Tomatoes are a capricious crop. Growing them in greenhouses is somewhat different from growing them in open ground. Humidity, air circulation, temperature conditions, nutrients in the soil - in greenhouse conditions, all this should and will be controlled by the gardener. In order to get a harvest all year round, proper care of tomatoes is necessary immediately after they are planted in the greenhouse.
Planting seedlings in a greenhouse
Greenhouse cultivation begins with planting seedlings in greenhouse soil. The productivity of tomatoes directly depends on how correctly the seedlings were planted.
To plant seedlings, you need to consider the following conditions:
- height not less than 20 cm;
- first flowering (the first bud appears);
- the leaves are dark green;
- there are 8-9 developed green leaves on the sprout;
- a living root system that has completely entangled the substrate.
Planting is done by deepening the sprouts 4 cm into the hole.
It is not recommended to plant seedlings too thickly or too sparsely. Excessive density of sprouts leads to increased susceptibility of tomatoes to diseases and shading of neighboring sprouts from each other, which will ultimately reduce yield. And excessive sparseness of seedlings will lead to a shortage of harvest due to irrational use of greenhouse space. The optimal seating is 50-60 cm between tall varieties of tomatoes and 40-50 cm between low-growing ones.
Temperature and humidity
The temperature regime in the greenhouse, which contains previously planted tomato sprouts, must be brought as close to natural as possible. During the day, the temperature should not exceed +28°C, but should not fall below +20°C, and at night it can fluctuate from +15°C to +17°C. Tomatoes love light very much, so they should be illuminated by the sun from morning to evening. Make sure there is no shadow falling on the greenhouse. On a sunny day the temperature should be +25 - +28°C, and on a cloudy day - +20 - +25°C.
Please note that tomatoes do not tolerate high humidity. For low-growing, as well as for tall varieties of tomatoes, humidity should not exceed 65%.
You have to monitor not only the air temperature, but also the soil temperature. It should fall within the range of +17-22°C. Also, the relative humidity of the soil should not be between 65% and 80% of the total humidity.
Room ventilation and watering
When warm, sunny weather has settled outside the greenhouse, it is recommended to open the greenhouse to a quarter of the top on each end side. But keep in mind that tomatoes are afraid of drafts.
On warm days, it would be correct to completely open part of the greenhouse on the western side, thereby ensuring not only good ventilation, but also access for insects that pollinate the flowers. If insects do not enter the greenhouse, help the plant pollinate: shake it when flowering. To prevent pollen from scattering, moisten the paths after the procedure.
Important! The main enemy of tomatoes is dampness. Do not forget to ventilate the greenhouse in a timely manner.
Immediately after planting the plant in the greenhouse, it is necessary to thoroughly water the bushes. Young plants also require frequent watering. Their still fragile roots are able to take water only from a shallow depth, so watering is carried out as the top layer of soil dries.
Some say that it is better to water tomatoes in the evening, others say that early watering has a better effect on growth, but in fact, daytime watering is the most correct. And all because to water tomatoes you need warmed water with a temperature not lower than the soil temperature.
It is not recommended to get water on the leaves of plants, so root watering is carried out. For watering, both a hose and a simple bucket with a ladle are suitable, but these two methods contribute to the formation of a crust on the soil. There is a need for frequent loosening. Therefore, the most optimal is drip irrigation. With drip irrigation, physical labor is eliminated, crusts do not form on the top layer of soil, and there is no unnecessary evaporation that increases the humidity in the greenhouse. This type of watering prevents the soil from drying out or becoming waterlogged.
Fertilizing soil and fertilizing plants
To determine the fertilizer that should be added to the greenhouse soil, it is necessary to conduct an agrochemical analysis of it. Such an analysis will show exactly what substances are missing in the soil.
Adding fertilizers to the soil increases the growth rate of the plant and also affects the number of fruits and the speed of their ripening. Among all fertilizers, the most common are potassium, phosphorus and nitrogen fertilizers.
Phosphorus-based fertilizers begin to be applied in the early stages of tomato growth. These include phosphates and superphosphates. Superphosphates include both phosphorus and magnesium, calcium, nitrogen and sulfur.
Potash fertilizers are also very beneficial for tomatoes. They are used during the period of fruit ripening. The most common and safest potash fertilizer is ordinary ash. It contains fertilizer in the form of potassium carbonate. This potassium dissolves perfectly in water, penetrates well into the soil and is quickly absorbed by the roots of the plant. The richest in potassium is ash from pine or birch (40%), as well as ash formed by burning straw (30%).
Nitrogen fertilizers are applied in moderation to increase the growth rate of the plant. Nitrogen-based fertilizer is not recommended during fruit set. If applied in excess during the fruiting period, the shape of the fruit changes, spots and cracks appear. This fertilizer also affects the deterioration of its taste.
There are several types of fertilizers for tomatoes:
- Organic fertilizers are manure (dry or slurry) and chicken droppings. Manure is diluted with water approximately 1:10, and chicken manure - 200 g per 10 liters of water. Allow to brew and ferment for at least 24 hours and water. 2 liters of fertilizer per plant. This fertilizing is usually used during flowering and fruit set.
- Tomatoes need mineral fertilizers no less than organic ones. The most common are mineral fertilizer complexes such as ammophos or diammophos. Mineral fertilizers are applied in dry or liquid form, and also sprayed between the rows. Such fertilizing can be introduced after the second fruit cluster begins to set.
Important! Do not apply a lot of fertilizers - quantity does not always improve quality.
Garter and pinching tomatoes
Garter is a very important point in growing tomatoes. To prevent plants from breaking under their own weight, they need to be tied up in time. There are 2 main ways to garter tomatoes:
- Peg garter. This is the most common way of gartering. A small peg is driven in near each of the bushes on the north side, and the stem of the plant is tied to it with a string. The rope should not contain synthetic fabrics and should be disinfected at least by boiling.
