Does crop quality depend on irrigation?
Tomatoes are heat-loving plants, so in the southern regions they can be grown in open ground . For gardeners from the middle zone and Siberia, it is better to use polycarbonate greenhouses or temporary greenhouses for these purposes. They can create all the conditions conducive to obtaining a bountiful harvest of nightshades.
Caring for tomatoes in a greenhouse has a number of features. In order for the plants to produce a good harvest, it is necessary to take into account the stage of growth of the bush, change the frequency of watering and choose the optimal time for it. You can irrigate in different ways - it depends on the area of the greenhouse.
Features of the microclimate of greenhouses
The greenhouse allows you to maintain air temperature and humidity levels favorable for plants. In addition, it is possible to shelter the seedlings from strong winds or rain.
In summer, air humidity in greenhouses is 60-80%. On particularly hot days, this figure can drop to 40%. If dry weather alternates with rainy weather, the humidity can reach 90%. Improper watering of tomatoes during this period will only aggravate the situation, since along with the need for moist soil, these plants need dry air for the full development of the ground part.
Important ! When humidity rises, the greenhouse needs to be ventilated. Musty air can reduce plant productivity.
The soil humidity in the greenhouse should be 90%, the normal value for air is 50%. These conditions are suitable for the development of the bush, the formation of fruits and the protection of plants from various diseases.
Frequency of watering tomatoes in a greenhouse
Tomatoes require frequent irrigation, but many novice gardeners make the mistake of flooding the bushes. Due to increased humidity, plants become more sensitive to diseases, and their productivity decreases. Drought is also harmful to seedlings, so it is important to be careful when it comes to watering. When determining the optimal volume of water, you need to take into account humidity and temperature.
After planting seedlings, each bush needs to be watered abundantly. After this, you can wait 10 days for the plant to take root properly. Then the procedure is repeated each time the top layer of soil dries out.
So that moisture can get into the root system, you need to loosen the soil well before irrigation. It is enough to water tomatoes once every few days, but in hot weather and low humidity the number of procedures is increased. From the flowering period to fruiting, the number of irrigations is reduced; at the first signs of excess moisture (gray rot, rust lesions on leaves, stems and flowers), watering is stopped.
Important ! Excessive moisture can cause seedlings to rot.
Amount of water at different stages of development
Nightshades require varying levels of moisture during growth, flowering and fruiting. Each stage of development differs in its frequency of irrigation and volume of water.
When growing seedlings
Experienced gardeners prepare the soil before planting seedlings. In one week, fertilizing is carried out to improve the properties of the soil, and in one day the area is watered abundantly.
As soon as the transplanting of seedlings from the greenhouse is completed, each bush is watered with 4-5 liters of water. Drought during this period can lead to the death of the plant. The lack of water can be determined by external signs: the tips of the leaves dry out, the tomato begins to sink into the ground, which means its root system has weakened. It is very difficult to restore a plant damaged by drought.
During growth and before flowering, tomatoes need abundant irrigation. Water helps the plant gain the necessary green mass and prepare for fruit formation.
One bush needs 3-4 liters of water; watering is carried out once every 2-3 days.
During the flowering period
Once the plant has formed an ovary and bloomed, you can reduce the frequency of irrigation to once a week. When flowering, you will need to increase the volume of water used to 5 liters.
During fruiting
During this period, the frequency of irrigation is increased to twice a week. Tomatoes do not require a lot of water - just enough to keep the soil moist at a depth of 20 cm.
As soon as the first reddened fruits appear, watering is done once a week with a small amount of water. Sunlight is more important for the ripening of tomatoes; without proper lighting, their growth and ripening will slow down.
The amount of water used during this period depends on the plant variety. To reap a good harvest, plants need to be watered evenly and provided with good light.
How to water tomatoes when flowering
Watering a tomato in a greenhouse during the formation of the ovary is carried out once every 5-7 days. 5 liters of water are poured under each bush or the bed is watered, spending per 1 square meter. meter - 10 liters.
