Everything you need to know about watering tomatoes in open ground

Tomato is the most popular vegetable that is grown in vegetable gardens and greenhouses by vegetable growers in different Russian regions. It is important not only to choose the right varieties for growing in a particular area and the best place to plant them, but also to provide these cultivated plants with the necessary care at all stages of their development.

One of the important stages of caring for tomato bushes is watering. At the same time, you need to know how often and with what kind of water these vegetable plants are watered, whether it is possible to combine watering with the application of fertilizers, how to water tomatoes from the moment of growing seedlings until harvesting. Tomatoes are particularly sensitive to high air humidity. And if it dries out quickly in garden beds, then in greenhouse conditions you will have to work hard to significantly reduce this figure.

Basic rules and methods of watering

When growing tomatoes, it is very important to follow the basic rules of watering, since at different stages of tomato development they require different amounts of water. Typically, moisture is applied to these vegetable plants at intervals of one to two days. More frequent watering will cause the tomatoes to grow mushy.

You should also not water the tomato bushes in small portions of water throughout the day. As a result, the plants will get used to receiving water often, but little by little; their roots will be close to the surface of the earth and select moisture only in the top layer of soil. And if for some reason watering becomes less frequent in the future, the plants will quickly take all the water out of the soil and begin to dry out.

If watering is rare - once every 6-8 days, then this will become an incentive for tomatoes to more actively increase the length of the root system. It will quickly begin to grow deep into the soil to extract moisture from there. This will be a plus when growing tomatoes in sandy or sandy loam soil - such soil quickly heats up under the sun's rays, so the deeper the roots go into the soil, the less they suffer from the heat. And in heavy clay soils at depth it is much colder, so the roots there can be affected by fungal diseases.

In addition, when watering, you must adhere to the following water requirements:

• for watering adult bushes and tomato seedlings, ideally you should use melt or rain water;
• for irrigation you need to use settled water, tap water is not suitable due to the presence of special impurities in it, it is better to boil it before use;
• the temperature of irrigation water should be above +21०С, and cold water can provoke the development of fungal diseases;
• In order for the applied fertilizers to be most effective, they must be diluted with water and applied under the tomatoes along with watering;
• it is important that there is no deficiency of iodine in the soil, which helps fight pathogenic microorganisms;
• To prevent drops of moisture from falling on the vegetative parts of plants when watering, it is necessary to use convenient containers for watering;

• drops of moisture can be lenses that enhance the effect of the sun's rays.

Watering tomato bushes can be done in various ways, using convenient containers.

Under the root or along the leaf?

Tomatoes are usually watered only at the root. In this case, you need to ensure that drops of moisture do not fall on the foliage or stems - this can lead to the development of fungal diseases. Usually, unmulched beds with tomatoes need to be watered using a watering can with a sprayer so that the soil around the bushes does not erode during watering. If there is a layer of mulch in the root zone of this vegetable crop, then watering can be carried out over it, without trying to get strictly “under the root”.

But you cannot water tomatoes on the foliage, as this can lead to the development of various fungal diseases. The only reason why tomatoes can be sprinkled is if the humidity in the greenhouse is too low (below 40%).

Hose

Tomato beds are usually watered using hoses or watering cans on small private farms. At the same time, it is very easy to water the plants strictly at the roots, without getting on the leaves or shoots.

But watering from a hose has a serious drawback - the water coming out of it is cold, which negatively affects the root system of young tomatoes. And only in mature plants the roots become strong and can easily withstand watering with cold water. In addition, with this type of watering, it is impossible to control the volume of liquid that is poured onto the beds, the soil is heavily washed out, and the plants may be watered unevenly.

Many gardeners first pour water into large metal barrels and leave them to warm up in the sun. And then the heated, settled water is poured into a watering can and the tomato bushes are watered.

Through a plastic bottle

Drip irrigation of tomato beds can be done using two or five-liter plastic bottles. To do this, cut off the bottom and remove the lids. Then the bottles are turned over and pushed with their necks into the ground up to their shoulders near the tomato bushes.

Then water is poured into the bottle, which will gradually seep into the soil, gradually moistening it. At the same time, the top layer of soil will remain dry, so the plants will not be affected by late blight and other fungal diseases. And the bottled water will be heated in the sun, so it will reach the soil at the required temperature.

In addition, the top layer of soil with this type of watering will not be moistened, so it will not have to be loosened regularly, breaking the dry crust on the surface.

Into the hole

Some vegetable growers make holes around the bushes, into which watering is carried out from any containers. This method is quite convenient, since you can water the plants from a hose, watering can or any other device without getting into the vegetative mass of the tomato. And the water is evenly distributed throughout the hole, which is made approximately along the diameter of the vegetative mass of the bush; as a result, the roots are moistened all at the same time.