- Stretch garter. Also a very effective way of tying. At the beginning and at the end of the bed, they dig in a block, each at least 5 cm wide. A wire is pulled between the bars. A rope is tied to it above each bush with one end, and the stem of the bush is tied with the other.
Advice! To avoid the death of the plant, you should not pull it tightly to the leash. The string should move freely as the stem grows.
In order for a tomato to produce 7 fruit clusters, you need to remove young shoots from below under the main branches. They are called stepsons, and their removal is stepsons. The shoots are very easy to remove; just pull them down and they will immediately break and fall off. It is with the help of pinching that you can make tomato bushes tall or short.
Some tips for properly removing stepchildren:
- remove shoots only from mature plants;
- form the bushes with your hands, so you will not damage the plant;
- carry out stepsoning in the morning;
- shoot stepsons all season.
Important! Do not let the stepsons grow more than 5 cm; the larger the shoot, the more nutrients it absorbs.
Stepping is carried out no more than once every 10 days. With proper pinching, the yield can increase by 3 kg per bush.
Caring for tomatoes and feeding them in a greenhouse: video
Proper cultivation of tomatoes in a greenhouse: photo
The property of tomatoes is known to be heat-loving, so it is not always possible to bring tomato fruits to full maturity in the open air. Using greenhouses to grow vegetables is an ideal option for those living in regions with a temperate climate. But there are some peculiarities of tomato agricultural technology in greenhouse conditions. Knowing them will help you achieve high yields of tasty tomatoes.
There are two methods for planting tomatoes in a greenhouse. It is useful to have an idea about each of them.
Proper planting of seeds in the ground
Although the temperature in the greenhouse rises during the day thanks to the bright March sun, it is cold at night. To plant seeds you need them harden in advance. To do this, after soaking, the material is placed either in the refrigerator or in warm water. Now the hatched seeds are ready to grow.
It is important that the temperature at night does not drop to minus five degrees.
Special heating of an enclosed space will help to avoid this. It happens:
- biological using fresh manure;
- stove;
- electric.
After filling the greenhouse with a shovel of hot manure at the end of February, you can sow the seeds. They will have enough warmth until mid-May. Heat the manure by pouring hot water over it and sprinkling with quicklime.
Wall coverings made of mats in two layers retain heat well. Three days later, the manure is leveled and soil is poured onto it. You can plant tomato seeds in it. Accelerated growth of hardened seedlings allows them to bear fruit a month to a month and a half earlier than in the garden beds.
How to plant tomato seedlings
It is easier to grow tomatoes using seedlings. There are some nuances of planting seeds and emerging sprouts. In spring, tomatoes are sown as seedlings in greenhouses. no earlier than March 20. As soon as it reaches sixty days of age, you can plant or transplant it to a permanent place indoors, for example, on a windowsill.
For seedlings air temperature is important– it should reach eighteen degrees during the day, and sixteen at night. It is worth watering the seedlings three times in the first month. Use warm, well-settled water. When the first shoots appear, they switch to watering up to once a week.
Plant the picked seedlings in place, preparing a layer of soil of 17 centimeters, then adding it to twenty centimeters. The soil should consist of equal parts of humus, turf soil with the addition of a small amount of river sand.
Before planting, fifty grams of wood ash is placed in each prepared hole or furrow, thoroughly mixed with the ground. Tomato sprouts are planted deep, reaching the bottom of the racks.
Stretched seedlings - planting features
With a lack of lighting and excessive watering, seedlings become long.
Due to the thin stem, tomato seedlings often break, so when replanting you must follow a number of rules:
- A cloudy day or in the morning is suitable for planting seedlings. with low temperature air.
- The long stem is placed in a ring in the planting hole. You can lay the bush horizontally, leaving a stem on the surface that is no more than forty centimeters long or, conversely, leaving most of it underground.
- The lower leaves and stepsons on the stem are torn off.
- Carefully pour soil into the hole, trying not to damage the sprouts.
- They drive a peg next to it, to which tie seedlings.
- At the end of the procedure, the bushes are watered.
If at the beginning of growth the elongated sprouts lag behind their counterparts in development, then after the formation of new roots the tomatoes will become stronger.
What is the square-cluster planting method?
When planting tomato seeds or seedlings in the ground, use the square-nest method, which will make caring for tomatoes easier. And it will be better for the plants nutrient absorption. With such a planting, each bush will have enough light.
The scheme for planting tomatoes using the square-cluster method is as follows:
- In one slot 70x70 centimeters Place two or three plants of standard and determinate species.
- There are enough early ripening tomatoes per nest.
- With medium and late ripening periods - one plant each. If you increase the nest by twenty centimeters, you can plant two tomatoes, slightly reducing the planting density.
After landing it is necessary ventilate more often, which will avoid the spread of fungal diseases indoors.
The best time to plant tomatoes
The correct time for planting tomatoes plays an important role in obtaining a good harvest.
The timely arrival of spring with stable weather is the main condition for planting a vegetable crop, in addition to proper care and watering regime. For the seedling growing method, it is planted in an unheated greenhouse in the first ten days of May. In this case, it is necessary to additionally insulate the walls of the enclosed space, covering them with mats.
In regions with warm climates, heated greenhouses are prepared for tomatoes in March, and with moderate, including Western Siberia, Novosibirsk, Krasnoyarsk - in the end of April. The spring sun will provide the tomatoes with enough heat and light to grow.
