We must remember that the agricultural technology for growing tomatoes in open ground is somewhat different than in greenhouses. Accordingly, the procedure for providing moisture is also different. In the open air, the external environment is formed under the influence of weather factors, and in the greenhouse there are milder conditions. But watering tomatoes with cold water during the ripening period is contraindicated in both cases. Let's try to understand this issue.
Irrigation water temperature value
It is well known that tomatoes are moisture-loving. This is due to the large depth of the root system. Many gardeners approach the issue of providing moisture in a very unique way: they dig up the sides near the bushes, lay down a watering hose, and periodically change the direction of the water stream. The option is simple and does not require physical effort. But not very useful for tomato bushes, because the water flow washes away the roots. The water to the hose comes either from a well or from a water pipe (usually in the summer it is pumped from a river or pond), so most often it is cold. And this is fraught with stress for tender roots. Rhizoserphic inhabitants suffer from exposure to cold water:
- beneficial microbes;
- worms;
- bugs.
Advantages and disadvantages of irrigation from an artesian well
The temperature of water from an artesian well ranges from +2℃ to +4℃ at a depth of 5 m. In summer, the temperature rises slightly to a range of +5℃ to +6℃, from +8℃ to +15℃, if you take water higher 5 meters. This is too low a degree threshold to be suitable for irrigation. The air temperature during the dacha and garden season is always higher. And when it becomes as cold outside as the artesian water is cold, then all the crops have already been harvested from the beds, there is nothing to water - the harvest has been harvested.
Advantages of irrigating crops from an artesian well:
- environmental cleanliness, absence of man-made pollution;
- high level of productivity – providing moisture to a large area of the site;
- the constant presence of water, regardless of fluctuations in precipitation or groundwater flow;
- quick payback of initial costs when constructing a well.
Disadvantages of watering with artesian water:
- the need to install water filters, otherwise there will be oversaturation with mineral microsubstances;
- independent soil oxidation (if filters are not installed on the water supply system);
- with an excess of manganese, the soil becomes unsuitable for further planting of crops.
Water from artesian depths may contain various minerals, an excess of which can destroy plants in the garden beds. These may be salts, gases, high levels of iron, manganese and other natural impurities. If filters are not installed, then the garden should be planted with crops that are not picky about the level of alkalis and other impurities contained in the water. Or you can constantly keep the water from the well in a special tank. And when using it, the bottom layer of water should not be used at all, but drained outside the garden.
The dangers of watering tomatoes with cold water
It should be immediately clarified that cold water itself does not pose a danger to tomatoes and their root system. Plants are afraid of the temperature imbalance created by such watering. Watering with cold water is especially dangerous in hot weather. Hot stems and leaves, fruits outside and heated roots in heated soil find themselves in a stressful situation if an ice “tub” of water is brought down on them. Such moisture will not be beneficial and will not be absorbed by the plant; the roots may freeze. After such watering, you can almost immediately notice that the leaves have shrunk and are beginning to wither. Beneficial soil microorganisms also die from stress.
The opinion that the root system of tomatoes is very deep, it is cool at great depths and low-temperature water will not cause harm is wrong.
Still, water for irrigation should be at least approximately at air temperature. With such a supply of moisture, the plants will be comfortable, they will not have to waste energy on survival.
How to water tomatoes after planting in a greenhouse
When planting tomato seedlings in a greenhouse, the soil is watered generously. It is pre-defended. Preference is given to rainwater.
To avoid plant stress, drugs such as Epin and Zircon are added to the water. Some vegetable growers use potassium permanganate for disinfection. For tomato growth, a variety of growth stimulants are used; they are dissolved in water and watered on each bush.
What water to water tomatoes in a greenhouse
It is strictly contraindicated to water tomatoes with cold water, as this provokes plant disease. Warm and settled water is obtained by placing containers in the greenhouse. You can additionally heat it up to the desired levels.
The water temperature for watering tomatoes should be at least 18-20 degrees. It is recommended to collect rainwater in tanks. It is considered the most suitable for watering vegetables.
