Content
Growing tomatoes in a greenhouse made of polycarbonate includes a set of works, which includes preparing the site for planting, formation seedlings and their transfer to a permanent place. After planting tomatoes in closed ground, you need to follow the rules of watering and fertilizing.
Greenhouse preparation
You need to prepare the greenhouse for planting tomatoes several weeks before planting the plants. Usually work begins after the snow melts on the site.
The greenhouse is placed in an open space, well lit by the sun. Windows must be installed on the roof and side walls for ventilation.
In spring, the greenhouse is ventilated and wiped with a damp cloth. In order for the tomatoes to receive the maximum possible illumination, you need to remove all dirt from the walls.
Soil preparation
High-quality soil provides plants with nutrients. Preparing the soil for growing tomatoes in a polycarbonate greenhouse begins in the fall. For 1 sq.m of beds requires ash (3 kg), ammonium nitrate (0.5 kg) and superphosphate (3 kg).
Tomatoes prefer alkaline or neutral soil. The main indicators that soil for tomatoes should have are high air permeability and porosity.
Work with the soil is carried out a week before planting:
- The top layer of soil is removed because it contains harmful microorganisms and insect larvae.
- For disinfection, prepare a weak solution of potassium permanganate, which is used to thoroughly water the soil before planting.
- Improving the soil structure for tomatoes: for clay soil use compost, peat and sawdust, for chernozem - compost and sand, for peat soil - turf soil, sawdust, compost, coarse sand.
- Add potassium nitrate (5 g) and superphosphate (15 g) to each square meter of beds.
- The soil in the greenhouse must be carefully dug up to form beds up to 0.4 m high and 0.9 m wide. A free space of 0.6 m is left between the beds with plants.
Seed treatment
To grow tomatoes, choose high-quality seeds without external defects. Preparation of the material begins at the end of February.
Seed processing is carried out in several stages:
- Tomato seeds are wrapped in cloth and placed in a solution of potassium permanganate for 20 minutes. To prepare the solution you need 1 g of potassium permanganate and a glass of water.
- 5 g of nitrophoska is added to 1 liter of water, after which the seeds are placed in the resulting solution. The container is left for 12 hours in a warm place.
- After the nutrient solution, plant seeds are placed in a container with water and placed in the refrigerator for 2 days.
- After treatment, the seeds are planted as seedlings.
Preparing seedlings
First, tomato seedlings are obtained, after which they are transferred to the greenhouse.Plants require containers about 5 cm high. The soil can be taken from the greenhouse or purchased ready-made soil mixture.
The technology for growing seedlings includes the following order:
- Soil is poured into the container, watered and compacted.
- Small furrows up to 1.5 cm deep are made in the ground, where the seeds are placed. Leave 7 cm between rows of plants.
- The containers are placed in a warm place with good lighting.
Caring for seedlings includes a number of actions:
- after the tomatoes sprout, watering is carried out, which is repeated every two weeks;
- during the daytime the temperature should be in the range from 18 to 20°C, at night - 16°C;
- The containers are rotated daily so that all plants receive an equal dose of sunlight.
Plants are pinched, leaving 2/3 of the height, and transplanted into other containers. This procedure allows the seedlings to save energy for further flowering and fruiting.
Transplanting into a greenhouse
Tomatoes are transferred to the greenhouse in the second half of May. First you need to change the soil temperature. Its value should exceed 13°C.
Transplantation is carried out when the plant has 5 leaves and a root system has formed. Work is carried out in the afternoon. It is best to choose a cloudy but warm day.
Holes 20 cm deep are pre-formed. 1 liter of potassium permanganate solution (concentration 1 g per bucket of water) is poured into each hole.
The lower leaves of the tomatoes need to be plucked off, then the plants are placed in the holes and covered with soil.After 10 days, the bushes will take root, then they will be added to the lower leaves.
Microclimate in the greenhouse
For normal growth of a tomato in a polycarbonate greenhouse, the following conditions are required:
- Regular ventilation. In summer, under the influence of sunlight, the greenhouse heats up, which leads to drying out of the soil, wilting of tomatoes, and falling off of the inflorescences. To prevent temperature increases, the greenhouse must be ventilated.
- Temperature. To grow and bear fruit, tomatoes require a temperature range of 22 to 25°C during the day and 16-18°C at night. If the temperature in the greenhouse exceeds 29°C, the plant ovary will not be able to form. Tomatoes remain resistant to short-term cooling down to 3°C.
- Humidity. Humidity levels for plants should remain at 60%. When humidity increases, there is a risk of developing fungal infections. diseases.
Bush formation
Agricultural technology growing tomatoes in a polycarbonate greenhouse requires the correct formation of the bush. The procedure will allow the plants to direct their forces to ripen the fruits. Two weeks after planting, the tomatoes are tied up. During this period, the bush begins to form.
The procedure for carrying out the procedure depends on the plant variety. Tall tomatoes develop one stem. Every 10 days you need to remove the stepsons until they have grown by 5 cm or more.
