Growing tomatoes requires special care: it is necessary to follow planting rules, properly water and feed the plants on time throughout the growing season. Both excessive watering and lack of moisture in the soil are harmful to them.
It is not recommended to water tomatoes in a greenhouse in the morning and evening. In the morning, the water is not warmed up enough, and in the evening after watering, moisture condensation on the walls of the greenhouse increases - this has a detrimental effect on vegetables. Watering during the day allows moisture to be completely absorbed into the ground, and excess moisture to evaporate before nightfall. In addition, during the day you can control the ventilation process in case of high air humidity.
Features of the microclimate of greenhouses
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 humidity drops to 40% . In this case, hot weather can 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. A feature of this crop is its requirement for moisture in the soil , but it prefers dry air for the successful development of the above-ground 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.
Tips from Mister Summer Resident
Proper watering is the key to obtaining an excellent harvest, which will delight you not only with its large quantity, but also with its excellent quality. Following the advice of our website https://mrdachnik.com on watering cucumbers in a greenhouse will help you avoid many mistakes. Here are the main ones:
- Drying out the soil most often causes bitterness in cucumbers. Water for irrigation should not be cold. Watering the bed should be periodically combined with fertilizing and loosening it.
- When there is excess moisture in the soil, a white coating forms on its surface. It indicates that watering is carried out too often and extremely abundantly, it needs to be reduced.
- A chalk solution poured over the walls of a glass greenhouse will help darken them a little. This measure allows you to obtain diffused lighting inside the structure, which cucumbers perceive better than direct sunlight.
- It is best to water in circular grooves dug around the root of the planting at some distance from the base of the stem. If you pour water under the root, the soil will be washed away and the risk of rot and mold will increase.
- A drip irrigation system can be constructed from ordinary plastic bottles with the bottom cut off. A bottle with holes pre-drilled in it is dug into the ground, neck down, near each bush. Then it is filled with water, which through the holes will gradually moisten the soil and nourish the roots.
- It is strictly forbidden to sprinkle those plantings that have fungal diseases. You can water them only at the root.
- Iodine and urea can be added to the water that will be used to irrigate cucumbers in the greenhouse. They will provide the plantings with additional protection against infections.
Soil and air humidity standards for tomatoes
Watering tomatoes in a greenhouse should provide ninety percent soil moisture and fifty percent air humidity . 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:
- You need to water the plants no more than once or twice a week , depending on the level of humidity and air temperature;
- each bush should receive 4-5 liters ;
- Tomatoes should be watered strictly at the root, without getting on 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.
Automatic irrigation systems
Recently, along with glass and film greenhouses, polycarbonate greenhouses are beginning to gain great popularity. The main advantages of such a greenhouse are good thermal insulation, polycarbonate walls are quite strong compared to film, and they transmit and diffuse daylight well. If finances allow, you can buy a ready-made polycarbonate greenhouse; it is very easy to install.
Automatic irrigation systems are usually rarely used at home; they are more intended for industrial greenhouses of huge sizes. But if you also have a very large table made of polycarbonate, you can install such a system for yourself. In this article we will not describe all the intricacies of setting it up; the most important thing is that it complies with the basic rules for watering tomatoes in a greenhouse.
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 most suitable for 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 a danger of hypothermia of the roots . The disadvantage of watering with a hose is the inability to control the amount of liquid per plant.
It is more advisable 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. The advantages of such irrigation 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, a special system is installed in the greenhouse to ensure the flow of moisture 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 build a drip irrigation system, you can use a very original and simple method - drip watering tomatoes in a greenhouse using plastic bottles. 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 , since at the household level its cost is too high. But if the owner can afford such a structure on his site, then its use is most optimal .
Drip watering of tomatoes in a greenhouse
Various methods are used to water vegetables. The most effective is drip irrigation. This method allows you to significantly save water consumption, the soil remains loose. It is quite possible to install a drip irrigation system for a greenhouse with your own hands.
There are various options for drip tape on sale, where the holes for irrigation are located at different distances. For each individual vegetable crop, it is necessary to choose the right option. For tomatoes, it is enough to put “droppers” with 10-15 cm between the holes.
The main plastic pipe is laid in the greenhouse, to which the drip tapes will be attached. Their number depends on the rows: for each row of plants - one watering tape. At the connection points with the main pipe, special couplings and taps are installed to regulate the irrigation regime. If the row with seedlings does not need watering, turn off the tap. The edges of the droppers at the end of the row are closed, secured with special clamps or wire.
With the help of a pump, water enters the drip irrigation system and in a short time provides soil moisture in the right place, directly on the planting rows. Setting up such a system is not difficult; even a novice vegetable grower can cope with the task.
With this method of irrigation, the soil is not compacted and does not require regular loosening. The earth remains light, loose, saturated with oxygen. The new automated irrigation system “Signor Tomato” is gaining popularity. This unique device facilitates the work of watering and fertilizing plants. Minimizes manual labor and allows you to control the process using special timers and sensors.
