How many difficulties does a gardener need to overcome in order for fresh vegetables to appear on his table! After all, entering a greenhouse requires a competent approach and causes a lot of trouble. It is important to properly prepare the seeds and beds, disinfect them, grow them and then organize proper care and maintenance regime. But, despite all these concerns, growing tomatoes is one of the popular activities of vegetable growers. What you need to know and be able to do to get a good harvest, how to plant tomatoes correctly - we will talk about this later in the article.
Greenhouse preparation
The conditions in which the crop will be are the most important factor in its resistance to pests. In the process of preparing the greenhouse, it is important to pay attention to the microclimate and take disinfection measures. Let's look at all the nuances in order.
Did you know? Initially, tomatoes were considered deadly berries. Our ancient ancestors were terribly afraid of them, and today the culture has gained primacy in the amount of production on all continents. During the year, people collect up to 60 million fruits from the fields and beds of the planet.
Considering the cold nights of the period when it is necessary to plant tomatoes, it is advisable to take care of an additional one. Often, for this purpose, they use a regular one, which is stretched over a structure in 2 layers. Experienced vegetable growers recommend leaving an air cushion between them. This is done to create a favorable microclimate inside the structure and protect the internal coating. But remember that seedlings will not be able to fully develop in the heat, so ventilation windows should be provided on all sides.
If you plan to grow tomatoes in winter, take care of an additional bed. Without it, plants will not bloom and bear fruit. In addition, disinfection of the premises is a very important point. It is irrigated with a weakly concentrated solution (at the rate of 1 g of the drug per 10 liters of water) immediately before planting.
Preparing the soil for planting
A loamy or sandy loamy, breathable area where there were no nightshade crops the previous year is ideal for a tomato bed. Crop rotation is important because microbes left in the soil are likely to kill the tomatoes.
Important! Growing tomatoes in the same place for a long time contributes to soil oxidation. To alkalize it, experts advise scattering known fluff, dolomite flour or old plaster over the area. Per square meter of area you will need from 150 to 300 g of the substance.
In the fall, after harvesting, experts advise removing the remaining tops from the garden bed and removing a ten-centimeter layer of topsoil. Don't worry about throwing away the fertile part. This is important to do to prevent infection of the vegetable crop with diseases of its predecessors. After this, the designated area must be disinfected with a solution of copper sulfate, which is prepared in the proportion of 1 tablespoon per bucket of water. After sprinkling, the area should be fertilized with minerals. For this purpose, potassium sulfate and (20 g and 50 g per square meter, respectively) are recommended for tomatoes.
Preparatory work can also be done in the spring. But in this case, you need to start in March. A week before planting tomato seedlings in the greenhouse, the area should be thoroughly loosened and cleared of sprouted plants. Then, in order to compensate for the nutrients removed during the preparation of the land, it is recommended to add humus. Its amount depends on the physicochemical characteristics of the substrate. In depleted areas, about 8 kilograms of the substance will need to be poured onto each square meter, and in addition, a glass. And on enriched soils, you can get by with 3 kilograms of humus.
Some gardeners share their experience of additionally adding a mixture of river sand and sawdust to the garden bed. It is noted that on loamy soils you need to take half a bucket of all components, and on peat bogs you need to replace peat with turf soil.
When to plant?
The timing of planting tomatoes in a greenhouse depends on the degree of warming of the soil and air, the condition of the seedlings and (even if this does not sound like a superstition) recommendations of the Lunar calendar. Let's understand the nuances step by step.
Timing for planting seedlings
Having them on site allows you to get fresh fruits much earlier. And in order for the harvest to be rich, you need to guess the planting time. It depends on the material and design features. For example, in heated greenhouses, planting should occur at the end of April. But in rooms equipped with an internal additional covering layer of polyethylene, it is better to do this in the first weeks of May. The same deadlines should be observed when you plan to plant tomatoes in a polycarbonate greenhouse. If the structure does not provide additional shelter and heating installations, it is better to plant seedlings in the second half of May.
