Calendar when to plant vegetable seedlings. Sowing seeds of vegetables for seedlings. Optimal sowing dates for vegetable crops

Presenting for 2020 every day. Daily lunar calendar for gardeners, florists and gardeners. The lunar calendar of sowing and planting contains a detailed description of gardening work for every day. The calendar recommends favorable days for sowing, planting, caring for plants and a lot of necessary work in the flower garden, garden and vegetable garden, depending on the influence of the moon and taking into account the agrarian terms of Central Russia. The lunar calendar gives the dates for sowing and planting a large number of fruit, berry, vegetable and ornamental plants.

The calendar includes a calendar for 2020. The exact time of sunrise and sunset of the Sun and the Moon, the time of the entry of the Moon into the sign of the zodiac, the hours of the full moon, the new moon, the transition from the growing to the waning Moon, the time of the change of the lunar phases, the longitude of the day are indicated in Moscow time for the coordinates of Moscow.

Lunar calendar of sowing and planting for 2020 published for 10 days and updated weekly.

Experienced gardeners are invited to use the brief Lunar calendar in pictures, and the general Lunar sowing calendar in the form of a table, published for three months, you can open at the picture link below:

March 13, 2020. Friday

March 14, 2020. Saturday

March 15, 2020. Sunday

March 16, 2020. Monday

March 17, 2020. Tuesday

March 18, 2020. Wednesday

March 19, 2020. Thursday

March 20, 2020. Friday

March 21, 2020. Saturday

March 22, 2020. Sunday

A few words about the lunar calendar of sowing and planting for every day of the year.

About the lunar calendar of sowing and planting for every day of the year

The daily lunar calendar of sowing and planting contains a list of work for every day in the garden, flower garden and vegetable garden. The lunar calendar is compiled for those who are passionate about gardening, floriculture, and horticulture. In the calendar, the days of sowing and planting of various crops are recommended based on the lunar phases and the passage of the zodiac constellation by the Moon, as well as agricultural terms.

The lunar calendar gives recommendations on what seeds to sow favorably, what plants to plant, how best to care for plants under the influence of the moon. The fertile zodiac signs Capricorn, Pisces, Taurus, Cancer, Libra, Scorpio favor sowing, planting, and a bountiful harvest. On the days of the infertile signs Aquarius, Aries, Gemini, Leo, Virgo, Sagittarius, you can sow and plant certain types of plants, mostly decorative. Under a favorable sign of the zodiac, root crops are planted and sown on the waning Moon, and other vegetable crops, berry and fruit, ornamental plants are planted and sown on the growing Moon. On the full moon and new moon, the lunar calendar does not recommend sowing and planting, these days they are struggling with plant diseases and pests.

Also in the lunar calendar, for each day, the necessary daily work in the garden and garden is listed, the result of which the Moon does not affect, these works are determined by the agrarian terms of the area and the weather. In the lunar sowing calendar for these works, we recommend days free from sowing and planting work.

The lunar calendar shows the dates of sowing and planting of many plants. These are fruit and ornamental trees, berry and ornamental shrubs, annual and perennial flower and berry crops. Our lunar calendar tells about the favorable sowing and planting dates for almost all vegetable crops bred in the Middle lane, with different growing methods: planting, forcing, sowing, through seedlings, including in a greenhouse, on a windowsill and in open ground.

The lunar calendar of sowing and planting for each day contains astronomical information indicating the exact time of the moon's entry into each sign of the zodiac, the hours of the full moon and new moon, the time of sunrise and sunset, the time of sunrise and sunset and the length of the daylight hours. If the Moon enters some sign of the zodiac during the day, then in the lunar calendar in the column of recommendations for sowing and planting, a note is given before the specified hour sowing, planting and caring for plants according to the recommendations of the previous day of the lunar calendar.

In addition, in the lunar calendar of sowing and planting, for each day, folk signs are given on the moon and signs for the harvest from the folk agricultural calendar.