Placing tomatoes in a greenhouse
In accordance with the choice of tomato variety, the greenhouse structure also produces the planting of young bushes:
- For indeterminate tomatoes, choose a staggered arrangement of bushes. They need to be placed in rows with a distance between them no more than eighty centimeters. The distance between plants will be half a meter when formed into one stem, and seventy centimeters when formed into two.
- species require a distance between rows of half a meter. The distance of the bushes from each other is thirty centimeters for those that are grown in two or three stems. It is reduced to a norm of twenty-five units if one stem is formed.
It is important to follow the rules for placing tomatoes, otherwise they will not have enough nutrients, moisture, light and air.
Crowding of plantings leads to the occurrence of diseases in tomatoes. Growing strong and tall plants when they are thickened becomes difficult.
Optimal bed width
The arrangement of the beds depends on the area of the greenhouse. With a standard area of 3x6 beds, the space is suitable along the wall. High-quality lighting of the bed will be when it is directed to the west.
The height of the soil in relation to the path is made in 40 cm. The width of the bed can be 60 or 90 cm. For complete care you will need a path a little less than half a meter wide.
It is necessary to take care of the location of the necessary equipment and the sufficient width of the paths. This will allow for proper care of the tomato beds.
Features of the location of low-growing and tall varieties
For proper placement of tomato bushes, you can use the following recommendations:
- Tall varieties are suitable for planting in two rows, since they leave two stems in the nest. And the distance between the rows reaches eighty centimeters.
- Landing would be ideal in the middle premises of tall varieties, On the sides- short. When ripening at different periods, tomatoes can be harvested continuously.
- If the greenhouse space is modest in size, the tall ones should have a bed in one row on the sides, and the short ones should have two rows in the middle of the room.
It is necessary to think over the location of different plant varieties and choose a planting approach in advance.
Polycarbonate greenhouses: nuances of growing
The advantages of polycarbonate greenhouses include:
- small mass;
- long service;
- low thermal conductivity;
- high light transmittance.
Growing garden tomatoes in such greenhouses is easy.
Agricultural technology of tomatoes in a polycarbonate greenhouse: planting dates, distances between bushes
In the first days of May You can start planting seedlings in a polycarbonate greenhouse. At this time, the seedlings already have a strong root system, a thick stem, and one or two flower clusters.
After hardening the seedlings in the open air for two weeks, they are sprayed with a solution of boric acid. This will prevent the buds from falling off. Before planting, the two lower leaves on the sprouts are removed. The arrangement of plants is the same as in ordinary greenhouses.
Disembarkation step by step
Before planting tomatoes in a greenhouse, it is necessary to add humus, peat, and phosphate and potassium fertilizers to the prepared beds. For soil disinfection it needs to be treated - sprayed with a solution of potassium permanganate or treated with Zaslon.
Seedlings are placed in the prepared holes using the square-nest or ribbon-nest method. The depth of the holes is no more than twenty centimeters. For better absorption of phosphorus, which tomatoes need for proper development, wood ash is added to the holes.
Immersion of seedlings is carried out until the first true leaf.
Depending on the humidity of the soil and air in the greenhouse, seedlings are watered according to two to three liters per bush. Tomatoes planted in the evening in cloudy weather will take root well.
Requirements for planting care
For active growth of tomatoes in a polycarbonate greenhouse, it is necessary to create the following conditions:
- air temperature in 22 degrees, but not higher than 25, soil – over fifteen.
- ventilation for the flow of fresh air into the room;
- maintaining the humidity level at 70 percent.
- water as it dries top layer of soil;
- fertilizing with the addition of monopotassium phosphate and potassium nitrate weekly along with watering;
- carrying out pollination by shaking the bushes during the flowering period.
Compliance with all the rules for caring for tomatoes in a polycarbonate greenhouse will lead to constant fruiting of the bushes.
Secrets of growing
It is no secret that you can get high yields of tomatoes in the early stages only by growing them in a greenhouse. In addition to this plant in protected ground less susceptible to pest attacks, do not suffer from diseases.
Proper operation of the greenhouse ventilation duct is ensured by carefully and regularly wiping the walls of the structure. If the right place to install the greenhouse is chosen - well-lit, without shading from trees or buildings, then light will penetrate into it without hindrance.
Before you start preparing tomato seedlings for the greenhouse, you need to select plant varieties that can grow well in greenhouse conditions.
Preparation and disinfection of soil for future beds required, plant health depends on it.
Insects will help pollinate tomatoes. You can attract bees, bumblebees, and wasps to the greenhouse with sweet fermented compote or kvass.
Spraying with copper sulfate and boiling water increases the resistance of tomatoes to diseases.
Rules of care
Caring for tomatoes grown in greenhouses is different from those that grow in open ground.
Features of courtship after planting seedlings
For young seedlings it is important to carry out timely watering, applying optimal doses of fertilizers. A week after planting the plants, they begin to water them. Before flowering, watering is carried out with a break of five days. For one square meter - one bucket of warm water. Water at the root, trying to prevent drops of moisture from falling on the leaves. The drip irrigation method is also suitable.
Two weeks after planting, carry out feeding bushes with mullein, diluted in water to five hundred milligrams - ten liters, add ten grams of ammonium nitrate, fifty - superphosphate, fifteen - potassium chloride. The next time after the flowers appear and the fruits ripen, they need to be treated with fertilizers, doubling the amount of minerals when dissolved in a bucket of water.
What is the difference between care in greenhouses and greenhouses
Greenhouses are used for a smooth transition of seedlings from home to open ground. Therefore, the timing and rules for planting tomatoes are the same for both greenhouses and greenhouses.
The choice of location for a greenhouse and greenhouse should take into account the level of groundwater.
It cannot exceed two and a half meters from the soil surface. To prevent soil from falling off the walls of the greenhouse, they are lined with boards. Greenhouses are installed on the southern slopes of the site, this will avoid flooding of the area.
