When to sow tomatoes for seedlings in 2020, timing of sowing peppers and eggplants, depending on the region

Unstable weather in spring and night frosts in northern and central Russia do not make it possible to grow tomatoes by direct sowing in the ground. Therefore, the seedling method is more often used.

When considering the question of when to sow tomatoes for seedlings in 2020, you should take into account the characteristics of the local climate.

Varieties should be selected that are zoned. If spring frosts last a long time in your area, it is best to abandon the option of directly sowing tomatoes in the ground; the best option would be to plant tomatoes as seedlings.

Content:

• When to sow tomatoes for seedlings in 2020, favorable days
• Recommended timing for sowing bell peppers and hot peppers
• When to sow eggplant seedlings
• How to determine sowing dates depending on the region
• Do I need to treat the seeds before planting, what products can be used?
• The best soil for growing seedlings
• What containers can be used
• What conditions must be created to obtain friendly shoots?

When to sow tomatoes for seedlings in 2020, favorable days

The best time for sowing is the first days of the waxing moon, we indicate them in Table 1.

Residents of the Moscow region and central Russia, when choosing the optimal period, should take into account like the lunar calendar, and so:

• weather;
• characteristics of the tomato variety;
• duration of the growing season;
• method of cultivation, where the bushes will be transplanted: into a greenhouse or open ground.

Late-ripening varieties are planted in the last days of February. Mid-ripening - March 1-15, early-ripening - March 15-31. Hybrids - early April.

Warm weather in Moscow and the region usually sets in closer to mid-May. If you sow the seeds in the first half of March, then the grown seedlings can be transplanted into open ground from May 15.

If you sow in the last days of February - the first days of March, then after 60 days (May 4-5) it will be possible to transplant the low-growing seedlings into a shelter (greenhouse).

To transplant seedlings into a polycarbonate greenhouse, you can start sowing in the first ten days of April or postpone it to March (after 2 weeks) if there is heating in the greenhouse.

If you plant seedlings in accordance with the deadlines, then by approximately this time the age of the seedlings will be 55-60 days. They will be ready to be transplanted to a permanent place for active growth.

Reference! You cannot sow tomato seeds on a new moon, when the root system is not protected from damage.

Sowing on a waning moon can cause sap to accumulate at the bottom of the root system. The best period is during the waxing moon. So, up to 11 days in a row when you can sow or replant determinate varieties of tomatoes.

Tomato seeds take an average of 65 days to ripen. If the variety is early, then 45 days. If late - 80 days. This is important to know in order to calculate the optimal planting period.

It is also worth sticking to favorable numbers according to the lunar calendar for 2020 - in order to obtain healthy seedlings.

Let's watch a video about when to sow tomatoes for seedlings in 2020:

Recommended timing for sowing bell peppers and hot peppers

When choosing the optimal time before planting peppers, you need to take into account 3 main factors:

• Moon calendar.
• Climatic features of the region.
• Specifics of cultural development.

To obtain high-quality seedlings, it is equally important to create good lighting and temperature (+20 +26 degrees).

Favorable days according to the lunar calendar for sowing pepper seedlings for 2020, we indicate them in Table 2.

It is recommended not to sow seeds on the full moon due to the slowdown in vegetative growth on the following days in months, we indicate them in Table 3.

When to sow eggplant seedlings

A heat-loving crop, eggplant grows well only in good light and consistently warm weather. In the Moscow region, spring comes in the last days of March.

But the threat of frost remains until May 20. If the seedlings are kept at a low temperature of +16 C, they will begin to lag in growth, stretch out, and get sick.

In June, prolonged rains can have a negative impact, so the preferred time for planting seeds is the last days of February and before March 15, taking into account the fact that the period for planting seedlings is 55 days.

For St. Petersburg and the region, it is recommended to postpone the sowing date by 1-2 weeks, starting from the first days of March. So it will be possible to plant eggplants in open ground in early June.

It is more difficult for residents of the Primorsky Territory, the Far East, and Siberia; their calculations are complicated by the difficult climate. To obtain a good harvest, capricious eggplant seedlings are grown extremely carefully, with mandatory additional illumination with fluorescent lamps.

The most favorable climate for growing eggplants is the southern regions of the country, where it gets warm early and the soil warms up quickly.

Seeds are planted for seedlings in early February. Transplanted into the ground in early May.

Attention! In a greenhouse, the earth warms up faster by 1-3 weeks than in open ground. Taking this feature into account, in order to transplant seedlings into a greenhouse, you can sow seeds much earlier.

Calculating the optimal period is very important. Early planting of seeds leads to a lack of nutrition for the development of seedlings due to the rapid depletion of soil reserves.

Late is fraught with delayed fruiting of plants and a decrease in yield. When choosing a date, you should proceed from the phase of the moon, take into account the variety of eggplants, their ripening period, from germination to ripeness of the fruit. So the period for early varieties is 90-120 days, medium - 120-140 days, late - 40 days or more
.
When calculating the optimal period for planting eggplants, an important role is played by the time for seed processing - 2-3 days, germination and until the desired state (77-90 days).

Worth knowing! The climate even in central and southern Russia can be unstable, and the forecast is not accurate.

For this reason, many summer residents adhere to popular belief. Peppers are planted on February 23, tomatoes on March 8.