The right time for tomatoes largely depends on the climatic conditions of the region in which the site is located. Judge for yourself: in the southern regions in mid-May it is already quite warm and tomatoes can be planted in ordinary unheated greenhouses even without plastic safety net, but in the northern zones it is still cold during this period and the long-awaited warmth will only come closer to summer. In addition, it is important to navigate by the condition of the soil, as well as the air temperature in the greenhouse. Ideally, the earth should warm up to a stable 15°C, and the air - up to 20°C.
Signs and appearance
The presence of the above conditions is not canon. After all, it often happens that the weather has long allowed planting, but the seedlings are not yet ready. Therefore, it is important to plan all work in such a way that the necessary processes interact. Seedlings with well-developed roots and thick and strong stems have great potential. It must have 8 true leaves and at least 2 flower brushes. Experts believe that forty-day-old tomatoes are ideal for polycarbonate greenhouses. It is permissible to plant seedlings that are about 50 days old.
Did you know? The record-breaking tomato is considered to be a three-kilogram giant grown on a farm in Wisconsin in the United States of America.
Turning to the lunar calendar
Some summer residents do not listen to the advice of astrologers, but meanwhile, the Moon is the most important factor influencing all life on the planet. Therefore, if you want to get hardy plants and even a bountiful harvest, do not be lazy to look at the lunar calendar. There you will find not only standard numbers, but also phases of the moon, and a list of recommended work on a specific date. Let's consider the recommendations of astrologers for 2018:
- January 6, 10 and 30 are the best days to sow tomato seeds for seedlings;
- On February 14, 16, 18, 24, 26, 27 and 28, you can also sow grains;
- March 3, 4, 10, 12, 20, 25, 30, 31 are the ideal period for all garden robots with tomatoes;
- April 8, 12,13, 22, 26, 27 and 28 are suitable days for transplanting tomato seedlings into greenhouses;
- May 9, 15, 19, 24,25 are favorable for such procedures in cooler regions.
Astrologers call the New Moon and Full Moon phases the most unfavorable for any work in the tomato garden in 2018. This is explained by the fact that the Moon “gets old”, and the vital energy of plants goes underground. During this period, even seemingly minor damage to the stems or roots of seedlings can lead to its death. Experts say that seeds planted during this period receive a program to develop underground. The result is a powerful rhizome and inconspicuous weak tops. Root vegetables are ideal for this period, but not tomatoes.
Important! The main rule for planting tomatoes in a greenhouse or open ground is the space between the rows and bushes. Under no circumstances should the planting be thickened, because then the bushes will suffer from a lack of sun and space for the correct formation of the bushes.
How to plant tomatoes in a greenhouse?
Before you start planting tomatoes in a greenhouse, it is important to pay attention to the seedlings. After all, the landing pattern depends on its height. For example, for short, early-ripening hybrids, a checkerboard planting with 2 rows and a half-meter distance between them is suitable. It is advisable to leave up to 40 cm between the holes in a row. These are best planted around the perimeter of the greenhouse.
For crops with limited growth, experts also recommend a checkerboard pattern with similar row spacing, only you need to retreat up to 25 cm between bushes. Tall varieties can be planted in one or two stems. The first method provides for row spacing up to 80 cm wide and a distance between stems of up to 60 cm. And the second option is carried out by increasing the gaps between adjacent bushes to 75 cm.
If you prefer to combine several, do not forget to take into account the illumination of each of them - neighbors should not create shadows and discomfort. Experienced vegetable growers place low-growing early ripening plants along the edges of the structure, and tall giants are planted in the center (and preferably closer to the aisle).
Did you know? The myth that tomatoes are poisonous was debunked by American Colonel Robert Gibbon. This happened in 1820, when a military man, as a sign of protest against a court decision, right on the steps of one of the courts in New Jersey, ate a whole bucket of ripe juicy fruits. The man hoped to be poisoned. A crowd of two hundred thousand gathered to see this spectacle. Some ladies fainted, while others called doctors to keep watch over the daredevil.
Once these nuances have been decided, you can proceed directly to preparing the planting holes. They are made up to 15 cm deep. Fertilizers are not applied, since this was done during soil preparation. If desired, you can pour half a glass of wood ash into each cavity and water well with warm, settled water.
