Everything about the tomato root system: length, depth, all features

Aerial roots in tomatoes - depth and location of roots

Tomatoes or tomatoes are one of the most popular agricultural crops. The plant has unique characteristics that should be taken into account when growing to increase yield. Tomatoes have a pronounced root system, which can be controlled by changing the direction of growth and shape. For this purpose, agricultural techniques have been developed to increase the total root area and a grafting method that can be used to achieve the development of a two-rooted bush. In this article we will tell you why a tomato is a vegetable and a berry at the same time, and how you can control the structural features of this plant.

conclusions

1. Tomatoes are a perennial or biennial herbaceous plant of the Solanaceae family.
2. They have a powerful root system; roots can even develop on the stem and stepsons. It is important to pick tomatoes in a timely manner so that the quality of the soil does not deteriorate. Otherwise, the quality of the harvest will greatly decrease.
3. The characteristics of tomatoes are used to increase yield by pinching the main root or hilling the lower part of the bush.
4. Obtaining a two-rooted plant is one of the types of tomato grafting. Using the procedure, you can strengthen the immune system and increase the yield of the bush.

Characteristics of the tomato root: what is the depth, branching of the roots

Tomato or tomato is an annual or perennial plant of the Solanaceae family. Both names of the plant are equivalent, although they have completely different etiologies. The word tomato is derived from the Italian “pomo d'oro”, which means “golden apple”. Tomato is an Aztec name for the plant, but it can also be found in old French dictionaries.

The tomato has a strong tap-type root system with numerous branches. They go to a depth of 1 meter and can spread up to 2.5 m in diameter. In comfortable conditions, roots can form on any vegetative parts of the plant, so this crop can be planted not only with seeds, but also with cuttings, as well as with the help of lateral shoots ( stepchildren). If you put a fresh tomato stem in water, it will form new roots within 2-3 days. You can read more about pinching tomatoes in this article.

The stem is usually erect or lodging depending on the tomato variety. It grows in height from 30 cm to 2 m. The leaves have a plate characteristic of all nightshade crops. It is large, cut into symmetrical lobes (potato-type). They quickly form small yellow flowers, which are collected in a distinct raceme.

What are the types based on the structure of the stem?

Most tomato varieties are facultative self-pollinators, with female and male organs on the same plant. There are three varieties of tomatoes depending on the characteristics of the stem:

1. Non-standard (ordinary) - stems fall during the period of fruit formation.
2. Standard - have a thick and short stem with a characteristic corrugated surface.
3. Potato - have a specific leaf blade shape, similar to potato.

Also divided by growth strength:

1. Tall or indeterminate - grow while there is room to grow. You can read about tall varieties and their representatives in this material.
2. Bushy or low-growing : determinate, super-determinate and semi-determinate.

The fruiting period is long, up to several months. The tomato produces juicy multi-locular berries of various shapes and colors depending on the variety. The weight of one fruit can reach from 50 to 800 g. Among the representatives, special attention is paid to beef tomato varieties.

There is also a separate type of tomato - the tomato tree, which you can read about at this link.

From a botanical point of view, tomato fruits are berries, despite the fact that in many countries around the world they are considered vegetables. The US Supreme Court put an end to the dispute by recognizing tomatoes as a vegetable crop, since they are more often served for lunch than as a dessert.

Determining soil acidity

To determine the acidity of soil for tomatoes, it is optimal to carry out a chemical analysis in a special soil science laboratory. Experienced specialists will make calculations using high-precision equipment and determine not only the acidity index, but also the ratio of nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus and other elements necessary for tomatoes.

Soil acidity can also be determined:

• a special pH meter. The device is stuck into the ground and displays the acidity value accurate to tenths;
• litmus papers. Specialized stores sell ready-made sets of indicators for determining soil acidity. To carry out the analysis, the soil should be taken in several places and placed in distilled water. Each sample is first wrapped in a bandage or gauze. 5 minutes after immersion, litmus paper is lowered into the water. Acidity is determined by color;

It is important!

A pink-orange color of a litmus indicator means an acidic reaction, a yellow tint means a slightly acidic reaction, and a greenish color means a neutral reaction.

