Timing for planting tomatoes in the Urals for seedlings, when is the best time to sow them, and how to care for them

To get a good tomato harvest in the Urals, it's important to calculate the correct time for planting seedlings. When determining the exact date, consider the chosen variety, growing conditions, and weather. Summers in the Urals are short, with sudden temperature fluctuations. However, if you choose the right variety, you can grow tomatoes without shelter.

When to sow tomato seedlings in 2025 in the Urals

Summers in the Urals are short, hot, and humid. During this short period of warm weather, the crop must gain strength and form fruit. It's best to choose early tomato varieties and prepare the seedlings first.The fruits of such crops begin to ripen 90-100 days after planting.

Avoid starting tomato seeds for seedlings too early. This will result in the seedlings being ready for transplanting to their permanent location before the weather has stabilized.

For growing in greenhouses

Tomato seeds are sown around March 20th. Ready-to-plant seedlings are transplanted no earlier than May 20th.

If the variety is characterized by ultra-early fruit ripening, then planting begins even later.

For planting in open ground

In open ground, it's best to grow determinate and superdeterminate tomato varieties. Hybrids are preferred, as they are less susceptible to adverse environmental factors.

Seedlings are transplanted into uncovered beds only in the last ten days of June, not earlier. Sowing tomato seeds for seedlings begins in late March. or in the first half of April.

Timing of sowing seeds for tomatoes of different ripening periods

Tomato seedlings gain strength for at least 45 days, but you should also consider the main characteristics of the variety you choose for planting:

• Late-season tomato varieties are sown earlier than others. The Ural climate is quite cold, so planting begins in February.
• Varieties of tomatoes with medium ripening periods begin to be sown in the last days of February or in the first ten days of March.
• At the end of March, they begin planting seeds of early varieties of the crop.
• From the end of April to mid-May, seeds of very early varieties are planted.

The timing of sowing is influenced by the location chosen for subsequent cultivation. If the seedlings are to be transplanted to a greenhouse, the timing may be advanced by 10-12 days.

Lunar calendar for tomato planting in 2025

According to the calendar, tomatoes thrive during the waxing moon phase. This is when the plant's growth accelerates. Avoid planting tomatoes during the new and full moons:

• In February, the best days for sowing tomatoes are: the 7th, 12th, 15th, and 16th. The worst days are: the 4th, 13th, and 19th.
• In March, the Urals region begins sowing tomato seedlings for greenhouses. Favorable days for sowing are: the 5th, 11th, 14th, and 19th. Unfavorable lunar days for sowing are: the 4th, 12th, 18th, 23rd, and 29th.
• The best days to sow tomato seeds in April are the 9th, 11th, and 17th. Unfavorable days are the 3rd, 14th, 20th, and 26th.
• In May, it's best to start planting crops on the 9th, 14th, and 17th. Avoid any soil work on the 6th, 13th, 21st, and 23rd.
• From early June, Ural gardeners can plant crops in open beds. Favorable days are the 7th, 11th, and 14th. Unfavorable days include the 4th, 9th, 17th, and 21st.

By taking into account the dates indicated in the lunar calendar for gardening, weather conditions, and the characteristics of the chosen variety, you will be able to grow a good harvest before the onset of frost.

Growing tomato seedlings in the Urals

The Urals are characterized by a cold climate. Surface frosts last only 60-80 days. This vegetable is best grown in greenhouses, but if you choose the right variety, it can also be grown in open beds.

Seed preparation

If you prepare the seeds in advance, the seedlings will grow strong and healthy:

• Select large, dense seeds for sowing. Soaking the seeds in salt water for a while will help sort out the quality seeds. Empty and poor-quality seeds will float to the surface, while the good ones will sink to the bottom.
• To disinfect, planting material is placed in a dark solution of potassium permanganate for 25 minutes.
• Then the seeds are washed in clean water and dried, spread out in one layer on a cloth surface.
• To improve growth and boost immunity, grains are soaked in growth-stimulating solutions.
• Once most of the seeds have developed roots, hardening is performed. The seeds are placed in a cool place for several days, periodically brought indoors for a couple of hours.