Feeding methods
It is necessary to feed tomato bushes during budding and fruit formation. Fertilizers or compost are applied between the rows every month. Purchase fertilizers in specialized stores, taking into account the importance of the presence of large amounts of nitrogen in them.
Suitable for feeding mullein and mineral supplements. All types of fertilizer are diluted in a bucket of water and applied after watering the bushes. A bucket of solution is enough per square meter.
When to ventilate
In order for the plants to receive more air and light, it is necessary to open the doors of the greenhouse for ventilation. The procedure will help reduce elevated temperature and humidity. High humidity parameters and heat will prevent fruit from setting and pollination will slow down.
In hot weather, you need to create a draft by opening the greenhouse on both sides.
Ventilation is part of late blight prevention measures. In good dry weather, you can leave the greenhouse open at night.
How to plant for a good harvest
A big harvest is the dream of every gardener Getting a large harvest of juicy fruits is the dream of every gardener. For this it is important comply with planting deadlines vegetables, when the temperature in the greenhouse remains at twenty-five degrees Celsius at night.
Tomatoes will grow better in polycarbonate greenhouses. But in hot summers, it is enough to keep the bushes under film for the first time. Although it is in the greenhouse that tomato crops are harvested earlier and more often.
Variety selection the tomato is important. There are tomatoes that produce rich harvests in a greenhouse, but do not ripen well in the open ground. It is best to choose hybrids that do not require pollination and bear fruit well. The resistance of hybrid species to diseases that hinder the increase in yield is also noted.
How does baking soda help?
For prevention of powdery mildew Baking soda is used on tomatoes. To prepare the solution, take four liters of water, add a tablespoon of soda and half a teaspoon of liquid soap. After mixing well, spray the tomato bushes in the greenhouse once a week.
Features of the garter
Most types of tomatoes require staking the stems. Plants are tied taking into account the variety. It is not necessary for early ripening and low-growing varieties.
How to tie up a greenhouse
There is no difference in staking plants in a polycarbonate greenhouse and a simple one.
Wire, strong fishing line, harsh thread, or thin twine are never used as material. Such materials will easily cut the stem. Strips of fabric two to three centimeters wide are the best choice. Before the procedure, they must be disinfected by scalding with boiling water or washing with laundry soap.
Near the tomato, pegs are driven in long 30 cm above the stems and loosely tie the stem to them.
Another way of gartering is to install trellises. They drive stakes along the beds, stretching wire and strong twine between them in several rows. During the growth of tomatoes, they are tucked into wires or the brushes are hung on hooks.
Garter of low-growing and tall varieties
It is better to tie low-growing varieties individually to pegs. But such a garter will not support bunches of ripe fruits of tall species. Therefore, for tall tomatoes it would be better to erect trellis. With this method, successful growth of stepchildren is possible.
Is a node needed?
The central stem of the plant is wrapped with a strip of material by hand, the ends crossed in a figure eight or twisted, and tied to a support. There is no need to make a strong knot, otherwise it will be difficult to remove. Just tie it in the form of a bow. After the stem grows, the first bandage is removed by tying it higher.
Hang it on a trellis or tie it up - which way is better?
Both options are convenient for tomato growth. Tie clusters of tall tomatoes to the top of a trellis or hung on hooks, located at the top. In both cases, the fruits continue to grow successfully no matter how they are hung.
What can be used as pegs
It is convenient to prepare individual pegs or sticks for tying up tomato bushes. They will last for several years.
You can replace them:
- scraps of fittings and metal fixtures;
- metal rods;
- thin plastic pipes;
- wooden slats.
The choice of stake and how many of them there should be to tie up a tomato depends on the strength of the plant stem.
Organization of watering tomatoes from planting to harvesting
Watering play important role in caring for tomato plantings in a greenhouse.
Frequency of first waterings
After planting, it is necessary to take a break from moistening the soil, which will allow strengthen the root system young plants. After three days, up to two liters of water are poured under each bush. Then the number of procedures is increased.
The best time for watering is considered to be morning. And then the greenhouse is opened for ventilation. Irrigation will be sufficient once - twice a week.
Features of irrigation in a polycarbonate greenhouse
In the greenhouse, tomatoes are watered frequently during the flowering phase, doubling the amount of water. The best option would be a break in hydration. in two days. After the formation of ovaries, the frequency of watering begins to decrease. Weather conditions are also taken into account. In very humid summers, it is enough to water the plants once every two weeks.
Increased watering will lead to an increase in the green mass of the plant and a decrease in tomato fruiting.
How to water tomatoes
High yields in a greenhouse are obtained if watering is carried out with water at a temperature of 20-25 degrees. Many people add a tablespoon of table salt and a glass of wood ash to a bucket of water. By pouring half a liter of solution under each bush, you can harvest a good harvest of sweet, fleshy tomatoes.
Water the tomatoes, adding a little herbal mass to the water.
Organization of drip watering of plants
Using homemade drippers to water tomatoes is important for hydration root region plants. In this case, water is supplied in small portions.
To install this method of irrigation, you need hoses with a diameter of 1.5 cm. Droppers or drip tapes are attached to them. The hose is connected to a faucet or lowered into a container of water. Lay the system along the plantings, sprinkled lightly with soil. Through a tape or dropper, water will flow directly to the root system of the vegetable crop.
How to water seedlings
Since the future harvest depends on the condition of the seedlings, you need to know how to water them correctly. Young shoots can quickly die from lack of moisture. When seeds hatch, reduce the frequency of watering by making break for two days.
If it is very dry, you can spray the soil with a spray bottle.
As soon as the first leaves appear, observe the drying of the top layer of soil. Only then watering or spraying is carried out. Two or three days before picking, soften the soil by watering and first fertilizing. The sprouts are then easier to remove from the ground.
