Tomatoes. Cultivation and care

To receive good harvest tomato, you must follow a few basic rules for caring for tomatoes - this correct formation bush, watering regimen, plant nutrition.

The place reserved for planting tomatoes should be in a sunny and warm place. The soil is prepared before planting. Since autumn, they make a deep digging with the introduction of rotted manure, in the spring they carry out a small digging, scattering compost humus over the surface and 35 g per sq.m. complete mineral fertilizer. In loose fertile soil, tomatoes form powerful branched roots.

Tomato seedlings are planted at a distance of 50 cm from each other, for each plant a peg is driven in, to which its stem is tied. Do not place tomatoes next to potatoes, as these plants have common viral diseases- late blight, brown rot.

Pasynkovanie tomato

The correct formation of a tomato bush will limit the growth of the green mass of the plant and direct its forces to fruiting. In June, start stepping weekly - remove the shoots that appear in the axils of the leaves. The stepchildren can be cut off with scissors or pinched off, leaving a stump 1 cm long. It is better to remove the stepchildren in the morning when they have reached a length of 2-4 cm.

Stepping is carried out taking into account the type of tomatoes: tall tomatoes (which reach a height of 1.5-3 meters) are formed into one stem, for this, all the formed stepchildren are removed; in medium-sized tomatoes (up to 1.2 m high), one or two stepchildren are left under the flower brush and the plant branches into two or three stems; in undersized, dwarf varieties, stepsons are not removed.

To reduce the risk of fungal diseases, gradually break off the lower leaves to the first flower brush. Also, for the prevention of late blight, plants are sprayed with 1% Bordeaux mixture, 0.4% solution of copper oxychloride or other copper-containing preparations.

Watering mode tomato

Water tomatoes rarely, but plentifully. In hot dry summers regularly every 5-7 days, cloudy or rainy weather every 7-8 days. Watering is carried out only under the root in the hole or rows of 10 liters per plant. Twisting of leaves, falling of flowers and ovaries can occur due to lack of water for tomatoes.

Top dressing of tomatoes

If, during the preparation of the beds, the soil was well fertilized with humus and a complex of mineral fertilizers, then top dressing of tomatoes is done after the formation of 4-5 flower brushes. Tomatoes respond well to watering with diluted slurry per 10 liters of water 0.5 liters of liquid mullein, also add 1 tablespoon of nitrophoska.

On unfertilized soil, tomatoes begin to be fed 3 weeks after planting. Watered with diluted slurry or infusion chicken manure with the addition of 10 liters of 1 tbsp. spoons of superphosphate, 1 teaspoon of potassium sulfate. Dilute fertilizer at the rate of 1 liter per plant. Top dressing is done 10 days before the appearance of 4-5 flower brushes.

Soil mulching helps to increase the yield of tomatoes, scatter chopped straw, leaves, peat, sawdust or rotted compost in a layer of 6-8 cm between the rows.

Harvesting tomato

In July, the very first tomatoes begin to sing. Harvest the tomatoes carefully, plucking along with the stalk. It is better to pick the first tomatoes slightly brown, which will accelerate the growth and ripening of the remaining fruits. Leaving them in a warm place, they will ripen quickly without losing their taste.

In mid-August, tall tomatoes are pinched, removing the tops of the stems, leaving two leaves after the last flower brush, in order to stop the growth of the plant and direct all its forces to the growth of already formed ovaries. If the tomato bush is weak and all the leaves have turned yellow, it is better not to pinch, just remove new flower brushes.

Tomatoes or tomatoes are versatile vegetables that are used as food in fresh as well as for processing. The fruits contain many nutrients. This is perennials, but in the conditions of our country they are grown as annuals.

planting tomatoes

Fruits are demanding to heat. They grow and develop better at a temperature of 20-25°C. At -1°C plants die. The fruits are tied at a temperature of 15 ° C.

High temperatures, like low temperatures, have a detrimental effect on plants. At temperatures above 35°C, pollination stops and the flowers fall off.

The main crop is obtained from undersized varieties open ground, amicably tying fruits: Ermak and Novinka of Pridnestrovie. To get early production, early-ripening varieties are planted with seedlings.

Seedlings need to be grown with a pick. In the south of Russia and Ukraine, it is possible to plant tomatoes in the ground without picking and sowing seeds on the beds. Growing varieties of different ripening dates, planting in a greenhouse and the ability to properly ripen fruits harvested in technical ripeness provide the gardener with a vegetable conveyor that allows you to have fresh vegetables on the table almost all year round.

On the site for tomatoes, they choose a place with well-cultivated soil - loose, nutritious and moisture-intensive. Any crops, except nightshade, can act as predecessors.

Beds for tomatoes are prepared ahead of time. In autumn, the soil is freed from the remains of plants, dug up, introducing 4 kilograms of humus and 70 grams of superphosphate per square meter. Nitrogen fertilizers are not applied in the fall.

Tomatoes are very fond of top dressing, but you need to be able to apply it correctly. mineral fertilizers. Excess nitrogen fertilizers makes leaves and stems grow, and fruiting can not wait. Phosphorus and potash fertilizers stimulate the development of fruits.