• folk ways. For crops and weeds growing in the garden, as well as for independently conducted chemical experiments, as a result of which homemade indicators are prepared;
• reaction to mixing water, chalk and earth. The soil sample is placed in a bottle or jar, mixed with chalk powder and filled with water. A fingertip or glove is pulled on top. Filling rubber products with volume indicates an acidic soil reaction.

The most accurate and optimal way to determine soil acidity is in the laboratory. If you have such an opportunity, take advantage of it.

Formation from seed

Tomato seeds are small and gray-yellow in color. They remain viable for up to 8 years. Physiologically they become mature while still in fruit. Under favorable temperature conditions and the presence of light, they can germinate in 3-4 days. The first true leaf is formed a week after germination, and after 5-6 days several more leaf blades develop. On average, it takes up to 5 days to develop one leaf. After reaching several weeks, side shoots or stepsons begin to grow. The growth period from planting to fruiting takes up to 70 days, depending on the early maturity of the variety.

All about tomato roots

If tomatoes are grown without seedlings, their roots can reach a length of up to 150 centimeters, and individual shoots grow up to 2 meters. But this is in exceptional cases, and usually the tomato branches to a depth of 85 centimeters and covers about one square of land. With the seedling method, tomato roots develop mainly in the upper soil layers.

The development of a plant, any crop, is determined by the degree of development of its root system. Development requires stimulation of the appendages. For tall tomatoes, two or three lower leaves are removed and seedlings are planted at an angle so that the stem grows root appendages. At first, only the base is sprinkled with earth, and after 10-12 days, when engraftment occurs, some portion of the stem is also sprinkled.

Root system: types of roots

The root system of a plant is the totality of all roots, their processes and additional elements. They are needed for nutrition, transfer of water and useful elements, as well as for anchoring the plant in the ground. There are two types of root systems:

1. Fibrous - there is no main root, but the lateral and accessory roots are well developed. Outwardly similar to a bun.
2. Taproot - there is a central root, from which a small number of lateral and adnexal processes can extend.

All varieties of tomatoes have only a stem system, which is a feature of this plant. It can go into the ground to a depth of more than a meter. With the seedling method, the roots usually develop in the upper layers of the soil; when planted by seed in open ground, only the main root grows rapidly in length. How to grow tomato seedlings at home is described here.

Selection of seeds and seedlings

Seeds

Buy tomato seeds of proven varieties. Before planting, it is better to sort them, choose the largest ones with the correct shape; small seeds are not suitable for planting. When choosing a seed variety, rely on your personal taste preferences. Before planting, it is recommended to soak the seeds in a weak solution of potassium permanganate and then rinse with running water.

Shoots and seedlings

You can either grow seedlings yourself or purchase them in specialized places and greenhouses

When choosing seedlings, pay attention to the stem and foliage of the plant. The color of tomato seedlings should be uniform, light or dark (depending on the variety), leaves without damage, strong, elastic

It is better not to buy seedlings with brown or wilted leaves. Also, special attention should be paid to the root system of the tomato. The root should be developed, uniform in color, without damage.

A plant that will bring you a good harvest in the future must be healthy, without signs of insect attack or disease infection. When growing seedlings yourself, prepare soil enriched with organic fertilizers, approximately 2:1. The container for seedlings can be disposable cups or small pots. Make special holes to drain excess water at the bottom of the container and fill with prepared soil. Then plant the seeds at a depth of no more than 2 centimeters. Maintain the temperature of the seedlings at least +25 degrees and provide sufficient watering. After a week, with proper care, you should be pleased with the friendly shoots of tomatoes.

Formation of the system

Impact on the root system of tomatoes is often used to accelerate the growth and development of the plant. If the tap root of a tomato is damaged, it stops growing vertically, but forms a large number of adventitious shoots. They are located in the fertile soil layer, due to which they quickly absorb water and nutrients from the soil. Special attention should be paid to soil preparation, especially if tomatoes are grown in greenhouses made of polycarbonate or other materials.