Features of watering at different stages of tomato growth
The moisture requirement of tomatoes depends on their stage of development . Therefore, at different periods they need a special frequency of watering and the amount of moisture used.
- When planting tomato seedlings in a greenhouse, water it abundantly ( 4-5 liters per 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. Therefore, before flowering, tomatoes are watered twice a week , spending 2-3 liters of water .
- During flowering, the amount of moisture is increased to five liters , but the frequency is reduced to once a week .
- As soon as fruits begin to appear , the frequency of watering is increased 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 with a small amount of water . Excessive watering during this period can lead to cracking of the fruit.
Watering cucumbers with fertilizer
Cucumbers need not only proper care, but also careful selection of the soil in which they will grow. Experienced gardeners do not recommend growing them where tomatoes and other nightshade crops once sat. In addition, plants need periodic fertilization. There are a large number of folk recipes using the means available to every summer resident for the preparation of nutrient substrates.
Healthy! To prevent the appearance of root rot, which is caused by fungi that live in the soil and reproduce in high humidity, use the following remedy: 1 liter of milk or kefir, 1 tbsp. crushed laundry soap (liquid soap can be used), 30 drops of iodine per 10 liters of water. Cucumbers are sprayed with this mixture no more than once every 10 days.
Yeast
A yeast cocktail can be used for healthy plantings to form new root shoots. Their increase will help the plant absorb more nutrients from the soil, strengthen the plant’s immunity and increase its resistance to pests. Preparing fertilizing is very simple
- Fresh yeast (10g) and granulated sugar (2 tbsp) are dissolved in 10 liters of warm water.
- The solution is left for 2 hours in a warm place for fermentation.
- The resulting substrate is supplemented with another 50 liters of water.
This feeding is carried out no earlier than 14 days after transplanting the cucumbers into a greenhouse or open ground.
Zelenka
To prevent root rot, plantings can be watered with a solution of brilliant green at the rate of 1 drop per 1 liter of water. The substrate is poured into the ground near the roots.
Soda
Soda solution is an excellent preventive measure in the fight against yellowing of the leaf plate.
1 tbsp baking soda dissolves in 10 liters of water. This cocktail is used to water plants.
To spray vegetative parts, which will help destroy powdery mildew, dissolve 1 teaspoon of soda in 1 liter of water.
Potassium permangantsovka
You can water cucumbers with potassium permanganate to combat powdery mildew. Plants, as a rule, are sprayed three times with this solution: 3 g of potassium permanganate per 10 liters of water. You can also cultivate the ground around the bush.
Urea
When cucumbers begin active growth, they can be fed with a urea solution (30 g per 10 l). This fertilizer is applied to the soil approximately 14 days after planting. The treatment can be repeated at the stage of fruit formation.
Mullein
Watering cucumbers with mullein can be done several times throughout the entire growing season. About once every 12 days. By the way, this feeding is especially useful for cucumbers with thin stems. The first time you can water only two weeks after germination.
You can’t just mix mullein with water! Fertilizer must be prepared in advance. Here's the principle: 1 part mullein to 2 parts water, the mixture should be infused for a week. But the infusion cannot be used in this form either. After a week, when the mixture has infused, take about 500 ml per bucket of water. And we water the cucumbers with this fertilizer. Only this solution is safe for planting!
Ammonia
Ammonia is a popular nitrogen-containing agent. It is often used to prepare the appropriate fertilizer. To do this, 3 tablespoons of ammonia are poured into 10 liters of water.
The first fertilizing is carried out two weeks after planting the plants in the ground, then it is recommended to apply this fertilizer to the soil weekly.
Milk
From milk and iodine you can prepare a highly effective means of combating powdery mildew. 10 drops of iodine are added to 10 liters of water, into which one liter of low-fat milk is poured. The resulting mixture is watered onto the ground near the roots of the bush.
Boric acid
Fertilizers with boric acid activate the formation of ovaries and stimulate the growth of plantings. To begin with, 1 teaspoon of acid is dissolved in a glass of water, the temperature of which should be at least 50 degrees. As soon as the substance is completely dissolved, about 2 more liters of water are added to it.
succinic acid
Succinic acid is used at the seed preparation stage. It helps increase their endurance and stimulates the growth of future seedlings. Prepared seeds are soaked for 24 hours in a solution prepared at the rate of 1 g of substance per 10 liters of water.
Nettle
You can make fertilizer for cucumbers from nettles. To do this, the weed is crushed and filled with water that has been pre-settled for 24 hours. Leave it in this form for two weeks, the smell will be unpleasant, so be sure to close the container with a lid or wrap it with film.
This fertilizer must be diluted with water before watering: for application under the roots - in a ratio of 1:2; for the above-ground part – 1:5.
Yeast, ash, green manure
Boric acid
Urea and others
Yeast
Iodine
Ammonia
Mullein infusion
Potassium permanganate solution
herbal infusion
Serum
Whey is an extremely nutritious fertilizer for cucumber plantings. To prepare it you will need:
- 10 liters of water at room temperature or slightly warmer.
- 1 liter of whey.