It's best to buy seeds from a reputable manufacturer. This way, the quality of the planting material is guaranteed.

Selecting and preparing a landing site

Peat pots are best for planting, but many people also plant in a larger shared container. The soil should be fertile, loose, and permeable. A mixture of turf, peat moss, and humus is suitable. A small amount of wood ash can be added to the resulting mixture. To disinfect the soil, water it with a weak solution of potassium permanganate.

Sowing

Prepared seeds are planted in wooden boxes or separate cups with soil:

• Furrows 15 mm deep are made in the soil at a distance of 4.5 cm. Seeds are placed in the furrows at intervals of 2.5 cm.
• Cover the seeds with soil and water carefully.
• Cover the container with glass and move it to a warm place where the air temperature is +25 degrees.

The first shoots will appear in just 3-4 days. On the fifth day, the air temperature should be lowered to 15 degrees Celsius.

Caring for seedlings

It's important to provide the seedlings with an optimal temperature. Until most of the first shoots emerge, the room temperature should be kept at 24°C (75°F). Once most of the seeds have sprouted, the temperature is reduced to 15°C (59°F). After 7-9 days, the temperature is raised again to 21°C (70°F), with nighttime temperatures 3-4°C (3-4°F) cooler.

To accelerate seedling growth, it's advisable to provide additional lighting. Initially, it's best to keep the light on 24 hours a day. After a couple of days, 16 hours of light will be sufficient for the tomatoes. The light should be turned on briefly in the morning and evening. Watering should be moderate. Avoid overwatering the soil, as this increases the risk of fungal infections.

For watering, use warm, settled water:

• Until the first pair of leaves appears, it is advisable to only spray the soil with warm water.
• As soon as the first leaves unfold, the seedlings are watered from a watering can once a week.
• After 4-5 leaves appear, watering is carried out every 4 days.

If the soil is properly prepared, seedlings don't need any additional feeding. However, if seedlings develop slowly, their stems stretch, their leaves turn yellow, dry out, and curl, they lack micronutrients.

Picking

Pricking out promotes better root development. The plant begins to grow lateral root branches faster, and nutrient absorption improves. Pricking out is done 13 days after the first shoots emerge, when the seedlings have developed their first two true leaves.

Seedlings should be transplanted into larger containers. If these are individual cups, their capacity should be at least 500 ml. When transplanting into larger containers, space the seedlings at least 8 cm apart. A couple of days before transplanting, water the soil thoroughly. Make holes in the new container into which the seedlings are planted. Before transplanting, pinch back the taproot of each seedling by 14 mm.

The transplanted seedlings are covered with soil up to the cotyledon leaves, the soil is lightly compacted and watered with warm water.

Hardening

Hardening off the seedlings begins 12-14 days before transplanting them to their permanent location. This will help the plants better adapt to various adverse weather conditions. For the first few days, placing the seedlings near an open window is sufficient. Then, transfer the container to the balcony. Hardening off time should be increased gradually, starting with 9-11 minutes.

Planting tomatoes in open ground or a greenhouse

Transplanting seedlings into open beds begins when the soil to a depth of 12 cm warms to 13 degrees Celsius. The air temperature is 22 degrees Celsius. In the Urals, it's best to begin transplanting seedlings into open ground in early June. Even then, a shelter is required. Seedlings can be transplanted into a greenhouse a little earlier, around the 20th of May.

In the Urals, tomatoes are planted closer together. Dwarf varieties are typically spaced 33 cm apart, while taller varieties are spaced 43 cm apart. The distance between rows is approximately 55 cm. The seedlings are removed from the container, complete with soil, and planted in pre-prepared holes. After planting, each root is watered. If the weather is hot, water every other day. Otherwise, the beds are left undisturbed for a week.