Four days after transplanting the seedlings, watering begins, bringing it up to once a week. The amount of moisture can be increased if the intensity of sunlight increases, which leads to drying out of the soil.
Planting tomatoes and growing them has its own characteristics. Knowing all the nuances of how to care for them in ordinary greenhouses and polycarbonate greenhouses is important in order to obtain high yields of tomatoes.
Growing tomatoes in a greenhouse requires a competent approach and begins with transplanting seedlings. A number of activities are associated with this - from preparing the greenhouse to caring for seedlings. Let's take a closer look at each of the stages.
First, the greenhouse is carefully prepared to create favorable conditions for the tomatoes.
As a rule, there are two types of greenhouses:
- with film coating;
- with polycarbonate.
If the coating is film, then a double layer of polyethylene film is stretched over the frame. It is important that there is a small gap between the layers - this “cushion” will improve the thermal insulation properties of the structure. In addition, the greenhouse must be equipped with a ventilation system. The outer layer of polyethylene must be changed at least once a month, since this material wears out under the influence of external factors. Seedlings should be planted in a greenhouse covered with film in March.
If the structure is covered with polycarbonate, this gives several benefits.
- First of all, such a greenhouse will last much longer than its film counterpart, since this material is highly durable and able to withstand significant loads.
- Polycarbonate greenhouses also retain heat well, which allows you not only to save on heating costs, but also to grow plants in the winter.
In this case, the seedlings need to be replanted in late February - early March. Immediately before planting, the structure is wiped from the inside with a dry cloth, and the ventilation system is inspected for faults.
Stage two. Soil preparation
You should start with the fact that you cannot grow tomatoes in the same place for several years in a row, otherwise you may encounter such a nuisance as fruit diseases. For this reason, tomatoes should be alternated with cucumbers annually. However, even in this case, microbes will remain in the soil. To protect crops from infection, you need to partially/completely change the soil in the greenhouse or, alternatively, remove 10-15 cm of the top layer.
Then the soil is treated with copper sulfate dissolved in boiling water (2 tablespoons per bucket of water). 14 days before transplanting, the soil is cleared of weeds, loosened and fertilized, after which the beds are formed. If only poor soil is available, then you need to add humus and coal (7 kg and 250 g, respectively, per 1 m²). But if the soil is fertile, then 3 kg of humus per 1 m² is enough.
Note! The width of the beds should be 60-90 cm, height – 30-40 cm. The distance between the beds should be approximately 60-70 cm.
The soil in the greenhouse where the tomatoes will be planted is fertilized depending on its type.
- The loam needs to be softened and lightened by mixing it with sawdust and humus (10 kg per 1 m²).
- Peat soil must be mixed with sand (5 kg/m²), as well as sawdust, humus and turf (10 kg/1 m²).
- The same amount of sand should be added to chernozem as should be added to peat soil.
We also note that tomatoes should not be grown in the same greenhouse with cucumbers, since the latter need higher temperatures and air humidity.
The proximity of cucumbers and tomatoes in a greenhouse is not the best solution
Stage three. Preparing seedlings
We have already talked about caring for them earlier, so we’ll start right away with preparing for transplantation. The seedlings are hardened 14 days before planting. In the room where the seedlings are grown, the windows are opened and kept this way around the clock. In sunny weather, the pots can be taken outside.
The first few days you need to harden the seedlings for two to three hours, after which they can be taken out into the fresh air for the whole day (and even at night, but subject to appropriate weather conditions).
Note! If seedlings are hardened in a greenhouse, then you need to remove the frames and ensure good ventilation. Hardened plants take on a somewhat purple tint.
Also, before transplanting, seedlings are treated with Bordeaux mixture, which will protect the tomatoes from diseases. And if you cut off a few of the lower leaves a couple of days before planting, the plants will take root better in their new location, and the first cluster of flowers will form faster. Five days before transplanting, it is recommended to spray the plants with boron solution (1 kg/1 liter of water) - this way the buds of the first cluster will be preserved.
Plants ready for transplanting must have:
- thick stems;
- buds on the first brush;
- well developed roots;
- height corresponding to the variety.
Now we proceed directly to planting.
Stage three. Planting tomato seedlings in a greenhouse
Seedlings that have reached 35-40 cm in height and have undergone hardening can be planted in closed soil. It must be remembered that the transplantation procedure for immature tomatoes is a real stress, so immediately before this they should be properly prepared.
Step 1. On the day of transplantation, all cotyledons and yellowed leaves, as well as those that were damaged, are torn off. In this case, you need to leave a two-centimeter cutting so that the plants are better illuminated by the sun and ventilated.
Step 2. Then the seedlings are watered, and the soil in the greenhouse is sprinkled with water and thoroughly loosened.
Step 3. After this, soil treatment begins. The optimal time for these actions is four to five hours, when the heat subsides.
Step 4. The beds are made with a hoe, and the distance between the holes should be about half a meter.
Step 5. Then the seedlings are carefully removed from the container where they were located, along with the soil, and placed in the holes strictly perpendicular to the surface of the earth. After this, the seedlings are lightly dug in for fixation. If the soil in the pots in which the tomatoes were grown differs from the soil in the greenhouse, then it should be carefully shaken off the roots.
Step 7. After applying fertilizer, the pits are completely filled and lightly compacted.
Step 8. Each plant is watered abundantly.
Step 9. The soil around the tomatoes is covered with mulch (for example, sawdust can be used as such).
Step 10. If necessary, for subsequent gartering, a peg about 50 cm high is driven in near each plant.
If the seedlings have outgrown and their height exceeds 35 cm, then the algorithm for planting should be slightly different.
Step 1 . First, deep (about 13 cm) holes are dug.