Planting seedlings must be done carefully so as not to destroy the root ball of soil or damage the stems. To do this, you need to add plenty of it in advance. After that, place the seedlings in the holes and fill them with fresh soil. Experts do not recommend deepening plants. This will affect their further development and growth rates. But in order for the stems to grow strong, they need to be planted at an angle. Over time, additional roots will appear on the sprouts, which will contribute to the viability of the tomatoes.
Features of caring for seedlings
Well, you probably know that your troubles in the tomato bed will not end with proper planting. After the rooting process, you can rest for 3-4 days without taking any action. And then the planting and, finally, harvesting will begin.
Important! Pus for tomato beds is very harmful-it contains many pathogenic microorganisms and larvae of harmful insects, which will certainly lead to diseases. Experts advise fertilizing plants with humus.
After a four-day adaptation period after landing, you can
The most popular vegetable crop, grown by half of gardeners, is tomatoes. In order to get a bountiful and tasty harvest, you need to know how to properly grow these plants and care for them. This article will tell you how to plant tomatoes in a greenhouse.
Growing tomatoes in a greenhouse differs from similar activities carried out in open ground. And the differences begin from the preparation stage. This stage consists of two sub-points: proper preparation of the soil and seeds. Let's look at each sub-item in more detail.
The soil, both in a greenhouse and in open ground, plays an important role in the growth of cultivated plants and the ripening of fruits. Usually in greenhouses the soil used is manure type. This is due to the fact that it is not always possible to place a greenhouse structure on the site of black soil. Therefore, soil is brought into the greenhouse separately. The applied soil must be of high quality, previously fertilized with natural additives. This will avoid contamination of tomatoes with chemicals. Despite the somewhat high cost of such soil, its purchase in the future will allow you to save on fertilizing applied during the growing season in order to restore the fertility of the land.
Preparing the soil for beds for tomatoes is carried out as follows:
- First, the top layer of soil is removed from the garden bed. You need to remove approximately 20 cm;
- During the process of removing soil, a groove is formed. Its length should extend over the entire length of the plantation;
- humus should be poured onto the bottom of the formed groove. He must wait three years for this procedure. Remember that humus should not contain hay and straw, since these components increase its decomposition time in the soil;
- approximately half of the ditch should be filled with humus;
- after this, either new soil or the soil that was discarded when digging the ditch must be poured over the humus.
This is the simplest option for preparing the soil. If you want to further increase your chances of success when growing tomatoes in a greenhouse, it is recommended to carry out additional procedures. To control weeds, you need to use disinfected soil. 
It is worth remembering that the main parameter for assessing soil fertility is the presence of earthworms in it. They are the ones who can best prepare the land for the next gardening season. Therefore, it is recommended to populate the soil in the greenhouse with earthworms, which you will have to dig up yourself with your own hands.
Properly prepared soil will be the key to your future excellent tomato harvest. But besides this, you also need to be able to properly prepare the seed. Since tomatoes are most often grown in a greenhouse using the seedling method, this procedure will significantly increase the germination of seeds. It will also make it possible to obtain tall and strong seedlings that can be planted in a greenhouse.
We select seed material as follows:
- First, we decide on the variety (early, middle or late). The choice of variety directly determines when the seeds will be sown and seedlings planted in greenhouse soil. Remember that it is necessary to choose a variety not only for taste, but also for agrotechnical characteristics;
- the seeds should appear unfrozen and of good quality. The presence of plaque and mold on them is not allowed;
- Next, the seed must be sorted by size, discarding all unsuitable seeds.
The largest seeds should be selected, without visible defects. Proper calibration of the seed will ensure healthy tomato shoots. 
After the highest quality seed has been selected, it is disinfected. For example, seeds can be soaked in a weak solution of potassium permanganate or calcined. In the second case, they must be heated for three days at a temperature of +50°C. Then, before direct sowing, it is recommended to treat the seeds with any growth stimulant.
Planting material prepared in this way can be used to produce seedlings. They can also be planted in open ground. But still, experienced gardeners advise growing tomatoes in a greenhouse using the seedling method.
Video “How to grow tomatoes in a greenhouse”
This video discusses 5 rules for growing tomatoes in a greenhouse.
