Prepare the areas for planting or sowing the early cold‑resistant vegetable crops (onion, garlic, carrots, peas). Sow the seeds for early field production of tomatoes, peppers and eggplants. In the more southern regions it is advisable to do this during the last ten days of January, and for the remaining regions – in February. If the hotbeds are not well heated, on sunny days remove the mats without lifting the frames. In this way the upper soil layer warms up and normal germination of the seeds is ensured. Immediately after emergence, regardless of the weather, ventilate every day and for a period of 10–12 days maintain a lower temperature (14–15 degrees) in the hotbeds. This slows down stem elongation and the seedlings develop a better root system.
In mid‑February sow the seeds of head cabbage and lettuce for raising seedlings for early field production.
In favourable weather during the last ten days of February, plant shallots for obtaining onion bulbs and seeds for shallot production. During this period also plant the spring garlic. Sow the seeds of leek and bulbing onion for seedlings. All these crops are grown on beds.
At the end of February prepare the cultivation facilities and prick out the seedlings of tomatoes, peppers and eggplants. Semi‑heated hotbeds can be used or small tunnels can be made in the polyethylene greenhouses. Tomatoes and eggplants are pricked out at 10/10 cm, and peppers – at 8/8 cm. The soil around the plants is pressed very well, especially in the root zone. Due to the relatively weaker solar radiation and the high relative humidity, the seedlings are hardly watered during this period.
For good plant protection practices in seedling production, read issue 1/2018 of the journal “Plant Protection”.
Those of you who wish to obtain more detailed information on protection against diseases and pests, on varietal structure and nutrition, can consult the following issues of the journal: issue 2/2016 – tomatoes, issue 5/2016 – peppers, issue 2/2017 – brassica crops.
