Growing tomatoes indoors is dictated not only by the agroclimatic conditions of certain regions, where a prolonged spring and short summer make it impossible to plant them outdoors. Compliance with the technology of cultivation of vegetables in greenhouses (fertilizing, and the use of plant protection systems) can increase the profitability of tomato production.
Features of growing tomatoes in the greenhouse
For indoor cultivation, tomatoes are cultivated as follows: Intensive cultivation. They need a large amount of nutrients for good flowering and prolonged fruiting. Prepare the soil in advance. It is saturated with calcium, because the element is responsible for flowering, prevents the development of blackleg, phytophthora. Calcium nitrate solution is used. Also under re-cultivation make azofoska, which contains nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.
Tomatoes grow well in light clay and sandy loam soil with a loose structure. Soil types are good at retaining moisture and keeping the soil from drying out. To increase the aeration and moisture-holding qualities if necessary, peat or sawdust is added to clay soil, and only peat is added to sandy soil.
Fertilizer
Tomatoes are demanding to the conditions of mineral nutrition. At the beginning of the development of elements consumption is low – the plants enough of the substances used in the treatment of soil before planting seedlings. Since the root system of tomatoes in the initial stages of development poorly absorbs phosphorus, especially at low soil temperatures, you should carefully apply nitrogen. Macronutrient stimulates the growth of green mass to the detriment of flowering and ovary formation.
Nutrient consumption peaks during the fruiting phase, when the basic fertilizer action is already complete. At this time you need a water-soluble complex fertilizer. Since tomatoes react very strongly to a lack of one of these elements, the concentration must be chosen very carefully.
Ratio of major macronutrients in feedings at different phases of tomato development:
Stage | N : P : K |
After planting seedlings (twice) | 1 : 5 : 1 |
Further growth | 1 : 0,8 : 1 |
Flowering 5-6 brushes (twice) | 1 : 5 : 1 |
ovary formation | 1 : 0,5 :: 1,7 |
Fruit ripening | 1 : 0,5 : 2,1 |
A side note!In our opinion, it is effective to use pure, ballast-free mineral fertilizers with micronutrients in chelated form.
Fertilizer application is combined with irrigation. Spend them so that the soil under the plants remains wet all the time, but not wet. With an excess of liquid, the soil gets sour, the development of fungal diseases begins. Use warm water – above 16-18 °C. The optimal method of irrigation with the addition of fertilizer to the irrigation liquid – drip. In this case the water and nutrient complexes will go to the tomatoes strictly dosed.
Tomato pest control
Tomatoes suffer from pests at all stages of development. The latter cause damage to seedlings, adult plants that have entered the fruiting phase. Failure to act can cost the entire crop or a significant portion of it.
Moth caterpillars
The small pest (3-4 cm) causes damage mostly at night. Caterpillars feed on leaves, tomato shoots.To prevent their appearance on tomatoes, weeds are regularly weeded around bushes and sprayed the plantings with infusions:
From the tomato foliage. Put 3-4 kg of crushed raw materials in a bucket, pour 10 liters of water, boil for half an hour, strain and dilute with water in the proportion of 1 : 3.
From wormwood. Take 3 kg of fresh chopped grass, pour 10 liters of water, boil on low heat for 20 minutes. Let cool, strain and start treatment.
If caterpillar feeding is noted, with their small number pest is removed manually. It is safe for humans and plants to use the biopreparation. Prepare the solution from 50g of Arrow and 10 liters of water.
Wireworms
They are also the larvae of the click beetle. Insects do more damage at larval age. They lead a hidden life, feeding mainly on the roots. But can also cause damage to the stems. Entered the protected ground with organic fertilizers.To make sure they are present and to carry out preventive measures to protect the plants, resort to a simple technique before picking tomatoes:
Cut stakes of length 15-20 cm
Put pieces of potato, carrot or beet on them.
Bury the bait in the soil to a depth of 10-12 cm.
After 2 to 3 days dig them out carefully.
If a pest is present, incinerate the vegetables along with the wireworm.
Bazudin” demonstrates a good result against wireworms. It is used together with sawdust or sand. Prepare a mixture, which is buried near each tomato. In order to reduce the number of the pest, the soil before planting is regularly recultivated and insects are picked out by hand. Mineral fertilizers help to reduce the population.
Gall nematode
The main danger of the pest, in our opinion, is the inability to see it with the naked eye. The worm’s food base is the roots of the crop. A sign of vital activity is the formation of bloats and outgrowths on them.
For preventive purposes, structures and soil are disinfected, and when picking tomatoes, a tablet of Gliokladin is put into each hole. In the course of plant development, apply “Ecogel” solution to the soil at intervals of 15 days. Dosage and method of preparation are listed on the packaging. When the entire soil is infested with nematodes, and the number of the pest is growing, resort to the use of the drug “Basamil”.
