Late blight is a dangerous disease that often affects tomatoes. When exposed to the fungus, not only bushes are affected, but also fruits. Phytophthora often begins to develop on tomatoes in August, when the nights become cold and heavy dew falls. To preserve the harvest, experienced gardeners use some tricks to speed up the ripening of fruits.
Removing lower leaves and inflorescences
The procedure can be carried out starting from the second half of July. Removing the lower leaves on tomatoes provides several benefits:
- nutrients are directed to the development of fruits;
- the bare lower tier promotes better ventilation of the bush;
- the risk of plant infection by fungus and bacterial diseases is reduced.
It is necessary to pick off all the leaves below the first fruit cluster. At the same time, stepsons and newly appearing flowers are removed from the bushes.
The fruits will not have time to form and fully ripen before the arrival of cold weather, so leaving the buds and ovaries does not make sense. For tall varieties, you need to pinch the crown. In this case, the plant will direct its forces to ripening the existing fruits.
Changing the watering and fertilizing regime
During the period of mass ripening of fruits, it is necessary to gradually reduce watering and then stop it completely. With this mode, the tomatoes will be meaty and sweet.Excess moisture reduces the sugar concentration in fruits. Sudden changes in humidity are also unacceptable, as this can cause the tomatoes to crack.
To maintain moisture in the soil, the ground under the bushes can be mulched with hay. Dry grass also contains special bacteria that are destructive to late blight. It is strictly forbidden to apply nitrogen-based fertilizers at this stage. The best fertilizer to accelerate the ripening of tomatoes is potassium humate. A 0.2% concentration of humate solution is added to the soil. The fertilizing solution should be poured strictly at the root.
Spraying bushes with iodine solution
Spraying tomatoes with iodine solution helps stop the development of late blight and at the same time promotes accelerated ripening of fruits. Prepare a solution by diluting 30–40 drops of pharmaceutical tincture of iodine in 10 liters of water. The composition must be used immediately after preparation.
The solution is applied from a spray bottle, capturing both the upper and back parts of the leaf plates. The composition should also reach the lower part of the stem. It is better to carry out the procedure in the early evening, so that the bushes have time to dry before nightfall. Do not exceed the dosage of iodine, otherwise burns will appear on the leaves.
With the help of these simple measures, you will be able to achieve the desired goal - the tomatoes will begin to ripen en masse. It is not recommended to leave ripe fruits on the bushes. It has been noticed: if you pick the first reddened tomato, the rest will quickly turn red.
Please tell me how to deal with blossom end rot on tomatoes?