Arychny

Ditch irrigation is something between drip irrigation and watering into holes. In this case, tomatoes are planted in two rows in the beds, the tomatoes are hilled, and a ditch like a ditch appears between the rows. A layer of straw is laid out in it, where a hose is placed to water the tomatoes.

Such a ditch is filled with moisture in about 20 minutes, after which the hose is transferred to the next ditch-deepening. And in this way all the beds with tomatoes are watered - and this method of watering is one of the easiest and simplest.

Drip irrigation

Drip irrigation is the most convenient irrigation system not only for tomatoes, but also for other vegetable crops. At the same time, water is used sparingly, is not spent on irrigating weeds, and does not fall on the leaf blades and stems. Therefore, the risk of fungal diseases appearing on tomatoes is reduced. Another advantage of such irrigation is that fertilizers can be added to the soil along with watering.

A drip irrigation system can be purchased at a specialized store, or you can make it yourself. Ideas for such irrigation can be found on the Internet.

But still, despite all the advantages of this type of irrigation, not all vegetable growers install it on their plot. The fact is that at the stage of purchasing pipes and all the necessary mechanisms for installing drip irrigation, the summer resident has to spend a lot of money. And although this system quickly pays for itself in the future, the initial investment can be too large.

And it is best to arrange such irrigation in greenhouse conditions, then watering will be carried out without the participation of the vegetable grower. But at the same time, the level of soil and air humidity will be optimal, and the plants will regularly receive the required amount of moisture, so they will actively develop and bear fruit.

Automatic watering

It is also convenient to install automatic watering in the tomato beds. However, this method is expensive, so it is usually used when growing tomatoes on an industrial scale, when the irrigation area is too large, so watering the plants using other methods will be too labor-intensive.

Types of irrigation organization

How to water tomatoes in a greenhouse? There are several ways to organize watering tomatoes in a greenhouse:

Manual

This method is most suitable for small buildings . Using simple devices - watering cans or hoses - water is poured strictly to the root .

When watering with a hose, water often comes from a well and a water supply system, so there is a danger of hypothermia of the roots . The disadvantage of watering with a hose is the inability to control the amount of liquid per plant.

It is more advisable to organize manual watering from a watering can with settled water . To do this, it is better to place a barrel next to the greenhouse, which is filled with water in advance to heat it.

ATTENTION. If a barrel of water is placed directly in the greenhouse, be sure to cover it with a lid or plastic wrap. An open container of water in a greenhouse creates excessive air humidity, which is harmful for tomatoes.

Drip

Its organization is effective in large greenhouses , since manual watering in this case requires a lot of time and effort. It is better to simplify it by building a drip irrigation system in the greenhouse. The advantages of such irrigation are obvious:

• water goes directly to the roots without evaporating from the surface and without increasing air humidity;
• eliminates the risk of water droplets getting on the leaves, stems and flowers of plants;
• watering can be carried out at any convenient time;
• the soil is not washed away and does not become salty.

In order to organize drip irrigation of tomatoes, a special system is installed in the greenhouse to ensure the flow of moisture through special pipes to the roots . Such a system can be purchased ready-made in specialized stores or installed independently. The advantage of such watering is the additional possibility of fertilizing plants.

If it is not possible to build a drip irrigation system, you can use a very original and simple method - drip watering tomatoes in a greenhouse using plastic bottles. To do this, bottles with holes are dug into the ground next to the tomato bushes with their necks upside down. Water is poured into a bottle and gradually flows through small holes to the roots. Since one tomato plant in a greenhouse requires up to 5 liters per watering, it is better to use plastic bottles of the appropriate size.

Another option for homemade drip irrigation is to dig a tube into the ground, onto which the bottle is placed upside down. A hole is made in the bottom to fill in water. The filled bottle gradually delivers water through the tube to the roots.

Auto

Most often, this method is used in industrial greenhouses , since at the household level its cost is too high. But if the owner can afford such a structure on his site, then its use is most optimal .

What water to water

Usually, tomato bushes in garden beds or in greenhouse conditions are watered with settled warm water at a temperature of about 22-24°C. Watering with colder water can cause late blight to develop on tomato bushes.

Typically, water for irrigation is preheated in the sun in any sufficiently large container. When the water overheats too much, it should not be used for irrigation either - it must first be diluted to reduce the temperature to the optimal one.

Many vegetable growers collect rainwater, which is considered the best for watering vegetable crops in their beds.

What kind of watering do tomatoes like?

Most of all, tomatoes like underground and drip watering, which you can very easily do yourself using plastic bottles. In the place where one of the irrigations is used, the harvest will be many times better. In addition, tomatoes will not get blossom-end rot if you water them this way. If you add a little ash to the water, the fruits will grow better and hurt less. For 10 l. add a few pinches of water. For better plant productivity, sprinkle ash on the ground around them. If you notice a dense crust on the soil, you need to loosen the soil. Typically, such a crust forms soon after watering or rain. But you won’t have to do this after every watering if you place the cut grass around the tomato bushes.

