The right time for sowing tomato seeds needs to be chosen carefully. Too early is just as detrimental as too late. Find out here how to accurately determine the optimal time frame and act accordingly.
When is the best time to sow tomato seeds?
The ideal time to sow tomato seeds is between the end of February and the end of March. Cultivation begins in the heated greenhouse in the last week of February, while it starts on the windowsill or in the unheated greenhouse in mid-March.
Time of sowing as a quintessence of various factors
Tomatoes only germinate and thrive under the condition that the factors light, heat, moisture and time are in perfect harmony. It is important to reconcile the following influences:
- Sowing too early results in too large, rotting seedlings under winter lighting conditions
- Sowing too late results in a time window for maturity that is too narrow
Since tomatoes can only be planted outdoors from mid-May at the earliest, the weeks from the end of February to the end of March are suitable for sowing behind glass. Differentiated according to the possible locations, cultivation begins in the heated, light-flooded greenhouse in the last week of February. On the not so bright windowsill or in the unheated greenhouse, the starting signal is given in mid-March.
Appointment alone is no guarantee of success
By choosing the optimal time to start growing, an important first step has been taken. Other aspects play a crucial role in ensuring that magnificent young plants appear outdoors in May. This is how you proceed with sowing:
- Sift the seeds thinly in the lean growing substrate as light germinators
- place in partial shade and warm at least 20-24 degrees Celsius until germination
- after germination, be sure to place it cooler at temperatures of 16-18 degrees or brighter
- After the second pair of leaves appear, prick out into lightly fertilized soil
- Compensate for any lack of light with special plant lamps (€79.00 at Amazon)
During this growth phase, the substrate is kept constantly moist without waterlogging developing.
Tips & Tricks
The required germination temperature of 20-24 degrees Celsius is sometimes endangered by cold bridges on the windowsill. You can effectively prevent this situation by placing the seed containers on polystyrene plates or, ideally, on small heating mats for growing plants.