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The frequency of watering will need to be reduced if the soil does not have time to dry out and is wet all the time. The volume of water remains the same.
Excess or lack of moisture can cause the buds to fall off and the ovary to fail. Therefore, carefully monitor the condition of the soil and ventilate the greenhouse.
Favorable time of day for watering
To ensure good care of the plants, it is better to immediately determine the time at which watering will be carried out immediately after planting the seedlings in the ground.
The optimal time for moistening tomatoes outdoors is considered to be early morning or late evening. If you water at other times, the hot rays of the sun will dry out much of the moisture entering the ground, and there is a high chance that splashes will fall on the leaves, causing burns.
Tomatoes growing in a greenhouse can be watered at any time, provided the weather is dry and warm. It is important to take into account that in the morning the earth is not warmed up well, so it is advisable to postpone the procedure until the afternoon.
Late evening is also not suitable for moistening the soil in a greenhouse if it is closed at night, since conditions for excess moisture will be created. If there is no other time to irrigate the plants, then after it is finished you need to ventilate the room so that excess moisture is removed. In rainy weather, watering tomatoes is best done in the morning.
Regardless of the time of the procedure, after it you need to leave the doors and frames open so that excess moisture evaporates. If you close the greenhouse immediately after moistening the soil, the increased humidity will cause fungus to develop.
Carefully ! Do not water seedlings with cold water. It is best to use water at a temperature of 23-24˚C.
Features of greenhouse irrigation
A greenhouse is a room with a special microclimate. There is an acute shortage and excess of moisture here. Excessive dryness of soil and air causes plants to wilt and metabolic processes in tissues to slow down.
If you allow waterlogging, there is a risk of an outbreak of fungal diseases and the proliferation of insect pests. When determining the frequency and volume of watering, take into account the characteristics of the crops being grown: the structure of the foliage and root system, age and period of development.
An important factor is the general level of humidity in the room. In cool, cloudy weather, it rises, and accordingly, water evaporates from the soil more slowly. Watering is carried out rarely and in smaller volumes. In hot weather, on the contrary, the intensity and frequency of soil moisture increases.
The average amount of water for adult greenhouse plants is 6 – 7 per 1 sq./m. In hot weather, the volumes increase by 2, and for moisture-loving crops by 2.4 times.
Water requirements
The quality of water used for irrigation directly affects the condition of plants. The ideal option is to collect natural precipitation in barrels.
Rainwater is soft, with a minimal amount of minerals, so its effect on plants is extremely beneficial. But collecting natural precipitation in sufficient quantities is difficult, and in some regions it is practically impossible.
Therefore, in summer cottages, gardeners use 2 types of liquids for irrigation:
- water from a well or well;
- tap water.
This water has one drawback - the temperature is too low. The inhabitants of the greenhouse are thermophilic, and cold liquid is contraindicated for them. Therefore, before watering, the water needs to be warmed up by placing the containers under the sun.
When to water
In open ground, it is recommended to water plants in the morning or evening to prevent the plants from getting sunburn. But the attitude towards greenhouse conditions is different. A greenhouse is an enclosed space, but the microclimate inside it is still influenced by the external environment.
For example, in early spring and autumn it is necessary to close doors and windows at night to avoid overcooling of plants. If you carry out the procedure in the evening, the air humidity will rise sharply, and this will cause the development of fungal diseases.
Morning watering helps avoid burns, since the moisture will have time to evaporate before the sun becomes active. There is also a minus - the water in the container will cool down overnight, which heat-loving bushes will not like. When watering during the daytime, the water will be heated to the optimal temperature, and the greenhouse will have time to ventilate before the onset of coolness.
Signs of excess and lack of moisture
Tomatoes are moisture-loving plants, but they can be drought tolerant. During the growth period, seedlings are watered abundantly, but before flowering and fruiting, the amount of water must be reduced to prevent plant rotting.
