Vegetable grower's ABCs: how to properly grow tomatoes in a greenhouse

The tomato is deservedly considered an exceptionally tasty and healthy vegetable, because a large juicy tomato is full of unique vitamins and microelements. At the same time, it is quite difficult to grow a really good harvest without knowing some secrets and rules of agricultural technology. In addition, in an open space, tomatoes can easily be damaged or killed by the burning sun, heavy rain, large hail, or annoying pests.

Therefore, greenhouse conditions are the most suitable for growing a large number of really good and high-quality tomatoes. Next, we will consider the characteristic features of planting and caring for tomatoes in polycarbonate greenhouses - the growing process from A to Z.

Conditions for growing tomatoes in a greenhouse

In order for tomatoes to feel comfortable in a greenhouse, certain conditions should be created for them.

Soil preparation

Most often, high beds are arranged in greenhouses. To do this, a fence made of suitable materials (boards, flat or corrugated slate, tiles, etc.) with a height of 20-30 cm is installed along their perimeter. The internal volume of the bed is filled with a nutrient mixture, which is prepared from available components. The finished soil should be loose and fertile. As an option, we can recommend the following composition:

• imported chernozem - 3 parts;
• humus - 1 part;
• peat - 1 part;
• coarse river sand - 1 part.

Lighting

Lack of light leads to delayed development of tomatoes and their elongation, disruption of the formation of flowers and fruits. Conversely, with high light intensity, fruit ripening occurs 15-20 days earlier. The optimal length of daylight for most varieties of tomatoes is 12-14 hours, and the optimal lighting intensity is 20 thousand lux (this indicator can be measured using a special device - a lux meter).

To measure illumination, special devices are used - lux meters.

If the greenhouse is used in spring and summer, then you can do without additional lighting. But if the greenhouse is used for growing seedlings, which may occur in February-March, then it is impossible to do without creating additional lighting. For this, different types of lamps are used:

• Luminescent and so-called housekeepers are the simplest and most affordable option for small greenhouses.
• LEDs provide light in the spectrum needed by plants, but have a short service life (3-5 thousand hours) and relatively low light output.

  To illuminate tomatoes in a greenhouse, you can use LED phytolamps, which provide light in the spectrum the plants need.

• Gas-discharge sodium lamps are the most light-efficient and energy-saving, but are difficult to install and maintain. Widely used in industrial greenhouses.

Temperature

Tomatoes love comfortable air temperatures ranging from 18-25 °C. At temperatures below +12 °C and above +30 °C, growth stops; at +32 °C, pollen becomes sterile.

Humidity

For tomatoes, the optimal air humidity in the greenhouse is in the range of 65-70%. At higher values, the risk of fungal diseases increases, and at lower values, the pollen dries out.

You can determine the humidity level in a greenhouse using a special device called a hygrometer.

You can determine the humidity level in a greenhouse using a special device called a hygrometer.

To increase humidity in hot weather, wide containers with water are placed along the beds, and in case of excess humidity, the greenhouses are ventilated.

Preparing the beds

Plants need enough light, so it is best to place the beds from east to west. Before planting seedlings, the soil needs to be dug to a depth of 35-40 cm.

It is important to prepare loose and nutritious soil. If necessary, peat, sawdust or chopped straw should be added to the soil. These loosening materials should make up 15-30% of the total soil mixture.

If cucumbers grew in this place last season, there is no need to apply organic fertilizers when planting. Otherwise, the tomatoes will actively grow green mass, and you may not get fruit at all.

Planting tomatoes in a greenhouse

Seedlings are transplanted into an unheated greenhouse when the temperature reaches +12 °C. As a rule, in the middle zone this happens in mid-late April. Convenient to maintain tomato planting schemes are two- and three-line. Planting intervals and densities depend on the specific variety. Typically this information is provided on seed packages.

Easy-to-maintain tomato planting schemes are two- and three-line

Caring for tomatoes in a greenhouse

Tomatoes in greenhouses require constant and careful care.

Watering

It must be regular. The intervals between watering depend on the variety of tomatoes and weather conditions. There are several methods of watering, let's look at some of them.