How to water tomatoes with iodine in a greenhouse
In small quantities, iodine is harmless to both people and plants. This feeding has a beneficial effect on the growth and formation of tomatoes.
- Fruit formation improves. Iodine stimulates the formation process and accelerates the growth and size of tomatoes.
- Significantly improves immunity. A sign of iodine deficiency in plants: limp and pale leaves. Timely watering with iodine will restore the appearance and reduce the likelihood of diseases.
- “Tomato diseases” such as brown spot, late blight and mosaic in the early stages can be stopped with regular watering with iodine.
Reference! The first feeding of plants with iodine is carried out when the first two true leaves appear on the seedlings. 1 drop of iodine is diluted in 3 liters of warm, 20-22 degrees, water.
After this, the tomatoes are able to resist problems such as root rot, fungal and viral diseases.
The next iodine fertilizing is carried out during the period of tying tassels on the plants. To do this, dissolve 3 drops of iodine in 10 liters of water. Watering rate – 1 liter. for one bush.
In the ripening phase, a solution of 5 drops of iodine per 10 liters of water is used for watering. This will speed up the process and stimulate the formation of new ovaries. It has been established that when watered with the addition of iodine, the fruits increase in size by up to 10 percent. To enhance the effect, wood ash and boric acid are added to the solution.
For prevention, foliar feeding is also used. To do this, prepare a solution of 1 liter of water, a glass of skim milk and 5 drops of iodine tincture. Tomatoes are sprayed in the morning or evening. Do not allow the solution to accumulate on the leaves to avoid burns.
Watering a tomato in a greenhouse with yeast
After planting tomatoes in protected soil, experienced vegetable growers recommend a natural means for feeding tomatoes - yeast. Using this recipe guarantees intensive plant growth.
After the yeast, tomatoes gain strength, the stems become powerful and strong, the leaves become wide and intensely green. The root system is strengthened, fruits are intensively formed.
The recipe is simple: 1 kg of baker's yeast is dissolved in 5 liters of water and infused for at least a day. For processing tomatoes in 10 liters. half a liter of infusion is diluted with water. Water the root of each plant. If desired, you can simultaneously use herbal infusions and natural organic fertilizers.
Another recipe for making yeast feed:
- 0.5 cups granulated sugar;
- 100 g yeast;
- 3 liters of warm water.
The prepared solution is left in a warm place to ferment for several days. Before use, dilute 1 glass of prepared mash solution in 10 liters of water. Application rate: 1 glass per bush.
Is it possible to water tomatoes with potassium permanganate in a greenhouse?
Potassium permanganate or potassium permanganate is popularly used as a strong, affordable antiseptic. Watering a tomato with water with the addition of potassium permanganate provides:
- disinfection;
- the formation of ions in the soil necessary for the root system;
- strengthening the immune system;
- acceleration of growth;
- disease prevention.
Potassium permanganate should be used for watering and spraying very carefully, adhering to the recommended dosage so as not to burn the plants.
Do you need to water tomatoes often?
There is no need to water tomatoes often. This applies to both watering seedlings and adult plants. The main rule is abundant irrigation. Gardeners have noticed that frequent watering leads to slower growth and lower yields. Practicing tomato growers note that seedlings that are watered frequently and are not subjected to the cold hardening procedure are more difficult to adapt to the soil; the survival period lasts a week longer, and the plant will be more frail compared to its counterparts.
In everything you need to observe moderation. Excessive watering contributes to a decrease in soil temperature. At the same time, air humidity will increase. Climatic conditions have a negative impact on the future harvest.
Gardeners must take care of the soil structure. To improve moisture absorption, the soil is loosened. After the soil is saturated with moisture, mulching is used.
Why tomatoes do not tolerate cold well
Tomatoes come from southern countries, hence their requirement for heat and moisture. The same variety of tomatoes can bear fruit well one year, but produce a very poor harvest the next year. Much depends on weather conditions, which do not depend on the summer resident. But still, some undesirable aspects of the climate can be leveled out on your own.
