Let's figure out how to properly use all the soil in the greenhouse. In order to get a significant harvest that will be ready for harvest earlier or will have time to ripen (applies to the northern regions), we plant it in closed ground. Building a greenhouse takes a lot of effort, time and money, so I want to plant it as much as possible, and we often plant different crops close to each other. Incorrectly selected vegetables for joint growth can cause large losses in yield, so you need to know what you can plant with what in the greenhouse. Mostly heat-loving vegetables such as peppers, tomatoes, and cucumbers are grown in protected soil. If there is room left, I want to add something else. Many cultures are capable of coexisting peacefully, but there are also representatives whose presence will inhibit the growth and development of the main “settlers”. We suggest considering which joint plantings of vegetables in a greenhouse are acceptable and which are not.
Why is planting in protected soil necessary?
Today, not a single summer cottage is complete without a greenhouse or hothouse. Experienced gardeners claim that the harvest obtained from a greenhouse cannot be compared with that obtained from crops planted in open ground.
Many people grow not only tomatoes and cucumbers in greenhouses, but also root vegetables, herbs, and ornamental flowering plants. Such plantings allow you to monitor soil moisture and regulate temperature for better crop growth. Many novice gardeners do not know that they can plant together in a greenhouse, and it happens that their harvest turns out to be much poorer than that of a neighbor behind the fence who grows vegetables in ordinary beds. What's the matter? You just need to use the closed ground space wisely and not cram everything that comes to hand into one area. We suggest you figure out which vegetables can be planted in one greenhouse and which are not recommended.
Preparing the greenhouse
Everything will grow ideally in closed ground. In the spring, when there is still snow in places, the greenhouse is already quite warm and nice, why would it just sit idle if you can get the first harvest of greens in it? Moreover, many crops are ideal predecessors for planting. If you have plans to plant these particular vegetables, we suggest preparing the land, and at the same time enjoying the very first vitamins of green crops from your own garden bed before anyone else!
So, before planting the main crops in the greenhouse, germinate leaf parsley, dill, Chinese cabbage, and mustard in its soil. After harvesting, dig up the soil again, remove the remains of the grown plants and you can begin the main planting. The question of what can be planted together in a greenhouse is of interest to everyone, so it is worth thinking carefully before choosing vegetables.
For example, cucumbers and tomatoes will not grow very well together, since the crops require different temperature conditions. Eggplants generally do not like crowding and the proximity of other crops. But it is still possible to grow all these vegetables together, you just have to choose the right varieties and take action. By following our recommendations, you can achieve a high yield, even if your greenhouse is planted with different vegetables. What crops can be planted together? We suggest you start choosing neighbors for your tomatoes.
What can you use to plant tomatoes in a greenhouse?
These vegetables like to grow in light, fertile soils rich in calcium. To increase productivity, it is necessary to produce stable fertilizing with calcium nitrate. If the soil in the greenhouse is fertilized with organic matter, then additional fertilizing will not be useful; on the contrary, it can be detrimental to the crop. “Overfed” tomatoes will gain green mass, but will produce few fruits, and they will be small. Tomatoes need ventilation, moderate air temperature, and abundant watering, which is done directly under the root. What can you use to plant tomatoes in a greenhouse? What crops will they adapt to?
You can plant early variety white cabbage nearby. Express, Ultra Early Miracle, Nakhodka will do. Head and leaf lettuces will grow well at the “foot” of the ridge. Also good neighbors would be Sugar Giant radishes, parsley and onions. Unfortunately, tomatoes will not be able to create a good union with fennel and dill, so avoid this combination.
Many gardeners make the grave mistake of planting cucumbers and tomatoes together in a greenhouse. If you do not have a separate space for cucumbers, then do not plant the crops in one bed, plant them in different ones and, which will be ideal, separate the plantings from each other with a bed of peppers. Planting tomatoes and hot peppers in the same greenhouse is unacceptable unless you are a gourmet and you are not bothered by the bitter-spicy taste of tomatoes, the bush of which can cross-pollinate with its hot neighbor.
Before looking for neighbors for cucumbers, we suggest finding out when you can plant cucumbers in a greenhouse with seeds.
Rules for planting cucumbers
When to plant seeds depends on the region where the crop is grown and the greenhouse. If there is no artificial lighting and heating, then residents of the central and northern parts of Russia can begin planting in the middle and end of May, when the outside air temperature reaches +15 degrees. If you live in the southern part, then you can plant cucumber seeds in a greenhouse in April. The same period is relevant for greenhouses with heating and lighting.
Two days before planting, the seeds must be prepared. To do this, place them in the refrigerator or any other cool place for 24 hours. After the time has passed, prepare gauze bags, place a seed in each, and place in water for 12 hours. After this, take it out and leave the bags of seeds at room temperature; by the next day small sprouts will appear. If some seeds do not hatch, this will mean that they are empty and can be thrown away.
What can you use to plant cucumbers in a greenhouse?
Planting seeds should be done using a single-line or two-line method. At the same time, there should be trellises in the garden bed, to which the plants must be tied for good fruiting. Cucumbers need abundant watering; if the crop lacks moisture, the fruits may have a bitter taste. In addition, it is necessary to consistently produce organic and mineral fertilizers. Cucumbers respond well to solutions of potassium sulfate, bird droppings and superphosphate. What can you use to plant cucumbers in a greenhouse?
If the cucumbers grow not just tied up, but there is a trellis, then they will not damage nearby crops with their tendrils, which they can get caught on. If there is enough space between the bushes, then you can plant white cabbage. Also excellent neighbors will be dill, parsley, fennel, basil, head and leaf lettuce, Siberian early ripening eggplant and Mushroom Picker's Dream, radish. Peppers and cucumbers can be planted together in a greenhouse, but the proximity of tomatoes is undesirable and is possible only if the ridge with them is fenced with another crop. Corn grows well next to cucumbers; they can coexist either in different or in the same bed. The only thing is that additional processing of plants may be necessary for fruit set.