To speed up the development of the root system, there are two ways:

• pinching the main tap root at the time of picking seedlings to a permanent place. During this, it is important to treat the plant, as there is a risk of infection. To do this, use a weak solution of potassium permanganate;
• the stem can form roots at any stage of life. Therefore, during its active growth, you can sprinkle the lower part of the plant with fertile soil, thereby increasing the area of ​​the root system.

Hilling up tomatoes is recommended only in moist soil, for example, after rain or watering. The first time, sprinkling is carried out when the length of the stem reaches 15 cm, and the second time - after 2 weeks. During this period, it is recommended to use additional fertilizing to speed up the development of new roots.

Structure and functions

When a tomato seed germinates, the root appears first. This is the most important root, and it is always one.

It is formed from a root, which is usually called the embryonic root. From this embryonic root, the main one grows very quickly, vertically downwards, and already in the first week of development it sends out lateral roots.

Adventitious roots grow later; they come from the stem, and in some plants they form on the leaves. Lateral roots can also grow on appendages. Thus, the system branches.

The root is not the same along its entire length. At a short distance from the root tip there are root hairs that vaguely resemble fluff. Thanks to this fluff, the plant collects moisture along with the minerals dissolved in it. In science, this gap with hairs is called the suction zone. Each adventitious and lateral root has hairs at its tip.

There are no hairs higher up the root. With this part of it, it conducts water with useful substances higher into the stem. This area also has lateral roots, which is why it is called the zone of conduction and branches.

Features of double-root tomatoes

Forming a double-rooted plant is a common method of grafting tomatoes. It is recommended to carry it out to increase the viability of the individual no earlier than the seedling has grown to 12-15 cm. The diameter is also important - the stem should not exceed the thickness of a pencil (up to 4 mm). Vaccination is carried out according to the following scheme:

1. A thin cut up to 3 cm long is made on the trunks of both plants.
2. They are connected at the cut site and secured with cloth or clothespin.
3. To avoid deformation, it is necessary to install a support.
4. After a week, you need to cut off the weaker plant 3-4 cm above the grafting site.

As a result of this procedure, a tomato bush with a two-root system is obtained. This is necessary when growing crops in unfavorable conditions and in infertile soils, as well as to increase yield. After grafting, two plants develop as a single organism, thereby increasing the area of ​​the root system.

It is recommended to use one variety of tomatoes for the rootstock and scion. Otherwise, there is a risk of plant rejection due to genetic incompatibility.

Frame method and others

Thus, you can calculate the cost of a well for a site using a barometer, using a map of the depth of aquifers in the Leningrad region, the Moscow region or any other region, or simply according to the recommendations of specialists. You can also determine the location of the vein underground using the frame method or using a clay pot.

In the first case, to find water in the area, you need to cut two pieces of aluminum wire and bend them at an angle of 90 degrees. The frames obtained in this way should be inserted, for example, into a pen cap. With the resulting biotool, you then need to walk slowly around the area. It is believed that in the place where underground waters lie, the branches of the “device” will diverge in different directions.

How to find out the depth of water for a well using a pot? Using this “device”, the veins on the site are searched as follows:

• the container is thoroughly dried in the sun;
• place the pot with the neck down in the place where the water is supposed to be located;
• After some time, check the inside of the pot.

If the container is located above the passage of the water vein, a lot of condensation will form inside it after some time. To find water faster, you can place several clay pots around the area. If necessary, such dishes can be replaced simply with ordinary glass jars.

general characteristics

Tomatoes belong to the Solanaceae family. Initially, the name tomato was used, which was used by the Aztecs when growing the crop. But another name, Italian, also took root in Europe. In Russia, two names for a vegetable are used at the same time; in the literature and speech of ordinary people, the terms “tomatoes” and “tomatoes” are equivalent.

For reference! Translated from Italian, tomato means “golden apple.”

Tomatoes are grown as a crop all over the world, and industrial cultivation methods are used. This vegetable is undoubtedly one of the most popular. And there are a huge number of ways to use ripened, and even unripe, fruits. Tomatoes are eaten raw, baked and fried, dried, frozen or squeezed. Salads, snacks, pickles and marinades are prepared from tomatoes. Vegetables are added to soups, canned food, and hot dishes.