- 10 drops of iodine.
All ingredients are mixed together until completely dissolved. The resulting nutritious fertilizer is sprayed on the vegetative parts of plants. Before starting work, remove all damaged leaves from the bush. The repeated procedure is carried out no earlier than two weeks later.
Hydrogen peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is ideal for preparing a solution, the action of which is aimed at preventing all kinds of diseases. To obtain it, dissolve 2 tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide (3%) in 1 liter of water. With this substrate, you need to thoroughly wipe all the leaves on both sides, paying special attention to their underside - the favorite place for aphids and mites to be located.
Onion peel
Onion broth is perfect for both spraying and watering. It helps protect plantings from pests. To prepare it, 40 g of husk is poured into 10 liters of warm water, the solution is infused for about 4-5 days, after which it must be filtered and the bushes treated.
When to water?
When and how often to water tomatoes in a greenhouse? Gardeners do not have a unanimous opinion on this issue, but it is still recommended to focus on weather conditions and the structural features of your greenhouse.
If the weather outside is warm and dry , then watering time 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 warm by this hour, whereas in the morning it is still cool.
Watering late in the evening is also not recommended . Because a greenhouse closed at night creates excess air humidity, and this is harmful for tomatoes.
If watering is carried out in the evening , long-term ventilation of the greenhouse is required after it 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 the space is well ventilated during the day 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.
How to determine the need for watering
Before you start irrigating tomatoes in any way convenient for the gardener, it is necessary to determine their need for moisture. The appearance of the plant will indicate possible irregularities in watering.
If tomatoes lack moisture, then:
- the leaves curl inward, forming a boat, so the plants try to minimize moisture loss by reducing the area of evaporation;
- developmental inhibition and absence of ovaries become noticeable;
- the leaves begin to turn yellow, and with prolonged drought, they begin to fall off;
- the same phenomena occur during flowering: flowers and ovaries fall off;
- During fruiting, lack of water affects the quality of the fruits; they develop slowly and become tasteless.
Excess moisture can also be judged by the appearance of the tomatoes.
- The foliage becomes dull and begins to fall off, while maintaining its juiciness.
- Weeping spots appear at the base of the stem, and the root system rots.
- Due to excess moisture, ripening fruits become watery, crack and lose their sugar content.
To avoid disappointment during harvest, you need to remember and follow the basic rules of watering.
- It is necessary to water in the morning or after the midday heat falls.
- Avoid dripping water on the leaves.
- Water by evenly wetting the entire area of the root system.
- Do not use cold water - it inhibits the development of tomatoes.
- If possible, mulch the plantings with humus, at least a 1 cm layer.
- Build a simple drip irrigation system - this will minimize the cost of manual labor.
How to protect tomatoes in a greenhouse from frost
Tomatoes can be planted in the greenhouse early if you make insulated soil. To do this in the spring, in a covered or glassed greenhouse, you need to dig trenches as deep and wide as a spade. Fill the trenches with dry hay or dry leaves harvested in the fall, or even feathers (if you have a lot of old pillows or feather beds). Now you need to throw the soil dug out of the trench on top, put a board on it and walk along the board to compact the soil.
It is better to tie seedlings in a greenhouse to a horizontally stretched wire (trellis) with soft twine. Two such trellises need to be stretched. One is 10–15 cm above the tops of the transplanted seedlings, the second is right under the ceiling of the greenhouse. Under the lowest pair of leaves, you need to tie the twine with a loose loop and, wrapping the twine around the stem, pass it under each leaf, then tie it first to the lower trellis with a bow so that you can easily untie the twine.
Naturally, the length of the twine should be such that in the future you can tie the tomatoes to the upper trellis. The stem should not be allowed to bend - such a plant is poorly supplied with nutrition from the soil. As the plant grows, the twine must be constantly wound around the stem, passing it under each leaf.
Throwing non-woven material - spunbond or lutrasil - over the trellis, cover the planted tomatoes with it. It is better to make a double shelter with a thin material rather than a single and thick one.
Spunbond will protect the plantings from night frosts. The hay in the trench will begin to rot and provide heat to the tomato root system. In addition, this heat will warm the air under the spunbond. With this planting, tomatoes can withstand morning frosts down to minus 6 degrees. After the end of frost, the shelter can be removed.
In warm daytime, immediately after the end of frost, the greenhouses should be open, but the spunbond need not be removed. When the weather is warm enough, the door to the greenhouse and the vents under the roof ridge should be kept open around the clock.
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Formation of tomatoes
Formation consists of timely removal of the stepsons, gradual removal of leaves under the saturated fruit cluster, first the first, then the second, and so on, until all the fruit clusters are exposed. Above the last of them, 3-4 leaves should be left, cutting off the tops of the plants at the end of July. At the same time, all flowers and buds should be cut off.
If you want to speed up the ripening of tomatoes, you need to stop watering and cut off some of the roots to reduce the supply of nutrients from the soil. To do this, you need to pull the bushes by the very bottom of the stems or split the stem and stick a sliver into the gap.
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