Tomatoes are considered one of the most popular vegetables, so it's hard to find a vegetable garden that doesn't have one. However, not every owner can boast of a generous harvest and large fruits. The main part of the problem of growing tomatoes is non-observance of the rules of agricultural technology.
To get a rich harvest, you need to take care of the plants properly, because not all varieties are suitable to grow a vegetable in different regions.
What actions are included in the agricultural technology of growing tomatoes
Many amateur gardeners believe that the whole care of tomato beds is watering and weeding. In fact, with such scant attention, even the most prolific and disease-resistant hybrids will not yield great yields. Let's try to understand in more detail the generally accepted rules for growing tomatoes.
Agrotechnology for growing tomatoes consists of the following points:
- selection of seeds (in particular varieties) - certain varieties of tomatoes are suitable for each region;
- preparation of seed for planting (soaking in order to disinfect and stimulate growth);
- creating conditions for growing seedlings (lighting, temperature conditions, watering, feeding);
- picking seedlings;
- choosing a place for a garden bed and preparing the soil;
- transplanting seedlings to the beds;
- watering;
- fertilization;
- disease prevention;
- weeding and loosening of the soil;
- formation of bushes and pinching, garter of tall plants (even if the tomato is undersized, you should not deviate from these rules);
- harvesting.
In addition to the main stages, additional activitiescontributing to the better development of culture:
- mulching the garden;
- treatment of seedlings with growth stimulants;
- construction of a temporary shelter to protect against spring frosts (made of film or agrofibre);
- planting crops in the neighborhood that drive away pests.
To adhere to routine plant care, experienced gardeners draw up an action plan at the beginning of the season.
What soil do tomatoes like?
Tomatoes can grow on almost any soil, the question is the amount of preparatory work.
The best cultivation results are noted on nutritious loose soils with good moisture and air permeability... Such qualities are possessed, for example, by loams. The medium should be neutral or slightly acidic, but not acidic.
Before boarding, you need check pH level using laboratory tests or litmus paper. If the indicator exceeds the value of 5.5-6.5, then treatment should be carried out to adjust the acidity. For this, dolomite flour or crushed lime is sprayed on the surface of the soil, which is then gently mixed with the ground with a rake.
The soil for tomatoes should be fertile, enriched with potassium, nitrogen, phosphorus, iron, zinc and other trace elements.
When applying fertilizers at the stage of preparing a place for planting seedlings, both organic fertilizers and complex mineral fertilizers are used. However, it should be noted that you should not get carried away with nutritious mixtures, you can burn out young shoots or provoke intensive growth of greens to the detriment of the formation of fruits.
When choosing a place for a tomato garden, you need to take into account what crops were grown on it last season.
The predecessors can deplete the soil so much that it is unlikely to get large tomato fruits. The same applies to the rule of crop rotation; it is not recommended to plant crops in the same area.
How to prepare the soil for tomatoes
Depending on the degree of nutrient content of the soil and its structure, the optimal fertilizer options are selected.
In the greenhouse
You should start preparing the soil in the greenhouse in the fall. For starters it's worth get rid of all plant debris, pests and pathogens successfully winter with it.
To obtain vermicompost, it is recommended immediately after harvest plant green manure (such as mustard). By winter, they will grow up, and they can be cut off. It will be possible to assess the results of labor in the spring, the soil will be healed, cleaned of weeds and enriched with nutrients.
If outbreaks of diseases were noticed during the season, then the soil will need to be changed. To do this, a 20-30 cm layer is completely removed and taken out of the greenhouse. All surfaces of the structure must be treated with fungicides. Additionally, a sulfur checker is used.
A new layer of healthy soil follows enrich with manure, compost or complex mineral fertilizers... The best soil mix for a greenhouse includes the following components:
- fertile garden land;
- peat;
- river coarse sand;
- compost;
- rotted manure.
In the spring, the greenhouse surfaces need to be cleaned again, and treat with a special solution (for example, Baikal-EM) for disinfection, and pour boiling water over the bed to warm up the earth.
2 weeks before planting the seedlings, superphosphate (30 g), ammonium nitrate (20 g) and potassium sulfate (15 g) are introduced into the soil. Fresh manure is not used in the spring, it provokes the growth of tops, slowing down the formation of fruits.
To get an early harvest, warm beds are arranged. With this technique, the landing dates are shifted 2-4 weeks earlier.
In the open field
A garden bed in the open field is also prepared in the fall. For this one should remove all plant debris and dig up the ground with the immersion depth of the tool on the bayonet of the shovel. Simultaneously with digging introduce organic matter (compost, manure) at the rate of 6-8 kg per 1 m2.