Planting pepper
Many gardeners grow sweet peppers. It is ideal for fresh consumption, has a pleasant taste and aroma, contains many vitamins, and perfectly complements a salad of fresh vegetables. Peppers are also used for preparations for the winter; there is nothing better than opening a fragrant jar of lecho on a frosty day, prepared from peppers grown on your own plot.
This crop can be planted in a checkerboard pattern; it is completely at ease with dense planting and shade, so feel free to plant seven plants per square meter. The denser the planting, the richer the harvest! Mineral and organic fertilizers, stable ventilation of the greenhouse, and good watering are needed. So, what can you use to plant peppers in a greenhouse?
Peppers go well with eggplants, since both crops are nightshades. But placing plants too close to each other can cause a decrease in the yield of both. We said that you can plant tomatoes and peppers in a greenhouse; they grow well nearby. If you want to place eggplants in the greenhouse, build the beds in this order: eggplants - tomatoes - peppers. Onions, lovage and basil will also not harm the peppers and will develop well themselves. Joint planting of cucumbers and peppers in a greenhouse can be done quite calmly; these crops are friendly.
Eggplant
Many vegetable growers grow eggplants. The best option for planting a crop is in a greenhouse. In protected soil, the plant will develop faster, more ovaries will appear, and, accordingly, fruits. Growing in a greenhouse, eggplants will produce a larger harvest than when grown in open areas. The plant loves moisture, sun, and high-quality fertilizing. Fertilizers should be alternated. At the first stages of development, organic matter will be needed; at the stage of fruit ovary, mineral fertilizers, more calcium and potassium are needed. Do not plant the plants too densely; the yield will be significantly reduced due to lack of sun; eggplants do not like crowding.
What can you use to plant eggplants in a greenhouse if they are so capricious? Of course, co-growing is difficult, but it is still possible. We have already written that the culture gets along well with peppers and tomatoes. If the peppers should be located a little further away, fenced off by another ridge, then the tomatoes also need to be planted according to plan. First, there should be space between the eggplant and tomato beds to allow as much extra light as possible. Secondly, when planting nearby, choose a low-growing variety. If the tomatoes are tall, they will shade the eggplants, and they will grow small and the bushes will be weak.
Onions will grow well next to eggplants and will not harm their capricious neighbor. You can also plant a melon; it will also grow well in a greenhouse and will not shade the eggplants or interfere with their growth.
We propose to continue our review of what you can plant with in a greenhouse. Let's move on to the greens that people love to grow indoors. The thing is that in this way you can have fresh, young lettuce, dill, onions (feathers) on the table all season long, because with proper planting you can reap several harvests in a year.
Salad
This crop needs soil saturated with organic fertilizers. It is recommended to plant in rows, the distance between which will be on average twenty centimeters; this is necessary for the correct formation of the bushes. If you plant seeds every two weeks, the harvest will be stable and you will be able to have fresh salad greens until the end of the season. The culture loves good moisture, loose soil, and stable application of fertilizers. What can you plant in the same greenhouse with lettuce?
If you plan to have a greenhouse in which only greens will grow, you can plant dill, parsley, basil, onions and onions, head and leaf lettuces - all of this is in perfect harmony with each other. The only thing is that you need to plant onions in a separate bed if you want to get onions, because a lot of space is needed to form the heads.
Cabbage, both leafy and cabbage, will grow well with salad. Lettuce can be planted between bushes of cucumbers, tomatoes and peppers. Eggplants will also sit comfortably next to salad. By planting these crops together, you will get rid of unnecessary hassle. That is, by fertilizing and watering tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and eggplants, you will immediately carry out the necessary procedures for the salad. All these crops love moisture, loose soil, and fertilizing.
Undesirable co-cultivation
We wrote that it is possible to combine tomatoes and cucumbers in the same greenhouse, but subject to certain rules. We have already covered what can be planted with in a greenhouse, and what crops cannot be combined, but what to do if you have closed soil worth its weight in gold, and you want to plant both cucumbers and tomatoes? Growing them together is not recommended, but you can still try. Use the following tips and you will not lose your harvest.
The first thing every vegetable grower should remember is that cucumbers, unlike tomatoes, do not like ventilation, they are too susceptible to infections, these delicate creatures love warmth, the absence of drafts, and if you do not follow the rules, there will be a lot of empty flowers, foliage will begin to turn yellow.
Cucumbers require greenhouse conditions for high-quality growth, a lot of water. And tomatoes can’t stand this. They need fresh air; too wet soil can cause rot in the roots and fungal diseases, which not only have a detrimental effect on the harvest, but can even destroy the plants. Of course, planting in separate beds is acceptable, but what to do with ventilation?
You can plant tomatoes closer to the exit, and place cucumbers in distant beds. If you plant them at the end, it will be possible to make a fence; for this you will need film. Attach it to the ceiling to form a curtain, take a wooden stick and attach it to the bottom of the film, wrapping it and securing it. Now you can lift this curtain to go to the cucumbers and carry out all the necessary procedures, and they will be fenced off from the tomatoes, and when ventilating a draft, the fence will not be lifted, since it is weighted with a stick. Cucumbers will grow quietly in their “greenhouse”, without disturbing the tomatoes, without sharing their heat and moisture with them, and you will use the entire space of the greenhouse, plant all the necessary crops, and the harvest will be high, since all conditions have been created for tomatoes and cucumbers good growth.
Hot peppers should never be planted in the same greenhouse with other crops. You can’t plant them together even with sweet peppers. During cross-pollination, which will definitely occur, the taste of tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers will be spicy; there may even be a burning sensation characteristic of hot peppers. This way you will simply spoil the taste of the entire greenhouse harvest. For such a “hot” plant, create a small greenhouse in which it will be away from other crops.