Signs of excess and lack of moisture for tomatoes

Excess moisture in the soil is also harmful to tomato bushes, as is its lack.

If after watering the soil is constantly too wet, this will negatively affect the condition of the tomato bushes:

• the root system of plants will begin to rot;
• other fungal diseases may appear;
• ripening fruits burst.

If there is a lack of water in the soil:

• bushes slow down growth and development;
• the foliage begins to curl inward;
• the emerging ovaries begin to fall off;
• the process of photosynthesis stops.

Therefore, it is so important to add moisture to the tomato bushes in a certain volume so as not to harm the plants.

Watering tomato seedlings

Watering seedlings depends on the quality of the seedlings, the quality of the soil and the weather. Tomato seedlings are watered every day for 7-10 days. As soon as the seedlings have strengthened and begun to grow, you need to carefully and shallowly loosen the soil.

You should alternate watering with loosening approximately 3 after 3, that is, they watered, after 3 days they loosened, then after 3 days they watered again, etc., until the tomato bushes become strong and tall.

Watering seedlings is carried out as follows:

• At the initial stage, moderate watering is needed, about a teaspoon of water per plant;

• Before planting seedlings, water the prepared holes abundantly;
• If the seedlings are hardened, then they do not need to be shaded, but should be watered once a day. For such seedlings, 2 to 3 liters of water per hole will be sufficient;
• It is better to water the seedlings in the morning, before the sun begins to shine;
• If the watered soil has dried out during the day, you can water it in the evening before sunset with 1 to 2 liters of water per hole. In this way, moisture will be retained in the root system.

But the seedlings cannot be flooded, as the soil will become dense and there will be no access to oxygen, which is why it will begin to wither.

note

If, a day after watering, the soil is damp or compacted, then you need to reduce the amount of water.

If the tomato seedlings are not hardened, then they simply need to be shaded from both the sun and the wind. For this you can use agrofibre, spunbond or shading mesh.

Shading is done all the time until the seedlings get stronger.

Such seedlings need to be watered in the evening and in the morning, up to 2 liters of water per hole in clear weather, and in cloudy weather you can get by with a one-time watering in the evening.

In addition, a solution of potassium permanganate can be added to the water.

Air humidity

When growing tomatoes in garden beds, there is no need to regulate the level of air humidity - it changes under the influence of wind and other weather conditions. But in a greenhouse this indicator needs to be regulated, since the humidity in closed ground can rise sharply after watering.

The optimal level of air humidity in greenhouse conditions or in film greenhouses when growing tomatoes there is about 55% (or slightly higher). If the humidity is too low, sprinkling can be used. If the humidity level is too high, then the greenhouse should be ventilated. Otherwise, fungal diseases may develop on the plants.

When to water?

When and how often to water tomatoes in a greenhouse? Gardeners do not have a unanimous opinion on this issue, but it is still recommended to focus on weather conditions and the structural features of your greenhouse.

If the weather outside is warm and dry , then watering time does not matter. Especially if you do it carefully and the possibility of sunburn of the leaves is excluded. It is better to water in the afternoon , since the water is already quite warm by this hour, whereas in the morning it is still cool.

Watering late in the evening is also not recommended . Because a greenhouse closed at night creates excess air humidity, and this is harmful for tomatoes.

If watering is carried out in the evening , long-term ventilation of the greenhouse is required after it so that excess moisture evaporates and the tomatoes remain healthy.

In damp and cool weather , it is better to water the tomatoes before noon, so that the space is well ventilated during the day and excess moisture evaporates from the air.

IMPORTANT. No matter what time you perform the procedure. Leave the windows and doors open after it. If you close the greenhouse immediately after watering, the excess moisture in the air will encourage the development of fungus.

Proper organization of watering tomatoes when growing them in a greenhouse will allow you to get a large harvest of healthy and tasty fruits.

Watering frequency depending on weather conditions

The frequency of watering tomato bushes directly depends on the weather conditions in the region where they are grown. And vegetable growers need to know how often to moisten the beds with tomatoes in the heat, during rains or in normal weather.

Normal weather

In normal weather, tomato bushes are watered 1-2 times a week. At the same time, up to 5 liters of water should be added to each bush of low-growing varieties. Up to 10 liters of moisture are added to the root zone of indeterminate tomatoes.

Important! The water temperature should be the same as the soil temperature.

To determine whether the beds with tomatoes are sufficiently moistened, you need to dig the soil in the root zone to a depth of 8-10 cm and squeeze a lump of earth in your hand. If the soil sticks together and then crumbles easily, then the soil is sufficiently moistened.

After each watering, it is recommended to loosen the root zone of tomato bushes in order to remove the dry crust that forms on the surface - it does not allow air and moisture to penetrate to the roots.