A sufficient amount of potassium in the soil makes the fruits tasty and resistant to cracking. No less than potassium, tomatoes need phosphorus nutrition. Phosphorus goes to the formation of fruits, so you can’t do without superphosphate. Phosphorus can be applied when planting seedlings, a teaspoon under each bush.

To get an early harvest, tomatoes are planted with seedlings. The age of the plants at the time of planting permanent place should be 50-60 days. Seedlings should have 5 leaves and one flower brush in the form of buds or already opened flowers.

In the climate middle lane seedlings are planted at the end of April under a film and other temporary shelters. On South the best time for sowing seeds in open ground - mid-April, by this time the soil at the level of seed placement should warm up to a temperature of + 10 ° C.

Before sowing, the seeds are divided by size and weight. It is necessary to separate unripe seeds that will not give full-fledged outcomes from heavy ones. To do this, pour the seeds into salt water: 1 tablespoon of salt with a slide of 1 liter. water. After a few minutes, discard the floating seeds, and take out the sunken ones and rinse under the tap so that there are not even traces of salt left on them - it will interfere with germination.

Many summer residents process seed, for example, harden it, keeping it at varying temperatures, or disinfect it in potassium permanganate. Such seeds are sown in open ground along a cord so that square meter located 4-6 plants.

When growing tomatoes with seedlings, young plants are planted according to the scheme 70 by 50 cm for indeterminate varieties, and 60 by 35 cm for determinant varieties. Seedlings are planted vertically and deepened to cotyledon leaves. Overgrown seedlings are planted at an angle of 45 degrees, filling the stem up to the 4th leaf.

De Barao is a high-yielding pickling variety that has been a favorite of summer residents for several decades. Its branches are hung with fruits until frost. Initially, De Barao was intended for growing in greenhouses, but gardeners have learned how to harvest multi-colored plum-shaped fruits, unsurpassed in pickling, and in open field.

Growing indeterminate tomatoes in open ground is possible only through seedlings. Plants are planted on the beds 60 day seedlings burying the roots and lower part stem at an angle of 45 degrees so that only the flower brush and one leaf under it remain on the surface of the soil. This means that only the top of the plant will be on the surface.

The reception allows tomato bushes to develop a voluminous root system that will provide nutrition to the plant. Another plus of the planting method is that young plants “hidden” under the ground can be easily covered with foil if frost begins.

As soon as warm weather sets in, they put up trellises. A wire is pulled over the posts in two rows. If such a design seems complicated to you, you can stick a pole-support at least one and a half meters high near each plant. De Barao is a productive variety and by the beginning of autumn the pegs under the weight of the fruit can break or bend. Then the tomatoes will be close to the ground, which will help to survive the autumn frosts. It is necessary not to allow the fruits to lie on the soil.

Tomato care

In open ground on the second day after planting, the plants are lightly spudded. Subsequent care for tomatoes in the open field consists of weeding, loosening and systematic pinching and.

In a dry climate, for example, in the south of Russia, it is not necessary to pinch and pinch tomatoes. Standard and determinant varieties do not need pinching - they are pinned to get an extra early harvest.

It is the most drought-resistant nightshade crop. They do not tolerate excess moisture in the soil, but with a strong lack of water they have to be watered.

Watering is carried out when the soil dries out, but without waiting until the leaves lose turgor. You can not keep the beds always wet - this will lead to root rot and late blight.

When watering, make sure that the entire topsoil gets wet. In very dry years, tomatoes have to be watered every other day. In normal years, it is enough to do this twice a week. In rainy years, watering may not be required.

Pay attention to late blight. This fungal disease leads to crop losses. The disease does not occur on a ventilated and illuminated plant, therefore pinching is a prevention of late blight.

The second important rule in caring for seedlings and growing tomatoes is proper watering at the root - tomatoes cannot be watered by sprinkling, since drops of water, falling on the leaves, will lead to the germination of late blight spores.

Harvesting in the open field can begin as early as June, but for this you need to plant seedlings early maturing varieties under temporary film shelters. At the end of July, mass harvesting begins.

The most delicious will be tomatoes ripened on the vine. The crop must be fully harvested before the first frost, otherwise it will turn black and become unsuitable for processing. In order not to be late with the harvest of tomatoes, follow the weather in the fall.

Fruits harvested in an unripe form are placed for ripening, sorted according to the degree of ripeness: green ones are placed in boxes with green ones, pink ones with pink ones.

Before storage, tomatoes have to be sorted, because ripe fruits release ethylene, a substance that accelerates the ripening of neighboring, still green fruits.

The property can be used for accelerated maturation fruits in the garden. Gardeners use the technique - they take a ripe large fruit, placed in a plastic bag and with a tomato put on a brush with unripe tomatoes, tighten the neck of the bag with a rope. After 2 days, the entire brush will turn red.

To prolong the use of ripe fruits, put the boxes with green tomatoes in a cool room and cover with straw.

Growing tomatoes in open ground is done as often as in protected ground. The timing of the onset of fruiting with such cultivation is delayed by a couple of weeks, but this does not in the least affect the quality of the crop and its quantity. A lot of attention will have to be paid to caring for tomatoes in the ground, but the result will certainly justify all the labor costs.