Sowing technology
You can plant tomato seeds in greenhouse soil or seedlings in early March. Planting seeds is carried out as follows:
After the seeds have been planted in the greenhouse, the temperature in it should be at +23-25°C. When the first shoots appear on the beds, it would be correct to organize additional lighting for them using phytolamps. If the lighting was organized correctly, the seedlings will have a bright green color.
After the seeds are planted in the ground and until the first true leaves develop, approximately 20 days pass. Seedlings require moderate watering. At the same time, remember that the greenhouse needs to be ventilated regularly. 
In order to obtain seedlings, tomato seeds should be planted as follows:
- First we determine the landing time. Here it is necessary to take into account that seedlings should grow from 50 to 70 days. You need to count from the moment when it is recommended to plant it in the greenhouse. Planting is carried out in a heated greenhouse in April. In such a situation, seeds are sown for seedlings in February. In a greenhouse that is not heated, transplantation is carried out in May (the first ten days). Therefore, sowing in this case is carried out in mid-March;
- It is most convenient to grow planting material in separate containers, the height of which is approximately 15 cm;
- the selected containers are filled with substrate. It should be compacted. After this, the surface of the soil mixture is leveled;
- Next, use a knife to form furrows into which the seeds are poured. They need to be sprinkled with earth on top.
Immediately after planting, watering is carried out. After this, the containers are placed in a room with a temperature regime of +25°C. Before transplanting into a greenhouse, caring for the plantings is as follows:
- during the first two days, planting requires round-the-clock artificial lighting;
- when the first shoots appear, the room temperature should be lowered to +15°C. This will avoid excessive stretching of the seedlings;
- Watering is carried out as the soil dries. It should be moderate. Do not water the tomato until the first true leaf appears. Only spraying the soil with water is allowed;
- the room should be ventilated regularly. In this case, it is necessary to avoid the formation of drafts.
To carry out picking of seedlings, prepare separate peat pots or plastic cups. Each plant is carefully removed and its root is pinched. This procedure allows you to form a well-branched rhizome.
Picking tomato seedlings for further planting in a greenhouse can be done in the following ways:
- Each plant is planted in a separate cup. This way you will get a strong and tall bush;
- Two plants are placed in one container at once. When they reach a height of 10 cm, the stems of the bushes are tightly tied to each other using a nylon thread. As a result, a bush with two roots is formed. This also requires pinching the top of a less developed plant. This method significantly increases the yield of tomatoes.
Hardening of seedlings must begin approximately 14 days before planting them in the greenhouse. To do this, containers should be taken out into the open air. First, they are placed on the balcony for 2-3 hours. Then you need to gradually increase the time the seedlings spend in the air to a day. 
After this, the seedlings can only be planted in the greenhouse.
Transplanting
When the seedlings have developed, they should be transplanted into a greenhouse. The planting scheme for tomatoes in a greenhouse is selected based on the tomato variety. Remember that to get an excellent harvest, plantings should not be thickened. However, they require sunlight. 
There is no single correct answer to the question “how to properly plant tomatoes in a greenhouse,” since there are a wide variety of planting schemes:
- for low-growing, early-ripening varieties that form several stems, the distance between tomatoes should be 40 cm, and between their rows - 50 cm. It is recommended to use a checkerboard pattern when creating two rows;
- for determinate varieties that form 1 stem, the distance between their rows is 50 cm, and between plants - 25 cm.
- indeterminate tall varieties must be planted in a checkerboard pattern in 2 rows. The distance here between rows should be 80 cm, and between neighboring plants - 60 cm.
When a planting scheme has been chosen, seedlings are transplanted as follows:
After planting, moderate watering is required. It is recommended to spray the soil with water. This type of watering should be done at first. When the seedlings have taken root, watering is carried out every 4-5 days. For one sq. m. you need to pour out about 4 liters of water. Usually this procedure is carried out at the root in the morning. During the flowering period, it is recommended to increase the number of waterings by 2-3 times.
The greenhouse should be ventilated approximately 1.5-2 hours after watering.
Another important point in caring for fondants is pinching. The resulting stepsons weaken the plants. Therefore they should be removed. This procedure is carried out in the morning. Tomatoes can be propagated using cut shoots. The first feeding is carried out 2 weeks after planting.