Astronomical information about the Sun in our calendar

If you observe the position of the Sun long enough, for example, during the year, you will notice that its height above the horizon on different days will not be the same - the largest is on June 21-22, and the smallest is on December 21-22. In different years, these events fall on different days. These days are called the summer and winter solstices. Twice a year, March 20-21 and September 22-23, the Sun rises exactly in the east and sets exactly in the west. These days it is under and above the horizon at the same time (that is, the day is equal to the night), and therefore they are called the days of the spring and autumn equinoxes. Between March 21 and September 22, the Sun rises north of the east point and, conversely, between September 23 and March 21, south of it.

Traditionally, March 21, June 22, September 23 and December 22 are considered the beginning of the seasons in the northern hemisphere of the Earth: spring, summer, autumn and winter.

We publish information on which days the listed astronomical events fall this year in the daily lunar calendar, which is given above.

How to grow plants in the rhythm of the moon phases

The very topic of the influence on the growth and development of plants of the position of the planets in the zodiac circle, in particular the closest satellite of our planet - the Moon, the interaction of the phases of the Moon and growth, plant development, and the activity of microbiological processes in the soil is interesting.

The influence of the Moon on earthly affairs has been known since ancient times. It is with this planet that the tidal and ebb phenomena of oceanic and sea waters are associated, as well as fluctuations in electromagnetic fields that affect the weather. It is believed that during the full moon, the above-ground parts of plants are filled with juice to a greater extent, and at the new moon, it seems to tend to recede to the roots. In the first case, there is a stronger hydration of the tissues, in the second - some dryness. From here, studies of the influence of the moon on plants take place, and on the basis of the knowledge gained, a lunar calendar is compiled for each day of the current year.

Plants are influenced not only by the phases of the moon, but also by its position in the signs of the zodiac. It is better to plant when our companion is in the constellations of Taurus, Cancer, Libra, Scorpio, Capricorn, Pisces. Fight weeds when she is in the signs of Aries, Gemini, Sagittarius, Aquarius. The presence of the Moon in the constellation Aries encourages the collection of fruits - they are better stored. Moving to the constellation of Libra is favorable for watering and grafting, to the constellation of Leo - for mowing and weeding, Sagittarius - for digging up root crops, Aquarius - for destroying pests.

According to the experience of astrological observations, the zodiac signs are divided into productive (fertile): Taurus, Cancer, Libra, Scorpio, Capricorn, Pisces, and unproductive (infertile): Aries, Gemini, Leo, Virgo, Sagittarius, Aquarius. Planting and sowing fruit and ornamental plants according to the lunar calendar is best done when the Moon is in a productive zodiac sign.

How is the lunar calendar of sowing and planting for every day

From the angle of practical consideration, the recommendations of the lunar calendar will be consistent if they correspond to the local calendar dates for sowing and planting crops. Due to the dissimilarity of climatic conditions, landscape, soil in different areas, it is impossible to develop a single lunar calendar. If we calculate the timing of sowing crops in another specific area, then we will get significant dissimilarity. In one case, these will be belated dates, in the other - too early (compare the south of Russia and the Urals). Agricultural work, as well as care and cleaning work, are also associated with the length of daylight hours.

The local folk calendar, traditional experience, accumulated knowledge are the main support in the practical activities of the gardener, florist and gardener. For neighboring regions, any lunar calendar needs to be amended regarding the deadlines for sowing and planting, taking into account the conditions of a particular area. Data on the exact time of the Moon's entry into the zodiac constellation can be obtained from the calendar (tear-off calendar) for gardeners and gardeners or the astrological calendar.

The weather also does not fall year on year - there are early and late springs, which is also taken into account when compiling the lunar calendar.

The dates of the passage of the phases of the moon do not coincide by year. In almost a month, the Moon passes through 12 constellations, called the signs of the Zodiac. The following year, the lunar calendar is shifted by 10 days. The dates of the passage of the phases of the moon are repeated after 19 years. Every year, the daily sowing and planting calendar is amended for the specific shape of the season and for the lunar phase.

The moon influences plant growth and seed germination. For centuries, people have noticed this mysterious connection between the night luminary and plantings. When a sufficient amount of facts and knowledge had accumulated, it became possible to create a sowing lunar calendar. Modern gardeners, following his recommendations, can get a bountiful harvest.

January 2018

January is a good time to buy seeds. Before you go to the store, you need to make a plan - what crops and how much to sow this season.