Spring usually brings surprises, and getting early production is called into question. You will learn how to properly grow tomatoes in the open field and avoid common mistakes by reading this material.

Agrotechnics for growing tomatoes: planting seedlings in open ground

Tomato seedlings are planted for outdoor cultivation after the threat has passed. return frosts, which usually occurs at the end of the first decade of May. It is recommended to plant seedlings at the age of at least 55 days for tall varieties and hybrids, for short ones - 40-45 days. Planting continues until the end of May, and seeds are sown directly into the ground. Seedless late tomatoes will go by autumn for winter harvesting.

In the presence of films such as spandbond, agrospan care is easier, planting seedlings in the ground can be done 10-12 days earlier than the average.

The best predecessors for tomatoes are cabbage, cucumber, legumes. The beds are best placed in well-lit, warm areas with highly fertile soils, but light and medium-textured soils are quite suitable for tomatoes.

To facilitate care, planting in open ground of tomatoes of low-growing varieties and hybrids is carried out according to the scheme of 25-30 cm in a row and with row spacing of 60-70 cm, tall according to the scheme, respectively, 50-60 x 70-80 cm.

Before starting to grow tomatoes in the ground, on the eve of planting, already hardened seedlings are abundantly watered with a solution of the microbiological preparation Extrasol and the next day they are planted with a clod of earth. According to right technology growing tomatoes in open ground, a row is cut along a cord to a depth of 10-12 cm, up to 0.5 kg of an organo-mineral mixture is added under each plant or a special fertilizer for tomatoes is added. The plant is planted as deep as the first true leaves. If the seedlings are overgrown, then it is advisable to plant them obliquely and cover the root system with no more than 3-5 cm of soil from above. Remember that the agricultural technique for growing tomatoes in open ground does not provide for deep planting of overgrown plants in cool soil, from which the lower roots may die . Of course, the plant will not die in this case, but it will linger for at least two weeks in growth, during which time new additional roots will begin to form in tomatoes on the buried part of the stem.

The technology of growing tomatoes in open ground involves the mandatory watering of plants after planting with a small amount of water with Extrasol (10 ml per 10 liters of water) and sprinkle with fresh earth or any available mulch. The bacteria contained in the Extrasol preparation settle on the roots of the plant, create a certain polysaccharide shell, enhance the immune system, prevent decay, stimulate growth, have a transport function and move nutrients to growing points.

How to grow tomatoes in open ground: plant care

After 3-4 days after planting, adding soil to the roots of plants can be carried out without fear. The soil is already warm by this time, the root system young plant is in a comfortable state, and additional roots immediately begin to form. Further care for tomatoes in the open field consists in regular watering and subsequent loosening of the resulting soil crust, removal of stepchildren and stem formation, hilling, weeding, pest and disease control.

Tomato plants should be watered moderately, avoiding waterlogging and dryness of the soil. Irregular watering of plants in hot summers often leads to fruit diseases with blossom end rot and cracking. It is desirable to water in the morning and, if possible, by the end of the day, carry out light loosening, which means removing excess wet vapor and avoiding fungal diseases.

Observing the rules for caring for tomatoes when grown in open ground, loosen the soil after each rain or watering. In hot, dry weather, loosening helps to reduce the evaporation of moisture from the soil, and in rainy cold weather it provides better gas exchange between air and soil, and reduces the possibility of fungal diseases.

To give the stems reliable stability, to enhance the growth of the root system, during the care of tomatoes in the open field, 2-4-fold hilling with moist soil is carried out.

Growing tomatoes in the Moscow region: the secrets of top dressing in the open field

When growing tomatoes in open ground in the Moscow region, the first top dressing is carried out 10-14 days after planting the seedlings in the garden.

Second - at the beginning mass flowering. Fertilizers are better to use water-soluble with a set of trace elements in chelated form. For example, Aquarins (Junior, Color, Fruit) Master or Fertika Lux, as well as calcium and potassium nitrate, potassium sulfate and magnesium sulfate, a series of Raykats Start, Development, Final or Nutri-vant. Once every two weeks, Extrasol is added to the tank mixture to water-soluble fertilizers at the rate of 10 ml for every 10 liters. In this case, fertilizers are given 40% less. Irrigation with such a composition can also be carried out through drip irrigation, and the droppers do not clog, and such irrigation is more efficient and economical compared to other methods. Good results are obtained by using the Rostock humic preparation after one watering. The products are of high quality and with the lowest content of nitrates.

The third top dressing when growing tomatoes in the ground is done during the period of fruit formation.

When cultivating tall tomatoes, at least two additional top dressings will be required. Simultaneously with top dressing are given and foliar top dressing and in parallel, measures are being taken to protect tomatoes from fungal diseases such as late blight, early blight and others, as well as against pests (mites, cutworms and whiteflies).

