Tomato fruits have high nutritional, taste and dietary qualities, which is why they are considered the most common vegetables. To get early fruits, many summer residents install greenhouses on their site. But in order to achieve the best results of tomato harvest, you need to know all the features of growing and how to plant plants indoors.
Features of growing tomatoes in a greenhouse
First of all, when designing a greenhouse, it is necessary to take into account that the interior has adequate lighting with all daylight and good ventilation. If it is easier to achieve this in an apartment, in room conditions on a windowsill, then in a greenhouse you need to observe the features.
Before planting the tomato, the metal parts of the structure must be disinfected with boiling water, and the wooden parts with copper sulfate. After these works, it is recommended to ventilate the greenhouse for a day and only then start planting the plant.
Good survival rate of seedlings, as well as their further development depends on many factors. Therefore, it is necessary to observe all the nuances of the further step-by-step guide.
Preparing the soil for tomatoes
Tomatoes not recommended to be planted annually in the same soil... A good option is to replace the entire soil. If this is not possible, you can limit yourself to disinfection: Bordeaux liquid, dolomite flour, or simply pour over it with boiling water.
Efficient cultivation of beds
Planting strips begin to be cultivated 1 week before planting. The number of beds depends on the size of the greenhouse. The optimal width of one lane is considered - 60–90 cm, and the height is 40 cm... It is necessary to leave a passage 60 cm wide between the strips, since in this case it will be easier to carry out agrotechnical work.
Fertilizing the soil before planting
If the soil is not fertile, it must be fed for high yields. It is recommended to add humus to clay soil at the rate of 10 kg. for 1 sq.m. as well as 1 tbsp. l. potassium sulfate and 2 tbsp. superphosphate. Further, fertilizers need to be well dug up with the soil.
Regardless of the fertility of the soil, before planting seedlings, it must be watered with a solution of potassium permanganate at the rate of 1 g per 10 liters. water.
Landing scheme
In order for tomatoes to receive a sufficient amount of light and nutrients during growth, it is necessary to correctly plan the place of planting in advance. According to the recommendations of experts, the tomato planting scheme depends on their varieties.
Thus, the optimal solution is considered checkerboard order, with the following distance:
- Low-growing varieties... In order for this type of tomato to receive good lighting, it is recommended to plant them along the edge of the greenhouse. The distance between plants should be 30 - 40 cm, in the row spacing - 50 cm.
- Columnar varieties... Such tomatoes are planted in the middle of the ridge, taking into account the distance between the bushes 20 - 25 cm, between the rows 40 - 45 cm.
- Tall crops... Such varieties are planted on a ridge along the intermediate passage. The planting pattern is 50 - 55 cm between plants in a row and 65 - 70 cm between plants.
When using this scheme, tomatoes will not interfere with each other during growth, and such a routine will also facilitate harvesting from early maturing varieties.
Planting seedlings
The optimal age for planting seedlings is considered 1.5 months... During this time, the root system of the tomato is already sufficiently developed and capable of adapting to new conditions. The landing process itself occurs in several stages, as follows:
- In 20 min. before planting, the tomatoes must be well shed with water (in this case, the root system will be less injured during transplantation).
- At the intended place, a hole is dug with a width 20-25 cm and depth 15-20 cm.
- A peg is installed in the hole to further support the plant.
- The hole is watered abundantly with water.
- The seedlings are carefully taken out and placed horizontally in the recess.
- The seedling is covered with soil.
After the transplant, it is necessary to tie the seedling to a peg and form a small hole around the trunk circle.
Care requirements
The quality and quantity of tomatoes directly depend on agricultural work, so you should not neglect them.
The main requirements for care include:
- maintaining the required temperature;
- watering;
- feeding.
By fulfilling these basic requirements, it will also be possible to speed up the ripening of fruits.
Room temperature
On sunny days, the air in the greenhouse quickly heats up to high temperatures, which in turn adversely affects the seedlings. She begins to fade, develop poorly and in the end may simply die.
Therefore, in order to achieve the recommended temperature 25 degrees, in which the plant develops well, it is necessary to regularly ventilate the room.
Watering
The first beginner watering needs to be done 5-6 days after disembarkation plants. Water the plant at the root, in a pre-formed hole. The water should be settled, warm, temperature +18 degrees... It is recommended to water tomatoes 2 - 3 times a week, at the rate of 25 liters. for 1 sq.m.