How to determine sowing dates depending on the region

In order for the seeds to hatch quickly and grow quickly, it is recommended to take into account certain phases of the moon, varietal requirements, and the weather in the area.

Planting tomatoes in:

• Southern regions of Russia begins in early February;
• The central part - from March 15 with mandatory testing of planting material for germination;
• in the Krasnodar Territory, which is located in the south of the country, seeds can be planted immediately in open ground, counting the age of the seedlings - up to 60 days.

In Moscow and the region, frost may return in May-June. Sowing seeds for seedlings is carried out from mid-March to mid-April. When planting tomatoes in a greenhouse - in early March.

The optimal days for planting directly into open ground for central Russia are March 14 - 22, 30. To the greenhouse - the last days of February.

For the Urals and Siberia, where spring is long, planting seeds of early ripening varieties begins in early April. In mid-May, you can transfer the seedlings to the greenhouse.

In the northern regions of the country, summer is short. Often tomatoes do not have time to ripen before the cold weather. Summer residents are advised to sow exclusively early-ripening varieties, reading the ripening dates on the seed bags. Also sow directly into open ground in mid-May, if the temperature warms up to +16 degrees.

Of course, sowing seeds in February requires illumination for the sprouts so that they do not stretch. If you sow in March, the sprouts will hatch faster. The seedlings grow strong. The seedlings will tolerate picking painlessly.

The note! March is the best time for sowing medium and late varieties of tomatoes. Early April can be sown in early April.

Let's watch a video about which days are suitable for sowing and planting plants according to the lunar calendar:

Do I need to treat the seeds before planting, what products can be used?

Purchased seeds must be processed, especially if purchased from unknown manufacturers.

Neutralization is carried out by soaking selected seeds for 20 minutes in solutions:

• potassium permanganate;
• hydrogen peroxide;
• Chlorhexidine.

Next, the seeds are washed to increase yield.

They are additionally kept in a solution of drugs: Zircon or Epin.

High-quality seeds are supplied by proven agricultural companies: Sedek, Poisk, Gavrish.

If you are not confident in the manufacturer, then it is better to process the material yourself:

• soak in saline solution;
• reject, delete pop-up;
• neutralize in a solution of potassium manganese;
• germinate;
• harden, keeping in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Reference! When using potassium permanganate, the solution should be strong and dark purple in color. The seeds are kept for 25 minutes, then washed with running water. Many summer residents use diluted aloe juice and adaptogen solutions instead of store-bought drugs.

The best soil for growing seedlings

Tomatoes need universal soil.

You can buy one in a specialized store or make it yourself, the recommended composition is:

• humus - 3 parts;
• garden soil - 2 parts;
• coarse river sand - 1 part;
• wood ash - 250 g (per 9 -10 liters of soil mixture).

It is recommended to add peat or coconut substrate, scalding with boiling water for swelling and disinfection. Instead of ash, you can use lime, dolomite, chalk.

Tomato seedlings grow strong if:

• add mineral fertilizer to the soil (3 tbsp per bucket);
• feed with liquid complex fertilizer containing the elements phosphorus, potassium, and nitrogen.

Prepared soil:

• mixed;
• disinfected;
• baked in the oven;
• frozen or steamed.

You can simply spray with Fitosporin or potassium permanganate (hot solution).

What containers can be used

A common box is a common option for growing tomatoes.The container must be disinfected and filled with nutritious soil.

We indicate other types of containers in Table 4.

As an alternative, you can use 1m long plastic film to create a pie. Then it is rolled up and cut into pieces (30x30 cm). The lower ends are connected. Soil (coconut substrate) is poured into the prepared cups.

What conditions must be created to obtain friendly shoots?

The first days after sowing seeds for tomato seedlings are the most difficult. In the event of even a slight decrease in temperature, or lack of proper lighting, weak seedlings will quickly become unusable or stretch out.

Before planting, seeds are checked for germination, sown dry or soaked in growth stimulants.

It is better to sow with a ruler in order to successfully place the seeds in a box with soil, maintaining a step of 1 cm, pressing with the narrow side of the ruler to a depth of 2 cm. Then the soil is lightly pressed down and watered with warm water.The container is covered with glass or transparent film to increase germination.

All that remains is to place the containers with seedlings in a warm place (optimum temperature + 18 degrees) and wait for germination. As soon as the sprouts hatch, open the greenhouse and move it to a sunny windowsill (south, southeast).

The main thing is that the containers should not be exposed to the rays of the midday sun. There must be good lighting when unfolding the cotyledons and properly laying the growth point of the seedlings. As soon as 2 true leaves appear, you can pick. Plant 2 sprouts in separate containers.

Attention! Seedlings dive onto the growing moon when the ground part has accumulated useful substances. Optimal days for 2020 are May 2–3, 8–9, 15–18.

To determine the exact time when sowing seeds for seedlings, the climate characteristics of the region, phases, and favorable days of the moon are taken into account.

Tomatoes grow better after cabbage, pumpkin, turnips, green onions, beets, and carrots. You cannot plant eggplants, peppers, or peas in the ground after potatoes.

Many summer residents annually plant tomatoes in the greenhouse in the same place. After each harvest, it is recommended to sow mustard.