Step 2. In each hole, another hole is dug, the size corresponding to the size of the pots used for growing seedlings.
Step 3. Pots are placed in smaller holes and then covered with a small amount of soil. There is no need to compact or bury large holes.
Step 4. Two weeks later, when the seedlings have taken root, the first holes are filled in.
If for one reason or another the seedlings have grown so much that they have reached a meter in height, then the landing must be done as follows.
Step 1 . Two to three days before planting, all leaves located at a height of 70 cm are cut off.
Step 2. On the day of planting, a small furrow (about 7 cm deep) is made for each plant, the length of which should correspond to the length of that part of the stem that will be above the ground. A hole is made at one edge of the furrow.
Step 3. This entire system is watered abundantly.
Step 4. The roots of the seedlings are fixed in the holes, and the stems are sent along the furrows so that no more than 30 cm remains on the surface. Fastening is carried out in several places using wire.
Step 5. Then the plants are covered with earth and thoroughly compacted.
Step 6. The above-ground parts of the stems are tied to pre-driven pegs.
Video - Transplanting tomatoes into a greenhouse
Disembarkation scheme
The scheme for planting seedlings depends, first of all, on the specific variety and the characteristics of its formation. Ideally, you need to plant low-growing, early-ripening tomatoes, grown in two or three stems, doing everything in two rows according to the chessboard principle. For standard and determinate varieties grown in one stem, this planting scheme is also used. The distance between rows should be at least 50 cm, and between plants - no more than 25 cm. This arrangement will allow you to plant about 10 plants per 1 m², but they will need careful care to avoid excessive density of tomatoes.
Tall tomatoes that are grown in one stem must be planted in increments of 60 cm, while the distance between rows should be at least 75-80 cm. If planting is done in two stems, then the distance between holes should be increased to 65-75 cm.
Note! In a greenhouse, you can simultaneously grow early-ripening and tall tomatoes, for which you need to use the diagram below.
The seedlings are arranged in two rows. Row No. 1 is formed near the wall, early ripening plants are planted in it at a distance of about 40 cm. They are grown in one stem. In this case, the upper stepson must be transferred to the stem. In row No. 2 - next to the aisle - tall varieties are planted in one stem, approximately 60 cm from each other. Then between these plants, determinate varieties are planted every 25 cm, on which, after the second brush, it is necessary to pinch (three leaves should remain under it). As a result, while tall plants will only grow, it will be possible to harvest the early ripening varieties and remove them from the greenhouse altogether.
You should not allow excessive density, because tomatoes are light-loving crops. Ideally, every leaf of the plant should be illuminated. The stepsons and lower leaves should be trimmed in a timely manner, which will have a positive effect on light and air exchange, reduce the risk of developing diseases and accelerate the growth of fruits.
Features of caring for tomatoes in greenhouse conditions
There are a number of rules for caring for planted seedlings that must be followed. Let's get to know them.
Table. Rules for caring for tomatoes
| Name | Short description |
|---|---|
| Full watering can be started only ten days after planting the plants in closed ground. Subsequently, in the morning of every fifth day, tomatoes are watered at the rate of 4 l/m² (before flowering) and 10 l/m² (immediately during flowering). The water temperature should be approximately 21-22°C. When watering, you need to ensure that as little moisture as possible gets on the leaves. |
| Periodically it is necessary to remove stepsons, i.e. shoots that grow from the axils of the leaves. It is recommended to do this early in the morning. If pinching is not done in time, the bushes will branch, which will lead to a lack of lighting and, as a consequence, the development of diseases. All this will negatively affect the quality and growth of tomatoes. |
| The greenhouse needs to be ventilated every day, especially after watering (to dry the pollen). In conditions of wet pollen, tomatoes simply will not be pollinated and there will be nothing to collect when harvesting. In addition, if there is insufficient ventilation, the fruits will be sour and watery. |
| In the greenhouse, it is necessary to maintain the air temperature within 18-25°C during the daytime and 15-16°C at night. |
| Tomato flowers must be pollinated to set fruit. To do this, in sunny weather, the inflorescences should be gently shaken so that the pollen gets onto the pistils. You can secure the result by spraying the tomatoes with water and ventilating the greenhouse a few hours after pollination. |
| 20 days after planting, the tomatoes are fed. To do this, 1 teaspoon of organic fertilizers (for example, Agricola Vegeta) should be mixed with ½ spoon of nitrophoska and diluted in 5 liters of water. The resulting solution is enough for five plants. |
Further feeding consists of the following steps.
If you follow these simple rules, the seedlings will form strong plants, and the tomato harvest will be excellent.
Video - Features of growing tomatoes in a greenhouse
Before determining how often and correctly to water tomatoes in a greenhouse, let’s look at the features of the microclimate created inside greenhouses.
Air humidity in summer is approximately 60-80 % . The exception is too hot and dry periods when the humidity drops to 40 % . In this case, hot weather may alternate with rain, and then the humidity reaches 90 % .
If watering in a greenhouse is improper, these indicators can be even higher, and this is detrimental to tomatoes. The peculiarity of this culture is requirement for moisture in the soil, but prefers while the air is dry for the successful development of the aboveground part. These are the conditions that need to be provided to tomatoes in the greenhouse with proper watering.
Both too much and too little watering are harmful to tomatoes.. If there is too much moisture in the soil, the roots are unable to absorb it and begin to rot. Lack of moisture leads to active dehydration of foliage, and plants can overheat and die.
IMPORTANT. If you notice that the tomato leaves have begun to curl along the central vein, it means they lack moisture.
Soil and air humidity standards for tomatoes
Watering tomatoes in a greenhouse should ensure ninety percent soil moisture and fifty percent air. These conditions can ensure normal growth and development of the bush, and optimal protection against fungal diseases.