Knowing that tomatoes love heat very much, they are best grown in greenhouses. If the ambient temperature is not suitable, this becomes immediately noticeable: the plant will begin to drop flowers, the ovaries will not form, and the tomatoes will stop growing. The ideal temperature during the flowering period of the plant is 20-25 degrees. At temperatures below 15 degrees, pollen will not be able to ripen, and if this temperature lasts for a long time, unpollinated flowers dry out and fall off. The downside is very high temperatures. If the air around the plant is above 35 degrees, the pollen will simply become sterile.
Watering garden plants
It is better to water all vegetables, and not just tomatoes, with settled and heated water. The recommended water temperature for irrigation is 18-22 degrees. The degree of moisture depends on the growing season. While the plant is in the seedling stage, it needs plenty of moisture. The same applies to the fruiting period. When the plant has developed, gained strength and is simply forming a root crown, watering can be reduced.
Cucumbers should also be watered carefully at the root so that the water does not wet the stem or leaves. During flowering, cucumbers are usually watered in the morning; if the plant begins to form fruits, watering is transferred to the evening. If the flowers on cucumbers fall off, this means that the plant does not receive enough moisture. Increase watering or change the timing.
Cabbage loves sprinkling. But it can only be carried out on fairly warm days. Green onions are irrigated only when the soil is well dry. Carrots are also watered. But celery welcomes frequent irrigation.
Top dressing
Humidity in the life of tomatoes
Humidity is another important criterion for full fruiting. If the leaves of the plant begin to curl and the top of the bush droops, the plant needs moisture. But even here a measure is needed. If there is excessive humidity, fungal formations may appear between the leaves of tomatoes, and the pollen will stick together and may fall off from the anther.
The summer resident needs to understand how to balance between sufficient humidity and good ventilation of the vegetable crop. It is better to water the plant at the root in the early morning, and sprinkling is permissible only on the hottest and driest days.
How to plant a tomato correctly?
Tomato is a fairly common vegetable that is found among all summer residents who grow vegetables. To get a full harvest, you need to plant the plant correctly and take good care of it.
When planting, it is necessary to use mineral and organic fertilizers, and I think everyone who grows vegetables knows the planting technology.
Is it possible to water the garden in cold weather? Categories
This question is not at all idle. Many gardeners believe that the more and more often you water the plants in your garden, the better. But this is not entirely true, or rather, not at all true.
Watering is important
First, different plants require different watering. But this, in general, is obviously not the question about this. The question is: how to properly water any plants (and not only garden plants, but also shrubs and trees)?
It will probably be easier to answer this question if you first answer the opposite one - how to water the garden incorrectly? Or, to put it more in Russian, how can you not water your garden?
Let's try to list the main mistakes when watering that should not be made:
- Do not water the garden in hot and sunny weather. And, especially, very cold water. Don't forget that plants are also living. And the same thing will happen to them as to you if you drink a lot of very cold water in hot weather. You will most likely have a sore throat. Plants do not have a throat, but something will also “sore”.
- Again, in hot sunny weather, you should not pour water directly on the leaves. There will be the same “beach” effect that you get when you get particularly badly sunburned on the beach. Water droplets on the body form many small lenses that focus the sun's rays at one point each, and therefore severe burns occur at these points. The same will happen with the leaves.
- Do not spill too much water around the plant. It is better to water in the holes under the roots. Again, this is especially important in hot weather. Excess water means extra evaporation. It turns out to be a kind of “bathhouse”. And not all plants will like it (except perhaps some tropical orchids). How much water does one plant require per watering? From one glass to one or two liters, depending on its size, type, condition and weather. You will see and understand this yourself when watering.
- And finally, probably the most important. Again, this is especially important in hot weather. Under no circumstances should you leave the crust of earth that forms after the water dries near the plant. It is very dense and air does not pass through it. We can say with absolute certainty that it is better not to water the plant at all than to water it and leave this very crust. The crust must be loosened.