Description

As stated earlier, tomatoes are a crop that is very widespread throughout the world. Tomatoes usually have an erect or lodging stem, depending on its variety.

This crop grows in height from 30 cm to 3 meters. Tomato leaves have a plate characteristic of all plants of the Solanaceae family. The leaf plate itself is quite large, and has a dissection into symmetrical lobes (potato type).

Small yellow flowers, collected in a brush, form on the tomato stem. This happens quite quickly. Most tomato varieties are facultative self-pollinators, that is, the plant contains male and female organs. Basically, there are only three varieties of tomatoes. It all depends on the characteristics of the stem:

• Standard - having a short and rather thick stem with a special corrugated surface.
• Non-standard - also called ordinary, in which the stems fall during fruit formation.
• Potato - have a specific leaf shape, which is very similar to potato.

The characteristics of the root system of different types of tomatoes are somewhat different from each other. These plants are also divided according to their growth vigor.

Features of growth of tomato varieties

Tomatoes come in a wide variety of varieties and varieties. They often differ in developmental features.

Tall varieties

These varieties grow as long as there is room. If they are not limited in development, they can easily grow up to three meters in height. They gain green and fruit mass throughout the season. If you follow the rules of care from the bush, you can collect up to 10 kg of fruit. Due to disease resistance, these varieties are able to bear fruit for a long time.

Caring for this variety differs from other species. Seeds are sown 10 days earlier than conventional types. It is better to sow in cassettes. Seedlings should have about 10 leaves and a flower cluster formed before being planted in the beds.

Important! If all planting rules are followed, the length of the internodes should be from 5 to 7 cm.

Low growing varieties

Low-growing ones bear fruit early. The bush has a small height. These varieties are popular due to their ease of care. They do not need to be tied up. Such tomatoes are grown both in greenhouses and in beds. This type includes, for example, many cherry tomatoes.

Seeds for seedlings are planted at the end of March. They require soil preparation: humus is mixed with river sand and soil. The soil should be moist. Seeds are planted 10 mm apart. After sowing, the seeds are sprinkled with a small layer of soil. To create a greenhouse effect, cover the top with polyethylene.

Care

Since lateral roots resist various adversities equally poorly, regardless of age, caring for borage also has its own nuances.

Loosening

The procedure is carried out extremely carefully: restoration of damaged roots occurs within a week if the soil moisture is not lower than 80%. During this period, the vine receives an insufficient amount of nutrients, that is, the summer resident harvests the crop later, and the fruits will be of poorer quality

To avoid such troubles, cucumber beds after planting seedlings are covered with a layer of mulch.

Suitable organic material is determined by the following criteria:

• bed illumination level;
• soil moisture capacity;
• growing temperature;
• pH indicator and degree of soil salinity;
• the amount of organic matter in the substrate.

Hilling

As a rule, when growing cucumbers, hilling is rarely carried out, although this particular procedure helps to increase the volume of the root system and is especially useful for increasing the yield of early and mid-early varieties.

Typically, two methods of increasing the root mass are used for seedlings:

1. Substrate is added to the seedlings in the pots as they grow. The technique is suitable for varieties that form adventitious roots. If you look closely at the stems of the seedlings, you can see small tubercles on them - future lateral roots.
2. Seedlings that have produced two leaves are transferred to a higher container - milk bags, plastic bottles cut to 2/3 of the height, etc. As in the previous case, soil is added as the bush grows.

To increase the number of roots of cucumber bushes directly in the garden bed, seedlings are planted in a trench. A plant with a lump of earth is placed in a ditch, covered with a layer of straw 8-10 cm, then with soil.

A number of varieties are capable of forming additional roots in the leaf axils. In this case, hilling is a guaranteed way to increase the yield of vines. This feature is used when growing crops in heated greenhouses: the fruit-bearing lower part of the stem is rolled into a ring and covered with soil. The formation of new roots stimulates further growth of the vine and its fruiting. The harvest from such plants can be harvested within 10-12 months.

