If you want your beds to be bursting with large, aromatic tomatoes without cracks or bitterness by August, you need to start not in the spring – but right now. February is the ideal time to plant the next harvest. Not only the number of fruits, but also their taste, density and disease resistance depends on how you prepare the seedlings during these weeks.
What to do in February:
1. Choose the right varieties
Give preference to zoned or proven varieties with good resistance to late blight: De Barao, Ox Heart, Pink Honey or Honey Cream. Consider how much time you have before planting in the ground: for the middle zone, varieties with a ripening period of 90–110 days are optimal
2. Treat and soak the seeds
Before sowing, disinfect the seeds in a weak solution of potassium permanganate for 15–20 minutes, then rinse. For better germination, soak them for 12 hours in warm water or an epin/zircon solution. This will strengthen the immunity of future plants.
3. Use light, breathable soil
Do not use garden soil; it may contain fungal spores. It's better to mix:
- 2 parts peat
- 1 part humus,
- 1 part perlite or washed sand.
Add a pinch of wood ash, it will provide potassium and protect against blackleg.
4. Provide plenty of light from the first days
February light is short and weak. Without additional lighting, the seedlings will stretch out, become weak and will not be able to set full-fledged fruits. Turn on the phytolamp for 12–14 hours a day, starting from the moment the seedlings emerge.
5. Do not overfeed with nitrogen
Many people mistakenly “feed” seedlings every week. In fact, before picking, fertilizing is not needed, and after that, once every 10–14 days with a weak solution of complex fertilizer is enough. Excess nitrogen produces lush tops, but few ovaries.
These steps seem small, but they are the ones that determine whether your tomato will be watery or meaty, sweet or sour, healthy or diseased. Pay attention to the seedlings now and already in July you will be harvesting a harvest from which your neighbors will ask for seeds.
