Do tomatoes like a draft in a greenhouse - 7 main features of ventilation and a description of care

Peppers, eggplants, tomatoes and other greenhouse inhabitants wither, their leaves turn yellow, and the plants look stunted, despite regular watering and fertilizing? Perhaps they are simply too hot and do not have enough air. How to fix this problem?

Many novice summer residents believe that by installing a greenhouse, they will immediately solve all the problems with growing heat-loving crops. Alas, this is not entirely true. Firstly, most regions of our country are characterized by sharp temperature changes, leading to plants overheating during the day and freezing at night. And secondly, the heat in the greenhouse does not have a favorable effect on the potential harvest - the plants wither, the pollen becomes sterile, and photosynthesis slows down. To avoid this, it is necessary to maintain a comfortable temperature and humidity level in the greenhouse for the plantings.

Why ventilate tomatoes in a greenhouse?

If a greenhouse is used for cultivation, then the film can generally be removed during the daytime if the weather is warm.
To properly carry out ventilation, you need to know why it is needed:

1. Do not open doors or windows immediately after watering . The moisture should be well absorbed and saturate the plants. Therefore, the ideal option is to start airing about half an hour after watering. Or, if you water the plants at night, you can open the greenhouse early in the morning. But it’s better to water in the morning - the leaves evaporate a lot of moisture and if you do the work in the evening, all the walls of the greenhouse will become wet.
2. Maintain air humidity at the same level . Optimal conditions for plant pollination should be created. If the humidity is high, the pollen clumps together and cannot reach the pistil, and the fruit does not set. If the air is very dry, then even if pollen gets in, it cannot germinate and ovaries also do not form. The ideal option is a humidity of 60 to 70%; it is best to hang a simple hygrometer in the greenhouse to monitor the indicators.
3. Control the temperature in the greenhouse . Since tomatoes came to us from the humid tropics, they love warmth. And if it is impossible to regulate the temperature in the open ground, in a greenhouse you can control it through ventilation. Ideal daytime conditions are temperatures between 20 and 25 degrees. At night, it is advisable that it does not fall below 16 degrees. This is the best option to ensure maximum yield. It is especially important to create a draft on hot days.

Tomatoes are not afraid of drafts; on the contrary, these are ideal conditions for their growth and pollination of flowers.

1. Avoid fruit rotting . Tomatoes are afraid of constant humidity and this begins to deteriorate. Ventilation is the simplest method of prevention, which completely solves this problem.
2. Protect tomatoes from diseases . Many diseases, especially fungal ones, occur precisely at high humidity. And if ventilation is not carried out, the likelihood of plant damage increases significantly, especially if there are differences in day and night temperatures.
3. Figure out when to open and close the greenhouse . It is best to provide a draft for most of the day if it is warm and sunny. In polycarbonate structures, it is better to give preference to ventilation through vents rather than through doors, as moisture evaporates faster.
4. During humid periods, it is better not to ventilate the greenhouse . Otherwise, moisture can provoke late blight and other fungal diseases. On such days, even the doors are closed to minimize the likelihood of defeat.

Since hot, humid air rises, that is why it travels fastest through the vents in the roof of the greenhouse.
It is worth remembering that cucumbers, unlike tomatoes, love moist and stagnant air. If they are grown in the same greenhouse, then the cucumber vines are located on the side so that the draft falls on them less.

The author of the video recommends using a thermometer to control the temperature depending on the age of the tomato. For seedlings - in the lower part of the greenhouse, during flowering - at the level of flowers, in order to control the temperature and maintain it at a level optimal for pollination.

How to position the greenhouse correctly?

First of all, the greenhouse should be located in a well-lit place. Sunlight should shine on it as long as possible. It is best if the greenhouse is located with its side facing south, since the side surface area is larger than the end area. You should not locate the greenhouse if it is a gable or arched one, close to buildings or a fence. In winter, this will prevent snow from melting and can lead to destruction of the greenhouse. And also, a large mass of snow next to your greenhouse in the spring will melt for a long time, cooling the soil and preventing it from drying out.

