What kind of soil do tomatoes like: choosing the optimal soil composition. Photos, tips for feeding, watering, spraying tomatoes

Correct soil composition

The key to success when growing seedlings is suitable soil. The survival rate of plants, growth rate and quality of fruits depend on it. The balanced composition of the soil mixture allows you to grow tomatoes and get a bountiful harvest.

When choosing soil, you need to pay attention to its looseness and lightness. It should absorb moisture well and be neutral in acidity level.

Variety selection

When choosing planting material, you need to pay attention to some features of the species. After all, not every variety is suitable for growing in open areas. For open ground, it is better to choose early-ripening species. In this case, you should choose not just one variety, but several at once. Such planting will give more guarantees for a good harvest. When choosing tomatoes for planting, you need to know some criteria. First of all, you should pay attention to the varietal characteristics of the crop:

• Standard - a low-growing type of tomato. They have a small root and a dense stem. In the absence of good lighting, they do not have the ability to stretch.
• Non-standard - adjacent, strongly branching plants that require support. The stem is thin.
• Potato - they got their name because of the shape of the leaves, similar to potato tops.

According to the method of branching and dew, tomatoes are divided into:

• Determinate - tomato bushes grow of medium size, belong to the early and mid-early species, so the fruiting period falls in the first 20 days.
• Indeterminate - plants that can bear fruit all year round; for this they need good lighting and warmth. This type includes late varieties that require intensive care from the gardener. They will bear fruit in open ground only in hot summers.
• Superdeterminate - an early, low-growing type of crop that requires minimal care. Intensive fruit growth occurs in the first 20 days.
• Semi-determinate - a mid-late type of tomato; at the end of the season, leaves begin to grow intensively, not fruits.

According to the growing season, all tomatoes are divided into:

• early - up to 100 days;
• mid-early - 100–110 days;
• mid-season - 111–115 days;
• medium-late – 116–120 days;
• late - over 120 days.

Early and mid-early species include: “Irma”, “Izyuminka”, “Butuz”. The height of the bushes is on average 50–60 cm. The fruits are medium and large in size, dense. The mass reaches 100–120 g. They are distinguished by a high degree of keeping quality. Ideal for storing for the winter and eating fresh. Among the mid-season varieties, “Bull’s Heart”, “Lady’s Fingers”, and “Konigsberg” are popular. Low bushes, reaching an average of 50 cm, are characterized by high productivity. The weight of large fruits varies within 300 grams. The tomatoes are juicy with excellent taste. Among the negative aspects, it should be noted that the “Bull's Heart” variety is susceptible to brown spot infection. The shelf life of the fruit is relatively short.

Late and mid-late varieties include the following varieties: “De Barao”, “Finish” and “Cherry”. These are tall vegetable crops with powerful stems. The plants are shade-tolerant, frost-resistant, and resistant to various diseases. Suitable for both growing in greenhouses and open ground. The weight of the fruit is different for everyone: Cherry - small tomatoes up to 30 grams grow in a brush, De Barao - plum-shaped tomatoes reach 70 grams, and Finish - 90 grams. Intended for fresh consumption, canning and pickling. All have a long shelf life with an excellent shelf life. Among the disadvantages, it should be noted that the bushes are quite demanding in terms of caring for them. They ripen for a long time and fully ripen on the branches only in hot summers or if they grow in the southern regions. These types of hybrids are not recommended to be grown for seeds. Not all positive qualities of a culture are transmitted through them.

Conditions for choosing a soil mixture

What kind of soil do tomatoes like? Loose nutrient mixtures and loam suit them best. If you use unsuitable soil, the seedlings simply do not sprout, so you cannot count on a harvest.

To prevent this outcome, you need to follow the basic recommendations:

• the sand in the soil should be without clay admixtures - weighting has a negative effect on the seedlings;
• Limitation in the decay stage cannot be used to fertilize seedlings under any circumstances;
• it is necessary to exclude the content of heavy metals in the mixture.

Types of finished compost

If you still decide to purchase soil for tomato seedlings, then you need to do it correctly. Otherwise, the seedlings will simply die. Universal species are best suited for growing tomato seedlings.

What kind of soil do tomatoes like: acidic or alkaline?

Before sowing tomato seeds, it is recommended to clarify which soil is best to use for growing tomato seedlings (and peppers, if planted nearby) - acidic or alkaline.

The soil for growing tomato seedlings should be slightly acidic . The ideal pH level for tomatoes is 5.5-6.5. Acidity is determined using a special product, which can be purchased at any store.

Tomatoes do not accept alkaline soil, as it promotes drying and burning of seeds. And this negatively affects productivity.

Nutrient content

During the development process, plants must consume the necessary microelements in order to grow quickly, bear fruit well and not get sick.

The composition of the soil chosen for growing tomatoes must include nitrogen, potassium, magnesium and phosphorus.

The nutritional mixture also contains additional elements:

• Turf land;
• Meadow soil;
• Leaf soil;
• Sphagnum moss (to improve breathability);
• Pine needles (additional protection against pests);
• Peat (makes the soil looser).