Watch a video about growing tomatoes in the open field, which demonstrates how to properly feed the plants:

How to grow tomatoes in the open field: pinching

Another secret of growing tomatoes in the open field is the correct pinching. The formation of plants begins with the regular removal of stepchildren. Tall tomatoes are usually grown in one stem, but under certain weather conditions and the characteristics of the variety or hybrid, they are grown in two stems. In this case, the second stem is the shoot under the first flower brush. All other stepchildren are removed, the main stem is the first. As the fruits of tomatoes form and set on the first two brushes, they begin to alternately remove the lower leaves to the first flower brush, then to the second, etc. No more than 3-5 leaves are left at the top. When laying at any tomato, 5-7 brushes pinch the tops of the plants. This technique is called topping and is carried out in order to accelerate the ripening of fruits during a protracted growing season in a cool summer.

Low-growing early ripe tomatoes can be grown without pinching, but to get an earlier and more friendly harvest, the first two stepchildren are removed, and if tomatoes are cultivated in the northern region, then they must not only be pinched, but also tied to a trellis or stakes.

As shown in the photo, when growing tomatoes in open ground with the onset of hot weather in July, it is advisable to shade the plants from scorching rays translucent breathable films:

It is also useful in the heat to spray with growth and fruiting stimulants to avoid shedding flowers and burning fruits.

How to grow good tomatoes outdoors: fertilization

During the care of tomatoes when grown in open ground, plants react strongly to soil fertility and the application of mineral fertilizers.

These plants are demanding on soil fertility. But nitrogen plays a special role in the period of growth and development. Timely feeding of tomatoes with nitrogen fertilizers contributes to the excellent formation of all vegetative parts of the plant, fruit formation and fruit filling. With a lack of nitrogen, the growth of stems and leaves is sharply delayed, especially during the period of growing seedlings. Plants become pale green, then turn yellow, starting from the main vein towards the edges, the lower leaves turn grayish yellow and fall off.

With an excess of nitrogen, the plants “fatten”, which leads to a decrease in fruit formation and tomato resistance to disease.

Timely addition of phosphorus to initial period cultivation contributes to the development of a good root system and the formation of generative organs.

With a lack of phosphorus, the absorption of not only nitrogen, but also other nutrients by plants is disrupted, which leads to a slowdown in their growth, the formation of ovaries and the ripening of fruits. A reddish-violet color appears on the underside of the leaf, then their color becomes grayish, and the stems and petioles of the leaves become lilac-brown. To prevent phosphorus starvation of plants, phosphate fertilizers must be added to the soil before planting seedlings.

Potassium is necessary for tomato plants in the early stages of development for the formation of stems and ovaries. You need to know and remember that top dressing potash fertilizers increases cold hardiness of plants.

The combined application of phosphorus and potassium accelerates flowering, fruit ripening and increases disease resistance. With potassium starvation, the leaves begin to acquire a dark green color at first, then yellowish-brown spots form along their edges, which then merge into a continuous marginal border of dead tissue. The growth of the stems stops, spots and uneven ripening may appear on the fruits.

Other nutrients also play an important role: calcium, magnesium, iron, manganese, boron, sulfur, molybdenum, zinc, chlorine, iodine, copper. Most of them are found in Fertika Lux fertilizer.

Remember that for normal growth, development and fruiting, you need to continuously give the plant necessary fertilizers. Weakened plants are more likely to get sick, the yield and its quality are sharply reduced. The lack of fertilizers is easy to eliminate if you know the secrets of growing tomatoes in the open field and carry out foliar top dressing with Fertika Lux, Raikat Final, Razormin. But an excess of fertilizer can be very harmful, especially in dry weather. Therefore, strictly observe the norms and terms of fertilization recommended by the instructions.

Tomato fruits begin to be harvested as they ripen from the end of June. Fruiting can be extended until cold weather, if you follow the correct agricultural technology and plant protection. With the onset of cold nights and morning growth in August, it is advisable to cover the planting of tomatoes with films such as spandbond.

Diseases of tomatoes in the open field when grown in the suburbs

The most common diseases of tomatoes when grown outdoors under conditions Moscow region are: late blight, tobacco and cucumber mosaic viruses, root rot. There are varieties and hybrids relatively resistant to viruses and root rot. For late blight cultivated plants stability is missing.

Signs of tomato disease with tobacco mosaic virus: leaves become covered yellow spots, the crown of the plant becomes thinner, the leaves are formed filiform, the fruits are small, the flowers are double, deformed. Such plants must be immediately removed and destroyed. The virus is not curable. You just need to sow seeds after a two-year shelf life. The tool must be disinfected during operation. Use for growing varieties and hybrids that are resistant to this disease. These include varieties F1 Dobrun, F1 Kineshma, F1 Grandma's gift, F1 Funtik, F1 Kirzhach, F1 Rosemary and tomatoes from other manufacturers.

Using the tips for growing tomatoes in the open field, you will never make the following mistakes:

• Return to the original place not earlier than after 4 years.
• Soil disinfection is not carried out. To do this, it is necessary to carry out spraying before planting on dry soil of future beds with a solution of Alirin-B with Gamair or a 1% solution of Bordeaux mixture.
• Before planting and after planting, they did not shed the soil with Extrasol (10 ml per 10 l of water). Planting seedlings is desirable to carry out in cloudy time and without deepening the root system.
• Remember! Top dressing and watering should be carried out regularly in the morning and, when dried, loosen and spud with moist soil.
• Remember! After each spraying, be sure to carry out protective measures with the addition of growth and fruiting stimulants.