It is worth remembering that planting green beans nearby will help increase the productivity of tomatoes, but peas are completely contraindicated for them. Cucumbers will not be able to live side by side with sage; it will inhibit the plant and cause low yields. Now we propose to move on to considering the question of what to do if you want to grow root crops or melons.
A little more about joint plantings
As mentioned earlier, so that the greenhouse does not stand idle in the spring, you can plant various greens in it, and after harvesting it, plant the main crops. We offer you another option. In April, you can plant early ripening beet varieties in the greenhouse. When the time comes to plant tomatoes, the root crops will already have grown well; calmly place the seedlings between them. Together, these crops will grow well and will not interfere with each other. When the tomato seedlings have grown to such an extent that they shade the beets, the root crops can be removed and they will be ready for harvesting. This way you can get early beets, and the greenhouse area will be used to the maximum. After harvesting the root crops, you can again “ennoble” the vacated areas by planting lettuce, dill and parsley, and you will again be a winner.
Watermelons and melons will grow well in a greenhouse together with tomatoes. Melons can be planted mixed with tomatoes, or in a separate bed. The second option is more acceptable, since melons and watermelons do not really like drafts, but they also do not need the greenhouse effect, like cucumbers. Simply plant the crop in a distant garden bed or along the walls of a greenhouse behind tomato bushes; watermelons and melons love a lot of sunlight. Planting melons for tomatoes is useful because their smell attracts more bees for pollination; insects, having flown in for the sweet aroma, will also take care of the tomatoes. Watermelons ripen no faster than many varieties of tomatoes; harvesting takes place on average ninety days after planting the seedlings. Thus, the greenhouse will be fully operational throughout the entire season.
We learned what can be planted with in a greenhouse, and what combinations should be avoided. But for the quality of the harvest, it is necessary to properly prepare the closed soil; it determines how well all the crops planted in the greenhouse will grow.
Preparing the greenhouse for the season
Vegetables planted in closed ground, unlike those grown in open ground, practically do not receive nutrients from the external environment, so it is worth taking care of the condition and maintenance of the soil in advance. In addition to regular fertilizing, cultivated plants need high-quality soil that will meet all the requirements - good breathability, absorbency, and light composition.
If the site is consistently used to install a greenhouse, then the soil is already quite depleted and cannot provide the plants with all the nutrients. The best option is to completely change the soil, removing the old one from the greenhouse and placing new one. If this is not possible, then enrichment measures can be carried out; to do this, add as much organic matter and mineral fertilizers as possible two weeks before planting.
In addition to fertilizers, the soil needs to be disinfected, because pathogenic bacteria and spores of fungal diseases could remain in it from last year’s crops.
If the greenhouse is being built on the site for the first time, it is worth correctly dividing the area into beds. Any length is possible, but the width should not be more than 90 centimeters. They can be located at a height (35-40 centimeters above the ground) or level with the ground. The soil must be mixed with peat, manure, and a complex of minerals.
By learning to properly use every centimeter of greenhouse soil, you will increase productivity and save land area.
A greenhouse has long become an indispensable attribute of any garden or summer cottage. It reliably covers tender early seedlings of peppers, eggplants and tomatoes before planting in a permanent place. In a greenhouse it is possible to grow several harvests of greenery and protect remontant raspberries from early autumn frosts that destroy their harvest. Any vegetable crop loved by the owners will take root in the greenhouse. But when deciding what to plant in the greenhouse along with tomatoes, it is worth considering the compatibility of the crops. Not all of them get along together.
Features of growing tomatoes in a greenhouse
Greenhouse tomatoes grown in proximity to other plants require their own microclimate. Good lighting is preferable for plants, but they also thrive in cloudy weather. The ambient temperature should be moderate and the room should be ventilated frequently. They need to be constantly fed with fertilizers and watered at the roots. Tomatoes need to be planted with plants with similar requirements.
Tomatoes vitally need fertilizers enriched with potassium and phosphorus. And excessive nitrogen content leads to the fall of the ovaries and a decrease in the amount of yield. Due to the frequent use of organic fertilizers, nitrates accumulate in fruits. Greenhouse neighbors of tomatoes should have similar requirements.
Sweet peppers in a greenhouse along with tomatoes
The correct choice of neighboring crops will help not only save space on the site, but also save energy and time for caring for plants. They will not transmit the same pests and diseases, nor will they have a depressing effect on each other. You can even arrange some semblance of symbiosis in the garden bed if you choose the right companions for the plants. It’s enough to figure out how to make a conveyor bed and what to plant next to the tomatoes in the greenhouse so that the plants feel comfortable.
Conveyor bed
The first step is to decide on the ripening time of both the main crop and the neighboring one. It is best to plant some plants in place of others: after the radishes, you can plant tomatoes, and replace the greens with white cabbage.
The tallest ones go to the center of the greenhouse
It is very important to pay attention to the height of the plants; they should not shade each other. To do this, three narrow beds are formed, low-growing crops are planted on the sides, and tall-growing crops are planted in the middle. In the same way, you need to plant plants of different growth of the same species.
Greenhouse - into cells
To grow many types of plants in one greenhouse, it can be divided into zones using film, polycarbonate sheets, plywood or slate.
Important! In addition to the doors, at the beginning and end of the greenhouse there must be at least 2 windows located in the center.
It is equally important to choose the right material for zoning. For example, to keep the greenhouse warm in the evening, you can use sheets of dark slate, plywood or metal, since they warm up well during the day. If you need the room to be light enough, it is better to use film or polycarbonate.
What crops can coexist with tomatoes in a greenhouse?
You can grow a rich harvest by choosing the right plants that are compatible with each other. In small areas, vegetables are often planted closely. If you know perfectly how to properly organize the proximity of tomatoes and other vegetables, the plants will not transmit pests and diseases to each other, which will protect the crop from significant losses.
