Rules of agricultural technology for growing tomatoes in open ground and greenhouses

The agricultural technology of tomatoes in greenhouse conditions, in open ground or on a regular windowsill is very simple. There is no need to create complex conditions; caring for them is very simple. This process is gradually gaining interest.

Choosing the right tomatoes to grow

If you are going to grow your own tomatoes, plant a variety of varieties.You can also grow tomatoes on the windowsill of your home, but of special varieties, the dwarf type. To obtain an excellent harvest, choose varieties that are zoned and adapted to climatic conditions.

How to grow in open soil

The agricultural technology for growing tomatoes in open ground is also very simple. Tomatoes are often grown using the seedling method. However, first they should be planted in greenhouses and wait until they become normal sizes, and then plant them in open ground. The minimum distance between sprouts is from 10 to 15 centimeters.

There is nothing special about caring for them. You just need to make sure that the temperature does not fluctuate, is normal, and the humidity is appropriate. During the day, the best temperature is 20-25 degrees, and at night from 8 to 10. These are all the conditions for growing tomatoes in open ground.

Growing in greenhouse conditions

The agricultural technology for growing tomatoes in a polycarbonate greenhouse is a little more complicated. To begin with, the tomatoes are planted in a pre-prepared greenhouse structure, where they will, in fact, grow in the future.

Their productivity depends on the quality of planting. It is important to use the correct tomato planting scheme. Cups containing high-quality seedlings should be planted in holes to a depth of three to five centimeters. The plants may be overgrown, then you can lay the stem in the soil to a depth of at least ten centimeters. But you will need to dig a ditch. The stem is designed in such a way that additional roots can form on it, which will also feed the plant.

How to care

There are main factors that influence how well seedlings take root and develop in the future. Let's look at some of them.

Temperature

This factor is key in growing tomatoes. In greenhouse conditions, it is desirable that the temperature remains between 22 and 25 degrees, and the soil is warmed to 15 degrees. If you maintain the temperature regime, the tomatoes will quickly take new roots and begin to develop quickly.

Watering

Before planting seedlings in the greenhouse, refrain from watering for 2-3 days. When planted, water thoroughly. Be sure to ensure that the roots are in contact with the soil. Otherwise, the plant will begin to wither and be susceptible to disease. It should be watered when the top layer of soil dries out.

Fertilizer

When planting, be sure to pour fertilizer into the holes. 20 g of nitroammophoska containing N16, P16, K16 is perfect for it.

Please note that under no circumstances should the roots touch the granules, otherwise they will get burned. Therefore, they should be mixed with the soil. You need to feed it every week, and then be sure to water it abundantly.

Pollination

Tomatoes have flowers that can pollinate themselves. To do this you need to shake the tomatoes a little. This should be done during the day when it is sunny. It is advisable to introduce bumblebees into the greenhouse and install a hive with them there. Then the fruits will set much better.

Growing without seedlings

You can plant tomatoes both in a greenhouse and on the ground without using seedlings. Then you should start preparing in the fall by first plowing the ground. You can start planting as early as April or early May. After planting, you should expect the first shoots when the soil temperature is approximately 14-15 degrees.

By the way, it’s worth trying to add seeds, for example, radishes or oats, to tomatoes. They can easily get through the soil bark. Be sure to add a special fertilizer - granulated superphosphate.

Regarding fertilizers

Plants should definitely be fed, this will significantly increase their productivity. Add Kemira Universal every 10-15 days. It should be diluted in proportions of 50-70 grams per 10 liters of liquid. You should pour one liter under each bush. In the first few weeks after the tomatoes have been planted, you need to add slurry after diluting it in water.

In order for the fruits to ripen faster, you need to lay them out in 2-3 layers in prepared boxes with the stalks facing up. It is imperative to spray the tomatoes using Kemira Lux (approximately 10-12 grams per 10 liters of water). Make sure that the solution does not remain on the foliage, or rather on its lower part.

If plants do not get enough sunlight, then they need to be provided with calcium. If suddenly the flowers fall off for no reason, spray the tomatoes using a solution of boric acid, but at a weak concentration, about 1 gram per liter of water.