In this video on growing tomatoes in the open field, recommendations are given by experienced vegetable growers for caring for plants:

The main secrets of growing tomatoes in the open field

Many vegetable growers are interested in how to grow good tomatoes in the open field and avoid their "greasing"?

Intensive plant growth, dark, almost black leaf color, thick stems, twisted leaves at the top of plants and the absence of fruits are signs of excess nitrogen nutrition. Tomatoes "fatten"! Most often, this picture is observed with excessive application of organic fertilizers for crops and fertilizing with mineral fertilizers with a high nitrogen content.

Often the seedlings are pulled out. This is due to the lack of light, too high temperature, with abundant watering and thickening. Seedlings must be properly spaced before the leaves close. With obvious stretching of seedlings, watering should be limited, the temperature in the room should be reduced to about 18-19 ° C, it is these factors that cause excessive growth with a lack of light.

And how to properly limit the growth of tomatoes in order to grow them in open ground strong and productive? The fruiting period of the indeterminate tomato is quite long. In country conditions and depending on the region of residence, it is impossible for such plants to completely wait for the end of growth and fruiting, unless, of course, the plants get sick or die from early autumn frosts. Pinching is carried out about a month before the final harvest. Two leaves are left above the last inflorescence for the full filling of the fruit that has set. Usually, in the conditions of the southern region, fruits have time to pour and ripen on 10-11 inflorescences.

Another important question- how to grow tomatoes outdoors and avoid drying out of the leaves? The drying of the lower leaves of seedlings can be caused by several reasons. The first is the presence of sucking pests. The fight against them can be carried out both with the help of chemicals and in cases of the beginning of maturation of products using biological agents: Fitoverm, Fitosporin, Bitoxibacillin. The second reason is too high a concentration of salts in the soil, while the rest of the plant's leaves droop. The third reason is lack of nutrition. In all likelihood, it is necessary to make urgent top dressing with small doses of water-soluble fertilizers such as Fertik Lux or humic preparations or microbiological preparation Extrasol.

To grow tomatoes in the open field as it suggests correct agricultural technology need to deal with pests. The most harmful of them are nightshade miner, whitefly, garden (cotton) scoop, tomato moth. For the most part, this is the result of a lack of preventive measures during the cultivation of tomatoes. Get rid of these pests in advance with one of the approved drugs. One of the main secrets of growing tomatoes in the open field is the use of only high-quality biological preparations.

A large tomato crop can only be obtained with optimal plant care.

First of all, it depends - on the right seeds of a suitable variety and on the quality of seedlings.

To obtain mature fruits of this crop in our climate, it is possible only when grown using seedlings.

We grow tomatoes: the choice of seeds

Often, novice gardeners choose tomato seeds only by a beautiful picture on the package or buy a variety advertised by the seller. Such an acquisition will most likely disappoint you - completely different fruits will grow, the seeds will be of poor quality, or the variety will be unsuitable for your climate. But you can partially insure against the first two troubles by buying seeds from a trusted supplier, then choosing a variety requires carefully studying the characteristics of various tomatoes.

In order for the picture on the package to turn into many delicious fruits, it is necessary to take into account several of their most important qualities:

Taste of fruits;

Disease resistance;

Resistance to low temperatures;

Compliance with the climate of the region;

Possible harvest.

Choosing a variety for growing tomatoes in your area, it is necessary to determine the purpose of the fruit, because the properties of grown tomatoes in different varieties can vary greatly, for example, for transportation, for conservation or for summer salads, it is necessary to plant seeds of completely different varieties.

We grow tomatoes: possible yield

For most gardeners, the most important characteristic so that you don’t have to guess how many tomato fruits you can grow, need to do a simple calculation. The bulk of traditional varieties give on average from 1 m2 - 12-15 kg. When growing F1 hybrids from the same area, you can get 20 kg or more, the maximum yield declared by the seed supplier is possible only if all the rules of agricultural technology for this crop are followed.

Often, F1 hybrids are better able to tolerate care errors and minor changes in the microclimate. With changes in temperature and insufficient lighting, they can give a decent harvest, get sick less often (in greenhouses, F1 tomatoes are mainly grown).

Growing tomatoes: type of bush, formation and other characteristics

In greenhouses, it is better to grow tall plants or, as they are called, indeterminate, they can grow up to several meters. The bushes grow in a liana-like form, bear fruit for a long time and give a large harvest. Such varieties are planted per 1 m2 for 2-3 plants. The bush is formed into one stem, timely cutting off the stepchildren, leaving "hemp" 1-1.5 cm long, you can slow down the growth of new stepchildren in this place. Such an operation makes it possible to save strength and time for the growth of a fruiting shoot. The first inflorescence on tall varieties is formed above 7-12 leaves, the next - after three leaves.

But the positives tall plants no reason to forget about undersized (determinant) plants. This type of tomato includes varieties with a stem of small length, fruiting in most cases earlier than indeterminate varieties. In early ripening plants, the bulk of the fruits ripen on the first 2-4 brushes. The planting system of such varieties when growing tomatoes in one stem - 4-5 bushes per 1 m2 and when forming in two or three stems - 2-3 plants per 1 m2.