In the spring, the bed is dug up again and 1-2 weeks before planting the seedlings processed with a hot solution of copper sulfate (for disinfection). So that the soil does not cool down, it is covered with a film before planting the seedlings.
During planting, a nutrient mixture is poured into each hole: humus, compost, peat, wood ash.
Rules for growing tomatoes to get a good harvest
Fertilizers
During the growing season, tomatoes are necessary feed several times, then you can significantly increase the yield.
In the open field the first portion is introduced a week after planting the seedlings. For this, a solution of 10 liters of water is more suitable, Art. l. nitrophosphate and 500 ml of liquid mullein. For each bush, about 0.5 liters are consumed.
The second time, complementary foods are introduced during the flowering period. At this stage, a solution of 10 liters of water, 500 ml of liquid chicken manure, art. superphosphate, including potassium sulfate.
After 10 days, the plant can be fed with a solution based on Agricola Vegeta or Signor Tomato. After another 10-14 days, the beds are enriched with a product based on 10 liters of water, 1 tbsp. potassium humate (or sodium).
In the greenhouse the first feeding is applied to the holes when planting seedlings, the hole is filled with compost, humus and wood ash.
The second portion of the nutrient mixture is administered 2-3 weeks later. Fertilizers are diluted in the Bucket of water: nitrogen (25 gr.), Potash (15 gr.), Phosphoric (40 gr.). Pour 1 liter of working solution under each bush.
The next top dressing is applied during the period of mass flowering. From nutritional mixtures, a composition based on water (10 l), liquid mullein (500 ml) and potassium sulfate (15 g) is suitable. 1-1.5 liters of liquid is poured under each bush.
Subsequent procedures are carried out at intervals of 10-14 days (nitrophoska, potassium humate and other agents are used).
Bush formation
In order for the plant not to waste energy in vain, it is recommended to form bushes into 1, 2, 3 stems.
The main stem comes from the root, from it leaves below, in the axils of which stepchildren are formed. Thanks to them, the plant branches out, taking on most of the nutrients.
The whole process proceeds to the detriment of the formation of ovaries and fruits due to lack of nutrition. therefore stepchildren must be removed every 5 days, and form a tomato with a certain number of stems.
This procedure is performed regardless of where the crop is grown, whether it is open ground or a greenhouse.
Proper watering
Irrigation in open beds is carried out 1-2 times a week... In hot dry weather, watering frequency increases up to 3-4 times... However, the decisive factor is the degree of soil moisture. The increased moisture content provokes the development of fungal infections, so you should not get carried away with irrigation.
In the greenhouse, irrigation rates are regulated depending on the humidity of the air and soil. As a rule, procedures are carried out using a drip or underground irrigation system.
Loosening and mulching
To enrich the soil with oxygen and prevent the formation of a crust in greenhouses and open ground, loosening is carried out, which is often combined with weeding.
The first procedure is carried out after the first irrigation with immersion in the ground to a depth of 8-10 cm. Subsequent loosening provides for a depth of 3-4 cm. The frequency of activities is 3-4 times per season, but until the moment the bushes grow. After complete formation, unnecessary passages between plants can injure them.
In the greenhouse, the first loosening is also done after watering. Subsequent procedures are carried out every 2 weeks until the rows close.
To retain moisture in the soil, tomato beds are mulched with dry straw, sawdust or peat.
The thickness of the interlayer should be within 6-7 cm (after the material has shrunk). Also used as mulch: burlap, newsprint, shredded tree bark, dried cut grass, etc.
Secrets of growing tomatoes and getting a rich harvest of fruits
Each experienced gardener has his own secrets that guarantee high yields even in adverse weather conditions. The following tips stand out among the effective and interesting ones.
- To increase the yield during the flowering period of the second and third brush, it is recommended spray the plant with a boric acid-based solution (weak concentration). Boron promotes pollen germination, ovary formation and fruiting.
- Most tomatoes are self-pollinating. But under unfavorable conditions, the pollination process is poorly carried out, therefore, human help will not interfere with the plant. For this you need a little shake the bush every 3-6 days.
- Mulching tomato beds prevents the soil from drying out and crusting on the surface of the soil. In addition, mulch reduces the growth rate of weeds - the main enemy of vegetable crops.
- Autumn soil preparation provides an increase in yield if compost, manure in combination with peat are used as fertilizers.
- For many gardeners, picking up remains an undeveloped activity, therefore, not everyone can get fruits with the characteristics described on the seed label. Removing useless shoots redirects the flow of food and energy towards the formation of large tomatoes. In addition, they have time to mature before the end of the season.
In general, agricultural technology is not complicated, although it has some features, but it is quite possible to increase the yield. After gaining experience in growing tomatoes, you can reasonably make your own adjustments and developments in the care rules, and then share with them on the forums.