How often and at what time should tomatoes be watered in a greenhouse? In order to achieve a similar microclimate in the greenhouse, watering tomatoes should be carried out subject to the following rules:
- plants need to be watered no more than once or twice a week, depending on the level of humidity and air temperature;
- every bush should receive 4-5 liters;
- you need to water the tomatoes strictly under the root, without getting into the bush. Drops of water in the sun become a kind of lenses and cause burns;
- Recommended time: morning or early evening so that the sun does not create a greenhouse effect and all moisture goes into the soil and does not evaporate.
IMPORTANT. Do not water your tomatoes with cold water, as this will cause them stress. The water temperature should be at least 23-24 degrees.
Types of irrigation organization
How to water tomatoes in a greenhouse? There are several ways to organize watering tomatoes in a greenhouse:
Manual
This method is the most acceptable in small buildings. Using simple devices - watering cans or hoses - water is poured strictly to the root.
When watering with a hose, water often comes from a well and a water supply system, so there is danger of root hypothermia. The disadvantage of watering with a hose is the inability to control the amount of liquid per plant.
It is more expedient to organize manual watering from a watering can with settled water. To do this, it is better to place a barrel next to the greenhouse, which is filled with water in advance to heat it.
ATTENTION. If a barrel of water is placed directly in the greenhouse, be sure to cover it with a lid or plastic wrap. An open container of water in a greenhouse creates excessive air humidity, which is harmful for tomatoes.
Drip
Its organization is effective in large greenhouses, since manual watering in this case requires a lot of time and effort. It is better to simplify it by building a drip irrigation system in the greenhouse. Advantages such watering are obvious:
- water goes directly to the roots without evaporating from the surface and without increasing air humidity;
- eliminates the risk of water droplets getting on the leaves, stems and flowers of plants;
- watering can be carried out at any convenient time;
- the soil is not washed away and does not become salty.
In order to organize drip irrigation of tomatoes in the greenhouse, a special system is installed that provides moisture supply through special pipes to the roots. Such a system can be purchased ready-made in specialized stores or installed independently. The advantage of such watering is the additional possibility of fertilizing plants.
If it is not possible to construct a drip irrigation system, you can use a very original and simple method -. To do this, bottles with holes are dug into the ground next to the tomato bushes with their necks upside down. Water is poured into a bottle and gradually flows through small holes to the roots. Since one tomato plant in a greenhouse requires up to 5 liters per watering, it is better to use plastic bottles of the appropriate size.
Another option for homemade drip irrigation is to dig a tube into the ground, onto which the bottle is placed upside down. A hole is made in the bottom to fill in water. The filled bottle gradually delivers water through the tube to the roots.
Auto
Most often this method is used in industrial greenhouses, because at the household level its cost is too high. But if the owner can afford such a structure on his site, then using it most optimal.
Features of watering at different stages of tomato growth
Moisture requirements of tomatoes depends on the stage of their development. Therefore, at different periods they need a special frequency of watering and the amount of moisture used.
- When planting, it is watered abundantly ( 4-5 l. in one hole) and leave for rooting for 7-10 days. Tomatoes do not need additional watering during this period.
- A week after planting, tomatoes begin to actively grow. But their root system is still weak and is not yet capable of extracting moisture from the depths of the soil. That's why before flowering begins tomatoes are watered two times a week, spending on each bush 2-3 liters of water.
- During flowering amount of moisture increase to five liters, but the frequency is reduced up to once a week.
- As soon as on the bushes fruits begin to appear, watering frequency is increased up to twice a week. But you should not pour too much water under each bush, so as not to cause waterlogging of the soil and rotting of the roots.
- The signal to reduce watering is the appearance of the first tomatoes starting to turn red. During the period of fruit ripening the procedure begins again once a week and a small amount of water. Excessive watering during this period can lead to cracking of the fruit.
When to water?
When and how often to water tomatoes in a greenhouse? Gardeners do not have a common opinion on this issue, but still It is recommended to focus on weather conditions and structural features of your greenhouse.
If the weather outside is warm and dry, then the time of watering does not matter. Especially if you do it carefully and the possibility of sunburn of the leaves is excluded. It is better to water in the afternoon, since the water is already quite warmed up by this hour, whereas in the morning it is still cool.
If watering is carried out in the evening, after it, long-term ventilation of the greenhouse is required so that excess moisture evaporates and the tomatoes remain healthy.
In damp and cool weather It is better to water the tomatoes before noon, so that during the day the space is well ventilated and excess moisture evaporates from the air.
IMPORTANT. No matter what time you perform the procedure. Leave the windows and doors open after it. If you close the greenhouse immediately after watering, the excess moisture in the air will encourage the development of fungus.
Proper organization of watering tomatoes when growing them in a greenhouse will allow you to get a large harvest of healthy and tasty fruits.
Useful video
You can see the organization of simple and effective watering of tomatoes in a greenhouse more visually in the video:
If you find an error, please highlight a piece of text and click Ctrl+Enter.
After the plants have been planted from the pots into the greenhouse soil, a new stage begins: caring for the tomatoes after planting in the greenhouse. There are many features that you need to know in order to get a good harvest and all the previously done work is not in vain. The greenhouse allows you to pamper yourself with different varieties of tomatoes, both low-growing and tall, each of which has its own special characteristic taste, color and aroma, as well as size and shape.
Watering, pollination and ventilation
After planting, tomatoes must be left without watering for 12-15 days. The volume of water for irrigation varies at different stages:
- before flowering – 4-5 liters per 1 sq. m., 1 time every 5-6 days;
- during the flowering and fruiting season - 10-15 liters per 1 sq. m. for the same period.