Weight and size of fruits

Large-fruited tomatoes are intended mainly for harvesting tomato juice, making salads. Fans of preserving vegetables and preparing pickles should pay attention to varieties with many small fruits of the same size. Cherry tomato varieties are suitable for this, which look very attractive in a jar and will become an ideal snack, this is an ideal raw material for preparing unusual snacks and preservation.

disease resistance

If the soil is infected with such diseases as mosaic, late blight, etc., then, most likely, a significant proportion of the fruits will be damaged, the infection persists in the soil for several years, and fungal spores also serve as pathogens. And if, when growing tomatoes in open ground, a change of beds is available when growing tomatoes, it is difficult to do this in a greenhouse.

Appearance

Of course, this is not the most significant characteristic of tomatoes, but it is nice to pick a beautiful fruit from a bush. And some hybrids and varieties, ways to surprise, are known original form variety "Lorraine handsome" similar to tangerine slices, or, elongated with ribs, the fruits of "Etoile striped". And the variety of coloring of a tomato is impressive, sometimes changing it beyond recognition. In addition to the already familiar orange, yellow and pink tomatoes, there are white fruits, green in color and chokeberry varieties. In the "Olympic Flame" and "Fireworks" and several colors are combined at the same time

How not to make mistakes when purchasing seeds

Let's say you picked suitable varieties for growing tomatoes and are ready to buy them. How to buy quality planting material? You need to always remember these rules:

You should not buy seeds on the market from unverified distributors. You can buy in the packaging of a reliable manufacturer, cheap seeds purchased in bulk;

In stores, choose products from a manufacturer with a good reputation. It happens that the manufacturer sins in separate batches with low-quality products, re-grading or seeds whose expiration date has expired. For this reason, it is necessary to buy seed bags from a trusted organization;

Study the information indicated on the packaging, the most important thing is the expiration date, you can also find out whether the variety is actually easy to care for, its characteristics, whether this is indicated in the literature.

Remember! When choosing seeds, even if you are completely insured against an oversight, you should not be completely sure of the variety. It is impossible to fully insure against the purchase of low-quality seeds. You can not be left without a crop if you select at least four varieties for sowing. It's a good idea to try out new varieties every year and select those that grow best in your climate.

Growing seedlings of tomatoes

Before planting seeds, they must prepare for sowing:

1. Pour the contents of the packages with seeds onto a sheet of paper and select very small and broken seeds. Full-fledged seeds can be selected by lowering them for 5 minutes in a container of salted water. All the seeds floating on the surface are not good, they are empty. It is necessary to sow only those that have sunk to the bottom. They must be rinsed with water;

2. After that, the seeds are lowered into warm solution pink potassium permanganate, after 10-15 minutes we take it out. Instead of potassium permanganate, you can use hydrogen peroxide (add 5 ml of peroxide per 100 ml of water);

3. Sometimes the seeds are hardened before sowing, for this the swollen seeds are placed in the refrigerator for 1-2 days;

4. After that, the seeds are laid out for germination on a damp cloth, it is advisable to arrange them in such a way that they do not touch each other. In a warm place, after about 2-3 days, the first keys will appear on the seeds.

Growing tomatoes: preparing the soil mixture

The soil for growing seedlings can be prepared in several ways, the main condition is that it is necessary to make a loose mixture. This can be done using loosening components by adding them to sod land, for example, rotted sawdust or peat is suitable. Seedlings grow well in coconut fiber, which contains many useful trace elements.

Soil mix examples:

We take the same amount of peat, rotted humus and soil from the garden. Add 0.5 l wood ash for 10 liters of mixture, two matchbox superphosphate and lightly moisten the mixture with water.

We take the same amount of rotted compost, peat, river sand and garden soil. Dissolve in 10 liters of water 30 g of superphosphate, 10 g of urea and 20 g of potassium sulfate.

You can plant seeds and purchased soil for vegetables, you do not need to add additional additives to it.

After that, you need to prepare a container for growing seedlings. fit plastic cups, wooden boxes or pots, you can buy a mini-greenhouse for growing seedlings.

Tomato is a heat-loving plant, for this reason, choose a warm and well-lit place for it, the temperature suitable for tomato seedlings is 22 degrees Celsius.

Growing tomatoes: when and how to sow

Sowing dates

Sowing in January-February is not worth it, experienced gardeners March is advised as the most suitable month for this. During this period, there is already enough sunlight, the seedlings will develop in the most suitable conditions.

Seedlings can be kept indoors for no more than 60 days, for this reason, sowing dates are calculated depending on the climate of the region. The earliest ripe varieties can be sown in the first decade of April.

Sowing

Sowing seeds is simple, prepared soil is poured into the container, watered and covered with a film. After 5-6 hours, grooves are made in the boxes every 5 cm with a depth of 1 cm, holes are made in the pots. The seeds are carefully lowered into the recesses, it is convenient to do this with a toothpick. Seeds are placed in the grooves after 2 cm, sprinkled with soil and moistened with a sprayer.