Growing tomatoes in a greenhouse is a troublesome task. The main thing is to adhere to proper sowing and care of plants. If everything is done correctly, the harvest will be abundant and tasty. This is a real reward for any gardener.
Video “Technology for growing tomatoes in greenhouses”
In this video, a farmer shares his experience of growing tomatoes.
Tomatoes are a vegetable crop that is grown by almost all vegetable growers. Growing them is quite difficult and therefore you need to figure out how to plant tomatoes in a greenhouse to get a good harvest.
It is not recommended to plant tomato seedlings in an unprepared greenhouse. Therefore, before planting tomatoes in a greenhouse, you need to do some preliminary preparation of the greenhouse.
Washing
First, you need to thoroughly wash everything in the greenhouse. To wash glass or film, you can use a regular soap solution. To wash the metal elements of the greenhouse, it is recommended to prepare a vinegar solution. Polycarbonate greenhouses are washed using manganese liquid. In this case, you need to prepare a very weak solution with a pale pink tint.
The greenhouse should be kept in smoke for about a week, after which it is opened and ventilated.
You can also protect planted tomatoes from diseases by treating the greenhouse with bleach. To prepare a working solution, add 500 grams of lime to 10 liters of boiled water. Then the prepared mixture is sprayed in the greenhouse using a spray bottle.
How to plant tomatoes in a greenhouse: planting seeds
Before planting tomatoes in a greenhouse, you need to figure out how to properly plant tomato seeds for seedlings. This should be done in February, so that in March you can start transplanting tomato seedlings.
Seed preparation
To grow healthy seedlings, it is recommended to treat the seed before planting. First you need to choose seeds that will germinate well. When choosing tomato seeds, you need to prepare a saline solution consisting of a liter of water and 50 grams of salt. All the seeds that need to be planted are poured into a container with liquid. Literally after 5-10 minutes, low-quality seeds that are unsuitable for planting will begin to float to the surface.
After selecting tomatoes for planting in the greenhouse, it is necessary to disinfect the planting material. Most often, a weak solution of manganese is used for this. All seeds are soaked in it for about half an hour, after which the seed material needs to dry. You can also use heated hydrogen peroxide for disinfection. The tomatoes should be soaked in it for about 10 minutes.
Soil preparation
Sowing tomato seeds should only be done in prepared soil. Therefore, before you start growing seedlings, you need to prepare the soil.
To prepare a soil mixture in which you can grow healthy tomato seedlings, you need to add some sand and peat to part of the turf soil. All of the above components are carefully mixed and filled with nutrient liquid. To prepare it, 10 grams of urea and superphosphate are added to 5-8 liters of water.
Also, seedlings will grow well in soil mixed with humus and peat. If desired, you can add 400 grams of ash to this soil mixture to slightly speed up the growth of tomatoes.
Selection of capacity
It is necessary to choose a container in which you can plant tomato seeds. To plant planting material, you can use cassettes or boxes. Such containers are very economical and convenient, since they do not take up much space and can always be moved to another location. The main disadvantage of these containers is their shallow depth, due to which you will have to pick the seedlings.
Many vegetable growers grow seedlings in deep pots so as not to waste time on picking. It is recommended to plant seeds in peat containers, as they develop faster in them.
Planting
Many people are interested in the correct planting of seeds for growing seedlings. To do this, the previously prepared soil mixture is added to each container. Then holes are made no more than one centimeter deep. 2-3 seeds are added to each hole, and the distance between the seeds should be 1-2 cm. All planted seeds are covered with soil and watered with water at room temperature. Containers with tomatoes are covered with film and transferred to a room with a temperature of about 25 degrees.
Not all vegetable growers know how long to wait before the first shoots appear. Under optimal conditions, the first seedlings will begin to appear 8-10 days after planting.
How to properly plant tomatoes in a greenhouse: planting seedlings in the ground
When the seedlings are more than 2-3 weeks old, they can be transplanted. In this case, planting tomatoes in a greenhouse should be done after the end of frost, so that there are no sudden temperature changes in the greenhouse.