Follow simple ventilation rules

It is better if there are vents in the upper part on both sides of the structure; warm air escapes through them faster.
To ensure optimal conditions, remember these simple tips:

1. Monitor humidity and temperature indicators . If they are below the required parameters, then there is no need to open the greenhouse for a long time. An hour a day is enough.
2. Consider the ambient temperature . If it is lower than what tomatoes require, then you should not open the structure so as not to overcool the plants.
3. During hot periods, ensure high-quality ventilation . To prevent the plants from overheating, the greenhouse is kept open all day and closed only at night or after the air temperature has dropped significantly.
4. Use suitable ventilation options . In polycarbonate greenhouses, doors or windows usually open; when purchasing, it is better to choose options with two doors or large windows; a door at one end cannot provide the normal draft needed for tomatoes. In film greenhouses, you can even lift the oilcloth or remove it altogether, if the weather permits.
5. During periods of high humidity, do not open the greenhouse . This way, the likelihood of being affected by late blight is reduced significantly.

On cool days, it is better not to open the greenhouse at all.

Temperature for seedlings in a greenhouse for different crops

A greenhouse is a small, low structure, completely enclosed with a detachable transparent top cover designed to allow light to pass through and work in the greenhouse. Greenhouses are set up outside and are mostly intended for growing seedlings.

The optimal temperature for growing seedlings depends on the crop

In order for the seedlings to feel comfortable, they must maintain a certain temperature:

1. The optimal temperature for growing seedlings depends on the crop. For example, when growing tomato seedlings during the day, the optimal temperature is 18–22°C, and at night 15–18°C. It is best to control the temperature using a thermometer installed inside the greenhouse. For seedlings of other crops, the recommended temperature is 16–25°C during the day, and 12–18°C at night.
2. When the daytime temperature reaches about 20°C during the day, the greenhouse should be opened, in the daytime after twelve o'clock in the afternoon for 15 - 30 minutes. And when the minimum day and night temperature outside is 15°C, a small window should be made in the greenhouse to ventilate the greenhouse.

In a greenhouse, it is important to maintain the optimal temperature of not only the air, but also the soil. So for most crops, the soil temperature should be 14 - 25 ° C. This is achieved by introducing biological fuel into the soil, which, when decomposed, will give a certain temperature.

Properly care for tomatoes

Pros and cons of closed greenhouses

Many novice agronomists, having first started preparing a greenhouse for wintering, wonder whether it is necessary to close the greenhouse for the winter. As experienced specialists note, not only the condition of the structure when spring arrives, but also the yield of crops planned for the next growing season depends on the proper preparation of the greenhouse for wintering.

When answering the question of whether it is necessary to close the greenhouse for the winter, each agronomist has his own point of view. Opinions are polarly divided: some insist that the door to the greenhouse should be kept closed in winter, others are confident that high future harvest rates depend on good ventilation in the cold, and therefore the greenhouse must be left open.

To come to a common opinion on whether or not to close the greenhouse for the winter, it is recommended to carefully study and weigh all the pros and cons of each option.

Proponents of closing the greenhouse for the winter argue that in winter the soil is actively saturated with useful microelements if the soil is first treated and mineralized with special complex additives. A comfortable atmosphere is created indoors, conducive to preserving the fertile properties of the substrate. If the greenhouse is opened, as some gardeners note, the ground will freeze very much, which will negatively affect its fertility.

A greenhouse closed in winter promises a lot of trouble when spring arrives. Agronomists will have to take care of proper soil moisture: cover the entire surface of the ground with snow with their own hands or thoroughly water it with melt water. This procedure is necessary for normal growth and development of plants.

Another disadvantage of closing the greenhouse for the winter is the lack of fresh air. In a room preserved for the winter, there is no air circulation, as a result of which fungus and mold can be found on the polycarbonate walls in the spring.