In order for the crops to sprout faster, they are covered with a film, after 5-7 days (after the appearance of the first seedlings), the film is removed.

Growing seedlings

Care - important point when growing tomatoes, the first time you need to maintain the temperature in the room with seedlings within 22-23 degrees. If it is necessary to irrigate crops with settled water, rain or snow water can be used for this.

After a week has passed, you need to gradually reduce the temperature until it drops to 17-19 degrees. At this time, it is necessary to carefully ventilate the room without creating drafts. After the appearance of two true leaves on the seedlings, it is necessary to transplant the tomatoes. It is advisable to shorten the main root of the seedling by 1/3 to provoke the growth of lateral roots. If a sunny days is not enough, you need to highlight the seedlings with fluorescent or LED lamps within 18 hours.

In order for the root system of seedlings to develop normally, do not forget to water it about once a week (judged by the state of the soil). If the seedlings began to stretch, it is necessary to lower the temperature and water less often. Before planting in open ground, seedlings are hardened, increasing the ventilation of the room. Then it is desirable to transfer it to a greenhouse and keep it in it for several days. After that, you can plant plants in the ground without fear.

Growing tomatoes: planting seedlings

First of all, it is necessary to moisten the soil well in boxes or pots with seedlings. This will allow you to extract seedlings without problems and reduce the risk of damage to the roots. Holes 10-15 cm deep are prepared on a dug-up bed. They are also watered (for 8 holes 10 liters of water) and rotted humus and mineral fertilizers are applied (in a ratio of 1x3).

1. Turn the container with the seedling over, holding the seedling with the index and middle fingers, and so remove it from the container;

2. Tear off the cotyledon leaves;

3. Lower the plant into the hole without destroying the clod of earth, and cover the roots with compost, the stem of the plant should not be covered;

4. Compact the soil around the plant and sprinkle dry soil on top;

5. After planting the seedlings, the bed is mulched with a layer of 10 cm (you can use newspapers, straw, sawdust, sluggish grass);

After planting tomatoes in the ground, they are not disturbed for 8-10 days, during which time the plants will take root in a new place. At this time, it is unnecessary to water them (watering produced when planting seedlings is enough). It is necessary to protect the tomatoes from possible frosts, for preparing a transparent film, cover the bed with it for the night. After 1.5 weeks, the tomatoes are watered, two weeks after planting, the tomatoes are sprinkled for the first time, the next hilling of the plants is carried out as they grow.

Growing tomatoes in a greenhouse

Features of planting seedlings

In greenhouse conditions, tomato seedlings for rapid development require the creation of certain conditions:

It is necessary to warm the soil before planting seedlings, otherwise the roots will not develop, the plant will take root much worse;

The temperature of the soil should be 12-15 degrees, for this you must first cover the soil with a black film. Also, you can heat the water and pour it into the holes before planting;

When planting tomatoes, they cannot be deeply buried in the ground, the sprinkled stem will give strength to the development of new roots, and the growth of the plant will slow down;

You can not give large doses of nitrogen fertilizers, this can cause the bush to grow shoots and foliage instead of a crop;

Carefully inspect the plant, leaves, yellowed and with signs of illness, remove;

Tomatoes should be planted on a cloudy day or in the evening.

Landing pattern

Tomatoes are grown in a greenhouse, observing a certain scheme of their planting, the beds are made along the length of the greenhouse, with a width of 60-90 cm. How many there will be depends on the width of the greenhouse structure, a space of 60-70 cm is left between the beds. the scheme of their placement, tall ones are grown in one stem, planting after 40-50 cm, 2-3 shoots are left on undersized ones.

Tomato care

Important! Before flowering, tomatoes should be watered every 4-5 days, pouring 4-5 liters per 1 m2. When the tomatoes bloom, they are watered more often per 1 m 2 for 10-13 liters. Plants need to be watered in the morning under the root, it is not worth watering tomatoes in the evening, at this time condensation forms, and drops of water will fall on the tomatoes.

Removal of stepchildren

side shoots growing in the axils of the leaf on tomatoes are called stepchildren. They shade the plant, as a result, diseases develop, the fruits ripen too early. Pinching is a simple operation, you just need to gently break the stepson. It is necessary to do this in the morning so that the wound dries up.

Growing tomatoes in the ground

After they pass spring frosts, tomato seedlings are planted in the garden. This is best done on a cloudy day.. If every day the sun shines brightly, then wait for the evening.

Seedlings are planted in two rows with gaps between them:

For determinant and standard varieties, row spacing - 40-50 cm, in a row - 30-35 cm;

For plants of average row spacing - 50-60 cm, in a row - 40-45 cm.

Square socket method

To facilitate the care of plants, and create optimal conditions for them, you can use this method.

Landing is carried out according to the scheme:

Undersized and standard through 70x70 cm, 2-3 seedlings are planted in each hole;

Varieties are early with a wide bush through 70x70 cm, two seedlings per hole;

Late ripening through 70x70 cm, one seedling per hole.

Tape-nested method

Growing tomatoes using this technology allows you to plant more plants on the same area. Furrows for irrigation with this planting method are made every 1.4 m with row spacing of 60 cm, seedlings are planted along the edges of the furrows. Ideally, for rapid growth seedlings need to leave one tomato on an area of ​​0.3 m2.