Watering in hot weather

In hot weather, you need to water tomato bushes more often - once every two days, but you can do it more often. The main thing is that the soil is constantly moist. To prevent moisture from evaporating quickly, after watering the root zone is mulched with a layer of dry grass, sawdust or humus. The thickness of such a layer should be 4-5 cm.

Also, in hot weather, watering is carried out in the early morning or evening, strictly at the root, so that drops of moisture do not remain on the foliage or shoots of tomato bushes.

It is also important to loosen the soil after watering, and only then lay out a layer of mulch. Mulch prevents the rapid evaporation of moisture from the soil, and also prevents the growth of weeds, which take up nutrients from the soil.

Watering in rainy weather

In rainy weather, reduce the amount of watering of tomatoes so that moisture does not stagnate in the soil. Excess moisture in the soil can lead to the development of fungal diseases. Therefore, after rains, it is recommended to spray tomato bushes with copper-containing preparations to reduce the risk of pathogenic fungi appearing on the green mass.

Also, you should not water tomatoes in rainy weather in the evenings, since in cool weather excess moisture can provoke the development of fungal diseases.

Do I need to water tomatoes in cold weather?

If tomatoes are grown in greenhouse conditions, then the air temperature does not affect the volume and frequency of watering these vegetable plants - they need to be watered as usual. The only note is that it is better to water during the day so that the irrigation water has time to warm up.

But in open ground everything is different. If the water for irrigation is cold, it will cool the roots of the plants, which will lead to a slowdown in metabolism in the tissues. This can trigger the development of diseases in tomatoes.

Therefore, when the air temperature drops, the volume of watering and its quantity are sharply reduced until it stops completely until the weather warms up again.

How often should you water tomatoes in garden beds?

When watering tomatoes in open ground, it is necessary to take into account weather conditions: air temperature, amount of precipitation. Tomatoes are able to absorb a small part of moisture from the atmosphere, but the main share comes to the plants through the roots, so root watering of the crop cannot be replaced by anything.

In dry soil, tomatoes cannot fully absorb nutrients.

The yield of tomatoes directly depends on the amount of moisture received. But it is important to remember a sense of proportion; the culture cannot tolerate either excess or shortage of water. With sufficient moisture, plants can more easily tolerate high temperatures - by evaporating moisture through the leaves, tomatoes cool themselves. Excessive watering increases the risk of developing fungal diseases and leads to cracking of the fruit. Vegetables become watery and tasteless.

How many times

Experienced gardeners already know that tomatoes prefer rare but abundant watering. If the bushes lack moisture, this will be clear from their appearance. The leaves will droop and become darker in color.

It is strictly not recommended to water tomatoes frequently, but in small doses.

On average, experts advise adhering to the following regimen:

• in moderately warm, dry weather, tomatoes in an open garden bed are watered 1-2 times a week;
• during prolonged rains, watering is completely excluded;
• if it is hot and dry, the soil needs to be moistened every other day, as soon as the top layer of soil is dry.

On a note! Watering of low-growing varieties is reduced at the stage of fruit filling, and before harvesting tomatoes it is completely stopped. This rule does not apply to tall tomatoes; their watering should be uniform at all stages of plant development.

Care after watering

After each watering or rain, the soil in the root zone of tomatoes requires special care. The fact is that a dry crust immediately forms on the surface of the earth, which prevents air and moisture from penetrating the soil to the plant roots. Therefore, after watering, the root zone of tomato bushes is loosened to remove this dry crust. At the same time, it is necessary to remove all weeds from the beds along with the roots - harmful insects and their larvae can hide in it.

How to water tomatoes correctly? Let's discover the secrets of a rich tomato harvest!

Proper watering of tomatoes is not such a simple task as it initially seems. It has its own certain rules and features.

Tomatoes are native to South America, so they are comfortable where it is warm, with a lot of sun and moisture. Given the great love of tomatoes for moisture, you should be careful not to overdo it with watering. Due to the fact that tomatoes cannot tolerate either drought or excessive watering at the same time, you should be extremely careful with the latter. Watering should be done as the soil dries out. It is important to ensure that the soil does not dry out completely. If it doesn't rain, you need to water the tomatoes about once a week. But if the weather is rainy, then watering occurs less frequently or stops altogether. It is important that they have enough water from the moment the ovary appears until the end of the fruits themselves. The ovary will crumble, and the surviving tomatoes will be too small if they fall into a dry period. During the development of a tomato, its fruits may crack due to lack of water.

Signs of improper watering

It is very important to follow the basic rules for watering tomatoes, since a lack of moisture in the soil is just as destructive for them as its excess.

If the soil is too dry, the development of these vegetable plants will slow down, tomato bushes may be suppressed, their foliage will begin to turn yellow, and the fruits will become smaller. As a result, the yield rate will decrease.

