A gardener's dream is an abundance of tomatoes grown with his own hands. What subtleties should you pay attention to when growing tomatoes, and how to avoid mistakes in order to get a generous harvest, will be discussed in this article.
Seed selection
Which is better - variety or hybrid? To answer this question it is important to know what the difference is. A variety is characteristics characteristic of a group of plants that are passed on to the next generation. Hybrids are obtained by genetic crossing of different forms, are marked with the F1 symbol on the bags, have better characteristics, but are not able to produce seeds. The varieties will give taste and aroma, but few fruits will set. The hybrid is resistant to diseases, pests and 100% yield.
IMPORTANT – Do not buy seeds from unfamiliar merchants.
Landing location
Many gardeners do not see the difference between a greenhouse and open ground, planting seedlings of greenhouse varieties in a summer cottage, and those intended for open conditions in a greenhouse. As a result, a third of the harvest is lost. For tomatoes grown in the garden, choose sunny places.
Seedling
There is no need to rush to sow seedlings in February for planting in open ground. To prevent the shoots from aging, it is recommended to do sowing 40-50 days in advance. Seeds cannot be sown in garden soil. For tomatoes for seedlings, it is better to prepare the soil mixture in the fall. To do this, take equal parts of forest or compost soil, humus, sand, and a little ash.
The soil
You need to plant seedlings in open ground when the ground has warmed up enough. It is better to plant where cucumbers, onions or carrots previously grew, preferably next to strawberries, to improve taste and increase yield. To prevent tomatoes from getting late blight, do not plant them where potatoes or peppers grew. After 4-5 years, the tomatoes are transplanted to another area for recovery.
Watering
If it is possible to organize drip irrigation, then this is an ideal option for moistening the soil and creating comfortable conditions for growth. The root system of tomatoes requires heavy watering and, please note, the water must be warm. Pouring cold water from a hose from above onto the bushes means losing part of the harvest. If there is too much moisture, tomatoes get sick.
People say: “Tomatoes like dry heads, but wet feet.”
Formation of plants
Vegetable growers often feel sorry for removing powerful side shoots and pinching the top. The bushes gratefully grow in breadth and height, and do not bear fruit. During the growth process, when the fourth brush has formed and two leaves have appeared, then after it the stem is pinched, removing the growth point. Don't be late with this process.
Feeding
Many people are fond of feeding with mullein or chicken droppings, guided by the principle “it can’t get any worse.” Will! If tomatoes fatten, the process cannot be stopped. The main achievement will be large leaves instead of fruits. It is better to pay attention to the symptoms of magnesium deficiency in order to feed with a 5% solution of magnesium sulfate in time. Try to adhere to the correct dosages and timing of various fertilizers.
Removing leaves
In addition to removing the shoots, also ruthlessly remove all leaves up to the first cluster and higher up the stem, as the fruit sets, remove all but one leaf between the clusters. Remember to do this regularly, keeping in mind that you can only remove three or four sheets at a time.
Garter
Not all tomatoes can “hold themselves” during fruit development, plus weather conditions play a factor. In addition to low-growing varieties of tomatoes, it is imperative to tie up the bushes so that they do not break under the weight of the fruit.
Disease Prevention
Remember to treat the plants every 10-12 days. This must be done both in the greenhouse and in the beds, preferably with biological preparations or other safe means.
Apply these tips, don’t forget to give them your love and care, and your tomatoes will delight you with a generous harvest.
First I shake, so that it RISES... then, so that it GROWS... then, so that nothing EATS... Phew, finally, it ROLLED! If only it didn't explode...