On 100 m2, 340-420 seedlings will fit early ripe varieties, and medium and late-ripening 240-290.

Pests and diseases of tomatoes

Blackleg. In diseased seedlings, the root neck becomes thinner, acquires dark color, then this place rots and the seedling dies. Ways to prevent - watering in moderation, seedlings and adult plants should not be planted thickly, seedlings should be watered with Fitosporin-M solution.

late blight. At first, the symptoms are practically not noticeable, treatments "after" are able to save only a small amount of harvest. For this reason, disease prevention is important. Low temperatures night and day with high humidity optimal conditions for the development of the disease. In the soil before picking, add a tablet of Glyocladin per pot. You can use folk struggle- a glass of garlic, grind, dilute in a bucket of water, spend 0.5 l of the composition per 1 m2.

Mosaic. A disease of tomato of viral origin, the bulk of modern varieties are resistant to the disease. The leaves of the plant wrinkle and curl, chlorotic areas appear on them. Sick plants are uprooted and burned. For prevention, seedlings are treated with skimmed milk every 10 days (1 liter of milk per bucket of water, then 10 g of urea are added).

fruit cracking. Damage resulting from a sudden change in soil moisture. The skin cells rupture due to the rapid increase in pressure inside the fruit. The method of struggle is stable watering at certain intervals.

Gnawing shovel. At night, caterpillars 30-40 mm long injure leaves and stems. The method of struggle is the manual collection of caterpillars, deep digging of the site and extermination of weeds.

Slugs. Mollusks that gnaw on the ovaries and edges of the leaves mainly harm indirectly, opening the way for various infections. Against them, the soil is dusted with lime or harvested by hand in the dark.

Medvedka. An insect growing up to 50-80 mm long, with well-marked digging paws. An infusion is used against it hot pepper- add 150 g of hot pepper passed through a meat grinder to a bucket of water, withstand the composition for two days. In the moves noticeable in the garden, pour 0.5 liters of infusion. Do not leave heaps of manure or compost on the site for the winter, the pest likes to winter in them.

You have appeared land plot and with it an irresistible desire to grow vegetables and, in particular, tomatoes? We welcome the birth of a beginner gardener, but first we offer to get some information about what tomatoes are, the cultivation and care of which you have to master.

Tomato (tomato) is a native of South America and related to Typically annual, but indoors and aged optimal conditions, it is able to grow and bear fruit for several years.

In our country, it is customary to classify tomatoes into three subspecies: non-standard (ordinary), large-leaved, standard. We grow plants, mainly of the first variety.

Landing and caring for them should be carried out strictly guided by a certain set of recommendations. Tomatoes are very demanding on light. If it is not enough, then the leaves will begin to turn pale, the buds will fall off, and the stems will stretch strongly and the overall growth of the plant will slow down, this should be especially taken into account when growing tomatoes in a greenhouse or caring for seedlings in a room.

The need for water in tomatoes is quite large, at the same time, this plant is drought-resistant. When the temperature drops, watering should be stopped completely, even if the soil moisture is insufficient. At the onset of mass ripening of fruits, it is recommended to stop watering altogether, especially for varieties with limited growth - in this case, the harvest will ripen amicably and the quality of the fruits will increase.

A distinctive feature of a tomato is that it requires low air humidity, this factor should be taken into account, otherwise the risk of plant damage by diseases increases sharply, and pollination of flowers worsens, which will affect the quality and quantity of the crop in the future.

If you are growing tomatoes in open ground, chemical composition which is unknown, it should be remembered that the main mineral elements for plant nutrition are nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.

Nitrogen promotes growth, if it is not enough - plants grow slowly, and the leaves are pale green color. If there is an excess of nitrogen, then a process called fattening is observed - the stems become very powerful, the leaves become dark green, the plants begin to bloom late, and the fruits ripen for a long time.

Phosphorus actively influences the development of fruiting organs. Tomatoes are especially sensitive to the lack of this mineral at seedling age, then the leaves are painted in purple.

Potassium is the most consumed by tomatoes, it is especially needed during the period of fruit growth. A sign of its deficiency is the curling of the leaves, which can be mistaken for the beginning of the development of late blight.

The main trace elements that have a huge impact on the growth and development of tomatoes are manganese, copper, sulfur and magnesium.

When planning to plant tomatoes on the site, the cultivation and care of which involves harvesting a good harvest, due attention should be paid to the selection of suitable seeds. It should be decided whether seeds are required for open or closed ground and which ones are better to choose - varietal or hybrid, since there is a certain difference between these two concepts.

A variety is a plant bred by man, with certain and uniform morphological and biological characteristics, preserved and transmitted by resowing from generation to generation for many years. A hybrid is obtained by crossing different varieties plants, purposefully selected. Hybrid plants are more productive, resistant to diseases, have the same height, and the fruits, within the inflorescence, are aligned in size and color.

But no matter what kind of tomatoes you plant, growing and caring for them will bring you pleasure and positive energy, especially during the harvest period. And you can cook a great many dishes from these delicious vegetables, make preparations for the winter and even make jam.