If you water tomatoes too much, this will negatively affect the root system - it will begin to rot. In this case, the vegetative mass of tomatoes will grow too actively to the detriment of the formation of ovaries. Excess moisture in the soil also leads to cracking of ripening fruits.

How much water do you need

The rate of irrigation water consumption for tomatoes depends on several points:

• current weather conditions;
• type of soil. The duration of preservation of moisture in the soil depends on this;
• planting schemes;
• varieties;
• development phases;
• Is mulching used?
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The simplest method to determine whether a bush needs watering is an external inspection of the plants. If there is too little moisture, the leaf blades will be too dark, and during drought they will wither. If this happens, you need to urgently water it.

The most important phase of plant development, when it most needs water, is the stage of ovary formation and budding. If there has been a drought outside all week, then you should spend about 30-50 liters of liquid on one bush.

When the plant begins to bear fruit, it is also very important to ensure that the soil does not dry out. The water consumption rate should also be about 3-5 buckets per plant.

Frequency of watering at different stages of the growing season

Tomatoes at different stages of their development need to be watered at different frequencies, since they will require different amounts of water at the stage of growing seedlings or in other cases.

Watering tomato seedlings

After the tomato seed material is placed in containers with soil, the surface of the soil is regularly sprayed with water from a spray bottle and then covered with film to create a greenhouse effect inside. In this case, the seeds will germinate much faster.

After the sprouts have sprung up, the film is removed and the plants are watered once every 3-4 days. Water for irrigation should be settled at a temperature of about 22-23 degrees Celsius.

Some gardeners boil water and then dilute it with cold water to obtain moisture at the desired temperature. However, during the boiling process, water loses the oxygen needed by plants, so it is better to simply let the moisture sit at room temperature so that it warms up to the desired level.

Watering after planting in the ground

When transplanting tomato seedlings to a permanent location, pour 3-4 liters of water into the planting holes, then plant the seedlings and water the plants again. Then the soil around the tomato bushes is mulched.

After planting the seedlings in a permanent place, they should not be watered for 1-1.5 weeks. And then young plants are watered once every 6-8 days, or more often as the soil dries out. Apply 4-5 liters of water to each bush.

Watering during active growth

During the period of active growth of green mass, tomatoes especially need moisture, since the growth and development of plants depends on its amount. Watering is carried out in the early morning or evening with warm, settled water strictly at the root, while drops of moisture should not fall on the leaf plates.

During this period, tomatoes need to be watered depending on weather conditions - more often in hot weather, less often in rainy weather, but on average, at least 3 liters of water are added to each tomato bush twice a week.

Watering tomatoes during flowering

During the flowering period of tomatoes, it is especially important to ensure that irrigation water does not fall on the foliage and flowers, since sprinkling causes flowers to fall off and the formation of ovaries slows down.

And with increased air humidity, tomato bushes can be affected by fungal diseases. Therefore, the volume of water when watering a tomato during flowering is reduced to 1-2 liters.

Watering during fruiting

During fruiting, tomatoes should be watered up to 2 times a week, spending up to 12 liters of moisture per square area. And up to 5 liters of moisture are added to each bush, depending on weather conditions and soil moisture.

If watering was skipped and the soil dried out, then the amount of moisture should be reduced to 1 liter for each plant. Otherwise, the tomatoes may fall off or burst, and the tomato itself will be vulnerable to pathogenic fungi.

About a couple of weeks before the mass harvest, watering of tomatoes is stopped so that ripe tomatoes do not burst.

Presentation of requirements for water resources

Prepare the water that is subsequently poured over the tomatoes in advance. The kind poured from the tap is harmful to plants. Cold and hard liquid is not suitable for irrigation. Otherwise, the tomato bushes begin to hurt. Before watering, the water substance must settle for 24 hours.

In summer, it is necessary to maintain the optimal temperature of the liquid. Suitable for irrigation is 18-degree water. In hot weather, the water can be heated to 24-26 degrees above zero. Pour the liquid strictly under the root, being careful not to get on the stem and leaves. Otherwise, the plants may get burned or break under the weight of the water.

Watering tomatoes in a greenhouse

Tomatoes growing in greenhouse conditions should be watered more abundantly than in garden beds. Typically, for one watering, at least 2 buckets of water are added to each square of the greenhouse area. However, such abundant watering leads to an increase in soil and air moisture in the greenhouse, and this increases the risk of fungal diseases.

Tomatoes like the soil to be constantly moist, and the air humidity to be 45-60%, but even constant ventilation of the greenhouse cannot provide such air humidity. Therefore, many vegetable growers install drip irrigation in greenhouses. In this case, the top layer of soil will remain dry, which will provide the necessary air humidity, and the soil near the roots will be constantly moist.

If it is not possible to arrange drip irrigation in the greenhouse, then you can install inverted plastic bottles with the bottom cut off near each tomato bush, through which you need to pour water into them. This method of watering will also provide the plants with regular and even watering.