Soil preparation
Transplanting tomato seedlings into a greenhouse is carried out after preliminary soil preparation. First you need to disinfect it. There are various ways to disinfect soil. Many people use a mixture made from copper sulfate and lime. To prepare it, add 75 grams of lime and 5 grams of vitriol to a liter of water. After this, each square meter of the area is treated with a liter of the created mixture.
In order for planting tomatoes in a greenhouse to bring a lot of harvest, it is necessary to plant the seedlings in fertilized soil. Therefore, fresh humus with superphosphate and ash must be added to the greenhouse soil in advance. It is also necessary to add calcium to the soil, since its deficiency impairs the yield of greenhouse tomatoes.
How to plant tomatoes in a greenhouse: general rules
Planting tomatoes in a greenhouse requires a competent approach. Therefore, before planting seedlings, you need to study the following recommendations:
- Choosing the right day. Planting tomatoes should only be done on cloudy days, as in the first few hours after transplanting the seedlings are too sensitive to sunlight. Of course, you can plant them on sunny days. In this case, you will have to find out what time the sun sets in order to plant seedlings after it has set.
- Planting depth. Before planting tomatoes in a greenhouse, it is necessary to determine the optimal planting depth. The seedlings are placed in the ground so that the root is completely covered with soil. It is better to plant them at an angle to a depth of 15 cm, so as not to completely cover the growth point.
- Watering. When all the plants are replanted, all bushes should be watered generously.
How to plant tomatoes correctly: planting diagram
Before planting seedlings, you need to figure out how to place them in the greenhouse. The scheme for planting tomatoes in a greenhouse will help to properly plant the seedlings and determine the optimal planting density. There are several ways to arrange seedlings:
- Two-row tomato planting scheme. Many vegetable growers use it in greenhouses 6x3 or 3x8 meters. In this case, the row width is one and a half meters, and the length can be arbitrary. When planting in two rows, the distance between each seedling should be at least 55 cm.
- Chess landing pattern. We also plant the seedlings in two rows, but at the same time the bushes of each row are shifted 30-40 cm forward. It is recommended to use a checkerboard arrangement of bushes when growing low-growing tomato bushes.
Care
After planting tomato seedlings in the greenhouse is completed, you need to familiarize yourself with the features of caring for the bushes.
Watering
You can get a good harvest only if you water your tomatoes correctly. Every 3 or 4 days, each bush should be filled with a liter of water. At the same time, it is not recommended to exceed the daily watering rate, since a large amount of moisture can lead to rotting of the roots.
Top dressing
Tomatoes are known for consuming large amounts of potassium during cultivation. They need it to form the root system and roots. Therefore, in order for the plant to be strong, it is necessary to regularly add potassium to the soil. Also, for the normal development of bushes, you should feed the soil with ash and humus, which contain many mineral components. Regular soil fertilization promotes normal growth of seedlings and accelerates the process of fruit formation.
Conclusion
A large number of vegetable growers are engaged in planting tomato seedlings in a greenhouse. At the same time, not all of them know how to plant tomatoes in a greenhouse for a large harvest. To understand this, it is recommended to familiarize yourself with the features of planting tomato seedlings in a greenhouse.
It is impossible to imagine a garden without tomatoes. This is the most popular vegetable crop. It can be grown both in a greenhouse and in an open garden. How to plant tomatoes in a greenhouse will be discussed below.
Planting tomatoes in any greenhouse always begins with choosing a variety. The volume of the crop depends on this choice, as well as the costs spent on its cultivation. Naturally, greenhouse varieties of this crop are suitable for planting in a greenhouse. The best greenhouse varieties include:
- Samara. The plant bears tasty and juicy fruits;
- Honey drop. Bulk variety. Sweet tomatoes form on the bushes;
- Long keeper. It bears good fruit. About 4 kg of fruit can be collected from one plant;
- Miracle of the Earth. Due to the presence of a large number of advantages, this variety is most popular among gardeners;
- Bull's heart. The variety is characterized by high yield;
- Dina. From one bush you can collect about 4.5 kg of fruit.
Once the variety has been selected, it is planted. However, before this it is necessary to create optimal growing conditions for the plants.