In addition, well-rotted and sifted humus, washed clean sand without clay impurities, and perlite are added to the soil mixture.

Sometimes sawdust, scalded with boiling water, is added to the soil, but sand or peat can easily replace them.

Important! Leaf soil should not be collected under willows and oaks, because tomatoes do not tolerate the tannins it contains very well.

Schemes and rules for planting tomatoes

Watering the seedlings is stopped one day before planting them in open ground. The process is carried out either in the evening or during the day, but in the absence of sun. The vegetable is planted in nests. There are two types of schemes for this:

• Square. The hole parameters for spreading “early ripening” (2 bushes), determinate or standard (2-3 pieces) varieties are 70x70 cm. For later varieties, the dimensions for two plants are one meter per meter.
• Tape. The principle is that ditches are dug at a distance of 1.4 meters from each other. Tomato bushes are planted on both sides of it.

Of course, each gardener can distribute the planting space in his own way. But experts recommend that one vegetable plant should have at least 0.3 sq.m.

Soil structure

It is very important that the soil has a loose structure. This is an indispensable condition for growing tomatoes. At the same time, plant roots have easy access to necessary nutrients and water, and are also supplied with sufficient oxygen.

In addition, regular soil care affects the yield. It needs to be weeded, removing the emerging weeds by the roots.

Weeds take too much moisture and nutrients from the soil. In addition, the grass shades the seedlings, and for proper development, tomatoes need to receive a lot of sunlight.

Algorithm of actions during landing

During landing, all actions require the following sequence:

• A hot solution of manganese is poured over all nests. One bucket can process no more than 8 holes.
• Fertilizer input: minerals with humus (1:3).
• After turning the container with seedlings over, carefully remove the seedling by the trunk.
• Remove all leaves from the vegetable except the top 3.
• Place the seedling in the nest, lightly sprinkle it with compost, and on top of it with dry soil and tamp it down a little.
• Mulch the surface around the trunk with straw or sawdust.
• Large varieties need gartering, and this must be done immediately. To do this, pegs are driven in at a distance of at least 10 cm from the bush and tied at the level of the 2nd leaf using soft material.

After transplantation, it is not recommended to touch the vegetable for 10 days. It is this period, according to experts, that adaptation lasts.

Self-preparation of soil mixture

Most gardeners prepare the soil themselves, but some prefer to purchase ready-made mixtures.

In the first case, preparation begins in the fall: soil is poured into a wooden box and left to winter outside. Frost will destroy all dangerous microorganisms, making the soil sterile. 10-14 days before sowing the seeds, the soil is brought into a warm place to warm up.

A few days before planting, they begin directly preparing the fertile mixture, adding all the necessary components.

You can use several options:

1. Make a mixture of equal parts of earth, leaf soil, humus and sand, treating it with a solution of superphosphate (30 g), urea (10 g), potassium sulfate (20 g). You can sow seeds in prepared soil after 3-4 days.
2. Prepare a mixture of turf soil, sand and peat, thoroughly mixing the components and adding 0.5 kg of ash and 2 tablespoons of superphosphate. After a few days, you can sow the seedlings.
3. Mix humus, sand and turf soil in a ratio of 1:1:2, add 0.5 kg of ash, mix. After a few days, the mixture will be ready for sowing seeds.

Important! For sowing, you need to carefully select seeds, using only high-quality planting material.

Growing tomato seedlings

Preparatory work

I start planting seeds to obtain seedlings in winter. More precise terms depend on the climatic characteristics of the region and the crop variety. The seeds of early ripening species are planted later. Typically, seedlings begin to grow at the following times:

• late types - from March 7;
• mid-season - from March 15;
• “early ripening” - at the end of March - beginning of April.

The first step is to prepare the dishes for planting. These can be cassettes, cups, regular or peat pots, boxes, etc. Having chosen a container, fill it with soil. The soil should be light and loose, and have a low degree of acidity. You can take forest turf and mix it with sand and humus. After the soil is laid out in the planting containers, it is necessary to carry out a disinfection procedure. To do this, you first need to spill the soil with a solution of potassium permanganate, and then spray it with antifungal agents and add a little ash to it.

Landing activities

Next comes the actual landing. All seeds are sown at the same depth to ensure uniform germination. Weak sprouts must be removed immediately. In order for planting material to have good germination, it is necessary to provide it with a greenhouse effect. After 6–8 weeks, you need to start picking the seedlings. Otherwise, they will interfere with each other's growth, and as a result they will die. Seedlings need good lighting, which could replace the sun in the winter months. Every day, pots of tomatoes need to be turned 180 degrees. With the onset of warm days, seedlings can begin to harden. To do this, it is placed on a balcony or loggia. At first, a couple of hours is enough for the procedure. The time period should be increased gradually. Caring for seedlings consists mainly of watering. Before the process, the water settles. In the first weeks, watering is done much more often, and after picking, less often, but with the obligatory spraying of the foliage. At the end of May, seedlings can be planted in open ground in a permanent place.

