoes can withstand temperatures of 8-10 degrees, but do not grow, do not form inflorescences, and if they are already formed, they can shed them.

Therefore, early planting of seedlings in insufficiently warmed soil not only does not allow for a race in time, but, on the contrary, pushes the harvest to a later date.

When to plant tomato seedlings? When the air temperature at night does not drop below 8-10 degrees.

Many years of experience of vegetable growers suggests that most often stable warm weather arrives towards the end of May. Although frosts can occur at the end of spring. If possible, do not plant all the seedlings at once. Leave plants sown at a later date in reserve. Of course, if they don't outgrow them.

What size should tomato seedlings be? Low - 30-35 cm, with a strong, rather thick stem, 6-8 true leaves and buds of the first flower cluster beginning to form.

If tomato seedlings are planted already flowering, the first fruits most likely will not set: the plants will take root after planting, adapt to open ground conditions, and they simply will not have the strength to form the first harvest.

How to plant seedlings correctly

The seedlings must be hardened. This applies not only to tomatoes, but to all crops. It is impossible to transfer seedlings from greenhouse (room) conditions to open ground without preparation.Changes in temperature, light intensity, ventilation, soil moisture, and air should not be sudden.

Therefore, at least two weeks before planting, tomato seedlings begin to be prepared for open ground: they water less, ventilate more often, and lower the temperature. If possible, take it out onto the loggia, balcony, veranda. This regime not only hardens the plants, but also restrains their growth and prevents stretching.

Before planting, tomatoes are watered generously. The soil in the garden bed is fertilized (0.5 buckets of humus or compost, a tablespoon of superphosphate and urea, or a tablespoon of complex fertilizer per square meter). This is provided that phosphorus and potassium (2 tablespoons per sq. m) were added during autumn digging. The soil is thoroughly loosened and, if it is not moist enough, watered 2-3 days before planting.

Having outlined rows at 60-70 cm intervals for determinate (short-growing) tomatoes and at 80-90 cm intervals for indeterminate (tall-growing) tomatoes, dig holes at 30-35 and 50-60 cm intervals, respectively. Carefully place the plant in the hole so that only the crown, about 7-8 cm high, remains above the soil surface.

But don’t overdo it: the growth point should remain free. Holding the stem, fill the hole with soil, compact it and water it generously. Once the water has been absorbed, sprinkle the soil around the plant with dry soil or compost. If the seedlings are hardened and planted without disturbing the root ball (from cups or cassettes), you can safely leave for a week: the plants will take root well without daily watering.

Unhardened seedlings with an open root system will require shading for several days and regular watering.