Microclimate for growing
In order for planting tomatoes in a greenhouse to be successful, it is necessary to create an optimal microclimate in the building. The temperature regime is selected based on the species that will grow in the greenhouse. However, for this vegetable crop the optimal temperature should be in the range of +18-20 degrees.
Negative factors that should be avoided when growing this vegetable crop include:
To avoid the appearance of these negative factors, we plant tomatoes in a greenhouse only when creating an optimal microclimate for the plants.
Soil preparation
It is worth noting that planting planting material or seedlings in special structures is carried out only after proper preparation of the bed. The preparation is as follows:
- The top layer of soil (about 20 cm) is removed from the garden bed. As a result, a groove is formed that extends the entire length of the greenhouse;
- Three-year-old humus is poured into the bottom of the groove. It should not contain straw or hay;
- New soil is poured on top of the humus.
In such a bed you can already plant seedlings or sow seeds. When the soil has been properly prepared, we plant the selected tomatoes in the greenhouse.
Terms and rules of sowing
To understand how to plant tomatoes in a greenhouse, it is necessary to determine the optimal timing, as well as sowing rules. They depend on what material is used for planting: seeds or seedlings. Let's look at both options in more detail.
Seeds
If seeds are used, they are planted in greenhouse soil in early March. The main thing here is to choose the right healthy seed. The seeds should not be frozen, with traces of mold and plaque. High-quality seeds are selected by size. It is best to use large seed that does not have external defects.
When the seeds are selected, they are disinfected. To do this, the seed is placed in a weak solution of potassium permanganate. You can roast the seeds. Before they are planted, the seeds are treated with a growth stimulant. After such preparation, the seeds can be planted in the soil of a greenhouse or used to grow seedlings.
To get excellent results, you need to know how to plant tomatoes in any greenhouse with seeds. This procedure is performed as follows:
- on the prepared bed, a furrow is made with a knife or stick with a depth of 1.5 cm. A distance of 2.5 cm should be made between the furrows;
- then seeds are poured into the furrows;
- From above, the seed is covered with bulk soil.
Seedlings
Typically, tomato seedlings are planted in a greenhouse in May. However, if you live in the southern regions of the country, then you don’t have to wait until May and plant young bushes earlier.
It is worth noting that there is no exact answer to the question “how to properly plant a tomato in a greenhouse.” This is due to the fact that the planting pattern may be different. It all depends on the dimensions of the greenhouse, as well as the varietal characteristics of the crop:
- early-ripening and low-growing species must be planted so that a distance of 40 cm is maintained between bushes, and 50 cm between rows. Seedlings are planted in a checkerboard pattern;
- determinate varieties are planted with a distance between bushes of 25 cm, and between rows - 50 cm;
- tall and indeterminate varieties are also planted in a checkerboard pattern. Neighboring bushes should be 60 cm apart, and 80 cm between rows.
After the planting scheme has been determined, we plant the tomatoes in the greenhouse. To do this, holes are dug with a depth of 5 cm. A young plant is placed in them and sprinkled with earth. Planting holes should be prepared 14 days before planting.
Further care
In order for tomato plants to bear fruit well in a greenhouse, they need proper care. After all, it’s not enough just to plant seedlings or sow seeds correctly. Plants require full care throughout the season.
Bushes should be watered as needed. Moderate watering is performed. At first after planting, you just need to spray the soil every 4-5 days. Next, 4 liters of water are poured under one bush. Watering is carried out at the root and in the morning. During flowering, watering is performed more often - 2-3 times.
- An equal amount of garden soil, cleared of weeds and roots, peat and river sand is mixed. The resulting substrate is watered with mineral fertilizers dissolved in water. Any ready-made kit from a hardware store will do. Peat can be replaced with humus. To reduce acidity, add 50 grams of chalk.
- Humus and peat are added to the turf soil in equal quantities. Add 2 matchboxes of superphosphate and a half-liter jar of wood ash to a bucket of the mixture. Everything must be spilled with fresh water.
Simple instructions for preparing the soil will help you get full-fledged and healthy seedlings.
The best time to plant tomatoes in a greenhouse
Because seedlings can be planted in it only after the soil has warmed up. And the plants should already have 5-7 leaves, a well-developed root system. It is important that the tomatoes are not overgrown.
