If you dream of juicy, ripe tomatoes from your own cultivation, it is worth starting sowing now. The right date is the basis for strong seedlingswhich will easily take root in the ground when the right moment comes. However, March sowing requires attention because even small mistakes made at the beginning can determine the quality and abundance of crops throughout the season.
Tomatoes are thermophilic plants with a long growing season, Therefore, you should start sowing them at the right time so that they have time to grow and gain strength before planting them into the ground.
Seedlings usually need 6-8 weeks, to develop properly, and it is usually placed in the ground in mid-May, when the risk of frost has passed. For this reason the first half of March is the optimal time to start sowing.
However, you need to choose the perfect moment and combine it with the right conditions. Sowing too early without light will result in weak plants, while too late may make it the fruit will not have time to fully ripen before the end of summer.
The selection of varieties is also important. In March, it is worth sowing tall varieties intended for tunnels, cherry tomatoes, and early and medium-early varieties for field cultivation. Sowing late varieties at this date often results in problems with excessive seedling growth and delayed fruiting.
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The right date is one thing, but also germination conditions are important. The substrate and temperature are crucial. A light substrate with a pH of 5.8-6.5 will work best, sterile to ensure the absence of diseases.
Just place the seeds in such soil at a depth of 0.5 cm, covering them lightly. It is best to keep seed containers at a temperature favorable to germinationwhich oscillates around 24-16 degrees C. The first descent should appear after about 5-8 days. After this time, it is worth lowering the temperature slightly.
Moreover, it is worth providing the sown tomatoes with adequate sunlight. Unfortunately, in March the amount of light may still be insufficient, so often LED lighting turns out to be a good solution.
As for , it is important, but only needed when the top layer dries. Constant, excessive moisture only promotes disease. It is best to use lukewarm water for watering. Paying attention to these issues, tomatoes sown at the right time, they will be strong and ready to be transplanted into the groundwhen the spring frosts stop for good.
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