Lunar planting dates for tomatoes in Central Russia for 2021

A rich tomato harvest can only be obtained using the seedling method, which makes it possible to expand the variety selection. Timing for planting tomato seedlings in 2021 In central Russia, the lunar phases are used to determine the best days for sowing and preparing seeds. However, a more precise calculation of favorable days for sowing and preparing seeds is based on the region's climate and the description of the selected variety.

Agroclimatic features of the region

A zone occupying a large area in the west of the country. It encompasses regions with varying weather characteristics. However, they all share a common temperate continental climate. Summers are always warm and short, and winters are cold, but without severe frosts or sharp temperature fluctuations. This climate zone is characterized by pronounced seasonality.

In the temperate zone, the average monthly temperature in the warmest month does not exceed 17°C, while in the coldest month it is only -10°C. Due to uniform and regular precipitation, the region is conventionally classified as a moderately humid zone. Soil composition varies, with both fertile and poor soils present. Growing vegetables without supplemental fertilizer is impossible.

Zoned varieties

The catalog of tomatoes bred for cultivation in temperate climates primarily features varieties suitable for open-ground cultivation. If local climate conditions require a slow warming of the soil, these varieties can be planted in temporary greenhouses. They typically grow to a medium size, making them easier to tie and shape.

Love F1

An early-ripening hybrid developed by Russian breeders. The plant reaches 1 m in height. After germination, it quickly grows upward, with side shoots forming in the leaf axils. For a more abundant harvest, the bushes should be trained into a single stem. Tomatoes reach technical maturity within 90-100 days after emergence. The fruits, averaging 200 g, are red or dark crimson. This hybrid must be grown in fertile soil and secured with staking.

The Nightingale the Robber

A mid-season variety primarily for salads. This indeterminate variety is approved for outdoor cultivation, but can also be grown in a greenhouse. In the former case, pinching of shoots is required to form a bush 65-70 cm tall, requiring no staking. The tomatoes grow large and symmetrical, weighing up to 0.5 kg. The variety is resistant to most diseases and tolerates short periods of heat, typical of temperate climates.

Snezhana

A tomato variety with low-maintenance seedlings. Seedlings thrive in less favorable conditions and do not stretch. This variety is grown for pickling, but the fleshy texture and pleasant flavor of ripened fruits make them suitable for salads. The first ovary forms above the seventh leaf, and then develops after one or two leaves. This variety typically produces at least four cysts. Mature tomatoes weigh an average of 100 g. The skin turns bright red.

Heart of America

A mid-season variety with red, round, heart-shaped fruits. The variety's distinguishing features are its large tomatoes and tall bushes. Some fruits can weigh up to 1 kg. Due to their large size, these tomatoes are not used for canning. The exception is processing: they are used to make juice, paste, or fruit drink. A disadvantage is the need for staking. Tall, branched bushes (up to 1.5 m) are difficult to shape by securing shoots to trellises or supports.

Apple Tree of Russia

An early-ripening indeterminate variety. Gardeners value it for its good resistance to the main tomato diseases. This variety is suitable for cultivation in hotbeds, greenhouses, under plastic, and in open ground. It can also be grown in southern regions by direct seeding into a bed. The standard variety reaches 80 cm in height and does not require staking. Fruit weight does not exceed 80 g. The tomatoes are nearly spherical in shape, which, combined with their light weight, makes them ideal for pickling.

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Influence of the lunar phases

The close relationship between agricultural practices and the lunar calendar has long been known. Astrologers attribute the celestial body's influence on plant development to its powerful energy and the presence of gravity. The latter influences the amount of moisture in the soil and the movement of sap in plant tissue. Depending on the moon's position in the sky, favorable and unfavorable periods are identified.

The gardener's lunar calendar for central Russia will serve as a cheat sheet, indicating the best days for agricultural practices and the best time to sow tomatoes. When determining the best days to sow seeds, consider the phases of the moon. The waxing moon is the most favorable time for sowing. At this time, the plant's root system actively develops, and the seeds germinate better.

Table of suitable days according to the Moon

Astrologers' recommendations include more than just planting dates. The lunar calendar also reflects the dates for cultivating seedlings and growing crops. Following these recommendations increases yields and improves plant resistance to disease and pests. Tomatoes sown at the right time thrive and are less susceptible to disease.

Although the table of planting days for temperate climates only lists sowing dates, these dates are also applicable to other agricultural practices. If tomatoes are grown year-round in a heated greenhouse, it's best to plant during the waxing moon in months not listed. Favorable days for tomatoes in 2021:

Unfavorable dates

The moon also has a depressing effect on vegetation. Astrologers indicate periods when agricultural work is not recommended. These periods include the new and full moons. During these phases, it is best to refrain from sowing or planting seedlings. During these transitional periods, vegetable crops are susceptible to disease, are easily damaged, and damaged areas take a long time to recover, with seeds losing their viability.

Gardeners don't always have the opportunity to sow tomatoes at the most favorable time. To ensure an abundance of high-quality fruit, in addition to the specified dates, it's important to consider unfavorable days when it's best not to plant tomatoes for seedlings in temperate climates:

• February – 10, 11, 12, 27;
• March – 12, 13, 14, 28;
• April – 11, 12, 13, 27;
• May – 10, 11, 12, 26;
• June – 9, 10, 11, 24.

