Rules for watering tomatoes in a polycarbonate greenhouse and in the open field

Tomatoes can be safely attributed to unpretentious crops - they develop and give a decent harvest, even when the owner pays little attention to them. However, such “orphans” bear poorly, the quality of the fruit leaves much to be desired. Knowing how to properly water tomatoes in a greenhouse or in open beds, summer residents do not just collect high yields. Timely supplied moisture helps assimilation of nutrients, protects plant health, and minimizes the need to use chemicals.

The main rules for watering tomatoes

Summer residents who have been growing tomatoes in greenhouses and in open beds for many years believe that tomatoes grown in moist (approximately 85-90%) soil develop and give full-fledged fruits. It should be remembered that excess moisture impairs the quality of the crop (fruit cracking, a large number of barren flowers, susceptibility to diseases).

To prevent the problems associated with under- or waterlogging from depriving the crop, a number of rules have been developed. If you follow all the points exactly, tomatoes in the beds will withstand all the weather tests with honor and will thank the summer resident with excellent fruits.

How often should tomatoes be watered?

The timing of the procedure on unprotected and greenhouse beds is different, due to the special microclimate of the greenhouses.

Watering frequency outdoors

The basic rule regulates the frequency of watering soil tomatoes: rarely, but abundantly. Compliance with this postulate is extremely important during the period from planting seedlings to the beginning of the formation of the first ovaries. The need for irrigation is determined only by visual control: drooping, slightly darkened foliage means that the plants need moisture.

How many times to water tomatoes, the weather tells. Roughly, irrigation is carried out in 3-4 days, assessing the moisture content of the earth: its upper layer needs to dry slightly between procedures. If summer spoils with precipitation, the frequency of moisture supply is reduced.

The varietal characteristics of the culture are also taken into account:

• for undersized varieties, watering is reduced with the onset of ripening, and when the fruits begin to turn brown, they stop altogether;
• tall tomatoes are watered constantly in one mode - every 4 days.

The rate of water consumption is 5 liters for a low-growing bush, 10 liters for a high one.

The first irrigation of seedlings after planting on the beds is carried out only after 10-14 days. Water added to the hole during planting will support the plant until then. The root system, in search of a source of moisture, will grow deeper, which will make it more powerful, capable of independently supplying the plant with nutrients without difficulty.

Watering frequency for greenhouse tomatoes

It is recommended to water greenhouse tomatoes every 3-4 days, giving each of them 5 liters of water. More abundant irrigation will only harm the plants: evaporating moisture does not leave the room, creating a favorable environment for the spread of fungal infections.

Irrigation frequency and water volume do not depend on the height of the bushes and the material of the greenhouse. In a film, glazed, polycarbonate or simple greenhouse, tomatoes are provided with moisture according to the same rules.

When organizing watering for greenhouse tomatoes, take into account the stage of vegetative development.

1. After planting, the seedlings are fed into the greenhouse with water daily in reduced doses, 2 liters per bush.
2. Fully rooted seedlings are watered after 3-4 days, but to a greater extent: there is an active growth of shoots and leaves. Frequent watering allows the roots to grow in the near-surface zone of the beds, because of this, the tomatoes will be weak, painful. The irrigation period is determined by the condition of the soil: the top layer dried out by 4-5 cm must be irrigated.
3. When flowering or setting fruits, both excess and insufficient moisture are equally harmful - this leads to dropping flowers, ovaries. The recommended frequency of water supply is once a week, 5 liters per bush. If the soil does not have time to dry out between irrigations according to this schedule, the interval is increased by 2-3 days.
4. Ripening, gaining color tomatoes are given less moisture, otherwise they lose their inherent aroma, the taste deteriorates. They are irrigated every 10 days, the amount of water supplied is 5-6 liters per bush. If the soil does not dry out, water it 1-2 days later.
5. After removing the fruits from the bottom of the bush, the amount of moisture is reduced - 4 liters per plant. The main part of the leaves has already been harvested, the growth of the apical parts is limited, therefore, a lot of water is not required. For tall tomatoes, the amount of watering is left the same.
6. When the last fruits of the upper brushes remain on the bushes to ripen, watering is completely abandoned.

What water to water tomatoes - warm or cold?

It is categorically impossible to irrigate a thermophilic crop with cold water, especially with undisturbed tap water - in addition to chlorine, it contains a lot of salts, which makes it unsuitable for irrigation in general.

Rainwater warmed by the sun is ideal for irrigation. If it is difficult to store it, they defend and soften tap water. To soften, use natural remedies - a handful of manure, a small amount of compost, a bunch of non-seeded weeds.

2 pinches of ash, added to 10 liters of water, soften the water in a day, while the plants will receive additional nutrition and protection from insects and diseases.

When is the best time to water tomatoes - in the morning or in the evening?

The early morning or sunset hours are considered the best time for watering all horticultural crops. But tomatoes have their own whims.