Then it is worth looking at last year's seed stocks. It should be noted that the seeds of tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, cucumbers, zucchini do not lose their germination capacity for 5-6 years, and root crops and greens germinate better fresh. Carrots remain viable for only 1-2 years.

In 2018, sowing seeds for seedlings can be started from January 8th. January 13 is the day of laying seeds for stratification.

Stratification - exposure of seeds at a low positive temperature to accelerate germination. This technique is required for tree and shrub crops - nuts, apple trees, pears, maples, lindens and flowers originating from temperate climate species. Stratify peonies, primroses, clematis, bluebells, lavender, berry crops, grapes, lemongrass, prince.

In January, strawberries, onions, leeks and some annual and perennial ornamental plants are sown for seedlings. This month there is little natural light, so any seedlings will have to be intensively illuminated.

Vegetables and herbs for growing in a winter greenhouse

Tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, cucumbers, early asparagus beans and green peas are grown in winter greenhouses. Seedlings of nightshade by the time of planting in the winter greenhouse should have the first flower brush and be 50-60 days old. Cucumbers are planted in a greenhouse at the age of 30 days.

In January, you can sow dill, lettuce, leaf mustard, parsley in heated greenhouses, plant onion sets to get early greens.

According to the lunar calendar, nightshade vegetables and cucumbers for seedlings are sown on January 21st. Tomatoes, eggplants and pepper seedlings in 2018 can be sown on January 30th. On the same day, you can sow Beijing and early cabbage, beans, peas, onions. Greens are sown on January 25 and 27.

strawberries

Strawberry seeds germinate in the light. Before sowing, they are soaked for 2-3 days in snow water to destroy substances that slow down germination. Then the seeds are placed on the surface of a loose substrate spilled with water and covered with transparent polyethylene or glass. It is not necessary to cover the seeds with soil.

Seedlings will appear within two weeks. When the second true leaf appears, the seedlings dive.

Annual onion for seedlings

Sowing nigella for seedlings allows you to do without buying sevka. For an annual onion crop, most varieties of Russian breeding are suitable. By the time of landing on a permanent place, onion seedlings should be at least 30-40 days old.

Onion seeds germinate unfriendly. The first shoots appear after 5-10 days, the last after 2 weeks. It is better to have a supply of seeds in order to sow them in an empty place if necessary. January seedlings have time to grow a powerful root system, which helps the plants form large bulbs.

cucumbers

Cucumbers are sown for growing on a windowsill or transplanting into heated greenhouses. Seeds should be parthenocarpic, that is, not requiring pollination by bees. Compatible with the following hybrids:

• Relay race;
• Amur;
• Zozulya;
• April.

Ornamental crops

Seeds of ornamental crops quickly lose their germination capacity, so their sowing cannot be postponed until the next year. In February, sown:

• eustoma;
• carnation Shabo;
• Snapdragon;
• panicled phloxes;
• aquilegia;
• balsams;
• ever blooming begonia.

According to the lunar calendar, perennial and annual flowers are sown on February 7, 10 and 14 in 2018.

March 2018

March is the time of mass sowing for seedlings of most crops grown in the middle lane.

Tomatoes

In the second half of March, early varieties of tomatoes are sown, intended for planting under a film. Determinate and indeterminate varieties for polycarbonate greenhouses are sown a little later - at the end of March.

Flowers

In March, salvia, celosia, gazania, helichrysum, pansies, primroses, verbenas, asters, petunias are sown. Small seeds are distributed over the surface of moist soil, and a little snow is scattered on top so that the melt water itself ruins the seeds in the upper layer of the substrate. Large seeds are buried manually to a depth equal to their diameter. March sowing of perennials and biennials ensures flowering in the current season.

cucumbers

For film shelters, cucumbers are sown in early March, for planting in open ground from March 25. Sowing is best done with material of 2-3 years of storage, treated with a 1% solution of potassium permanganate for 15 minutes, and then washed in cold water.

Cabbage

Early white varieties are grown in seedlings, sowing in March. Broccoli and cauliflower are sown from mid-March to June with an interval of two weeks.