The neighborhood of tomatoes and other vegetables
It is worth considering the interests of not only tomatoes, but also their neighbors. For example, cabbage will be less susceptible to flea beetle attacks typical of cruciferous vegetables if its seedlings are planted next to tomatoes. Tomatoes protect turnips and onions from late blight. Experiments with the choice of varieties and planting time lead to very interesting results. Knowing the compatibility of tomatoes with other crops in a greenhouse, it is easy to choose neighbors for the plant.
It is good to plant vegetables next to seedlings of sweet peppers and eggplants. Tomatoes can be “settled” next to:
- cabbage (white, cauliflower, broccoli or kohlrabi),
- corn,
- sunflower,
- beans,
- sweet peas,
- various types of spicy herbs,
- physalis.
Tomatoes go well with melons: watermelons and melons. Pests do not attack tomatoes if parsley (curly or regular), anise, celery and mint are nearby. Marigold flowers can be planted next to the same purpose.
Advice! To save space, you can use the edges of your beds or the space between them to plant flowers and herbs.
The proximity of tomatoes and early ripening crops - onions and garlic, Chinese cabbage, radishes - is an excellent solution. Vegetables will not have to fight among themselves for nutrients, because the formation of ovaries in tomatoes will begin after the early harvest. A tomato greenhouse will become a reliable shelter for any seedlings: both vegetables and flowers. You can sow the material directly into the ground or into boxes placed on the floor or shelves.
Endive lettuce, asparagus, celery, and bush beans will get along well next to tomatoes. Chives will help repel aphids. Therefore, all these plants can be safely planted next to tomatoes.
The combination of basil and tomatoes
Basil is the best companion for tomatoes. Its proximity repels hornworms and has a positive effect on the taste of the crop. Therefore, it is worth planting basil in a greenhouse with tomatoes. It also tolerates proximity to tomatoes well. He only needs enough light and nutrition.
Tomatoes and basil
Mixed plantings with other herbs (thyme, sage, mint) are no less beneficial for tomatoes; they create protection for the garden bed from earthen pests.
Many gardeners do not know what else can be planted in a greenhouse with tomatoes. For example, to improve the quality of tomato juice and increase the shelf life of the crop, you can plant borage nearby. Among herbs, vegetables do not tolerate only proximity to lemon balm.
What vegetables cannot be planted with tomatoes in the same greenhouse?
When growing tomatoes, it is imperative to control the temperature and humidity of the environment. That is why the correct choice of crops adjacent to tomatoes is very difficult - most vegetables do not feel comfortable next to tomatoes:
- Frequent watering and high humidity, which cucumbers love so much, are contraindicated for tomatoes;
- During growth, dill absorbs all the beneficial substances needed by tomatoes;
- young tomato seedlings will be suppressed by fennel;
- close proximity to peas is fraught with the fact that during the growth process they creep up to the tomatoes, wrap around them, and deprive them of light, so it is better to plant peas further away.
Neighborhood with some melons, such as pumpkins, squashes and zucchini, is also excluded. As they grow, they fill all available space.
Cucumbers and tomatoes in one greenhouse
If there is a critical lack of space on the plot, cucumbers and tomatoes can be planted side by side, but this will significantly affect the quality and quantity of the harvest, not for the better.
Cucumbers and tomatoes are such popular vegetables that it is impossible to imagine the human diet without them. Summer residents grow them not only for fresh consumption, but also stock up for the winter by canning them. These vegetables are mainly grown in greenhouse conditions. If they are cultivated for sale in large quantities, it is necessary to make a separate shelter for each. Amateur gardeners often grow cucumbers and tomatoes in the same room.
Important! This option is quite possible provided that the microclimate of the greenhouse is adapted to each vegetable, because they have completely different requirements for ventilation, temperature and humidity of the environment.
Cucumbers prefer a humid, warm climate and do not tolerate direct sunlight on their surface. They need to be watered by sprinkling, which is strictly contraindicated for tomatoes.
On a note. It is necessary to organize the placement of these plants in such a way that they are at a sufficient distance from each other.
If the length of the greenhouse allows, it can be delimited inside with polycarbonate, plywood or boards. In this case, you have to make exits from the greenhouse on both sides. Then airing the tomatoes will in no way harm the cucumbers. In turn, the tomatoes will not suffer from excess moisture when watering the cucumbers.
The list of vegetables given in the article is not complete. It contains the most popular and well-known vegetables that can be grown by both experienced gardeners and gardeners, as well as amateur beginners.
Amateur gardeners often wonder: what can be planted with tomatoes in a greenhouse? Not all gardeners and summer residents have the opportunity to grow greenhouse cucumbers and tomatoes.
Those who have installed a greenhouse on their site need to decide how to wisely use every centimeter of usable space in order to get the maximum benefit. When planting vegetable crops, you should consider their compatibility with each other and what can be planted together.
Characteristics of culture
Tomatoes belong to the nightshade family. They were brought from the country of South America. They are found there as a wild plant. In our country, tomatoes are classified as the main crops. Water them rarely, but with plenty of water.
Humidity is harmful to them. They are susceptible to various fungal diseases. Light is as important for them as a sufficient amount of fresh air. When there is insufficient lighting, the plants become very elongated, the leaves dry out and become lighter in color. Let's look at what can be planted with tomatoes.
What can be planted with tomatoes in spring and summer
Under certain conditions, tomatoes can coexist with cucumbers, sweet peppers and eggplants in the same greenhouse. Plants compatible with tomatoes are: radishes, garlic and onions.
Only those onions and tomatoes are planted that will later be used as green ones. Garlic, with its phytoncidal properties, helps tomatoes in the fight against late blight, to which they are more susceptible than other nightshades. Some gardeners collect garlic shoots, infuse them with alcohol and spray the tomatoes.