Drip irrigation system for tomatoes in a greenhouse
To avoid condensation and drops of water falling on the fruits, watering is best done in the morning at the root. You should also control the correct temperature of the water - 20-22 degrees.
Important! To achieve a good harvest, the greenhouse must be fully illuminated by the sun's rays; there should be no trees or bushes nearby that could cast a shadow.
On the tenth or twelfth day, the plants must be tied to a trellis about 2 meters high. Some experts advise gartering on the third or fourth day. When forming tomatoes into one stem, you need to leave 7-8 flower clusters. You can also leave only the lower stepson, which has one flower brush. The rest are removed when they reach 8 cm in length, leaving 2-3 cm. In the morning, the stepsons break off more easily, so the procedure should be carried out at the beginning of the day.
Garter of tomato bushes on a peg
Important! To prevent the hands from transferring a viral disease from an infected plant to a healthy one, the stepsons break off so that the fingers do not touch the plant juice.
For pollination, lightly shake the flower brushes. In this case, an important factor is the presence of sun and warm temperature. Immediately after shaking, you need to water the soil or spray the flowers with water. After waiting 2 hours, it is necessary to reduce the humidity in the room, which means opening the side and top windows and the door. It is important to monitor the temperature in the greenhouse. On a sunny day it should be 24-26 degrees, on a cloudy day - 18-20 degrees. At night the temperature should not drop below 15-16 degrees.
Ventilation is one of the most mandatory procedures. This is especially important during the flowering period of tomatoes. There must be upper windows in the greenhouse where tomatoes are grown, since they are the ones that help the condensation on the film dry out.
Tomato blossom
With increased soil moisture, the sugar content in tomato fruits, as well as dry substances, is reduced, as a result of which they become watery, a sour taste appears, and fleshiness decreases. That is why proper watering and regular ventilation directly affect the quality of the resulting fruit.
Feeding tomatoes
During the growing season, it is important to make several root dressings (preferably 3-4). After 3 weeks from the moment of planting the seedlings, the first fertilizing is carried out. Half a liter of liquid mullein and 1 tablespoon of nitrophoska are diluted with 10 liters of water and each plant is fertilized with 1 liter of the resulting mixture.
After 10 days, a second feeding is carried out. The fertilizer is prepared according to the following ratio: a tablespoon of complete fertilizer and a teaspoon of potassium sulfate for the same 10 liters of water. Distribute it at the rate of 5 liters per 1 square. m. soil.
The mixture for feeding must be prepared strictly following the dosage.
After another 12 days, mix superphosphate (1 tbsp) and wood ash (2 tbsp) per 10 liters of water. For 1 sq. m. you will need 6-8 liters of such fertilizer.
During the period of full fruiting, tomatoes must be fed in this way: mix 2 tablespoons of superphosphate with 1 teaspoon of dry powder (can be replaced with 1 tablespoon of liquid sodium humate) per 10 liters of water. 10 liters of this fertilizer is enough for 2 square meters. With this fertilizer, the fruits will grow faster.
Soil care
Caring for the soil under tomatoes after planting them in the greenhouse does not end, but, on the contrary, continues, just in different directions than before.
Important! To prevent tomatoes from getting sick, they should not be grown in the same greenhouse (on the same soil) for two years in a row.
After the seedlings are planted, the entire free area must be covered with compost. The thicker the layer, the better. Further, during the season, you need to regularly add a mulching layer consisting of mowed grass and straw. This will prevent the spread of late blight. To further protect plants from diseases, the lower leaves of the plants are torn off, preventing them from coming into contact with the ground.
Mulching greenhouse soil
Earthworms are also important for healthy soil, so it is good to have them in the soil.
It would be good to plant legumes between the rows, as they help enrich the soil with nitrogen. And to make the taste of tomatoes more intense, you can sow basil along the borders.
Possible problems and their solutions
Gardeners may encounter the following tomato problems:
- falling of flowers;
- curling leaves;
- stopping plant growth;
- fruit drop;
- fruits do not grow on the second and subsequent clusters;
- plants are thin and weak.
So, if the plant looks strong and healthy, with thick stems, and its upper leaves are curled, this is a sure sign that the plant will not bear fruit, since all the nutrients go into the greens. The cause may be too much watering, too much nitrogen or organic fertilizer, or lack of light. To correct the situation, you need to leave the plants without watering for 8-10 days and increase the temperature: daytime to 26 degrees, nighttime to 24, and do not ventilate.
Bush with curled leaves
The reason for the falling of flowers and small fruits may be dry soil, high temperature, insufficient ventilation and lighting. Accordingly, you need to eliminate all of the above: water the plants, lower the temperature, ventilate, etc.
To improve fruit filling on the second flower cluster, you need to harvest the first cluster as early as possible. There is no need to wait for the fruit to turn red. In just 2 days they will ripen in the sun, for example, on a windowsill.
Drying flowers on a bush
Plants may be thin and weak as a result of lack of light or nutrients. If these shortcomings are eliminated, the yield can be significantly increased.
All of the above recommendations are suitable for caring for short and tall tomatoes. By the way, among the low-growing varieties that are good to grow using the greenhouse method are Yantarny, Ox's Ear, Japanese Dwarf, Tayana, Renet and Yamal. For example, Yamal, with a height of only 30 cm, has fairly large fruits containing a lot of sugar and vitamins, and given the cold resistance of this plant, it can be successfully grown even in cold summers. But the tall Great Warrior can produce fruits weighing up to 0.5 kg.
Tomato variety "Japanese dwarf"
By knowing how to properly water, ventilate and sufficiently fertilize tomatoes in a greenhouse, you can get a good, high-quality harvest made with your own hands.
How to grow tomatoes in a greenhouse: video
Tomato care: photo
