When planting tomatoes, you should take into account that their development will be greatly influenced by how to water the tomatoes in the greenhouse. As a result, the yield of vegetables depends on this.
Growing tomato bushes are negatively affected not only by a lack of water, but also by excess moisture. A small part of gardeners mistakenly believe that they should be watered very often, using a large volume of water. However, as a result, such actions expose the plant to diseases, and the yield decreases.
Required microclimatic indicators
How to water correctly, the frequency and volume of water must be determined based on the microclimatic conditions of the greenhouses. The air in summer has a humidity of approximately 60 to 80%. Only on very hot days can the humidity be lower and reach 40%. During summer showers alternating with hot weather, air humidity can approach 90%.
If watering of tomatoes in a polycarbonate greenhouse is not organized correctly, then the humidity can significantly exceed the permissible value, which has a detrimental effect on the tomatoes. The peculiarity of tomatoes is that their above-ground part prefers dry air, and the roots require a sufficient amount of water to ensure the growth of stems. Therefore, optimal conditions should be created in the greenhouse by choosing the correct irrigation regime.
An excess amount of water, which forms stagnation at the level of the root system of tomatoes, causes rotting of the roots. But if there is not enough water in the soil, the foliage becomes dehydrated, causing the plants to overheat, which can lead to the death of the entire bush.
Note! If tomato leaves curl relative to the central vein, forming a kind of “boat,” then this is a clear sign of insufficient soil moisture..
Quantity calculation watering tomatoes in the greenhouse is carried out in such a way that they provide ninety percent soil moisture and 50% air humidity. This ratio allows the bushes to develop normally, and at the same time, protects the plant from infection by fungal bacteria. To maintain an optimal microclimate in the greenhouse, tomatoes are watered every 3-7 days, based on the level of temperature and air humidity.
When irrigating tomatoes, it should be taken into account that each bush needs 4-5 liters of water, which should only flow into the soil to the root system of the plant, and so that drops do not fall on the foliage. On a sunny day, a drop of water acts as a lens, projecting the sun's ray and increasing its power many times over, causing a leaf burn. Therefore, it is recommended to carry out irrigation early in the morning or in the evening, so that the moisture has time to be absorbed into the soil without creating a greenhouse effect during evaporation.
Remember! Watering tomatoes with cool water stresses the plant. The optimal water temperature for irrigation should be no less than +23–+24 degrees.
Methods of watering in greenhouses
Greenhouse tomatoes can be watered using several methods.
Manual watering
For small structures, manual watering is often considered optimal. To do this, watering cans and hoses are used to ensure the flow of moisture directly to the roots. If water does not penetrate the soil quickly enough, you can make several depressions in the soil near the plant.
Watering tomatoes with a hose using well or tap water is dangerous, as it can cause dangerous cooling of their root system. At the same time, there is no strict dosing that provides each plant with the required amount of liquid. And if you change the location of the hose, you can break the planted tomato seedlings. Another disadvantage of this type of irrigation is that a dense crust remains on the surface of the soil.
It is better if manual watering of tomatoes in a greenhouse is carried out using watering cans and settled water at the required temperature. With this method of watering, it is necessary to ensure that water does not fall on the aboveground part of the plants and does not cause burns or hypothermia of the plants during evaporation.
Sometimes a barrel with water is placed near the greenhouse.Rainwater collected in containers is considered ideal for irrigation. When a container of water is placed in a greenhouse, it should be covered with film or a lid to prevent excess air humidity from forming, which can harm the tomatoes.
Drip irrigation device
This method is used if tomatoes are grown in a greenhouse over large areas. Manual watering in such premises will require a lot of time and labor. To simplify this procedure, a system is being built that will allow drip irrigation of tomatoes.
Moisture is delivered only to the roots, without raising the level of air humidity in the greenhouse, and water splashes on the above-ground parts of the plant are also excluded.
This method can be used to water tomatoes without taking into account the time of day. Also, its advantage is that the soil is not washed away and does not become salty. A drip irrigation device for tomatoes in the greenhouse is installed before the seedlings are planted. Dense hoses with holes are laid along the length of the rows.
Ready-made systems are sold in specialized stores. They can be installed in the greenhouse with your own hands according to the included instructions. Using such a system, it is also possible to apply fertilizers during fertilizing.
Small greenhouses can be equipped with drip irrigation of tomatoes using plastic bottles. Small holes are made in the bottom of the bottle and dug in near the bush, and water is filled through the neck. You can bury the bottle with the neck down and add water to the cut bottom. This way you can ensure slow access of water to the roots of the plant, and you can also accurately determine the volume of liquid needed for the plant.
You can also water tomatoes in a polycarbonate greenhouse using another drip irrigation device. It is necessary to build a system using a small hose buried near the plant. The end of the hose is screwed into the bottleneck, and water enters through a small hole in the bottom, while the moisture is slowly delivered to the roots of the tomato.
Automation
In greenhouses for industrial purposes, which have a large area, an automatic watering system is often used. Only with large areas can its cost be recouped.
Watering tomatoes at different stages of development
How often to water tomatoes in a greenhouse, and how much water is needed, directly depends on the phases of their development. 2 days before picking, the seedlings are thoroughly irrigated. This allows the plants to absorb moisture and make it easier to transfer the replanting process to another container. The next watering in the greenhouse is carried out on the fourth day after the dive.
When planting seedlings in a greenhouse method, approximately 4 liters of water are poured into each hole. This promotes rapid rooting of tomatoes. The next watering is carried out only after at least 7-10 days.
After this time, the tomatoes begin to grow rapidly. But, since by this time the root system of tomatoes is not yet very developed, it is difficult for them to obtain the necessary moisture. Because of this, approximately before the color starts to drop, the tomatoes in the greenhouse are watered as often as the soil dries out, which is about 3 days later. Each bush consumes 2 to 3 liters of water for each watering.
During the formation of flowers on a plant, they require water in a volume of 5 liters.The frequency of watering during this period is reduced to 1 time every 7 days, and when the fruits are filled, watering is again carried out twice a week. You should not water the bushes with too much water to avoid moisture stagnation. This causes rotting of the tomato root system. If the fruits on the clusters begin to ripen, then watering is carried out once a week, the amount of liquid is reduced to 2 liters for 1 bush. Excessive soil moisture contributes to the formation of cracks in the fruit.
Important! It is recommended to leave the windows in the greenhouse open for some time after watering to prevent fungus from appearing.
The frequency of watering and the volume of water must be taken into account based on weather conditions and the specific structure of an individual greenhouse. Warm and dry weather conditions do not affect the frequency and abundance of watering. You should only pay attention to the fact that when watering, moisture does not splash onto the foliage, to avoid burns to the plants.
It should also be taken into account that late watering will require prolonged ventilation of the greenhouse, which can have a bad effect on the plants due to the cool night air. It is optimal to carry out irrigation in the evening. But if the weather is cool and damp, then it is recommended to water before noon so that excess moisture in the greenhouse disappears faster.