Agricultural technology for growing seedlings

To achieve the potential yield of a typical variety, seedlings must be vigorous by the time they are planted. Tomatoes are sensitive to temperature fluctuations, irrigation quality, and errors during transplanting. Improper cultivation practices lead to slower growth and reduced resistance to diseases and pests.

Sowing

Vegetable crops are sensitive to cold temperatures. Seedlings are planted outdoors only after the threat of frost has passed. This approximate date will serve as a starting point for calculating the sowing date. To ensure a bountiful harvest in temperate climates, begin sowing early. Avoiding stress and sudden changes in conditions will allow high-quality planting material to be prepared for transplanting.

Preparing soil and containers

The soil mixture and containers are prepared in advance. If using a ready-made substrate, it can be left as is or washed and sifted river sand can be added. The porous material will improve drainage in the trays. The soil mixture is enriched with organic matter and heat-treated to kill weed seeds, pathogens, and pest larvae. For sowing, use shared trays and individual peat pots, into which the seedlings will be transplanted.

Seed material

To ensure vigorous germination, seeds are tested for viability. They are inspected, and any defective seeds are removed. The remaining seeds are treated with a fungicide solution to kill the infection. To do this, the seeds are placed in a cloth bag and placed in water with a solution of fungicide. A solution of potassium permanganate can be used as a substitute. The treatment takes approximately half an hour.

Read alsoPlanting Tomatoes for a Greenhouse in 2021: Favorable Lunar Dates When planting tomato seedlings for a greenhouse in 2021, it's important to follow a number of recommendations. First, choose favorable dates according to the lunar calendar, and second, adhere to the planting times for different regions.

Seed placement

The prepared material is sown in a common box. Procedure:

1. The seedling container is treated with a manganese solution, filled with the prepared substrate, and lightly compacted so that the soil level does not reach the top - 2 cm.
2. Distribute the seeds at intervals of 1.5-2 cm. Avoid planting too densely, otherwise the seedlings may experience a lack of light and become stretched in the future.
3. The seed material is sprinkled with a 1-1.5 cm thick layer of substrate, and the soil is lightly compacted.
4. Moisten the soil with a spray bottle. This will prevent leaching.
5. Cover the tray with film or glass to retain moisture.

Care

When sprouts appear, the container is transferred to a bright room. To obtain high-quality seedlings, they are fertilized in a timely manner., create optimal conditions: temperature, light, and humidity. The first is maintained at 17°C for seedling development. During the day, the thermometer can rise by 2°C, and at night, it can drop by the same amount.

Watering and lighting

No soil moisture is required until the covering material is removed. When the first shoots appear, the covering is removed to allow light and air to reach the young shoots. Subsequently, the seedlings are watered with warm, settled water as the surface layer dries, ensuring the substrate is constantly moist but without any remaining liquid in the tray. If the seedlings are grown in short-day conditions, supplemental lighting is necessary. Special phytolamps should be used to prevent the seedlings from stretching upward.

Top dressing

When using a nutrient-rich substrate, fertilizing may not be necessary. However, when starting tomato seedlings in your own soil, additional feeding won't hurt (especially if the seedlings are growing poorly). Any complex mineral fertilizer can be used for fertilization. The application rate can be found in the instructions on the package. Fertilize the plants twice: one week after transplanting and 12-15 days before planting.

Picking

The procedure begins when the seedlings have formed 2 true leaves (15-20 days after emergence). Early picking Minimizes the risk of root rot. Seedlings are transplanted, planting them deep down to the cotyledons. Before transplanting, the nutrient substrate is thoroughly moistened and left for a while. Steps:

1. Prepare a hole larger than the root system of the planting material.
2. The seedling is removed from the tray, placed into the hole and the roots are straightened.
3. Sprinkle with substrate and compact slightly.
4. The soil is moistened.
5. Place the container near a bright window.

Transplantation into open ground

Two weeks before planting, harden off the seedlings by briefly placing them on the balcony if the outside temperature is above 12°C. Gradually acclimate the tomatoes to a lack of soil moisture. Seedlings ready for planting should not be long and pale. Good seedlings are stocky, with dark green, robust leaves on thick, short stems.

Before transplanting, prepare the beds. Dig the soil a spadeful deep, adding compost or rotted manure. It's best to do this on a cloudy day or in the evening. Seedlings are transplanted by transshipment, with or without a root ball, or transported in a peat cup. First, dig a hole for the plant. Fill the empty space with fertile soil and water thoroughly.

Common mistakes

Excessive fertilizing or the wrong composition is a violation of agricultural practices that can lead to significant yield losses. Plants begin to "grow fat," developing green mass. Seemingly robust bushes take a long time to enter the budding phase, and after the ovaries fail to form in a timely manner, they fail to ripen.

A common mistake is using contaminated soil. Seedlings growing in such soil become susceptible to disease and develop blackleg. If plants aren't treated promptly with protective agents, they may stunt growth and die. Furthermore, insufficient light causes the seedlings to become excessively elongated. The thin stems will eventually be unable to support the weight of the fruit.

Choosing the optimal sowing time is the beginning of successful cultivation. But to achieve an excellent tomato harvest, proper seedling forcing, planting techniques, and proper care are essential.