Strawberries and wild strawberries take root well next to tomatoes. These plants, like tomatoes, love a lot of air and light, are not afraid of drafts, on the contrary, ventilation benefits them, and the process of natural pollination of both occurs. When planting together, strawberries and tomatoes are planted in a ratio of 60x45.
Melissa, celery, parsley, and basil can also be considered excellent neighbors for tomatoes. When growing lemon balm and basil next to tomatoes, a significant improvement in the taste of tomatoes was noticed.
Any neighborhood of the listed vegetables will be useful if the tomato bushes are tied up so as not to interfere with the penetration of light.
Usually, when planting main crops, the row spacing and edges of the beds are left unoccupied. In this case, it is advisable to plant mustard, lettuce, rhubarb and radishes in the greenhouse along with tomatoes. Moreover, they can be planted when the tomatoes have just emerged from the ground, and harvested when the tomatoes have grown so much that they occupy the entire area in the garden bed. And then only the main crops remain on the beds, for which planting in the greenhouse was planned.
What do they plant in the cold?
Watermelon and melon, on the contrary, do not like drafts. This is the main reason why melons are grown separately from other vegetables. In general, experienced gardeners do not allow the greenhouse to stand idle for a long time out of season.
What can you grow in a greenhouse at this time of year? According to the recommendations of many amateur gardeners, you can plant vegetable seedlings in a greenhouse. With the onset of spring it can be transferred to the ground. This procedure will have a beneficial effect on the yield of main crops.
As soon as weather conditions become favorable, the seedlings can be sent to the beds, and space in the greenhouse is freed up for the main garden crops. The soil has already been prepared and cultivated, which helps This encourages rapid plant growth and subsequently a good harvest is expected.
What can you plant with tomatoes in the fall?
In the autumn, greenery is planted, and thus the greenhouse is not idle and is used all year round. So, which neighbors are favorable for tomatoes? Asparagus beans are planted together with tomatoes. In a greenhouse it can produce a much larger yield than in soil outdoors. By combining the planting of these two crops, you can get a much larger harvest of tomatoes.
Moreover, beans and tomatoes help each other if planting is done by alternating in the beds. Beetroot feels great in a greenhouse with tomatoes. This proximity is good for them.
Beets do not interfere with tomatoes, but tomatoes can slightly darken the places where beets are planted, and therefore it is necessary to collect them earlier.
Recently, mixed plantings have become very popular: tomatoes, spinach, strawberries, watercress, savory and parsley. It is important to properly prepare the heifer. It is filled with organic soil in the fall, then in the spring it is additionally fertilized with manure and finally, fertile soil is brought in. This composition is ideal for growing vegetables and herbs.
With this approach, it is important to determine which beds will contain the main crops, and leave them empty or fill them with fast-growing plants, such as Chinese cabbage seedlings or leaf turnips. You can use means to accelerate growth, then they will have time to ripen before planting tomatoes.
When planting seeds of lettuce, Chinese cabbage and spinach in March, use small containers in which sawdust is pre-soaked. At the same time, the seeds are not sown densely, because the growing plants will remain in containers for more than a month. Containers are placed in bags; they must be open to allow oxygen access.
After the seeds have sprouted, they are sprinkled with a small layer of soil. The seedlings are taken out of the bags and placed in an open place, perhaps on a windowsill. As soon as weather conditions allow, you can plant plants in the greenhouse.
Before planting, seedlings are watered abundantly, which helps to carefully separate the bushes without damaging the roots. It is important not to keep the seedlings in sawdust. A long stay in this soil deprives the plant of nitrogen. Before planting in the soil, garlic and bulbs should be filled with a small amount of water in small containers. In the greenhouse they should be located on one small bed close to each other. When the time comes to plant tomatoes, the greens should already be harvested.
Which plants are best not to plant with?
Tomatoes do not do well with other crops. Many gardeners never plant them with cucumbers. The proximity can have a detrimental effect on the yield of both crops. They need to create different microclimates. Tomatoes need dry air with frequent ventilation; they need to be watered rarely, but abundantly.
Cucumbers, on the other hand, love moisture and frequent, but not abundant watering. They can be planted in the same greenhouse, but in different places. When placed near tomatoes, cucumbers begin to ache, wither and rot.
The same thing happens when the greenhouse is frequently ventilated. In addition, the curly tendrils of cucumbers can entwine the stems of tomatoes, thereby interfering with their growth. Tomatoes can become covered with fungus due to frequent watering and high air humidity.
Greenhouse fennel and peas interfere with the growth of tomatoes. But at the same time, peas are compatible with cucumbers. You cannot grow tomatoes and potatoes together in a greenhouse. Compatibility can only occur if the potatoes are grown from seeds. Tomatoes and cabbage do not get along well together. Especially such varieties as kohlrabi and cauliflower.
Plant placement methods
If necessary, you can plant tomatoes along with other crops. Whether or not to plant incompatible vegetables in a greenhouse is everyone’s business, but there is a way out. Experienced gardeners suggest rationally using the entire area of the greenhouse and using the correct planting organization. With a rational approach, you can not only not harm the growth of the crop, but also increase it by 30%.
There are several ways to accommodate incompatible plants in a greenhouse. The design of the greenhouse itself plays an important role here. If it has two entrances and there is enough space for planting vegetables, then 3 beds are dug up first. Tomatoes are planted in the central bed, since this part is the most ventilated.
In the southern part of the greenhouse there are cucumbers, on the northern side there are eggplants. Even with this approach, experts do not recommend planting cucumbers together with tomatoes. This is due to the fact that the care when growing them is completely different.
If the greenhouse has one door and a window, then the layout of the planting material is as follows: tomatoes are placed opposite the door, and they are separated from other plants using film. You can also use sheets of plywood or slate.
Most gardeners who use this method of planting prefer film. Cucumbers are planted behind the tomatoes, followed by eggplants. That is, the most heat-loving and draft-resistant vegetables are located in the center. It is preferable to plant peppers under the window. This culture loves cool weather.