April 2018

April is a great month for gardening. At this time, the soil thaws on the site. Garlic, sevok are planted in open ground, carrots, celery, and early greens are sown.

Greens

The greens sown in April will be on the table in 3 weeks. Given the likelihood of frost, only cold-resistant crops are sown: spinach, sorrel, lettuce, radish, dill, parsley and celery. Heat-loving crops with sudden frosts can freeze. Choose the earliest varieties. To speed up germination, after planting, the beds are watered with warm water.

A good day to work with green crops is April 21st. Radishes and turnips can be sown on April 7th.

Tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, cucumbers

Seeds of standard and undersized tomatoes intended for open ground are sown in greenhouses. Nearby, you can sow early, low-growing varieties of sweet pepper. Gardeners late in planting eggplants can still have time to harvest this crop by sowing the most early-ripening varieties: King of the North, Giselle, Purple Miracle, Diamond. These plants produce crops 95-100 days after germination.

Cucumbers are sown in a seedless way directly into polycarbonate greenhouses and for the first time they are covered with cut plastic bottles.

Cabbage

From mid to late April, Brussels sprouts, kohlrabi, mid-season and late-ripening varieties of broccoli, late red and white varieties are sown in cold nurseries for seedlings. At the end of April, it is better to sow cabbage immediately in a permanent place, several seeds per hole, followed by thinning.

Flowers, bulbous

Annual asters, marigolds, ageratum, cochia, amaranth, statice, annual dahlias, zinnias are sown in a permanent place. From perennials, you can sow delphinium, aquilegia, daisies, knifofiya. They plant gladiolus, dahlias, preserved in winter, and lilies, acidanders, crocosmia, freesias, and calla lilies bought at exhibitions in the spring.

According to the lunar seedling calendar 2018, the best day to practice with flowers will be on the 13th and 21st.

Table of sowing and planting seedlings in 2018

Selection does not stand still, and new varieties of vegetables and improved types of already known crops and root crops are constantly emerging. Therefore, there is no single answer to the question “when to sow seeds for seedlings”. Even experienced summer residents doubt the correctness of the chosen time, but beginners are even more lost among the huge amount of information regarding sowing seedlings. You can calculate the time using the formula.

There is no universal period for sowing seedlings even for one vegetable crop. There are many individual factors that determine the optimal sowing time. It is better to calculate this period for each type of seedlings individually. To calculate the formula, you need data on the following items:

• climate features in which the seedling will grow;
• how long does the vegetation of this plant last;
• at what age is it best to plant seedlings in the ground;
• the need of a particular culture for warmth;
• approximate ripening time;
• where this crop will grow, in a greenhouse, or on open ground;
• seed germination time.

Despite the apparent complexity, everything is simple. If you consider each item in detail, you will see that even a novice summer resident can determine the time for sowing seeds for seedlings.

Climatic conditions

This is the key criterion that will be the starting point. It is best to use the scheme of two main sowing dates, the so-called "cold" and "warm" terms.

In the "cold" period, which is indicated by the time period from March to May, crops that are resistant to cold are planted in open ground. Also planted early ripe cabbage. Under the film are vegetables that are more thermophilic. These include tomatoes, vegetable peppers, eggplant, cucumbers. During this period, the temperature of the soil at a depth of 10-15 cm should reach 9 ° C.

In the "warm" period, heat-loving seedlings are planted in open space. The period lasts from mid-April to mid-June.

Important! From the period in which it is possible to plant seedlings in open and closed ground in your climate, the time for sowing seeds will depend.

growing season

This is the time from the appearance of the first sprouts to the final harvest. Different crops have different growing seasons. The seedling method, as a rule, grows crops, the growing season of which is longer than the warm climatic period of the region. If you sow such crops in the ground, you can simply not have time to get a crop. It often happens that different varieties of the same crop do not have the same growing season.

There are garden crops:

• early ripe;
• medium ripeness;
• late-ripening.

Data on this parameter is always indicated by the manufacturer on the packaging of seeds.

Planting age

For seedlings of each crop, there is an optimal planting period. It was at this time that young, immature plants more easily transfer the process of transportation from comfortable growing conditions to the soil. If the seedling is transplanted in due time, it is less injured, does not get sick in the future and better adapts to new conditions. The time of sowing seedlings must be chosen based on this feature of the plants.