Features of the microclimate of greenhouses

Before determining how often and correctly to water tomatoes in a greenhouse, let’s look at the features of the microclimate created inside greenhouses.

Air humidity in summer is approximately 60-80% . The exception is too hot and dry periods, when humidity drops to 40% . In this case, hot weather can alternate with rain, and then the humidity reaches 90% .

If watering in a greenhouse is improper, these indicators can be even higher, and this is detrimental to tomatoes. A feature of this crop is its requirement for moisture in the soil , but it prefers dry air for the successful development of the above-ground part. These are the conditions that need to be provided to tomatoes in the greenhouse with proper watering.

Both too much and too little watering are harmful to tomatoes . If there is too much moisture in the soil, the roots are unable to absorb it and begin to rot. Lack of moisture leads to active dehydration of foliage, and plants can overheat and die.

IMPORTANT. If you notice that the tomato leaves have begun to curl along the central vein, it means they lack moisture.

Watering tomatoes in open ground

The regularity of watering tomatoes in garden beds depends primarily on weather conditions. Indeed, for this garden crop, too much moisture in the soil and overdrying of the soil are equally harmful. The first sign of soil drying out in tomato beds is premature yellowing of the leaf blades. Therefore, tomato bushes, when grown in garden beds, are watered as the top layer of soil dries out.

Typically, tomatoes in beds are watered once every 3-4 days, adding up to 5 liters of water to each plant.

It is best to water tomatoes in garden beds with rainwater, which contains the optimal amount of oxygen and minerals and is also of medium hardness. But such moisture cannot be used if the garden plot is located near industrial enterprises or in other environmentally polluted areas, where the water may contain salts of heavy metals and other toxic substances. These substances enter the ripening fruits with water and poison them.

The importance of proper watering

How well tomatoes will grow on your plot depends on their nutrition. Of course, the best way to deliver nutrients to them is in the form of solutions, so watering rules become especially important.

The method of watering from plastic bottles will help provide tomatoes with moisture when the owner of the garden cannot be on the site every day

In general, the irrigation rate in each case is set differently depending on the growing conditions. However, there are optimal conditions for the growth and development of tomatoes that need to be taken into account. Air humidity should be in the range of 45-50%, and soil moisture 85-90%.

It is fairly easy to check these conditions manually. At a shallow depth, a piece of earth is picked up and rolled around with your fingers. If a lump forms easily and quickly and is destroyed by light pressure with your fingers, then everything is correct.

Why is it so important to keep balance? Everything is very simple. If there is too much moisture in the soil, tomatoes will begin to lose their sugar content and become watery. This will create excellent flora for the proliferation of various bacteria and fungi. Cracks will appear on the fruits, and the fruits themselves will begin to fall off. Over-dried soil will not lead to good either. The buds and ovaries will begin to crumble, cracks will again appear in the fruits, and there will be a threat of blossom end rot.

Watering tomatoes on the balcony

For growing on the balcony, certain varieties of tomatoes are selected - short, compact with a not very branched root system. For example, the tomato variety “Thumbelina”. Also for growing you will need low, long containers that are filled with a nutrient substrate.

It is recommended to first soak the seeds for germination and only then plant them in containers.

Seedlings and young seedlings are watered little by little, but often, so that the soil in the containers remains constantly moist. As soon as the seedlings grow, they are hardened off by opening a window in the room. The grown plants are transferred to the balcony, where in the first weeks the windows need to be shaded and the temperature maintained around 19-20 degrees Celsius.

Once the plants have acclimatized to the new location, the shading should be removed. Tomatoes are watered as the soil dries; after watering, the root zone of the bushes is carefully and carefully loosened.

By the time of active fruiting, the number and volume of watering of tomatoes is reduced so that the soil is slightly dry. Also, during the growth and fruiting process of tomatoes grown on balconies, they should be fed with fertilizers, and windows should be opened to attract pollinating insects.

Advice from experienced gardeners

Experienced gardeners know how to water correctly and get not only a rich, but also tasty tomato harvest. When organizing watering for tomatoes, certain conditions should be taken into account:

1. In order for the frequency and abundance of watering to be correct, weather conditions are of no small importance: during the hot period, moistening should be carried out more often, in rains or cold weather - less often.
2. The timing of the procedure also plays an important role. It is best to irrigate after lunch. This way, the water will evaporate less and will have time to warm up before watering.
3. Don't water your tomatoes too late. The temperature inside the greenhouse decreases, as a result of which the humidity can increase, which provokes the appearance of fungal diseases. If it is not possible to water at other times, then after irrigation you should open the greenhouse for ventilation.
4. If the weather is cold and rainy and the tomatoes need watering, then it is better to perform the procedure in the first half of the day. This way, the moisture will be evenly distributed throughout the greenhouse and will have time to evaporate before the evening, which will prevent an increase in the overall humidity.
5. Regardless of the time of watering, it is recommended to open windows and doors in the greenhouse, which will ensure that humidity is maintained.

