How long does it take from sowing to planting tomatoes (how big should the tomato seedlings be before they can be planted)

The period from when tomato seeds are sown to when they are planted in the field is called the seedling raising period . Tomato seeds are small and thin, with less dissolved matter, which means they do not have much nutrition, and the seedlings are weak and uneven, so few people sow them directly, and most people raise seedlings and transplant them.

There are two methods for growing tomatoes: protected seedlings and open field seedlings. It depends on the cultivation method you want to use. Different seedling raising methods have different lengths of seedling raising period. Let's talk about them separately.

1. Open-field seedling cultivation

Open-field seedling cultivation is generally carried out in spring and autumn.

If you start sowing in spring, which is usually at the end of March, the tomato varieties you choose will be different, and the seedling raising method and seedling raising period will also be different.

1. Early maturing varieties

For open-field early-maturing varieties, if you use a cold bed to grow seedlings, that is, directly sow and sow seedlings on flat ground, it will take 70-80 days before transplanting . If you use a heated bed, that is, a hotbed, it will take 60-70 days, or even longer, depending on how well you regulate the temperature.

2. Mid-late maturing varieties

If you choose a medium to late maturing variety and use a cold bed to grow seedlings, it usually takes 80-90 days, while a hot bed will take 70-80 days, or slightly longer.

Anyway, if the temperature is a little higher, the seedling period will be shortened, usually about 10 days earlier.

As the sowing period in autumn is in the hot and rainy months of July and August, open-field seedling cultivation requires shade nets and insect-proof nets to ensure that seeds germinate quickly and seedlings grow quickly.

Generally, it can be transplanted in 25-40 days, depending on whether the sowing period is July or August. In July, it is generally about 25-30 days, and in August it is 35-40 days .

2. Protected seedling cultivation

When growing tomato seedlings under protective facilities, it also depends on the variety, seedling conditions, season, etc., that is, whether it is heated or not and whether it is an early-maturing or medium- or late-maturing variety.

1. Early maturity in greenhouse in spring

Generally speaking, if early-maturing varieties are grown in a heated greenhouse, it will take 70-75 days, and if it is grown in a solar greenhouse, it will take 75-85 days. If you combine it with heated seedling cultivation, it will generally be shortened by 10-15 days, that is, 65-70 days .

For mid- to late-maturing varieties, the seedling growth period will generally be extended by 7-10 days using the above method .

2. Greenhouse winter and spring crops

When sowing and growing tomato seedlings in the greenhouse, early-maturing varieties generally take 60-70 days, while medium- and late-maturing varieties require 70-80 days.

In short, the seedling age of tomatoes and other fruit and vegetable vegetables should be calculated based on the planting period, and the appropriate seedling age should also be considered based on the seedling raising facilities and technology.

Such as heat preservation, management technology, etc. Generally speaking, the temperature of the cold bed is low, the seedling age is long, peppers and eggplants should be sown early, and tomatoes should be sown late.