Along the grooves

This is the traditional way. It consists of making grooves 10-15 cm deep on both sides of a row of tomatoes, into which water is supplied from a hose. In this case, water is not poured directly under the root. This promotes the growth of the root system in width, which contributes to its increase and stability of the bushes.

Watering tomatoes in ditches is a rather labor-intensive method.

Drip irrigation systems

Various drip irrigation systems are popular among gardeners due to the fact that their use significantly reduces the complexity of the procedure, improves the quality of moistening, and allows for the simultaneous application of liquid fertilizers. Drip tapes of various designs are used as a working body.

Drip irrigation significantly reduces the labor intensity of the procedure, improves the quality of moisture, and allows for the simultaneous application of liquid fertilizers

Watering with oozing hoses

This system is a new type of drip irrigation. It differs in that special hoses made of porous rubber are used for irrigation. From them, water is released in droplets over the entire surface, thereby achieving more uniform soil moisture along the row. Such hoses are effective at low water pressures and can be used for gravity flow irrigation from barrels.

Oozing hoses are a new type of drip irrigation

Video: review of the method of watering with a dripping hose

Growing without watering

Do you really need to water tomatoes? There is a lot of conflicting information on this matter on the Internet. But (judging by a fairly large number of reviews with positive results) we can conclude that it is possible to grow tomatoes in a greenhouse without watering. True, for this you need to follow several rules:

• The soil under the bed in the greenhouse should be moisture-absorbing - preferably chernozem or loam. This method is unacceptable on sandy or rocky soils. After all, its main feature is that the deep-growing roots of tomatoes produce their own moisture.
• Seedlings for this method are grown with long roots, without cutting them off when diving.
• When planting, plants are watered abundantly, and then the soil is covered with film or newspapers to reduce moisture evaporation.

I myself have experience growing tomatoes without watering, albeit in open ground. And in this case, the tomatoes still receive watering in the form of rain. I can say that the method is good. I especially like the fact that without moisture in the first weeks after planting, tomatoes form a powerful root system. In the future, tomatoes still need watering (in my opinion). I water them at intervals of 2 weeks in hot summer conditions (eastern Ukraine). I think that this is also necessary in a greenhouse, although it all depends on the specific conditions - if there is sufficient humidity and the soil does not dry out deeply, then it is quite likely that you can do without watering.

Description of varieties

Tall and popular tomato varieties for cultivation in a greenhouse are distinguished by their variety of shapes, taste and color. Many of them grow several meters in height. These tomato bushes are more reminiscent of tropical vines rather than ordinary tomato bushes. Such varieties are highly valued by gardeners for their tendency to produce abundant fruit until the end of autumn, but they require significant planting areas and special care. Such expenditures of time, space and effort are more than covered by abundant harvests.

Methods for growing tomatoes in a limited volume of soil

There are planting options such as in buckets, boxes, bags and other containers. Such methods are used in cases of shortage of planting space, as well as in order to reduce ripening time and extend the fruiting period.

Growing in buckets

For the purposes of this method, buckets without a bottom or other similar containers are used. They are filled with a nutrient mixture. installed on the beds, placing screens made of plywood, film, flat slate, etc. under the bottom. Being in a limited volume, the roots quickly fill it, after which the plant begins to form fruit clusters (this happens very early). In this case, little green mass is formed. After the tomatoes begin to ripen on the first and second clusters, the barriers are removed and the roots are given a path to the lower fertile soil. At this time, the plants should be moistened abundantly, after which a powerful two-level root system is formed, which will ensure the next wave of fruiting within the usual time frame for the variety.

Growing tomatoes in buckets allows you to get the first fruits very early

In bags

The option of planting in bags differs in that only small holes are cut in their lower part for drainage, and the root system remains in a closed space. The seedlings are planted in bags, which are filled with a nutrient mixture to approximately 3/4 of the volume. Later, as the bushes grow and the lower leaves are trimmed, soil is poured into the bags and the upper part of the bags is unrolled. This stimulates the formation of new roots above the old ones, which also helps to extend the fruiting period.