Feeding

You should pay attention to the peculiarities of the development of cucumber roots with a lack of basic elements

• With a lack of nitrogen, the growth of lateral processes is reduced or stopped.
• With phosphorus deficiency, the length of the roots responsible for the absorption of nutrients decreases.

Types of root system

If tomatoes grow in comfortable conditions, roots appear in any vegetative part. This allows them to be propagated by cuttings, seeds and side shoots. The taller and stronger the variety, the longer its roots will be. A tomato bush has two types of root system.

Tap root system

If the type of root system of a tomato is taproot, this means that small shoots extend from the main trunk. The depth of the roots depends on the type of soil. Before and after planting, it is important to loosen the soil.

In order for this type of root system to grow well, the appendages need to be stimulated. To do this, seedlings are planted at an angle. This will allow new root appendages to grow from the trunk.

Fibrous root system

The fibrous root system has numerous roots, among which the main root does not stand out. With this structure, the underground part can grow deep into the soil up to 0.5 meters. First, the root system grows in width. If nothing interferes, and there is enough nutrition, then the roots branch greatly and are capable of enveloping very large areas.

If the tomato has a fibrous type of root system, then it needs to be watered less abundantly, but more often. For such varieties, mulching becomes important, which prevents overheating of the roots near the soil surface. It’s a good idea to hill up such tomatoes, which also helps preserve the roots.

Causes of disease and death of seedlings

How to plant tomato seedlings correctly at home so that they grow well and do not die, are healthy and produce a good harvest?

To do this, you need to follow the step-by-step instructions above. But, if, nevertheless, the plant has become infected, begins to wither and grow weakly, it is necessary to identify the cause and eliminate it, and treat the seedlings.

Tomato seedlings at home are more often exposed to the following types of diseases:

• Fungal. The causative agents are fungi that develop with insufficient care of seedlings (overwatering of plants, temperature changes, excess moisture in the room). Diseases: late blight, black stem, white spots on branches, powdery mildew.
• Non-infectious. They occur when the soil is improperly fertilized or there is a lack of minerals in it. Diseases manifest themselves in the form of blanching and curling of leaves (lack of oxygen or copper), dying of branches on the stem (lack of phosphorus), lethargy of the plant as a whole (lack of potassium, calcium, sulfur).
• Viral. Diseases are caused by contaminated seeds or lack of nutrients in the soil, pests and unfavorable conditions for tomato growth. The most common viral diseases are mosaic and aspermia.
• Bacterial. They may appear due to high humidity in the room and incorrect temperature conditions, which contribute to the appearance of fungus in the roots or tops of seedlings. Diseases of bacterial origin are brown and black spots on leaves, wilting and mottling, internal infections of the stem (bacterial canker).

Consequence of disease in tomato seedlings

In order to eliminate or prevent the occurrence of the above diseases, you need to neutralize the soil and seeds before planting to obtain seedlings or treat already grown bushes with disinfecting solutions and preparations.

To prevent diseases, tomato seedlings are most often used:

• Epin is a drug that strengthens the immunity of seedlings and promotes their hardening;
• a solution of potassium permanganate that protects against late blight;
• hydrogen peroxide is an excellent disinfectant for seedling leaves;
• solution of garlic with potassium permanganate - protection against pests;
• fungicides for the prevention and treatment of late blight (Metronidazole, Trichopolum).

If the leaves of seedlings dry out and quickly turn yellow, this indicates an insufficient amount of moisture. Curling dry shoots give a hint that the plant does not have enough iron. To normalize the growth of greenery on seedlings, it is necessary to improve watering and fertilizing with iron-containing preparations.

Seedlings with slow growth have a clear lack of vitamins and nutrients in the soil, as well as poor temperature and light conditions. To do this, you need to feed the seedlings and stabilize the room temperature, placing the plants closer to daylight.

With a sharp cold snap, seedlings may change color to distinctly blue. To do this, you need to eliminate the cause of the draft or cold snap.