Planting dates for seedlings

Warm

Almost all plants that we get by the seedling method are thermophilic. The exceptions are early cabbage and zucchini. Eggplants can be planted only when all risks of frost have passed. Peppers too. Cold-resistant plants can be sown on seedlings later. A later sowing date also implies planting under a film web.

ripening time

This is a relative criterion, since there is a technical ripeness of the product and biological ripeness. To bookmark the crop for storage, it is quite enough to wait for the first one. For immediate consumption, plants can be aged until the final biological ripeness of the fruit is reached.

Advice! Guided by one simple rule, you can influence the timing of the ripeness of the crop. By slightly changing the timing of sowing seeds, by sowing in several stages, you can get seedlings of different ages. It will ripen at different times, thereby increasing the length of the overall harvest period.

Greenhouse or soil

Planting vegetable crops in different conditions significantly affects their ripening period. If you plan to grow tomatoes in a regular garden bed, you should transfer seedlings to it no earlier than the end of May - the beginning of June. Under greenhouse growing conditions, planting can be moved three to four weeks earlier.

It is also worth paying attention to the materials that make up the greenhouse. The time of crop maturation also depends on what temperature will be in the shelter.

Time of emergence of sprouts

The appearance of sprouts can occur within 3-15 days from the moment of sowing the seeds. This criterion is very important, since it directly affects the overall growth period of vegetable crops. It depends not only on the quality of the seeds, but also on the conditions in which they are located. This includes soil quality, temperature, humidity level, sowing depth. Shoots from dry seeds appear later than shoots from pre-wetted and prepared seeds. To speed up germination and make it uniform, you can treat the seeds with a special preparation - a growth accelerator.

Average seed germination rates

Video - Terms of sowing vegetable seeds for seedlings. When to sow?

The optimal time for sowing

Climatic conditions are taken as a starting point. Then, from the table, the conditions under which the culture will grow are selected. Considering the information on the growing season specified by the manufacturer, the sowing time is selected. Subtracting from the obtained value the period of emergence of sprouts, you can get the exact dates of sowing for seedlings of seeds of a particular crop. This is a basic formula that can be supplemented with data from personal experience.

Advice! Eggplants and cucumbers for seedlings are best sown immediately in separate pots or cassettes, as their roots are very fragile and painfully react to the transplant procedure. Tomatoes can be sown in boxes, and when transplanted into open ground, divide them with a fork or knife into squares.

Too, in a hurry with seeding, it's not worth it. Very early planting may not meet expectations for an early harvest. Seeds sown according to the exact time will grow into healthy seedlings, and subsequently into a noble, generous harvest.

After the New Year holidays, gardeners begin to prepare for sowing seeds for seedlings. Experienced, with many years of experience in growing vegetables, can easily determine the date of sowing seeds for seedlings, using their observations and calculations. It is much more difficult to determine this date for beginners. To determine and clarify the date of sowing seeds for seedlings, several methods can be used:

• according to the results of agrotechnical research,
• countdown method,
• according to the correction formula.

Using ready-made average parameters

It is advisable for beginner gardeners to use special reference books for crops. Data on the timing of sowing seeds of vegetable crops for seedlings are obtained in long-term agrotechnical experiments under conditions close to the area of ​​cultivation. Seeds are called zoned and when selling on the back of the package, manufacturers always indicate the output data, up to the recommended date for sowing seeds for seedlings.

It must be said that the dates of sowing the seeds given on the package are averaged. They do not take into account the climatic conditions of the year, the characteristics of the variety named on the label, and other parameters. Therefore, in the winter period (free from field work), gardeners need to familiarize themselves with the recommendations of breeders and select the varieties and hybrids they like from reference books and catalogs.

It is more expedient to buy hybrids marked F1. These are hybrids of the first reproduction. They always differ from subsequent ones in increased resistance to diseases and more accurately correspond to the reference characteristic.

Draw a table in your garden diary and enter data that will help you more accurately determine the date of sowing seeds and planting seedlings permanently in open or protected ground (heated, cold, film greenhouses, from spandbod and other permanent and temporary shelters).