After watering, it is necessary to ventilate the room for 2 hours, in this case condensation does not form, which negatively affects both the pollination of the plants and the quality of the fruits.
Top dressing
The fertilizers applied during planting are enough for 1.5 weeks, then they begin, alternating in 11-12 days as needed, to feed them with nitrogen and mineral fertilizers.
The first feeding begins with nitrogen fertilizers, such as:
- rotted manure;
- chicken manure solution;
- magnesium sulfate;
- potassium.
These fertilizers promote rapid growth of greenery and plant resistance to various diseases.
After 11 days, after the first feeding, mineral fertilizers are applied:
- "Kemira - wagon";
- "Solution";
- copper sulfate.
These dressings will affect the quality and volume of the crop.
Additional treatment with boric acid, at the rate of 1 g. 1 liter. water, can not only improve the appearance of the tomato and promote plant growth, but also add vitamin C to the fruit.
Tips for Beginners
Experienced gardeners have their own secrets for a good and rich greenhouse harvest. Therefore, beginners should familiarize themselves with the following nuances:
- For the greenhouse are chosen hybrid varieties tomatoes that have limited growth, resistance to various diseases, with the formation of 1 - 2 stems.
- It is better to sow seedlings for the greenhouse in late February, early March.
- Plants are planted in the beginning of Maywhen the soil at a depth of 15–20 cm warms up to and above 15 degrees.
- Despite the fact that all varieties for greenhouses are self-pollinated, for better fruit setting during the growing season, the plants must be slightly shaken off.
As you can see, these tips are not difficult, if they are followed, it will be possible not to worry about the good development of the seedlings.
How to correctly pinch
In order for useful trace elements not to be consumed by bushes, but to be extracted for fruits, it is necessary to regularly pinch.
The procedure itself is simple, using a pruner the bottom 3-4 branches are removed, in some cases, and the upper thickened sprouts. It is also necessary to prevent new shoots from the root system. When the stepsons first appear, they must be carefully cut with a knife.
How to grow large tomatoes - step by step
Before giving preference to large tomatoes, you must immediately take into account that agricultural work will take more free time. Growing large tomato fruits is as follows:
- Selection of quality varieties.
- Sow seedlings in separate pots.
- After planting in the greenhouse, the seedling must be grown and formed into one trunk. To do this, below the first brush, remove all the stepsons and foliage.
- During growth, the stem is twisted to the support, thereby preventing future fracture of the hands under the weight of the fetus.
- When 4 - 5 brushes are formed on the stem, the crown of the growth must be pinched.
- Pinch regularly throughout the season, removing root shoots and shoots from the axils of the foliage.
- When the first fruits appear, you should monitor their appearance. As soon as the fruits shine, they must be removed, allowing the rest of the crop to ripen.
After the entire crop has been removed from the branch, it must be removed with the help of a pruner, so there will be more light in the greenhouse for the last ripening fruits.
What should be the height of the greenhouse
Growing tomatoes in a greenhouse also has its drawbacks, such as:
- insufficient amount of light than in open ground;
- frequent spread of plant diseases;
- inconvenience in leaving.
Therefore, the height of the greenhouse, for example, made of film, should be not less than 2.5 m... If the greenhouse has a gable roof, you can limit yourself to the height 2 m... In this case, when planting and carrying out agrotechnical work, you will not need to bend down, and also such a height will contribute to better circulation of fresh air and the possibility of planting high varieties of crops.
We plant overgrown tomatoes in a greenhouse
It often happens that tomatoes outgrow before planting. In this case, the holes for planting seedlings are prepared, focusing on the root system and 1/3 of the stem. As practice shows, on average, the depth of the fossa is 40 cm.
Unlike conventional planting, overgrown seedlings are not planted in an upright position, but slightly inclined.
Thus, more roots are formed on the buried stem, which allows the tomatoes to receive more nutrients.
To avoid decay of the root system from the stem, which will be under the ground, you need to remove all the leaves.
Growing problems
Every summer resident knows that when growing a tomato in a polycarbonate greenhouse, certain problems may arise. Therefore, in order to avoid irreparable mistakes that can reduce the quality of the crop, they must be resolved in a timely manner.
Very often, it is not possible to design several greenhouses in one area, so the question often arises before beginners whether it is possible to combine vegetables in one greenhouse or bring them out to another.
Tomato, Pepper, and Cucumber Compatibility
Tomatoes and peppers are nightshade crops, so they get along well among themselves in any arrangement of the beds.