During heavy snowfalls, roof collapse is possible. As you can see, greenhouse structures require proper care even in winter. If it is not possible to be nearby, then it is necessary to periodically visit the summer cottage to clear the roof of snow accumulation and ventilate the room.

Reviews from gardeners

Olga, Novokuznetsk

A very necessary gadget for a greenhouse. The windows open automatically when the temperature in the greenhouse rises to 30 degrees. You can easily leave plants for a week without fear of them “burning” from the heat, especially if you also use an automatic watering system.

Source: otzovik.com

Victor, Ekaterinburg

I recommended it to my neighbors. They, poor people, came every morning to open the Butterfly greenhouse. In the evening they came to close it. We bought a DusyaSan machine and now they only come on weekends. Satisfied! I recommend it to everyone. Saving on gasoline and peace of mind for the seedlings!

Source: otzovik.com

How and how to shade a greenhouse in hot weather?

On a hot summer day, when the temperature outside exceeds 30 degrees, and the sunlight makes the heat deadly, the temperature inside the greenhouse can “go off scale” over 50 degrees. This can lead to the death of plants. Therefore, there is a desire to shade the greenhouse. This can be done in many ways. You can throw some kind of covering material, such as gauze, over the greenhouse and attach the edges to the ground so that it does not blow away in the wind. You can fix such material inside. But there is a simpler and more original method of shading, which we spotted in Turkey. You need to “whiten” the greenhouse by spraying it with chalk solutions. But you should not use any substances that can damage polycarbonate. When the heat subsides, you can clean your greenhouse by spraying it with a hose.

Why is it important to control temperature?

The answer to this question is obvious, since each plant has its own requirements for growing conditions. The temperature regime here will not be an exception, but on the contrary, it is decisive for a healthy and good harvest in the future.

Proof of these words can be seen in your own garden, or better yet, in the field, where in the same area different plants with the same weather conditions react differently. Some feel great in hot weather, while others dry out and require additional help. Or on cloudy, rainy days, some crops grow much faster, and some begin to rot.

Therefore, even in an open area, shaded or sunny open areas are chosen for various plants. And in a greenhouse, the issue of adjustment becomes even more acute, since you need to do it yourself.

How can you regulate it?

Knowing what temperature a particular plant needs and why it is important is not enough to get started. You also need to know how to create these conditions and how to act in emergency situations.

The most expensive but effective method is an automatic adjustment system. It allows a person to save a lot of time and effort. Therefore, if you have the funds, you should use it.

But even this method will not be able to protect against all the dangers associated with a sharp increase or decrease in temperature. This happens when there is a strong hot wind or after prolonged rain.

Several adjustment methods to increase the temperature:

1. At night, the greenhouse can be additionally covered with another layer of film. But the distance between the layers should be from 2 to 5 cm. This will create an air cushion that will help maintain the temperature inside and even raise it by 2ºC.
2. The second method is based on building another small removable greenhouse inside the greenhouse above the plants. It is covered with perforated film and supported on any flexible base: wire, flexible fittings, vine. It is important to consider that it can be ventilated.
3. The last method is mulching the beds. Here you can use grass or covering material. But the mulch must be dark in color to attract sunlight.

Several adjustment methods to lower the temperature:

• Even at the stage of building a greenhouse, there is no need to get carried away with large sizes, especially length. It's better to make two small ones than one huge one.
• In a greenhouse made of polycarbonate or any other material, it is necessary to provide ventilation on the gables. This can help reduce the temperature by 10ºC at the right time.
• Spraying the greenhouse with a chalk solution helps reduce the temperature: 2 kg per 10 liters of water and add 0.3-0.4 kg of milk. Or water the plants abundantly in the morning.
• You can use special frost screens. They can reduce the temperature during the day by 3ºC. Or they also use white shields to reflect the sun's rays.

The main thing is not to get carried away with either increasing or decreasing the temperature, as this can cause additional problems from burns to wilting and disease.