The required parameters for the main vegetable crops are given below in Table. 1 and 2. Please note that in tables 1 and 2 the same crops differ in seedling age and planting time (the region is the same, but the districts are different). These tables show how the official data are averaged. Therefore, when using ready-made parameters for sowing seeds, it is better to take data from your area.

Table 1: Average data for sowing seedlings obtained on the basis of agrotechnical experiments for central Russia

Table 2: Terms of planting seedlings in central Russia in protected and open ground

Countdown method

To apply this calculation method, it is necessary to additionally use regional climatic maps, which show the parameters of the onset of stable warm weather in spring (without the return of possible spring frosts) and autumn cooling. Data on the length of the growing season of crops is also required. For a better organization of the sowing and transplant period, we enter the necessary parameters in our garden diary.

In the table, we place the data on the age of the seedlings, the period of their planting in the ground, the emergence of seedlings, the allowance of time for unforeseen circumstances, adaptation after picking, and the calculated data obtained.

For example: in central Russia, a warm frost-free period begins in the second decade of May. The deadline is May 15th. The period of development of early tomatoes from germination takes 45-50 days. To this period we add 5-7 days for the emergence of seedlings and 3-4 days for the period of adaptation of seedlings after picking and other unforeseen cases (50+7+4=61). Using the calendar, we count back 50 days from the age of the seedlings, 4 days for picking and 7 days for the emergence of shoots and get the number of counting days (60-61 days) and a fixed date for sowing seeds for seedlings. The date falls on March 14-15. Sowing seeds can be extended by conducting it in several periods with a break of 10-15 days. Planting seedlings will take the period from March 15 to April 1.

Here is another example of a countdown for sweet peppers. We determine the deadline for the frost-free period using the climate map. In the southern regions, it falls on the last ten days of April - the first ten days of May. The age of seedlings of sweet pepper, ready for permanent planting, is 65-75 days. We are counting down from May 10 (so as not to fall under the return frost).

By the age of seedlings 65 we add 5 days for germination and 7 for unforeseen circumstances (temperature will decrease, lack of lighting, delay in watering) and we get a total of 77 days. We count them from May 10 and get the date of sowing seeds for seedlings on February 17. So, the period of sowing sweet pepper for seedlings in the southern regions is from February 17 to March 1. If sowed in 2-3 terms with a gap of 8-10 days, then the period of sowing pepper seeds for seedlings will last until March 5-10.

When calculating the date of sowing seeds, follow the rule: it is better to plant younger undergrown seedlings permanently than overgrown ones. Young seedlings go through a period of adaptation to new living conditions faster (like a newborn baby), and overgrown seedlings are inconvenient to plant (a lot of waste) and are prone to diseases during the adaptation period.

If you are not sure about the quality of the preparation of seedlings for permanent planting, then always postpone the sowing date to a later date (sometimes up to 10 days). You can sow seeds in several periods. This technique will provide an opportunity to get into temperature and light conditions favorable for the culture.

Correction Formula Calculation

As you saw in the examples above, the sowing date of the seeds still turns out to be floating and fluctuates within 10 days. There is another way to calculate more accurate sowing of seeds for seedlings - using the correction formula. To calculate it, additional data will be required, which can be taken from the reference literature or use the results of your long-term observations.

We draw an auxiliary table, where we enter the following data (Table 3). When determining the date of sowing seeds for seedlings according to the amendment formula, we calculate at the level of the variety. That is, we take into account the parameters not in general of early tomatoes or another crop, but of a certain variety or hybrid.

Table 3: An example of calculating the sowing date of vegetable seeds using the correction formula

You will find some of the parameters on a bag of seeds, others you can get from reference books, climate maps of the region, district. To calculate, immediately decide under what conditions the crop will be grown in the post-seedling period.

The following parameters should be indicated on the bag with seeds:

• name of the variety or hybrid,
• growing region,
• sowing date,
• date of landing in the ground,
• seed processing.

The last 2 parameters will be a guide for you in the calculations. It is important to know whether pre-sowing seed treatment has been carried out. If not, you must treat the seeds for diseases and pests yourself. Poor-quality seeds will delay the development of seedlings and you can be late with the planting dates for a permanent planting, not get or get very sparse seedlings, etc. To fill in the calculation table, you will need a number of parameters obtained empirically (duration of the growing season, age of vegetable seedlings, seed germination period).