By familiarizing yourself with the frequency, methods, and tips on when to stop watering tomatoes in a greenhouse, you will be able to achieve good and proper development of plants. Regardless of the chosen watering method, the condition of tomato bushes must be constantly monitored. Competent and timely actions will allow you to grow a good harvest, which will be enough not only for the summer, but also for preparing food for the winter.

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Combining watering with fertilizing

In the process of growing tomatoes, it is important not only to water in a timely manner and collect ripening tomatoes, but also to fertilize the tomato bushes. Regularly applied fertilizers allow tomatoes to receive the necessary nutrients for development and fruiting constantly. The yield of tomatoes directly depends on the amount of fertilizer.

Fertilizers are diluted in water and fertilized at the roots. Typically, any fertilizers are applied after watering so as not to burn the delicate root system of tomatoes. The following substances are usually used to feed tomatoes:

• potassium permanganate;
• mash;
• kvass;
• curdled milk;
• wood ash solution;
• eggshells;
• compost;
• bird droppings.

All these substances can be spread dry on the surface of the soil, or you can infuse them for several days with water, then filter, dilute and fertilize the tomatoes simultaneously with watering.

Any vegetable grower can find similar preparations. But you can also use chemicals to feed tomatoes. For example, prepare a solution of superphosphate according to the instructions and apply it under the tomato bushes. You can also use vermicompost to feed these vegetable plants, which will not only become a source of nutrients for tomatoes, but also improve the composition of the soil.

In order to strengthen the immunity of plants and increase their resistance to attacks by pathogenic microorganisms and harmful insects, tomato bushes should be treated with Bordeaux mixture or diluted aspirin.

The most effective remedy against pathogenic fungi is Trichopolum, which copes well with pathogens without causing harm to cultivated plants.

In order to strengthen tomato bushes, it is recommended to apply Zdraven fertilizer under them. It is available in liquid form and is easily diluted with water.

Any type of fertilizer saturates tomatoes with all the necessary nutrients, activates the growth and development of plants, and improves the taste of the fruit. And fertilizers in liquid form simultaneously moisten the soil and add nutrients to it.

How to control humidity

When growing tomatoes, you need to monitor the plants and respond in time to changes in their condition. Lack of moisture manifests itself as follows:

• tomato leaves curl inward. This happens when the plant tries to reduce moisture loss;
• there is a stop in the development of bushes, there are no ovaries;
• in most cases, the leaves are small, irregular in shape, the flowers or ovary fall off;
• with severe lack of moisture, the leaves turn yellow. If no action is taken, they begin to fall off;
• The fruits develop slowly, the taste is low (tart, bitter), the plants become sick.

Excess moisture is indicated by:

• the leaves are twisted in the opposite direction, trying to increase the area of ​​evaporation;
• leaf blades lose their original appearance, fade, and sometimes fall off;
• the underground part rots;
• the fruits crack and become saturated with water, which negatively affects the taste.

Water consumption rate when watering tomatoes

During the growth, development and fruiting of tomatoes, the rate of water consumption changes, and the amount of watering also changes.

As they grow, tomato seedlings are watered once every 3-4 days, and after transplanting to a permanent place, before flowering begins, the bushes are watered once every 6-8 days, adding 4-5 liters of water to each plant.

During flowering, to prevent the buds from falling off, water is applied strictly at the root of the tomatoes, and no more than 2 liters of moisture are added to each plant.

During fruiting, the volume of watering is increased again and 3-5 liters of moisture are added to each tomato bush, or 6-12 liters for each square of area.

About a couple of weeks before harvesting tomatoes, it is necessary to stop watering if the rainy season begins, or significantly reduce it. Otherwise, ripe tomatoes may burst.

Watering is important at all stages of the life of tomatoes - from growing seedlings to harvesting. But although tomatoes perceive soil moisture in the beds well, they do not perceive increased air humidity well. Therefore, it is so important to carry out regular ventilation when growing this vegetable crop in greenhouse conditions and other measures to reduce the humidity there to the optimum (about 50%).

Watering and fertilizing tomatoes

Many fertilizers, including organic ones, are quite aggressive and can burn fragile plant roots. Therefore, it is advisable to combine fertilizing with watering. And in some cases this is a prerequisite, for example, if you add bird droppings to the beds.

• Fertilize trees and shrubs with chicken droppings

  Bird droppings are a valuable organic fertilizer. You just need to know exactly how, when and in what form to use it in the garden.

Watering tomatoes with iodine

Experienced gardeners believe that feeding tomatoes with iodine can speed up the ripening of fruits and protect plants from late blight. The simplest recipe is to dissolve 4 drops of an alcohol solution of iodine in 10 liters of water and water the tomatoes at a rate of no more than 2 liters per bush.