The best solution in saving space, as well as for the safety of pepper from aphids, it can be planted between tomato bushes. The situation is different with cucumbers. Draft, which is so necessary for tomatoes, has a detrimental effect on cucumbers. And the humidity of the room for each vegetable should be different.
Tomatoes do well at 40% humidity, and cucumbers at 90 - 100%, so plant these vegetables together undesirable.
Is it possible to plant different vegetables with and without partitions
In a company with tomatoes, you can plant, without partitions, various greens, such as: onions, parsley, lettuce or head salad. Vegetables such as radishes, cabbage and even watermelons go well. But it is not recommended to grow tomatoes together with cucumbers, dill and fennel in a greenhouse neighborhood.
To place these vegetables and greens in one greenhouse, you need to install a plywood or slate partition between them.
Behind the partition on the opposite side from the exit to the garden, it is better to place varieties of cucumbers, dill and fennel. In this case, cucumbers will avoid drafts and receive the necessary moisture from the condensate, and dill and fennel will not be able to suppress the growth of young tomatoes. Tomatoes and other compatible vegetables are planted at the greenhouse entrance.
Whitefly on tomatoes in a greenhouse
The most common pest for tomatoes in the greenhouse is the whitefly. These insects fly on tomatoes in large quantities, harming the leaves with their feces.
How to understand that plants are affected
It is possible to determine the presence of pests by several indicators. The main features include:
- brilliant white bloom on the leaves;
- deformation of shoots;
- the presence of yellow spots on the plant.
At later stages of infection, the tomatoes become black.
Why is a pest dangerous?
The insects themselves do not harm plants. It is their sweet and sticky waste that promotes the development of sooty fungi. The danger of these bacteria is that they clog pores plants, and this in turn leads to disruption of photosynthesis.
The overgrowth of these fungi ultimately leads to the death of the plant.
How to get rid of midges and what means to fight
Despite the fact that whitefly can adversely affect plant development in a short time, there are several simple methods to prevent this:
- If whiteflies are found on tomatoes in a greenhouse, you need to reduce the temperature to 10 degrees, in this case, adult pests will die.
- If the parasites have settled on seedlings in a greenhouse, the leaves of the plants must treat with soapy water, and the room itself should be ventilated more often.
- Affected seedlings at home need to be separated from each other and carefully remove insects with a sponge dipped in water.
To combat whitefly in spring, you can order parasitic insects from vegetable farms, which do not cause any harm to plants, but willingly feast on whiteflies and their larvae.
But the most effective methods to get rid of and fight midges are still chemical agents. The most common spray solutions to kill whitefly are:
- Fitoverm - 2 ml. preparation for 1 liter. water;
- "Actellik" - 1 ampoule per 1 liter. water;
- "Aktara" - 1 package for 1.5 liters. liquids;
- Pegasus - 2 ml. water;
- "Confidor" - 1 ml. water.
To consolidate the action of the poison, the treatment by chemists must be carried out 2 times, with an interval of 1 week.
In the fight against whitefly, you can apply the following methods:
- Traps and fumigators... Sticky tape traps with a pleasant aroma are hung at the base of the greenhouse ceiling. Insects, attracted by the scent, fly and stick to the tape. The optimal solution for greenhouses will be pyrotechnic fimigators. They are usually spiral shaped, which, when ignited, emit dangerous smoke for whiteflies.
- Folk remedy... If it is not possible to purchase mechanical drugs, you can use and poison with a folk remedy in the destruction of parasites. For this, chopped 2 cloves of garlic are poured into 1 liter. water and insist for a day. Then the plants are sprayed with this strained solution.
- Dandelion... But the best and safest way to fight whitefly is dandelion infusion. It is prepared in the following way: 40 gr. rhizomes and 40 gr. dandelion stalks are crushed and poured into 1 liter. water. The infusion is infused for 4 days, and then, after filtering it 2 times with an interval of 1 week, tomatoes are sprayed.
In order to prevent whitefly plaque, it is necessary to treat the greenhouse in the spring for prevention. To do this, you need to replace the top layer of soil, and pour over the paths and walls with boiling water.
Having considered all the nuances and tips, beginners in gardening will no longer have questions about how to properly grow tomatoes in a greenhouse. Taking into account the recommendations and observing agrotechnical work, tomatoes will please you with a harvest in a short time.