Growing tomatoes in bags helps to extend the fruiting period

Video: about growing tomatoes in bags

How to grow healthy and strong tomato seedlings?

Now we are preparing tomato seeds for growing in a greenhouse. To do this, first discard them by placing them in a 5% saline solution for 10 minutes, removing all floating specimens. After this, rinse them and place them on a clean paper napkin, previously moistened with water. Place another one of the same on top and leave for 20 hours in a warm place. After this, the planting material is completely ready.

Tomato seeds should be prepared for growing seedlings as follows:

• Step 1. Pour the substrate into the box and shake it several times. In this way we achieve an ideal horizontal plane on which we lay out the seeds. If you have not processed them, then in increments of at least 1 cm.
• Step 2. Next, make a weak solution of potassium permanganate, pour it into a spray bottle and spray the seeds. So they won’t move from their place, they will even get crushed a little.
• Step 3. Cover everything with a 1 cm layer of soil and spray again. Place the box in a bag and place it in a warm place, about 25°C.

Now the seeds are provided with the best conditions for germination. All that remains is to check the seeds every three days, ventilating them and spraying them with water. As soon as you notice the first loops, pick it up for disembarkation, otherwise you may be late. The only thing you definitely need to pay attention to is the “caps” from the skin of the seeds, which can prevent the leaves from opening. Wet them with water or carefully remove them with your hands.

As soon as the cotyledons open, lower the temperature and move the seedlings to a brighter place. And as soon as the first pair of true leaves appears, start picking.

Almost anything you have on hand is suitable as a container for tomato seedlings: plastic bottles, mayonnaise buckets, bags and boxes. But plastic cups are especially convenient: when planting in a greenhouse, we simply cut them on the sides and remove the plant with its roots preserved in dense soil. It is only important to make drainage holes in such cups - at least with the same awl, heated over a fire.

There is only one difficulty in growing seedlings in glasses and boxes - the soil in them quickly dries out and cracks due to its small volume. But instead of endless loosening and spraying, use the remains of granulated tea you drink (not leaf tea, so as not to cause mold). This unusual mulching will allow you to retain moisture much better and create a more even surface, which is healthier for plants. The same applies to the coffee grounds of an unsweetened drink.

You can use the most ordinary soil for seedlings, from the garden, adding only a third of humus. In such soil, it will then be easy to extract tender shoots so as not to injure the roots. But then greenhouse tomatoes need denser soil.

When growing tomato seedlings, place crushed eggshells at the bottom of the container, which will serve as both drainage and calcium supplement. For elongated tomatoes that are susceptible to blossom end rot, this is especially important.

And it is important that the planted seedlings feel good in the greenhouse. Here is one of the most successful projects of greenhouse beds for this crop:

Diseases and pests of tomatoes in a greenhouse

In greenhouses, tomatoes can be susceptible to fungal diseases (black leg, late blight, mosaic, blossom end rot, etc.), so it is advisable to implement available preventive measures:

• Plant immune varieties of tomatoes.
• Maintain optimal heat and humidity conditions, avoiding waterlogging and waterlogging of the soil.
• Thin out the bushes.
• Ventilate the greenhouse.
• Treat plants with biofungicides, for example, Fitosporin M Tomatoes.

In order to prevent and control pests that can attack tomatoes in a greenhouse (aphids, whiteflies, cutworms, etc.), during the growing season they also turn to biological means of protection (Fitoverm, Iskra Bio, Fitolavin, etc.) or to numerous folk remedies means.

Harvest and storage

Picking tomatoes from the bushes is not a difficult task. It is more important to decide on the timing of this event, and they depend on the goals set.

Table: use of tomatoes depending on the degree of ripening

Video: picking and ripening tomatoes

Growing tomatoes in greenhouses is difficult and difficult work. In order to facilitate it and improve the final result, progressive methods of agricultural technology and modern technologies should be used.

• Author: Pyotr Vladimirovich Sadovnikov
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Hello! My name is Pyotr Vladimirovich. I am 63 years old. By education, he is a mechanical engineer. Rate this article:

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