Also, in order to combat late blight, you can add 1 liter of skim milk and 15 drops of iodine to 10 liters of water and spray the plants with this solution no more than once every 2 weeks.

• Several folk ways of using iodine in the country

  We'll tell you how to use iodine in your garden beds.

Watering tomatoes with yeast

You can feed tomatoes with yeast a week after transplanting into the ground. For this, 100 g of dry yeast and 2 tbsp. sugar is dissolved in 10 liters of warm (25-30°C) water. After two hours, this mixture is diluted with 50 liters of water and no more than 0.5 liters of solution is poured under one bush. Repeated feeding is carried out after the bush has rooted and before flowering.

• How to feed yeast to plants in the garden, vegetable garden and flower garden

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• How to feed tomatoes that grow poorly

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Watering tomatoes with mullein

Mullein is diluted with water in a ratio of 1:20 and the tomatoes are fed 10 days after planting in the ground. This organic fertilizer can be re-applied no earlier than after 10-14 days. You can also feed your green pets twice during the period of fruit formation. Under one bush, previously watered abundantly with water, add 0.5 liters of solution, after which the plants are watered again.

• Mullein is an indispensable fertilizer for the garden and vegetable garden.

  It is difficult to find a more versatile and useful fertilizer than mullein. Read the article about how to prepare it and where to use it.

Watering tomatoes with ammonia

Ammonia is a nitrogenous compound that is sometimes used for root feeding and insect control. A pungent odor, which is not felt by humans after some time, repels pests for a long time.

Most often, 10 ml of ammonia is diluted in 1 bucket of water and the beds are watered up to 4 times for 2 weeks. When signs of nitrogen deficiency appear, seedlings are watered with a 2% ammonia solution in one of four regular waterings.

Watering peppers

How to water peppers correctly

Peppers have a shallow root system, so they require a lot of moisture.
Watering peppers in the greenhouse is carried out in the first half of the day. It is better to pour water from a watering can directly under the bush, moistening the ground by 10-15 centimeters. In hot, dry summers, peppers are watered every day so as to keep the soil under the plants moist but not flooded.

Under normal weather conditions, it is enough to water the peppers once a week, during the fruiting period - twice a week.

Water temperature for watering peppers

Watering water for peppers should always be warm, around 25°C. Cold water in a watering can can cause the roots to become overcooled. Then the bushes stop growing, and the timing of flowering and fruiting is delayed.

How to properly water tomatoes immediately after planting

At the very initial stage after planting, while the bushes have not yet taken root in the new place, they should not be watered at all. So, the water that was poured into the hole will be quite enough for the first time. The first watering should be carried out after 14 days. The procedure should be performed in the afternoon to minimize moisture loss (provided that the summer is very hot). Subsequent waterings should not be too frequent. Until the first flowers appear. You just need to lightly moisten the soil as it dries. To prevent fruit growth from stopping, you should always maintain a moisture balance. After all, sudden changes can cause the plant to stop growing.

Watering during growth and fruiting

If the tomato variety is short-growing or, on the contrary, tall, then watering should be carried out according to a slightly different scheme. At the fruiting stage, low bushes should not be watered too much, and before harvesting, stop watering altogether. This will allow you to achieve a high-quality and abundant harvest. There will be no cracks in the tomatoes, and the risk of “catching” late blight is reduced.

If the bushes are very tall, then they need to be watered every 5 days. At the same time, it is necessary to spend no more than 1 bucket of water on each bush. This will allow you to get large tomatoes in the future.

How to water during the flowering stage

When flower stalks appear on the bushes, watering must be significantly reduced. If you water too much, the plant may stop growing, and the green mass will become much larger. Consumption rates at this stage are 2-3 liters per bush.

How to water during extreme heat

When it is very hot outside, maintaining the humidity balance is quite difficult. This applies not only to the outdoor garden, but also to the greenhouse. It is always worth remembering such characteristics of plants as the fact that the root system of tomatoes goes quite deep into the ground.

A tomato is a plant that can simply rot if it is not provided with normal watering. In other words, it will simply pull its roots as deep as possible to find moisture, and all the nutrients will go into the root system.

Of course, such an “experiment” will cost you very much - you will simply lose your harvest. Therefore, remember to water your plantings twice a week during extreme heat. Not worth it anymore. But you need to water as much as possible.

How to improve watering efficiency on hot days

To increase the efficiency of watering in very hot weather, it is worth paying maximum attention to mulching. Moreover, it will help not only tomatoes that grow in the garden, but also greenhouse varieties.

If for some reason it is not possible to water the bushes in the evening, or the hot weather gives way to moderate coolness only after sunset, then you need to water the plants approximately 4-5 hours before sunset.

If there is enough moisture, then even on a very hot day the tomatoes will feel great. But the main thing here is to constantly monitor the moisture balance, otherwise the plants will begin to wither. This will be noticeable on the topmost leaves.