Do you think that simply pouring 5 or 7 liters of water on a tomato bush is enough for their normal growth and development? Systematicity, knowledge of the intricacies of gardening and watering rules are important here if you plan to eventually get a high-quality harvest of tomatoes. That’s why it’s so important to be aware of questions that often arise when caring for tomatoes, for example, whether you need to water tomatoes in August. After all, the answers on this matter are very ambiguous.
Theory and practice
- How often to water tomatoes during the ripening period largely depends on the appearance of the plants, as well as on the condition of the earthen coma. By observing your own plantings it will be easier to navigate; the following symptoms of lack of moisture should alert you:
- Plants stop growing, new shoots do not form, the stem and leaves lose turgor.
- The leaf blade turns yellow, dries out, and curls inward.
- The budding phase does not occur, there are many barren flowers, the ovaries fall off before they have time to ripen.
- A hard crust has formed on the surface of the earth and many deep cracks have appeared.
No less dangerous is an excess of moisture in the ground, which is determined by the following indicators:
- Frequent diseases and root rotting.
- Development of fungal infections on fruits.
- Tomatoes crack before they have time to ripen.
To prevent a sharp change in one direction or another, experienced vegetable growers advise sticking to a schedule: watering rarely, but abundantly, is better than often and little by little.
The effect of fertilizers on crop quality
Are you looking for a way to increase the shelf life and sweetness of fruits? Use fertilizers containing potassium and phosphorus , they have a good effect on the taste and product characteristics of the fruit:
- gives them sweetness and attractive appearance,
- increase shelf life.
But excess nitrogen in the soil will negatively affect the quality of tomatoes - their taste becomes watery and not brightly expressed.
Getting all the necessary nutrients at such an important stage as fruiting is simply necessary for tomatoes. Thanks to timely application of fertilizers, you can get a high yield of excellent quality.
Universal solution to the problem
On average, the following watering schemes are followed:
- The first abundant moisture is carried out 10...14 days after transplanting the seedlings into the ground, which allows the plant to calmly endure stress and take root well. Apply 3...4 liters of water under the bush, depending on the condition of the soil cover and the appearance of the tomatoes themselves. It is possible to combine watering and preventive treatment with fungicides.
- During the budding and flowering phase, more water is added than usual: weekly up to 5...6 liters per plant.
- At the stage of ovary formation and during the period of fruit ripening, a lot of moisture is also required: irrigation frequency is once every 1...1.5 weeks with a consumption of 8...10 liters of water per bush.
- Gradually reduce the rate of applied moisture, which will prepare for the complete exclusion of watering 2…3 weeks before harvest.
How to feed tomatoes in August using ready-made preparations and fertilizers
For fruit filling, it is best to fertilize tomatoes with the following preparations.
Sweet
Fertilizing stimulates fruit coloring. The tomatoes grow firm and sweet. Following the instructions, you need to prepare a solution and feed it by spraying the leaves and clusters with ripening fruits.
Brexil calcium
On hot summer days, tomatoes often lack calcium. A sure sign of a problem is rotting of the tops of the fruit. Adding the special drug “Brexil calcium” according to the instructions will help solve the problem.
Potassium sulfate
Sold in the form of granules that are dissolved in water.
You will need 20 grams of the drug per bucket of liquid. This product can be fertilized every seven days.
The whims of nature
How to water tomatoes during ripening under normal weather conditions (moderate temperatures and periodic rains) adhere to the following scheme: once a week, with a moisture consumption of 8 to 12 liters per bush. At the same time, light, insignificant rain is not a reason to skip the procedure as scheduled.
If the summer turns out to be rainy and the ground is well saturated with natural precipitation, the artificial irrigation schedule is changed: they water only during periods when the soil dries out completely, or they completely abandon additional moisture and even provide protective awnings for the tomatoes from rain and hail.
In hot weather, on the contrary, the intervals between procedures are shortened and watered more often: once every 3...5 days with a consumption of up to 10 liters of water per plant.
The effectiveness of the procedure increases if you combine watering with fertilizing. Particularly useful at the stage of fruit ripening is the potassium-phosphorus complex, as well as micronutrient supplements in readily available chelate form.
Getting rid of yellowed leaves
Yellowed foliage does not perform its main functions, so it must be removed regularly. If, in addition to yellowed leaves, there is foliage with traces of diseases, this must also be removed to prevent their spread. After the excess, yellowed and diseased leaves have been removed, the bushes can be treated with a phytosporin solution.
Tomatoes, like other garden crops, are susceptible to various diseases. The most common is late blight. Treatment of tomatoes against late blight is carried out at the moment when the plant is already affected, however, there are preventive measures that will prevent its occurrence.
Conditions by variety
The varietal characteristics of the species also influence how often to water tomatoes during ripening:
- Low-growing and dwarf (determinant) varieties “Aurora”, “Polar”, “Gavrosh”, “Varvara”, “Dubok”, “Gnome”, etc. – water with a gradual reduction in liquid volumes to prevent the development of fungi and prevent cracking of the fruit.
- Indeterminate (tall) varieties “Bolero”, “Esmira”, “Teorema”, “Cherry”, “President”, “Magnus”, etc. - are irrigated thoroughly and abundantly throughout the summer, since their development is cyclical and plants produce more than one harvest.
End of the season
There are two reasons to stop watering tomatoes:
- The plant is flooded with water (moisture is not absorbed into the soil, remaining as puddles in the holes) - in this case, the root zone is carefully loosened, and the plants are sprayed with any fungicidal preparation to prevent late blight.