• Watering tomatoes in the open field should be in the evening, when the heat of the day subsides. Watering is most acceptable 2-3 hours before dark.
• Water is added to greenhouse tomatoes early in the morning, when there are 3-4 hours before the heat of the day. Water will have time to be completely absorbed into the soil, and therefore the change in moisture will be minimal. Watering greenhouses in the evening not only increases air humidity, but also increases the risk of developing fungal diseases. Also, plants growing in protected ground consume more moisture in the midday hours.

Should tomatoes be watered in cold weather?

The state of the weather does not affect the frequency and volume of watering greenhouse tomatoes, the procedure is carried out according to the regulations. It is only possible to transfer the watering time to the middle of the day: by this time the water will have time to warm up enough.

This is not the case outdoors. The moisture supplied to the root system of plants additionally cools it, inhibiting inter-tissue metabolism. The situation provokes the development of various diseases, primarily fungal. Therefore, the lower the air temperature, the less water the tomatoes need, up to the complete cessation of watering until the heat returns.

If the air temperature drops below 20 ° С, and there is no precipitation, tomatoes are watered once a week with warm (22-24 ° С) water. In warm weather, 18-20 ° C is a sufficient water temperature for irrigation.

Watering methods

There is no big difference in the organization of irrigation of ground and greenhouse tomatoes. There are several ways.

Manual

Pour from ordinary watering cans with a shower head.Water is poured exclusively under the root, making sure that the soil is not washed out and drops do not fall on the leaves.

From the hose

To optimize irrigation, grooves are dug in the aisles and along the perimeter of the beds, where water is supplied until all the depressions are filled, making the tomatoes a swamp.

The method is convenient, but has a number of significant disadvantages:

• the water comes to the roots too cold, this can lead to the fall of flowers, ovaries;
• under the bushes, the humidity of the air rises sharply, which, coupled with a low night temperature, increases the risk of spreading infections;
• often the soil surface is covered with a dense crust, which makes it difficult for air to reach the roots;
• for greenhouses, hose irrigation is not applicable, since the air humidity after irrigation is much higher than the norm.

Drip bottle

A plastic bottle is added to each bush, stepping back 15-20 cm from it, at an angle. The neck with the stopper is deepened by 10 cm, 1–2 mm holes are preliminarily made in the stopper. The bottom is cut off so that it is convenient to add water, leaving part of it to reduce water evaporation.

The number of holes in the caps and their size depend on the type of soil: for sandstone, a couple of small holes are enough, for dense clay, 3-4 holes with a diameter of 2 mm are made. Special attachments that have appeared on the shelves of garden stores greatly simplify the task.

The ingenious physicians have improved the bottle irrigation method, adapting used systems for intravenous infusion to supply moisture. For summer residents who are not related to medicine, this method can be expensive if a large number of tomatoes are planted.

The method has a lot of advantages:

• moisture is supplied directly to the roots;
• no wasteful moisture loss due to evaporation;
• less water is spent - this is important for areas that are not equipped with a water supply;
• add water at any time of the day;
• the top layer of the soil remains dry, which prevents the spread of fungal diseases;
• liquid top dressing can be applied, significantly saving on fertilizers.

Drip irrigation of tomatoes in the greenhouse

An ideal solution for irrigating greenhouse plantings of all crops, especially if the greenhouse area is large. Advantages of the method:

• moisture enters the soil directly to the roots of tomatoes;
• there is no need to take into account the time of day;
• the possibility of soil erosion is excluded;
• it is possible to apply dressings simultaneously with water;
• air humidity remains unchanged;
• the surface of the earth remains dry, which prevents the development of diseases.

The drip irrigation device is a system of hoses with small holes, a water supply regulator, a reservoir. Many summer residents successfully use not industrial production systems in their greenhouses, but hand made, which is much cheaper.

Drip irrigation systems are also installed on open beds.

Is it possible not to water the tomatoes at all?

Such a technique exists, and the premise for its development was the assumption that regular watering slows down the development of the root system in depth. It is believed that the tomatoes left to themselves, or rather their roots, in search of moisture and nutrients, will actively grow, as happens in their natural environment. Such bushes are stronger, more hardy, and the fruits on them are tastier.

To grow tomatoes using waterless technology, it is important to plant the seedlings correctly.

1. The wells are filled with half a bucket of compost, two handfuls of ash, add a few crystals of potassium permanganate, pour 1/2 bucket of water.
2. The bottom 4 leaves of the seedlings are cut off and laid horizontally in the hole, orienting the tops to the north. Before planting, seedlings without an earthen coma are dipped in a clay mash and sprinkled with dry earth.
3. Pegs are immediately installed and seedlings are tied to them, dry soil is poured 5 cm.
4. The planted seedlings are watered abundantly - half a bucket for each plant

Summer residents, who have tried this method on their plots, warn: sometimes it can be mistaken for the impression that the plants are dying of thirst, but after a while they completely recover and develop well.

In this way, tomatoes are grown even on unsuitable soils for them, if the groundwater does not lie deeper than 1.8–2.0 m.

Regular watering of tomatoes must be accompanied mulching, so less water will evaporate, a dry dense bark will not form in the root area, in extreme heat the roots of plants will not suffer from overheating.

All these rules just seem complicated. In fact, the consistent implementation of them is easy for beginners, and the result will certainly bring joy and pride.