On average, the duration of the growing season is always indicated on the seed bag or in the catalogs of varieties and hybrids of vegetable crops. We take as a basis the averaged data:

• tomatoes - 75-140 days;
• sweet pepper - 80-140 days,
• eggplant - 90-150 days.

• tomatoes - 45-50 days;
• mid-ripening tomatoes - 55-60 days;
• late-ripening tomatoes - 70 days;
• sweet pepper - 55-65 days;
• eggplant - 50-60 days.

Germination depends on the preparation of the seed material: - treatment with growth substances, sowing with sprouted seeds or dry, etc. The average seed germination time is:

• tomatoes - 4-8 days;
• sweet pepper - 12-14 days;
• eggplant - 10-12 days;
• white cabbage - 4-6 days.

It is possible to get a harvest at a predetermined time, as well as to prolong the fruiting of a crop. To do this, we sow the seeds in several stages, with a gap (depending on the crop) of 8-12-15 days. In order to get an ultra-early harvest, we select an early-ripening variety and sow it as early as possible, providing all the required conditions (heat, watering, additional illumination, top dressing). There is a risk of losing seedlings to frost, but a quality temporary shelter will help preserve the seedlings and get an extra early harvest.

Planting seedlings on a permanent basis significantly affects the period of sowing seeds for seedlings. If we plant seedlings in open ground, then it is necessary to know as accurately as possible the onset of the spring frost-free period. For central Russia (range Moscow, Ufa, Chelyabinsk) this is the period from 10.06. For a colder region, covering Perm, Yekaterinburg, the frost-free period starts from 15.06. At the level of Voronezh and Saratov, steadily warm weather sets in from 01.05 and in the south (Rostov, Krasnodar) - from 10.04.

The established warming will have a noticeable effect on the condition of the soil, it will begin to warm up. This is especially significant when sowing in film greenhouses and hotbeds without constant heating. By the above dates, the soil for seedlings in a 10-15 cm layer should warm up to +10 .. +14 ° С. With cold soil, it is better to delay sowing. Researchers involved in the agricultural technology of vegetable crops believe that it is more rational to plant seedlings of a shorter period than overgrown ones.

According to the data in Table. 3 we calculate the date of sowing seeds of early tomatoes for seedlings according to the amendment formula.

1. The date of planting seedlings in open ground for Moscow and the region is June 15.
2. The optimal age of seedlings is 50 days. According to the optimal parameters, seedlings by this period should have 25-30 cm in height, 5-7 formed leaves, a stem diameter of at least 6-8 mm and 1-2 inflorescences with buds. If the seedlings have such indicators, but the age is still only 44 days, it can be planted in open ground with the above accepted indicators of soil readiness. If the soil has not yet warmed up and the weather is cold, then you can reduce watering and reduce the temperature in the greenhouse (suspend the growth of seedlings) or plant in the ground, making a temporary shelter (for example, use a double layer of spandbond).
3. From the date of June 15, countdown subtract the age of the seedlings (50 days). We get the date April 27th.
4. Subtract the seed germination period (7 days). We get the date April 20.
5. We subtract the adaptation period if the seedlings are grown using picks (1 + 4 = 5 days). We get the date April 15th.

The dates of sowing seeds for seedlings obtained by calculation completely coincide with the data in Table. 1 (averaged seeding parameters obtained in long-term experiments), but are more accurate.

The key to a good harvest of vegetables is well-grown seedlings. We understand how to correctly calculate the time of sowing seeds so that the result exceeds all expectations!

Growing seedlings requires a responsible approach, because the harvest depends on how the "seedling" period of a plant's life passes. Compliance with the temperature regime, timely watering, providing seedlings with a sufficient amount of light - all this, no doubt, is part of the normal development of the plant, but it is equally important to sow seeds for seedlings on time.

Heat-loving or cold-resistant?

Plants that are grown through seedlings are mostly thermophilic (except, perhaps, white and cauliflower, which easily tolerates slight frosts). This parameter should be taken into account when planning the sowing time, since later the time of planting seedlings in the ground will also depend on these characteristics of the vegetable crop.