May 30th is the time when you can plant tomatoes in a greenhouse without fear of frost. The soil has already warmed up enough, and the seedlings have reached the desired size. If the greenhouse does not have a film cover, but a polycarbonate one, then you can transfer the plants to the ground on May 15.
It is preferable to carry out the transplant procedure in the afternoon, towards evening. It's good if the weather is cloudy and warm. Then overnight the plants will get stronger and take root better. Since grown seedlings are transported with a lump of earth from a cup, weather conditions are not of fundamental importance - the root system remains intact.
You can also grow seedlings directly in a greenhouse. To do this, prepare a high bed, about 20 cm. It consists of dug up and cleared of weeds soil, peat and river sand.
A mandatory element is compost.
Note! After applying mineral fertilizers, the soil is thoroughly mixed and covered with a thick plastic film. With this approach, weed seeds and bacteria die due to lack of oxygen.
Planting seeds in the ground
In southern regions with a milder climate, it is possible to grow tomatoes from seeds directly in the ground. In this case, you have to decide when to sow tomatoes in a greenhouse, guided by the temperature of the soil and air. But you can not depend on weather fluctuations and speed up the process of warming the soil.
You can install a heating system in the greenhouse. This is done either with manure or by running an electrical cable along the bottom of the greenhouse. In the first case, at the very beginning of preparing the soil for planting, horse manure is placed at the bottom of the trench, sprinkled with river sand, and fertile soil on top. When manure rots, it releases heat, which warms the greenhouse and plants.
In this case, it is necessary to carefully monitor the temperature and humidity to prevent the seedlings from drying out. If seeds are sown directly into the soil, then it is necessary to pick the seedlings.
This is done after two true leaves appear. After picking, the seedlings take root faster and grow better. Don't forget about feeding with fertilizers.
When the time has come to plant tomatoes in a greenhouse, you can be completely sure that its age is suitable for planting. If she is too young, then she will not have enough time for the bulk of the fruit to ripen.
Cause of seed death
An important step before planting is preparing the seeds., and here it is important not to overdo it.
Some vegetable growers recommend immersing the entire batch in a saline solution to separate bad seeds from good ones. Floated units are considered not to germinate and are discarded. But, as practice shows, normal plants can develop from them.
Before planting tomatoes in a greenhouse, you should not torture the seeds with lengthy quality testing procedures. This only reduces their productivity and can affect the quality of the harvest. There are a number of factors that lead to seed death.
Causes:
- Seeds obtained from other vegetable growers, rather than purchased from a store, may be contaminated with infection. They should be disinfected before planting;
- The infection is sometimes contained in the soil - it is recommended to water it with a weak solution of potassium permanganate;
- The soil may be toxic or overloaded with salts;
- Many amateur gardeners know when to plant tomatoes in a greenhouse, but not everyone knows that the seeds should not be buried too deep. This often leads to rotting of the seedlings due to the extended germination period;
- Excessive watering is one of the causes of seed death, especially in combination with low temperatures;
- When seeds have been stored at low temperatures for a long time, they enter a state of deep dormancy. It's quite difficult to get them out of there. Planting may turn out to be pointless - they will either sprout in 3-4 weeks, or they will not sprout at all.
To achieve maximum germination and germination of seeds naturally, without resorting to chemicals, they need to be soaked in melt water. It is a catalyst and awakens plants very well.
There are two options:
- Collect snow in a bucket to melt. For soaking, take only 1/3 of the part, pour out the rest - all harmful impurities settle there;
- Pour water into a thick plastic bag and place in the freezer. When ¾ of the bag is frozen, the remainder is drained. They cannot be used. The rest is melted and added to the seeds.
This water is biologically active, 2-3 days it retains the ability to stimulate seed germination. The cost of these methods is only the cost of the freezer bag.
Conclusion
A greenhouse is a place that will help you collect a bucket of tomatoes from a bush. But everything depends on the right approach already at the stage of seed selection and preparation. It is also important to have nutritious and healthy soil containing fertilizers and microelements. The video in this article will tell you in detail how to grow tomatoes in a greenhouse.