You can determine whether seedlings receive enough water by external signs. Lack of moisture will affect the condition of the foliage: the tips of the upper leaves will begin to dry out and curl.
Excessive irrigation will cause the plant to rot . This process can be recognized at the initial stage by the lower part of the stem and foliage. Experts recommend immediately stopping watering the seedlings or reducing water consumption to a minimum.
During the period of fruit ripening, due to the large amount of moisture, tomatoes may begin to crack, which will make the plant susceptible to various diseases. Excessive water content in the root system can lead to late blight, a disease that can destroy the entire crop.
Types of irrigation organization
To avoid having to carry heavy watering cans, you can invest time and money in organizing an automatic irrigation system on your site. However, let's consider all the methods in order.
Manual method
The most common method of moistening tomatoes is watering with a watering can or ladle . Water must be poured at the root. This method protects the plant's leaves from splashes, which can cause disease. Used in small structures and open ground.
Important ! If a barrel is used to water seedlings in a greenhouse, it must be covered with a lid or plastic wrap.
At their dachas, many gardeners water tomatoes using a hose. During such irrigation, cold water is supplied with strong pressure, which destroys the top layer of soil, while the bottom layer is compacted.
The jet can damage the roots of the plant, and the spray can hit the leaves . During irrigation, it is very difficult to calculate the pressure and volume of water for each bush, so this method is in many ways inferior to conventional irrigation. There is a high probability of overcooling the plant’s root system.
Automatic system
Many industrial greenhouses have automatic systems installed that provide water supply to the roots of the plant. The disadvantage of the system is the high cost of the equipment. The advantage is that it saves time and resources, provides optimal humidity, and protects the soil from leaching and salinization.
Drip irrigation method
This automatic watering system is considered one of the most effective, as it allows for uniform watering of plants. Drip irrigation promotes economical use of water.
The advantage of this method is that it does not compact the soil, which means that the gardener does not need to waste time loosening it . Used in large greenhouses, moisture is supplied to the roots through special tubes.
Methods for irrigating tomatoes
To properly moisten a tomato in a polycarbonate greenhouse, it is necessary to take into account not only the frequency and volume of moisture, but also the method of watering. The simplest and most accessible method is manual watering. It is carried out using a watering hose, bucket, watering can or other container.
The manual watering method is best used only in small greenhouses, given its labor intensity. To moisturize, it is advisable to use a watering can. We do not use a bucket - this way the water will fall exclusively under the root of the plant, and not on its leaves and stems.
In large greenhouses it is more convenient to use a watering hose, but it also has its disadvantages. When moving between beds, you need to carry the hose with you, which can damage fragile tomato bushes.
In addition, after irrigation from a hose, a dense crust forms on the soil, impeding the access of oxygen. Therefore, more frequent loosening of the soil will be required.
Drip irrigation
Drip irrigation of tomatoes in a polycarbonate greenhouse is the best option for the full growth and development of vegetable crops. In this case, humidification is carried out automatically, water is supplied in small portions.
The main advantages of drip irrigation:
- the soil is not washed out and does not become salty when moistened;
- watering is carried out at the desired time of day;
- prevents moisture from getting on the stems, leaves and fruits;
- moisture is supplied directly to the root system;
- ensures uniform and efficient watering in large greenhouses.
Due to the dosed supply of water, drip irrigation does not lead to soil acidification and waterlogging. The soil retains its structure and fertile qualities.
You can buy a ready-made drip system at gardening stores or assemble it yourself. The simplest and most primitive system consists of a plastic tank or barrel. Supplemented with a main hose equipped with a tap and small-diameter tubes or special droppers.
Watering tomatoes in a polycarbonate greenhouse is one of the most important conditions for growing strong, healthy plants and obtaining a generous harvest of tasty and juicy fruits. When organizing watering, you need to take into account the frequency, method of moistening and moisture levels for tomatoes at different stages of vegetative development.