- The fruits are fully ripe and can be harvested (the tomatoes have gained weight and acquired the color corresponding to the variety).
On average, watering is stopped approximately 14 days before harvest, when the tomatoes reach varietal maturity (fruits turn brown). At the same time, not only regular watering is canceled, but also fertilizing with fertilizers, which allows the fruits to accumulate the proper amount of nutrients (sugars, vitamins and minerals), which form a fragrant aroma and taste.
Caring for tomatoes in a greenhouse in June
June is a very hot month for tomatoes. They have an active phase of green mass growth and the appearance of the first ovaries. In June, it is very important to ensure that the plants do not have a lack of nutrients and that they develop normally. Be sure to loosen the soil often after watering. For these purposes, a tool such as a Fokina flat cutter is best suited. The soil should be loosened shallowly so as not to damage the upper roots of the tomato. When loosening, be sure to remove all weeds. It is very important to properly water and feed tomatoes.
Watering tomatoes
Tomatoes are moisture-loving plants, but do not tolerate too much air and soil humidity. Therefore, they should be watered in a timely manner, but not overdo it. In June, tomatoes are watered quite generously. At this time of year, as a rule, it is hot, there is little rain, and plants need a lot of nutrients, which enter the roots only in dissolved form, and for this they need water. In June, water the tomatoes as the soil dries out. As soon as the top layer is dry, water immediately.
Feeding tomatoes
In June, we must not forget about such a care measure as fertilizing. During this period, tomatoes very actively increase their green mass, and at the end of the month they begin to bloom and form ovaries.
In the first half of the month
emphasis should be placed on nitrogenous fertilizers. It is best to use urea as a fertilizer. To feed, add a tablespoon of urea to 10 liters of water, mix thoroughly and water all the plants.
In the second half of June, active flowering begins. In addition to nitrogen, tomatoes also need a large amount of potassium to form good ovaries.
Potassium fertilizers contribute to faster and better formation and growth of fruits. By adding potassium to the soil in time, you will greatly increase the productivity of your plants. It is best to use ordinary wood ash as a potassium fertilizer. It should be entered as follows. Small grooves are dug right along the roots of the tomato and ash is poured into them, then the grooves are buried and watered with water.
Greenhouse conditions
Growing tomatoes in indoor greenhouses and greenhouses is not much different from soil conditions, and even has its advantages. Thus, in a confined space it is easier to control the level of relative humidity. The fact is that tomatoes prefer to grow in damp soil, but do not like humid air. Regular ventilation allows you to maintain the parameter in the range of 60...70%, which is especially important for lovers of night irrigation.
Regular watering in the evening without proper ventilation and against the backdrop of a drop in air temperature at night to the optimal level of +18...20 °C significantly increases the risk of developing pathogenic microflora. Such plants often get sick and may even die completely.
In general, the scheme corresponds to the one described above and provides for watering once every 5...7 days with a consumption of 6 to 8 liters of water (in open ground, moisture evaporates faster due to weathering and exposure to the sun, so the consumption is somewhat higher).
Nuances of watering tomatoes
By following simple rules and relying on the advice of professionals, it is possible to better understand the issue of how to water tomatoes while the fruits are ripening and achieve colossal results:
- It is important to prepare the water for irrigation (keep it for at least a day in an open container in the middle of the site to eliminate caustic components, settle and warm up).
- It is impossible to use water directly from wells and boreholes, since it is too cold and the root system is not able to absorb it. The optimal temperature should be as close as possible to the ambient temperature (with an acceptable difference of 1...2 °C). I do not use water below +18 for watering tomatoes.
- Watering is carried out early in the morning (before 08.00) or in the evening (after 19.00) to avoid the dangerous effects of the sun, the rays of which can burn the delicate leaves of tomatoes.
- For large areas, the most convenient method is drip irrigation, and in small gardens you can get by with a hand-held watering can, but always with a nozzle for spraying a jet to prevent soil erosion.
- Watering is carried out directly under the root, avoiding moisture on the foliage, flowers and fruits, in order to reduce the risk of rotting and prevent the formation of burns.
- Watering and fertilizing procedures can be combined when using substances in dissolved form.
- Closed greenhouses and greenhouses must be ventilated, reducing the level of humidity in the air, but maintaining moisture in the soil.
- Regularly loosen the root zone in tomato beds immediately after abundant moisture (taking into account both artificial irrigation and natural precipitation).
- By covering the rows with mulch, you can significantly reduce the frequency of watering by preserving moisture under a loose layer of natural material (humus, peat, compost of rotted sawdust, mown grass, etc.). The thickness of the layer depends on the type of soil mixture in the beds (higher - up to 4.5...5 cm is provided for sandstones, and more than 3.5 cm - for dense loam).
- Having skipped the watering procedure and greatly dried out the soil in the tomato beds, they correct the situation in several stages, adding a portion of water in parts and waiting until it is completely absorbed into the soil. It is also recommended to reduce the moisture level by half, which will prevent a sharp drop and the formation of cracks in the fruit.
By drawing up a competent watering scheme and strictly adhering to it, it is possible to grow healthy, strong tomato bushes, which will be the key to a luxurious harvest of tasty, ripe, aromatic fruits.
Fighting the streak
If you see that the crop has become stricken - streaks and stripes have appeared on the stems, and dark spots have formed on the leaves - eliminate the infected bushes. How to do it? Plants must be burned, otherwise the infection will spread to other vegetables. The remaining crops will have to be watered with a solution of potassium permanganate, and then the bushes will be fed with microelements along the leaves.
We also invite you to learn about the reasons for tomatoes falling off in a greenhouse and ways to eliminate the problem.
