Short, humid, warm summers, partly cloudy weather, humidity - all these factors determine when to plant tomatoes in a greenhouse in the Urals. Unpredictable weather brings many surprises to gardeners. Here, ideal conditions for tomato growth can be combined with a sudden change in weather.
The average summer temperature in the Subpolar Urals is +30 degrees, which, together with high humidity and abundant solstice, gives good chances, which, in combination with greenhouse conditions, increase many times over.
general information
How to correctly determine the start time of the growing season in such variable weather conditions? What are the dates for sowing seeds and seedlings in relation to the Urals?
First, a little geography. The mountain range is a conditional border between Europe and Asia. Maximum temperatures in summer vary greatly between areas and can reach:
- Pai-Khoi - +6;
- Polar Urals - +30;
- Subpolar Urals - +12;
- Northern Urals - there is snow all year round;
- Middle Urals - +18;
- Mugodzhary - continental dry climate;
- Southern Urals - +19.
The duration of the summer period is unstable, depends on the region and ranges from 1.5 to several months - a rather harsh climate for sowing tomatoes. But there are secluded places in the Urals where this capricious culture takes root well.
The last planting of seeds must be calculated very accurately. The short summer leaves no room for error. During the season, the crop must fully ripen and produce full-fledged fruits. Basically, early varieties of tomatoes are planted, having previously prepared seedling material.
Preparing for landing
To choose the right time for planting, you can use the lunar calendar. It is also called seed.
It has long been noted that tomatoes grow better when the moon is rising. No wonder. The Moon is the ruler of all water on Earth, influences the movement of water masses in the oceans, and organizes the ebb and flow of the tides. Seedlings also use water: the lunar attraction helps them feel a kind of surge of strength.
Seeds
In order to choose the right tomatoes for seedlings, you need to decide in advance on the seed material. In late autumn, select large fruits of your favorite variety. Let them ripen. It is best if the tomatoes fall from the bush themselves. You need to store the fruits for a while, then remove the seeds.Planting begins in March, the deadline is early April.
There is an opinion that complex hybrids do not produce seeds, which is only partially true. If you take tomatoes for seedlings in the Urals from such a bush, you can grow wild tomatoes. Many gardeners deliberately follow this path in order to see with their own eyes the distant ancestor of all modern varieties. A branched bush will grow, covered with small tomatoes - the ancestor of the wild tomatoes that still grow in South America.
If you prepare the seed material in advance, the seedlings will be strong and their seedlings will form faster. To do this, just place them in hot water (+50 degrees) for 15 - 20 minutes, then in a thick solution of potassium permanganate (15 minutes for disinfection). Rinse in cold water, dry thoroughly. Place in a special nutrient solution with microelements (sold at any gardening store). After successful germination, usually on days 3–4, the seeds are ready for planting.
How to get good seedlings
I wonder when to sow tomatoes for seedlings given the short summer. The question is quite relevant: it will take at least 30 – 45 days to form it.
To plant tomato seedlings, you can use disposable plastic cups with soil. Usually several seeds are placed per glass. The first shoots appear after 2 - 3 days. To prevent the seedlings from stretching, you need to maintain a temperature of +14 degrees for 7–10 days.
Spectral illumination is used from the first days after planting. First, around the clock, after 2 - 3 days it is turned on for 14 - 16 hours. Picking is done when 2 - 3 full-fledged leaves are formed. After 15–20 days, you can begin to harden the plant.
Signs of good seedlings:
- height 20 - 40 cm - it all depends on the variety;
- strong, elastic leg;
- rich, dark green color;
- healthy foliage, color slightly lighter at the edges.
The right time can significantly increase productivity: tomatoes in the Urals grow in short summer conditions. It is best to use seedlings with an ovary - this will significantly save time on the formation of full-fledged fruits.
Tomatoes are self-pollinating plants. Under natural conditions, this process occurs under the influence of wind. At home, naturally, a draft is undesirable.
To help the seedlings, you need to stroke them periodically, as if checking the stems for elasticity. A kind of gymnastics will help the plant to self-pollinate.
The soil
For planting, you must first prepare the soil:
- Organic fertilizers are usually applied in late fall. The humus is simply spread over the entire area of the future crop. It will lie well until spring, enriching the soil with useful elements.
- In spring, melt water will transfer some of the microelements to the soil. It's time to apply complex mineral fertilizers.
Fundamental elements for normal growth - nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus.
Complex fertilizers
Complex fertilizers containing these three elements are perfect for plant growth and the formation of full-fledged fruits.