On a note. As for pests, their appearance will immediately affect the seedlings. If whitefly is present, its larvae will be visible on the foliage. To eliminate it, the culture must be washed with soapy water and dandelion infusion.

If the seedlings have dry leaves that begin to fall off, then the tomato has been infected by thrips (a small harmful insect hiding under the foliage and inside the flower buds). To remove them, you need to treat the bushes with Fitoverm or Aktara.

Young bushes require constant attention and care. To prevent seedlings from getting sick, you need to monitor their development and carry out the necessary preventive procedures for their growth and strength.

To summarize, we can safely say that tomato seedlings grown at home are quite painstaking work, but it is she, and not purchased ones, that guarantees the harmlessness of the vegetable and its yield. With proper care, the crop will grow and develop well and in July will produce a large amount of tasty and healthy fruits.

Formation of tomatoes

There are several ways to shape tomatoes. The specific method depends on the type of tomato. If the tomato variety is tall, then the bush must be formed into one stem. There is no point in leaving the side branches, since flowers will appear on them when summer is over and the bush will have wasted its energy.

When forming, it is worth deciding on the number of fruit clusters. If tomatoes grow in a greenhouse, then seven trusses are left on them. One leaf is left above the upper inflorescence, and the top is cut off. The bush will stop growing and will spend all its energy on setting fruit.

If the bush grows in open ground, then five clusters are left, since the others will not have time to form ripe fruits. One leaf is left above the upper inflorescence and the top is cut off.

If the tomatoes are undersized, they can be shaped in the following ways:

1. In one stem: the stepsons are removed, the top is not cut off, the fruit clusters are left.
2. In three stems: leave the main stem and two lower stepsons. There should be one flower brush and one leaf left on the stepsons. This will help you get eight inflorescences.
3. The growth point is transferred to the side shoot. This option is suitable for bushes that grow in a greenhouse. One main stem and a lower stepson extending from it are left. Then, as it grows, another stepson is left on a side shoot. The top is trimmed, leaving one leaf.

Important! On the stepsons, the third cluster bears fruit of poor quality tomatoes. That's why you shouldn't leave it.

ABOUT THE GREENHOUSE FOR TOMATOES

I have it for summer. Made from old window frames and door frames. Today's gentlemen, when buying apartments, immediately exchange all this for plastic products. So I collected these remnants of former luxury. Glass is inserted into the frames. The dimensions of the greenhouse are 3x7 m. There are windows for ventilation.

My beds are made with a trident: the edges are 50-60 cm, the middle is wide - for ease of caring for plants. The passages between the ridges are dug in the ground, i.e. recessed by approximately 40 cm, which allows saving on the height of the greenhouse.

I grow everything in it at the same time: tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers. Incompatible? Not true. It all depends on how you take care of it. Then even “incompatible” plants will yield such a rich harvest that you can pickle them, make jars, and eat plenty of fresh fruits. Just move! Just make sure to water, feed, weed, thin out, and direct on time (so that the vines don’t go where they shouldn’t). The photo shows that on the left in the greenhouse the tomatoes are tied to racks (I love tall varieties), in the middle the peppers stand like oaks, and their fruits are 15-20 cm long, and on the right there are cucumbers crawling along the guides. And this despite the fact that the time of action is autumn, some of the plants have been removed, the harvest has been harvested and is already in jars.

Speaking of plant garters. For this I do not use twine or plastic fasteners, but strips of fabric cut from old curtains; they are durable, but at the same time soft, and do not injure the plants at all.

Topping

When pinching, remove the top of the stem with the growing point. The pinch stops the growth of the plant, so the bush directs all its energy to the formation of fruits.

The procedure is carried out during the active growing season, in the second half of July. Pinching allows you to improve the quality of the bush, reduce the ripening time of tomatoes, and extend the fruiting period.

All this has a positive effect on the fruit and significantly increases productivity. Pinching will speed up internal processes and speed up the ripening of tomatoes two weeks ahead of schedule.

CHERRY TOMATOES FROM STEPSONS

1. If your cat has cried cherry seeds, and there are heaps of places on the windowsills, then you can propagate the bushes from the tops or stepsons