For medium-sized plants, two stems are formed. To do this, after the appearance of the first inflorescence, a stepson is left.
Low-growing varieties do not need pinching. After the formation of the third brush, their growth stops. For low-growing plants, only the lower leaves are removed.
From the video you can learn about the features of growing tomatoes.The video talks about pinching and staking plants in a greenhouse:
Watering tomatoes
Tomatoes are watered immediately after planting, after which a break is taken for two weeks. In the future, it is enough to water every three days.
The supply of moisture to tomatoes should proceed according to the following scheme:
- May – first days of July: every 3 days;
- July – early August: every 4 days;
- August – September – every 5 days.
Plants are watered in the morning and evening with 1.5 liters. You can reduce the watering volume to 2 liters in cloudy weather. The procedure is carried out in the morning and evening. It is not allowed to water tomatoes during the day in the heat.
One of the secrets of growing tomatoes is the equipment of an irrigation system. In greenhouse conditions, you can install drip irrigation, which consists of a pipeline system.
This method of watering ensures a gradual supply of moisture to the plants. As a result, the tomatoes receive the required amount of moisture without drying out or excessively moistening the soil.
Fertilizer application
A mandatory step in growing and caring for tomatoes is the application of fertilizers. For this, organic or mineral components are used.
The first fertilizing is carried out 3 weeks after planting the plants in the greenhouse. The following solution is prepared for processing:
- 0.5 l mullein;
- 5 g nitrophoska.
The components are mixed in a bucket of water and watered at the roots of the tomatoes. This fertilizing provides plants with nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. For each bush, the fertilizer consumption is 1 liter.
After 10 days, a second treatment of tomatoes is performed. It is prepared on the basis of organic fertilizer and potassium sulfate, of which 1 tbsp is required. l.
Subsequent feeding of plants is carried out after 2 weeks. To prepare the solution, take 5 g of superphosphate per bucket of water. The product is applied at the root of the plants.
Instead of superphosphate, it is allowed to use wood ash, which contains a complex of useful substances and is a natural fertilizer.
Foliar feeding
Another feature of growing tomatoes is regular spraying. This procedure provides the plants with nutrients. When treated with leaves, beneficial components are absorbed much faster than when watered at the root.
The solution for sheet processing is prepared in strict compliance with the proportions of all components. Otherwise, the plant will get leaf burn.
Tomatoes are sprayed every 10 days. It is best to alternate foliar treatment with the application of fertilizers to the soil.
The following solutions are prepared for spraying greenhouse tomatoes:
- 1 liter of milk or whey per 9 liters of water;
- 3 glasses of wood water are infused in 3 liters of water, then add water to a volume of 10 liters;
- 50 g of urea per bucket of water (before the plants begin to flower);
- 1 tbsp. calcium nitrate per 10 liters of water.
During flowering, tomatoes are fertilized with boron. This substance increases the number of flowers, promotes the development of ovaries and increases yield. Treatment is performed once per season.
For spraying, prepare a solution consisting of 1 g of acid per 1 liter of water. The starting substance is dissolved in hot water, after which cold water is added to the required volume.
Protection from diseases and pests
Tomatoes are susceptible to fungal diseases that spread in high humidity. One of the most dangerous lesions is late blight, which spreads to the leaves, stems and fruits of plants.
To protect tomatoes in a polycarbonate greenhouse from diseases and insects, chemicals and folk remedies are used. All of them are aimed at eliminating the source of the disease and helping weakened plants.
A folk remedy for combating tomato diseases is an iodine solution. It is obtained by mixing 15 drops of iodine and 10 liters of water. You can add 1 liter of low-fat milk to the solution. For prevention, plants are treated twice a month.
The greatest damage to tomatoes is caused by cockchafer larvae, aphids, cutworms, mole crickets, and spider mites. Insecticides (Antikhrushch, Rembek, Proteus) will help protect plantings from pests.
Dandelion infusion helps against pests. Fresh plants are crushed, placed in a container and water is added. After 3 days, you can use soil watering agents. Instead of dandelions, garlic is often used in the form of heads, arrows or husks.
Harvesting
Tomato fruits are carefully picked along with the stalk. The crop is harvested after the tomatoes turn pink. If you leave them until they are fully ripe, subsequent fruits will lose weight.
The speed of tomato ripening depends on the variety and conditions created in the greenhouse. Early harvest is provided by hybrid varieties that produce large yields in a short time.
If greenhouse varieties are grown, then an early harvest is obtained determinate tomatoes. Other varieties bear fruit a month later.
Conclusion
You can harvest a good harvest of tomatoes in a greenhouse if you follow the rules for planting and growing this crop. You need to regularly care for the plantings, form the bush correctly, tie up the plants, and fertilize them. You can learn about pinching and tying tomatoes from the video. Additionally, the video explains other subtleties of caring for plantings.