Soil acidity

Before planting, gardeners often ask themselves: what kind of soil do tomatoes like - acidic or alkaline? This point requires separate clarification.

Ideally, the soil for growing seedlings should be slightly acidic. It is better if the pH level remains between 5.5-6.5. You can understand what acidity the soil has by using a special product that can be purchased at a flower shop.

Having discovered increased acidity, you need to take measures to correct the situation. Lime helps neutralize acidic soil. But it is necessary to add soil following certain rules.

Work on the site is carried out in the spring, before seedlings are planted. The autumn period, after harvesting, is also suitable. The area must first be cleared of debris and weeds, carefully removing them by the roots.

Next, you need to prepare (grind) a lime mixture for use and choose a good day - the work is carried out in clear weather in the absence of strong wind.

Having distributed the lime evenly over the entire territory of the site, the soil needs to be dug to a depth of about 20 cm in order to mix it well with the soil. The chemical reactions occurring during the process will neutralize the increased acidity.

When adjusting acidity, it is very important to maintain optimal soil moisture. Tomatoes do not tolerate waterlogged roots very well, so you should avoid swampy and clayey areas.

Planting in such a place will negatively affect growth and fruiting, and can also lead to the death of plants due to rotting of the roots.

In the area chosen for growing tomatoes, groundwater should not lie too close. In this case, after heavy rains, stagnation of moisture in the upper layers of the soil cannot be avoided. Elevated, well-lit areas are much better suited for planting.

However, tomatoes can suffer not only from excess, but also from lack of moisture. Therefore, watering needs to be organized regularly, carefully monitoring the condition of the soil. During periods of prolonged drought, tomatoes require watering once a day. For this you need to use only settled water.

Fertilizing the soil and preparing for planting

What then do we ultimately bring into this bed, if last year we brought in biohumus, deoxidized high-moor peat and river sand?

The soil remained very loose. Even the sand is visible. Finding himself in the lower layers during digging, he again rose to the top. The only thing you need to look at is the nutritional value. After all, you can apply it not over the entire surface, but into the hole when planting. And we can do this even now. Let's mark the holes where our plant will grow. You can simply add nutritional elements with a scoop.

Tomatoes are low-growing, determinate. You can plant 4-5 per square meter. We dig holes and literally put a scoop into the hole and mix everything vigorously. They dug up. Now I advise adding gliocladin or trichocide. While the soil is recovering, you can even water the holes in advance. The trichocide will begin to work. Watered and added 2 tablets of gliocladin per plant. Usually they write one tablet, but just in case you can take two. Still, our weather is different.

Dear friends, in other words, if you prepared nutritious soil last year, then all you need to do is add a little biohumus to the plants. And there is a high probability that even during the entire growing season you will not have to feed with mineral fertilizers. But, again, look at the plant. The plant is alive, you can immediately see from the leaves what is missing. And, if there really is a shortage, then you can add food.

Plants stop developing fruits, ripen more slowly, and bushes do not grow. Of course, you will need to feed. But this once is quite a bit. In general, noble soil is the key to your harvest and the lowest material and physical costs when caring for plants.

If last year you prepared nutritious soil for your plants, grew tomatoes and did not observe crop rotation, and this year you are planting tomatoes, then you will only need to add a little vermicompost at the root of the plant, a tablet of gliocladin, or better yet two, and no problems, as shown practice, in growing tomatoes throughout the season you will not have any problems.

Photo of ideal soil for tomatoes

Cultivation care

It is important for every gardener to get a healthy and tasty harvest. This largely depends on the quality of care. An important point is watering. For early ripening species, irrigation is carried out only 4 times per season:

• before planting seedlings;
• a week after planting;
• in early July;
• at the end of July.

Vegetables with large fruits are watered every 2 days. It is possible to carry out irrigation through dug ditches. Water the plant under the bush with water that has settled during the day. The procedure is carried out exclusively in the evening hours. Additionally, you can add potassium permanganate or ash to the water. A couple of weeks after transplantation, the soil around the seedlings begins to be loosened and hilled. Further during the growth process, the procedure is carried out as necessary, but it is better to do it after each irrigation. The pollination procedure is also not complete without human hands. To attract insects, you can plant basil, mustard or coriander between tomato bushes, which can also improve the taste of the vegetable. The pollination problem becomes especially acute if the temperature drops to 13 degrees or, conversely, jumps above +30. The bushes can be given additional help. To do this, the plants are shaken and then immediately sprayed with a spray bottle. It is better to carry out the procedure in the first half of the day.

What do tomatoes absolutely not like?

Beginning gardeners often make various mistakes when growing tomatoes. Here are the most common of them:

• insufficient sun in the garden;
• excessive application of organic fertilizers;
• planting a crop in the same place for several years in a row;
• planting too closely (with an interval of less than 40 cm);
• excessive or insufficient watering.

Product Matrix: Tomatoes