When to plant zucchini and tomatoes in the garden?
The tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is a very popular fruit in our latitudes. It grows in summer temperatures. There are hundreds of varieties of tomatoes, from the smallest, cherry tomatoes, to the most fleshy, beef hearts for example. Zucchini (Cucurbita pepo) are also a popular vegetable in Mediterranean cuisine and are quite easy to grow. Let's see them in detail.
When to plant tomatoes in the garden?
Starting seedlings in cups
You can plant the seeds first and then transplant the seedlings to the garden after the last frost date in your area. If you want to start the seedlings earlier, and you can also choose to get a head start on the growing season by planting the seeds in cups indoors, between February and April, depending on your local climate. To do this, start tomatoes indoors in seedling trays or recyclable pots six to eight weeks before the date of the last frost in your area.Seedlings need six to eight hours of strong light per day. Keep seedlings moist as they grow, but don't "drown" them in their containers.
Transplanting to the garden
Wait until after the last frost to plant the plants outside. Night temperatures should ideally be above 12°C. Dig 7 to 10 cm in a well-drained, sunny area of the garden and plant the seedlings.
Choose the right variety
Calculate the number of days between the date of the last spring frost and the first fall frost in your area, and select varieties that will produce fruit in that time. Reif Red or Marmande beef hearts, for example, have a cycle between 50 and 70 days (early). In general, small varieties such as cherry tomatoes are also quicker to produce their first fruit.
Mulching, watering and fertilizing
Maintenance is quite simple: add a layer of mulch around the plants. Water regularly when the soil is dry. Fertilize by regularly adding organic matter without excess.
When to plant zucchini in the garden?
Like tomatoes, zucchini are summer vegetables that need sunlight, so while you can start seedlings indoors, the safest way to get the most out of your plants is to wait until it's really zucchini planting season in your area, but as an avid gardener, we know you're impatient. So start your seedlings +/- 1 month before the last frost date in your area.
If you are planting directly outside, it is the temperature that counts. When the soil temperature reaches 15 to 21°C at a depth of 5 cm, you can plant your zucchini seeds directly outside for a later harvest. If the soil is not warm enough, the seeds will not germinate. And if they germinate in cold air, the plants may suffer from poor growth and yield. It is also important to be careful when watering to avoid powdery mildew.
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