The main problem when growing a tomato at home or under a film cover is how to pollinate a vegetable. In order for a good harvest to ripen and fruit to be set quickly, gardeners resort to methods of artificial or natural pollination.
Why pollinate tomatoes at home or in a polycarbonate greenhouse
Productivity depends not only on the growth conditions and the choice of the variety, but also on the degree of pollination of plants... The more flowers are pollinated, the richer the harvest can be obtained.
When growing tomatoes at home, the procedure must be carried out artificially.
In order for the plant to please with a generous harvest, you need to create for it:
- Favorable conditions for pollen ripening (lighting, watering, airing)
- Apply in several ways. This guarantees good fruit formation.
Many summer residents are faced with a problem falling off flower ovaries tomatoes. This may be due to some reasons:
- Large load on the bush (a large number of ovaries)
- Insufficient lighting
- Excess nitrogen-containing fertilizers
- Growing a tomato from your own seeds
- Diseases
Pollination rules
Tomatoes - self-pollinating plants (anthers and pistil are located on the same flower).
One flower can pollinate several nearby plants. For full pollination, you need to create a tomato bush favorable conditions.
Unfavorable climate can lead to lack of fruit:
- At a temperature +13 degrees and below, the anthers are distorted and as a result, the structure of the pollen decreases.
- At elevated temperatures, +30 degrees and above, pollen grains reduce their vitality. Pollination does not occur, and the plant throws off all flowers.
- When high humidity, the pollen sticks together and is unable to scatter.
Even with a slight increase in the permissible temperature, tomatoes shed flower ovaries during flowering.
For tomatoes self-pollinated, it is necessary:
- Timely increase or decrease the air temperature
- To increase humidity - increase the number of watering
- For lowering - the bushes are mulched with straw
- During flowering, feeding with potash fertilizers - you must follow the instructions
Pollination of tomatoes occurs naturally and artificially. For a quality process, in hot weather, gardeners open the vents, and the tomatoes are pollinated by wind or insects.
If it is not possible to frequently ventilate the polycarbonate greenhouse, you can use an automatic window. With its help, a comfortable temperature for tomatoes will be maintained.
To attract insects, a greenhouse is installed container with sugar syrup or planted along the edge of the garden, undersized flowers honey plants.
How to properly pollinate tomatoes
Pollination is the key to a high yield. Without it, the bush will throw off all flower ovaries and the formation of fruits will not occur. There are two methods for indoor and home growing tomatoes.
Natural pollination
There are three ways to pollinate bushes in a greenhouse or at home growing on a balcony:
- Attracting insects... For tomatoes grown under film cover, it is necessary to create conditions for natural growth. To attract insects - pollinators, flower plants are planted in the greenhouse, and containers with sweet water are placed between the rows. Basil or marigold growing next to tomatoes will greatly improve the taste of the fruit.
- Spraying flower ovaries sugar solution - it will also help attract pollinating insects.
- Airing... In hot and windy weather, the greenhouse is ventilated, due to this, a natural method occurs. For this, two opposite vents are opened to create a draft.
If you attract bumblebees, then the yield will increase by 40%.
Artificial
Artificial is carried out when the plant cannot self-pollinate. This happens when tomatoes are grown at home or pollination does not occur for some reason.
Before the manual procedure, you must identify non-pollinated inflorescences... Pollinated flowers have curved petals, while in non-pollinated flowers they are closed.
There are 4 methods of artificial pollination:
- Shaking... In order to pollinate the plant with this method, you just need to gently shake the bush. In this case, the pollen falls on the pistil and the process takes place. This method is quick and convenient.
- Using tassel... Using a thick and soft brush, collect the pollen and transfer it to the non-pollinated flowers.
- Artificial wind... The method is similar to airing. The fan creates the effect of wind, due to which the plant is pollinated.
- Through electric toothbrush... This method is laborious. The switched on device is brought to the maximum proximity to the flower, vibration occurs and pollen falls on the pistil.
Artificial is carried out in the morning, in clear and sunny weather. The best time is 8-10 am... The manual procedure is carried out every 3-4 days.
After the procedure, the bush is spilled and the room is ventilated.
Preparations for tomatoes in the greenhouse
For high-quality ovary formation, after artificial pollination, drugs are used:
- Boric acid solution. 10 grams of powder for 10 liters of hot water. After dissolving the powder and cooling the solution to room temperature, all pollinated bushes are sprayed with it.
- Gibberros. When flowering, it will help in the process.
- Ovary. A universal, environmentally friendly stimulator of fruit formation.
- Tomaton. Under unfavorable weather conditions, it forms ovaries together.
- Bud.
When growing tomatoes at home or in greenhouses, you need to know all the details. Correct and timely pollination, as well as the creation of a favorable microclimate, a guarantee of a good and high-quality harvest.