For example, peppers and eggplants are heat-loving vegetables, which means that they can be planted in the ground (even in a greenhouse) after the threat of return frosts has passed. But some varieties of vegetable crops, bred by breeders specifically for the northern regions, are able to endure low temperatures, so they are planted in open ground or a greenhouse before other representatives of the species.

Weather

Depending on the climatic conditions characteristic of your region, the time for sowing seeds for seedlings changes. The table below shows the average data on the terms favorable for sowing vegetables.

The dates in the table are approximate and not strict, for a more accurate calculation of the time for sowing vegetables for seedlings, we suggest trying the countdown method, which we will discuss below.

What is important to consider?

To get the first harvest of vegetables by a certain time, it is necessary to correctly calculate the time in which you need to sow seeds for seedlings. To do this, you will need information:

- about the duration of the growing season of vegetable crops;

- about the time required for seed germination (germination).

Seed germination time

When calculating the time of sowing certain crops, we often forget about the need to take into account the timing of seed germination. The time of emergence of seedlings and the friendliness of germination depend on the conditions of storage of seeds, their pre-treatment, and the favorable conditions created for growing seedlings. The average figures for this parameter are as follows:

Use seeds that you collected and stored yourself, or buy seed material in specialized stores to protect yourself from scammers and be sure of a good harvest.

growing season

The time from germination to harvest is called the growing season. The duration of this period varies among plants, moreover, it can be different for varieties of the same species - hence the division of varieties into early-ripening, mid-ripening and late-ripening.

Early-ripening varieties need much less time to ripen than late-ripening and mid-ripening ones. As a rule, in the middle lane, plants with a longer growing season are grown by seedlings so that they have time to produce a crop.

Seed producers usually indicate on the packaging information about the duration of the growing season of the crop. On average, the growing season lasts:

This indicator depends on many circumstances: seed storage conditions, biological characteristics of vegetable crops, growing conditions, etc.

How to calculate the sowing of seedlings?

The information given in the tables above can be used to calculate the sowing time for seedlings. To do this, to the number indicating the length of the growing season, add the number of days required for seed germination, and 5 days (approximately) for plant adaptation after planting in the ground. Then subtract the resulting number from the date on which you planned to harvest.

For example, you want to have a tomato harvest by mid-July (let's say 07/20). The packaging indicates that the growing season of your chosen variety lasts 130 days: 130 + 7 + 5 = 142, which means that 142 days must be taken from July 20. It turns out that you need to sow tomato seeds for seedlings on February 28th. Of course, the dates are approximate, since a large number of factors influence the development of the plant.

When to plant seedlings in the ground?

When planning the time for sowing seedlings, do not forget to take into account the conditions in which you are going to grow the plant after it "moves" - whether it will be a greenhouse or greenhouse (protected ground) or just a garden bed (open ground). It is possible to plant plants in protected ground already from the beginning of May, and in open ground - not earlier than the end of May - the beginning of June. It is from these terms that one must build on when calculating the time for sowing seeds.

We suggest that you familiarize yourself with the table, which indicates the optimal age of seedlings for planting in the ground.

When planting seedlings in the ground, you need to be very careful not to harm the young plant, because this is stress for the seedlings.

Do not overestimate your capabilities!

It is quite logical to conclude that the sooner the seeds are sown, the sooner the long-awaited harvest will ripen. But do not take everything literally and blindly follow this truth. When calculating the timing of sowing, consider your capabilities.

For example, if you sow pepper seeds for seedlings ahead of time (say, at the end of January), then the seedlings will have to be illuminated, because during this period the daylight hours are not long enough for the full development of the plant. If you do not organize additional lighting for seedlings, then it will stretch out and wither.

In addition, in the case of such early sowing, the grown seedlings of pepper will need to be planted in the ground in the first decade of April. In the conditions of the middle zone, this can only be done if there is a heated greenhouse, so if you do not have such opportunities, then you should not rush to sow seeds for seedlings.

After germination, provide the seedlings with proper care, and in a few months you will enjoy a rich harvest of tasty and healthy vegetables!