You can plant all these crops together in a greenhouse if there is a need for this, but in this case you need to be prepared for the fact that the yield will drop slightly, but still. Considering that the problem of compatibility of various vegetable crops is known to many gardening enthusiasts, greenhouse manufacturers began to produce structures with various internal modifications.
When installing them on the site, internal partitions and ceilings are installed. With their help, you can design separate “rooms” for planting plants at your discretion. At the same time, each individual room will have its own microclimate, which will give many gardeners the opportunity to grow different vegetable crops at the same time, combine incompatible things and get a full harvest. And then there will be no dilemma about what to plant with tomatoes.
Today you won’t surprise anyone with the presence of a greenhouse on a summer cottage or adjacent plot. They differ not only in design, but also in the area they occupy - from miniature to huge. In any greenhouse, beginning summer residents try to use every available meter of space for growing crops. But excessively occupying the greenhouse space with an abundance of plants can lead to a negative result. The plants will begin to get sick, infecting nearby growing crops, accumulating negative microflora in the soil, and... in one week, the greenhouse can turn into a pile of dead plants. Therefore, when you decide to build and use a greenhouse, you need to carefully think through and plan its construction and internal arrangement.
Interior arrangement of greenhouses
The layout of the interior space of the greenhouse depends on its purpose and size. For the greenhouse itself, a place is selected so that the sun's rays illuminate it throughout all or most of the day. When growing low-growing plants (seedlings, peppers, bush tomatoes, greens), the greenhouse is placed so that the beds are directed from north to south. In mixed plantings with some plants grown on trellises (cucumbers, tall tomatoes, zucchini), it is better to place the beds from west to east to ensure uniform illumination of the crops.
Schemes for placing beds in a greenhouse
The beds in the greenhouse should have dimensions convenient for work. Wide beds with narrow paths will not only complicate plant care, but will also create conditions for the development of fungal, bacterial and viral diseases. In multi-row dense plantings, mutual oppression of plants will begin in the struggle for light, moisture and other environmental benefits.
With a greenhouse width of 1.8-2.0 meters, 2 beds are usually laid out along the walls with a width of 70-80 cm or arm’s length with processing equipment. A passage of at least 40 cm is left between the beds, on which auxiliary equipment, trays with seedlings and other materials are located. Typically, the passage of a greenhouse is covered with sand, gravel, and tiles to prevent slipping on the dirt when watering, processing plants, and other work.
The beds on the sides and along their length are fenced with boards or other material in the form of a border up to 20-30 cm high, so that the soil does not crumble onto the path. The border is well strengthened so that it does not collapse under the load of soil.
In a greenhouse 3.0-3.5 meters wide, the optimal arrangement of beds is 3 stripes and 2 paths. Side beds are placed along the long side or along the perimeter of the greenhouse. The width of the beds is mainly determined by the type of plants being grown. So, for trellis crops, the side beds can be only 40-45 cm, and for bush crops - wider, but not more than 70-80 cm. The limitation in width is due to the possibility of only one-sided processing.
In the center of the greenhouse there is a double bed, which can reach a width of 1.5 m, since it is cultivated on both sides. The paths are made so wide that it is convenient to reach any plant and not damage it when performing work - watering, removing garbage, processing, harvesting.
For safety reasons, paths must be covered with any covering material to prevent slipping on wet ground. In large greenhouses, paths are sometimes completely covered with cement (preferably with reinforcement) or individual tiles, and wooden flooring is laid.
Types of beds for a greenhouse
Greenhouse beds are divided into ground, raised, in the form of separate boxes, and tabletop. All types of beds, except tabletop ones, can be insulated.
Above ground beds are the easiest to maintain. They are usually set up in small greenhouses for growing seedlings, forcing greens or several bushes of tomatoes and cucumbers. In such beds, the soil conditions do not provide for the normal development of vegetable and other crops and they are not used in large closed structures.
Table beds are laid on specially prepared racks. They are most convenient for growing seedlings, radishes, forcing herbs, and indoor flowers in pots.
The most common and convenient for caring for plants in large greenhouses are raised beds. They can be 20-30-50 cm high. In such beds it is easier to carry out excavation work (change and disinfect the soil) and care for plants. They warm up quickly. In cold regions, a layer of earth will create an additional thermal cushion, isolating it from the cold natural soil layer. With isolated beds it is easier to maintain paths. The ridges can be made in the form of separate boxes with bulk soil of the required height.
Sometimes in large greenhouses they install removable racks on which you can grow seedlings at the same time as forcing green plants in the beds. After selecting the seedlings, the racks are removed and base crops (cucumbers, tomatoes, etc.) are planted in the garden bed.
Zoning in a greenhouse. © misahay Filling the beds
If the natural soil in the greenhouse is heavy and dense, you need to remove the top layer and make a good drainage flooring from crushed stone, broken bricks and other waste. Pour prepared or purchased soil mixture on top. Such beds are usually installed in warm regions or in temporary structures. In colder regions, it is advisable to make insulated beds.
In such insulated beds, only the top nutrient layer, consisting of several components, must be replaced annually. The owner of the greenhouse can choose any method of insulating the beds.
In greenhouses where it is planned to grow 4-6 or more types of vegetable products, it is better to divide long beds into several zones, especially if the crops grown require different lighting, humidity and air temperature.
How to properly divide a greenhouse into zones for different plants?
Each type of plant requires certain conditions for normal development and fruiting. From this point of view, placing plants that are different in relation to the environment in a confined space is a rather difficult task. To facilitate the selection of plants and create normal conditions for their growth, development and crop formation, the most appropriate zoning of the greenhouse will be.
It is practical to measure the temperature along the longitudinal walls of the greenhouse and highlight areas where the temperature changes. Separate these areas with any material, highlighting areas with higher temperatures and cooler ones. Usually the greenhouse is divided into 3 zones. If the greenhouse is heated, then the warm zone will be in the middle of the room, the warmest at the end and the coldest at the beginning, where the doors to the vestibule are constantly opened to perform certain work.