Recommended use:
- Ammophoska - in addition to the three minerals listed above, contains calcium, sulfur, phosphorus;
- Diammofoska - in addition to the main elements, contains 8 additional ones;
- Nitroammophoska - nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, sulfur;
- Nitrophoska - has a three-component composition;
- Ammophos is two-component, consisting of nitrogen and phosphorus.
The advantage of complex fertilizers in a wide range of applications. The compositions are suitable for any variety of tomatoes.You can plant tomatoes of any variety and use complex fertilizers as top dressing. They enrich the soil with accompanying elements and prevent soil depletion.
Single-component fertilizers
Used for spot feeding with one element. It is recommended to use them with extreme caution. An excess of nutrients leads to the development of abnormalities. A plant grown in such conditions begins to get sick.
Single-component fertilizers include:
- Superphosphate - phosphorus content 20%;
- Double superphosphate — accordingly, phosphorus is approximately twice as much (45%);
- Ammonium nitrate (ammonium nitrate) is a salt of nitric acid, contains a large amount of nitrogen;
- Potassium nitrate (potassium nitrate) is the main supplier of potassium for the soil.
The advantages of their application include individual feeding of plants. The lack of one or more fundamental elements leads to the appearance of characteristic symptoms. Planted plants develop poorly, necrosis or yellowing of foliage may appear. The deficiency of an element is determined by external signs and treatment is prescribed.
When using mineral fertilizers, you must follow a few simple rules:
- Do not use a food container for preparing solutions. It is better to keep pots, cups, glasses and other utensils away from chemicals. What is nutritious for plants is poison for humans. Even a small concentration of elements that accidentally gets into food can lead to gastrointestinal upset or other negative consequences.
- Store in a closed container or package.
- Fertilizers are “sowed” or watered at the roots - contact with leaves or stems can lead to burns.
- Avoid overdose.The plant happily eats all the food, but after that it will begin to get sick. Leaves are a good indicator. An overdose is determined by external signs and the soil begins to be washed with intensive watering.
- Dry fertilizers are usually added dropwise. This prevents uncontrolled spraying across the area. Guaranteed to nourish the root system.
- Sandy soils reduce the consumption of minerals, while clay soils increase them.
When using organic and mineral fertilizers together, the share of the latter decreases approximately threefold.
bed
I usually grow tomatoes in a so-called warm bed:
- We dig a ditch 20–25 cm deep.
- We lay clean straw down: it must be soaked with warm water from a watering can.
- We quickly return the earth to its place.
- Cover with black film.
- It turns out to be a bed for growing plants in greenhouse conditions.
The physics here is quite simple. We cut off the cold clay layer using straw (10 - 15 cm high). Its thermal conductivity is sufficient to retain the heat of the top layer. There remains about 20 cm of soil where the plant’s root system will thrive. The film will retain heat and moisture until planting begins. All that remains is to decide when to plant the seedlings.
We plant and store
Now you need to choose a warm sunny day. Decide when to plant plants, preferably taking into account the weather forecast for the next few days.
Tomato seedlings can be planted in the evening. We dig holes and plant. We direct the root system of the plant in the direction of the expected watering. We install supports for the garter. If the bushes are tall, you can immediately tie up the stems. The timing of planting tomatoes varies within small limits, about 5 – 10 days.Given the short summer, it is better not to delay planting.
Planting is accompanied by abundant watering at the root. We continue this procedure for several days. Usually the adaptation period lasts 2–3 days.
The distance between plants is strictly measured. It is about 60 cm. With this planting, the root system has enough space for full development. There is every chance of getting a good harvest.
When planting, do not forget about crop rotation. Tomatoes grow well in place of legumes (peas, beans), which enrich the soil with nitrogen. Accordingly, the amount of this mineral must be reduced when feeding.
Potatoes are a distant relative of tomatoes. Belongs to the nightshade family. There is little nitrogen in last year's potato beds. If tomatoes are sown in this place, then soil bacteria, pests, will quickly reorient themselves and damage the crop.
Let's organize the schedule below:
- glaze;
- feeding;
- loosening.
Usually all stages alternate. An exception can be considered:
- spot application of fertilizers;
- treatment with antibacterial drugs;
- treatment for nutrient overdose;
- fighting insects and pests.
You can collect the finished crop taking into account the time it takes to process the product. Tomatoes ripen well in a dry, cool, dark place. Usually stored until late autumn.
The traditional place to store tomatoes is the basement. Prepare plastic shaped boxes and add the first layer of straw. Next, lay the tomatoes, leaving a small distance between them. Make the next layer. This will help preserve the harvested crop for a long time.
It is impossible to follow instructions exactly and expect a guaranteed harvest. In the Urals, even the timing of planting tomatoes for seedlings is not the same every season.Unique experience in vegetable growing, intuition and farming rules come to the rescue.