How to properly prepare the site and soil

When choosing a site where tomatoes will grow, you must take into account some factors:

1. The place must be sunny, because tomatoes love light. This way you will be able to get good results quite quickly.
2. Don't plant tomatoes in the same place all the time. You should definitely take breaks for 3-4 years.
3. If fresh manure was used as fertilizer on the site, it is not suitable for planting tomatoes there.
4. When growing tomatoes outdoors, this should be done where the area is slightly elevated so that there is no stagnation or excess moisture.

The soil for planting begins to be prepared closer to autumn. The soil is fertilized with leaf humus and cow droppings.The soil should have low acidity, but if it’s the opposite, then the growing season will occur slowly. Try to figure this out before boarding. You can increase the acidity level by planting sorrel or sorrel. You can deoxidize the soil using lime, charcoal or chalk. When the necessary substances are added to the soil, you should dig it thoroughly and water it abundantly.

About the seedlings

The seedling method is most often used, as it provides maximum productivity. To start planting tomato seedlings, seeds should be sown at the end of March or somewhere in the beginning of April. The optimal temperature for sowing seeds is 23-25 ​​degrees. When the seeds germinate, 13-15 degrees is enough. When the first leaf appears on the sprouts, you can raise the temperature to 23-26 degrees.

The root system of tomatoes is tap-type, so the part of the roots that is below should be plucked. Thanks to this, the root system will grow much better. Picking is carried out only when the first two leaves are formed. Be sure to water them before this to make it easier to remove from the container.

You need to take out the seedlings with a clod of earth, and shorten the root by about a third. Tomatoes should definitely be planted using an 8 by 8 pattern, with an approximate normal air humidity of 60 percent.

What diseases are tomatoes susceptible to?

In general, tomatoes are very resistant, but still, sometimes they are susceptible to various diseases. It is advisable to carry out preventive measures so that the bushes remain healthy and continue to develop calmly. Let's look at the diseases that can infect your tomatoes:

1. The upper leaves begin to curl.This happens because the plant is sorely lacking calcium. To prevent this from happening, it is advisable to feed vegetables with calcium nitrate.
2. The leaves are turning yellow. Try to pick off such leaves.
3. Damage to fruits by blossom end rot. This disease manifests itself in the formation of brown spots on the fruit due to a lack of calcium. It is solved in the same way as with the first illness.
4. Late blight. This is a pretty serious disease. It affects plants during their growing season. Brown spots begin to form on the leaves, the size of which increases very quickly. Something similar happens with the stems. In this case, you should ventilate the greenhouse more often, water less and treat it with a solution of copper oxychloride.
5. Brown spot is an unpleasant fungal disease. It can completely destroy a tomato. It appears in the form of large spots of light yellow color. Gradually they change color, and a white coating also forms. To eliminate the problem, you should also ventilate and treat with copper oxychloride more often.

How to pick tomatoes

The period when they should be collected is from July to August. Tomatoes are harvested over a period of two and sometimes even three months. The time when you need to harvest tomatoes is influenced by the period when they were planted. Early tomatoes grown outdoors begin to ripen in early June. If the tomatoes are late-ripening, they ripen around the beginning of August. If you are collecting varieties whose purpose is pickling, it is advisable to do this earlier than the first frost.

When you pick the fruits, be careful because they can be accidentally crushed or scratched. Bad fruits are also picked, but unripe ones remain until they are ripe.

Growing tomatoes on the windowsill

There is such a variety tomatoes like “Balcony Miracle”", this is exactly what is perfect for growing tomato seedlings on the balcony of a house. It is famous for its small fruits, but with a very pleasant smell and taste.

Growing this variety is easy. You need to take the seeds and plant them in a special box where soil has already been poured. Next you need to put something on top, for example, glass or polyethylene. Next, you need to water more often as soon as the soil begins to dry out. Be sure to place the container with tomatoes in a well-lit place, the temperature should be room temperature. About once a month, you need to fertilize the tomatoes, make sure that cold air does not get inside.

After about 100 days, the tomatoes will begin to ripen, and each bush will bear about one and a half to two kilograms. If there are a large number of fruits, the branches should be tied up, otherwise they may break.

Conclusion

To obtain a good yield, it is important to follow the agricultural techniques for growing tomatoes. Use the methods and recommendations we have given to get good results. Be sure to carry out preventive measures against diseases, feed and treat the bushes.