If the greenhouse is large, then the zones are separated with more durable material (plywood, plastic), and temporary doors are installed. In greenhouses with an area of 3.0 x 10.0 m, zones are usually separated by plastic film with slots for passage or an oilcloth screen. Insulation will help increase the humidity level in the area, maintain the desired temperature, and ventilate the designated area. Depending on the conditions for each zone, the main/basic and accompanying crops are selected for joint cultivation.
Compatibility of vegetable crops in a greenhouse
The basic crops for growing in country greenhouses are, in the absolute majority, tomatoes and cucumbers, and accompanying vegetables are planted with them. The placement of vegetables in the greenhouse must be thought out in advance. So, for tomatoes you need moderate watering, average air humidity, ventilation, mineral fertilizing, and for cucumbers, on the contrary, warmth, humidity, organic matter, absence of drafts and temperature changes.
That is, for cold-resistant crops, the optimal zone will be the one closest to the vestibule, and for cucumbers - the middle or even far one. To use the greenhouse 100%, you need to provide a list of other vegetable and green crops needed for the family. So, next to the tomatoes you can plant other nightshades - bell peppers, eggplants. Good neighbors can be lettuce, onions, radishes, herbs, and other greens that do not require high temperatures, humidity and other special conditions (Table 1).
The table below shows only the most common base crops and crops that have good compatibility with them. They are usually used for replanting on the sides of the bed or as an early ripening plant (radish) before planting seedlings. By the way, you can lay a separate prefabricated bed and use it several times. After harvesting the first harvest, plant new prepared seedlings (lettuce), onions on green feathers or sow green ones.
Box beds in a greenhouse. © David Frisk Table 1. Compatibility of vegetable crops when grown in a greenhouse
| Basic culture | Cultures with excellent and good compatibility | Cultures incompatible with the basic |
|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Cabbage, onions, garlic, beans, lettuce, radishes, spinach, celery, greens, parsley, sweet peppers, eggplants | Cucumbers, dill |
| cucumbers | Zucchini, squash, Chinese cabbage, kohlrabi, onions for greens, garlic, beans, salads, beets, celery for greens, spinach, mint, | Tomatoes, radishes |
| Cabbage | Tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots, radishes, lettuce, beans, dill, celery on greens, spinach, mint | Onions, parsley |
| Prefabricated bed | Onions for green feathers, parsley and dill for greens, salads, mint, spinach, radishes, celery for greens, etc. | Tomatoes, cucumbers, beans and other tall or trellis crops |
For cucumbers, good neighbors will be zucchini, squash, and again, as seals along the edges, you can sow green ones (dill, parsley, mint, watercress, etc.). But keep in mind that with such a selection of combined crops, there is a possibility of cross-pollination of cucumbers with other pumpkins.
In this case, thinking in advance which crops will be planted in the greenhouse next to the base one, select varieties that are resistant to cross-pollination, diseases, and environmental requirements. So, dill cannot be added to tomatoes, but it can be added to cucumbers. Cucumbers cannot tolerate radishes, and cabbage cannot tolerate parsley.
It is more practical to replant and subseed the base crop with different varieties of the crop, which will allow you to select the most suitable ones over time. Crops that are incompatible with environmental requirements are planted in different zones of the greenhouse.
More details on the compatibility of cultures in cultural circulation are given in the article.
Rules for the location of crops in the greenhouse
The main conditions for normal growth and development of crops indoors are lighting, air and soil humidity levels, ventilation and shade tolerance. It is difficult to combine these requirements for different crops in one room. Having carefully familiarized yourself with the agrotechnical requirements and biological characteristics of crops, you can select crops for the zone according to the main limiting factor.
Plants that need bright lighting are planted on the south side of the greenhouse; plants that require ventilation - near the windows and doors; high humidity - in a more isolated area. In greenhouse conditions, the optimal technique is to alternate tops and roots (cabbage–tomatoes–carrots or beets), that is, the alternation of crops is selected according to the removal of nutrients from the harvest.
In large greenhouses, the main factor limiting the growth and development of plants is the height of the crop. If tall tomatoes are planted on the edge beds or cucumbers and beans are raised on a trellis, and low-growing tomatoes (sweet peppers, eggplants, salads, beets, cabbage) are placed in the middle bed, then the latter will experience a lack of lighting. As a result, diseases will appear and pests will multiply. The same result can be expected from plantings that are too thick. The best option would be to place tall crops in the middle bed, and low-growing crops on the sides of the greenhouse.
How to increase the productivity of a greenhouse?
In small greenhouses, where there are usually 2 beds, some beginning greenhouse growers plant tomatoes on one, and cucumbers on the opposite side. In this case, both cultures suffer, since they require different conditions for growth and development. Therefore, it is better to divide the interior space transversely into 2 zones with a dividing curtain, thereby reducing interdependence on the growing conditions of the neighboring crop.
The productivity of a small greenhouse can be increased by compacting the base crops by planting low-growing intercrops with a shallow root system. You can harvest multiple crops. The first rotation is to sow several varieties of radishes into the greenhouse (April). After harvesting, plant tomato or cucumber seedlings in May. After sowing and harvesting early cold-resistant greens (radishes, dill for greens, onions for greens), plant cabbage, salads or tomatoes, and cucumbers.
It is better to grow vegetables of the same type in one zone of the greenhouse at different ripening periods (early, middle). After harvesting the early ones, plant the next early ripening crop with the same environmental requirements (cabbage, salads, greens, radishes, onions). To increase the productivity of a greenhouse on one bed, you can use a mixed, compacted, repeated type of planting.
So, you can plant cucumbers with dill, cabbage and radishes in the garden at the same time. Tomatoes and sweet peppers can be packed with herbs, onions, and radishes. Beds with repeated crops can be developed in different ways. First, sow early varieties of radishes, and after harvesting, plant salads and greens. After cutting the crop, again sow late varieties of radishes or onions and other green crops. You can grow early cold-resistant greens in the garden and, after cutting, plant early white cabbage and beans.
Using a greenhouse to grow vegetable seedlings
Greenhouses with stationary heating are widely used in the north, in regions with short, cold summers. They are usually used year-round. In the southern, central black earth and other regions with a fairly long warm period, greenhouses are frozen out for the winter (the roof is opened) or allowed to rest and put into production in February for growing vegetable seedlings.
Depending on the region (see article), sowing seedlings begins from the first days of February until April-May.
It is convenient to grow seedlings for a small greenhouse at home. To grow large quantities of seedlings of various vegetable crops, it is more practical to use one of the zones in the greenhouse. After selecting the seedlings, the vacated area is occupied by vegetable crops. You can use removable racks for seedlings.
Using a greenhouse to grow plants
In regions with the early onset of autumn cold, certain vegetable crops do not have time to ripen in the open ground and, due to unfavorable temperature changes, they die. Growing in a greenhouse allows you to extend the growing season of the crop and get a full harvest. More often, cauliflower, leeks, celery, parsley and other vegetable crops that have not had time to ripen need to be grown.
Plants intended for growing are carefully dug up with a ball of soil and transferred to pre-prepared planting holes. Before planting in a greenhouse, damaged and yellow leaves are removed from plants, and the main root of parsley and celery is shortened. The hole is filled with fertilizers (nitrophoska, kemira), watered and the crop is planted.
Care consists of watering and maintaining the required temperature. Temperature fluctuations, high air humidity, and the appearance of dew on plants should not be allowed. When mold islands appear, you should immediately pollinate the soil with ash and dry the top layer with dry sand.
Thus, if the greenhouse is used from growing seedlings to growing vegetable crops that have not yet had time to ripen, then its load will be maximum, and the family will be provided with fresh, vitamin-rich greens and vegetables for a long time.
Cucumbers grow well in greenhouses due to their biological characteristics and the ability to create favorable conditions for their existence there. If there is free space next to them, you can plant other garden crops. The article discusses which plants can be placed next to the cucumber vine and which cannot. Also about how to properly plant crops in a greenhouse.
Cucumbers and peppers in a greenhouse:
Features of cucumbers
Distinctive features of cucumbers and biological features:
- The cucumber plant is a vine;
- It can creep along the ground or curl around a support with the help of antennae;
- Due to the fact that the cucumber is native to the tropics, the plant loves high temperature and humidity;
- This culture grows equally well in short and long daylight conditions;
- Cucumbers are shade-tolerant;
- The soil for this plant should be fertile, loose and not acidic.
Compatibility of vegetable crops in a greenhouse: growing together
Below is a description of what you can plant with cucumbers.
What's suitable?
In large greenhouses, you can grow not only cucumbers, but also crops that are suitable for the same environmental conditions and care.
The following plants can be grown next to cucumbers:
- Beijing cabbage. This vegetable needs the same conditions;
- Turnip leaf;
- Mustard;
- Calendula. It blooms at the same time as cucumbers and its bright color will help attract pollinating insects;
- Dill. Its smell protects the cucumber vine from pests;
- Pepper. It grows well near cucumber beds, but you need to choose either a sweet or bitter variety for planting so that they do not cross-pollinate with each other;
- Early beets. By the time the cucumbers begin to ripen, the beets will already be ripe, this plant will not interfere, but it is better to collect the root vegetables, otherwise the growing shoots will shade the sunlight for the beets;
- Green beans. If you plant beans between cucumber bushes, they will enrich the soil and contribute to a good harvest;
- Melon;
- Eggplant;
- Pumpkin;
- Watermelons;
- Corn. Helps increase productivity;
- Sunflower. Will direct cucumber shoots.
What doesn't work?
Many different garden crops can coexist in a garden bed near cucumbers, but there are also those that are poorly compatible with them.
- Spices. In a greenhouse, herbs such as oregano, cilantro and hyssop will compete with the cucumber crop for nutrients and light;
- Tomatoes. Tomatoes and cucumbers are often planted together in greenhouses, but they require different care and the environmental conditions they require vary. Cucumbers love high temperature and humidity, and tomato fruits can be affected by fungal infections in such conditions. Cucumbers, in the presence of tomatoes, can wither and produce a poor harvest. But with some greenhouse zoning tricks, you can still achieve a good harvest of both crops;
- Onion and garlic. These plants pull all the necessary substances from the soil, thereby slowing down the growth of cucumbers;
- Potato. It has a well-developed root system, which, when growing, can damage cucumber roots, and these crops also have different growing conditions.
Cucumber in the greenhouse! And who is his neighbor?
Zoning and partitions
In a large greenhouse, by rationally placing vegetable crops, you can get a good harvest. To do this, it is necessary to divide the greenhouse into zones and, in some cases, separate the plants from each other with partitions.
Cucumbers are planted in the warmest place. Cabbage, greens, and mustard will grow well along their beds. Between the cucumbers, green beans will benefit the soil.
Watermelons and melons do not like drafts, so when combining these crops with cucumbers, they must be planted in warm places in the greenhouse.
Eggplants and peppers should not be placed next to each other, so they are grown on different sides of the cucumber bed, but so that no shadow falls on them.
Should I grow tomatoes near cucumbers? Tomatoes need ventilation and a slightly different level of humidity, and cucumbers do not like drafts and cold. But by planting tomatoes in an area closer to the door and separating the cucumber bushes from drafts with a slate or plywood partition, these crops can be grown under one roof.
Growing cucumbers in a greenhouse next to other plants has many nuances. Therefore, it is always necessary to consider which plants can be planted nearby and which will not grow well in the neighborhood.