Medvedka
A polyphagous pest causes damage to plants in all growing conditions. The insect is big: the body length of an adult specimen reaches 10 cm. Eggs are laid in the nests in the soil at a depth of 10-15 cm. When the larvae hatch, they damage the root system of plants.
Pests like damp soil. As a preventive measure, in our opinion, should observe moderation in watering. In the case of finding the moves in each pour 2 cups of vinegar or half a liter of infusion of hot pepper. Prepare it in advance of 150 grams of crushed vegetables and 10 liters of water, the mixture insist 3 days. Insecticides can help with a large number of the pest: “Grom”, “Medetox”.
Spider mite
Microscopic insect feeding on plant sap. Gradually the bush becomes weaker, the leaves start to wither and fall off. These pests live only in dry environments. In our opinion, in a protected ground their appearance is caused by insufficient watering and poor air circulation. If the insect does infest the culture, tomatoes are sprayed with a solution of “Fitoverma” – 10 ml per 10 liters of water. Not only plants should be treated, but also the soil under them. After spraying, be sure to adjust the humidity indicators, otherwise the spider mite will reappear.
Whitefly
Plants are harmed by larvae feeding on the cell sap of leaves and young shoots. They leave feces, on which a black plaque of sooty fungus forms. As a result, the disease develops, and tomatoes dry up and die.
To destroy the pest resort to spraying bushes and soil with a solution of “Citcor” or “Fosbecid” – 15 and 10 ml per 10 liters of water, respectively. Suitable time for treatment – early morning or evening, after sunset. With mass infestation, spraying is carried out again after 15-20 days.
Disease Protection
Fungal diseases develop under favorable conditions and can affect plants at any stage, as well as pests. Neither seedlings nor adult bushes are immune from infection. Only timely treatment will help to save sick plants.
Blackleg
Sprouts are susceptible to the disease. Manifestation – blackening of the stem base, thinning, lodging. In the absence of protective measures die all seedlings. For prevention, seedlings are kicked out of decontaminated seeds. Before picking tomatoes in closed soil, it is also disinfected: they are poured with a solution of “Fitosporin” prepared from 1 tbsp. l. Product per bucket of water. The working liquid is enough for an area of 1 sq. m.
Phytophthorosis
Appearance of brown spots on fruits, leaves and stems signals the development of the most common disease on tomatoes. Infestation of the plant by fungal spores occurs in conditions of high humidity and air temperatures. As it is very difficult to cure the plants,In our opinion, you need to pay maximum attention to the prevention of phytophthora:
Observe the correct regime of watering the plants;
Regularly ventilate the room;
Treat the substratum before sowing the seedlings and the soil where the seedlings are pickled.
To treat the soil in the boxes is suitable solution of “Trichodermin” (5 g of the drug per 5 liters of soil). The substrate of greenhouse beds before transplanting the seedlings is poured with a solution of 1 tablet Gamair and 1 tablet Alirin per 10 liters of water – enough for an area of 10 m².
As it grows, prophylactic spraying continues. Use the same pills “Gamair” and “Alirin”, but the concentration increases by dissolving them in 1 liter of water. In order to prevent the development of the disease resort to the folk remedy – garlic infusion. It is prepared from 1 cup crushed cloves of the vegetable, 10 liters of warm water, 1 g of potassium permanganate. After a thorough stirring the product is ready for use.
Cladosporiosis
The second name – brown spot. The disease develops in conditions of high humidity and low temperature. Appears as brown spots with velvety patches on the underside of the leaf. They increase in size, merge. Over time, the affected leaves die off and fall off.
To prevent the disease, bushes and soil under them are sprayed with a solution of “Fitosporin-M” (3 hours). l. 10 liters of water). Repeat the treatment every 2 weeks. The maximum amount of watering with the means – 4. With intensive development fungicides help: “Hom” (30-40 g per 10 liters of water) or copper chloroxide.
Rot
Too much nitrogen in the soil and high humidity are the main reasons of these diseases. Planting varieties intended for indoor cultivation in a greenhouse helps to avoid plant infestation by rots. They tend to have a high tolerance to these diseases.
If the signs still manifested, remove an organ or the entire bush, healthy plants are sprayed with a solution of “Fitosporin-M”, prepared according to the instructions. The soil is poured with a solution of the same drug, but the concentration is doubled.
Fruit cracking
This disease has a physiological origin and can not be treated with drugs. Skin tears as a result of sudden changes in soil moisture levels in the greenhouse, unable to withstand the pressure of excess moisture in the fruit tissues. Avoiding the problem is easy: just adjust the regime of watering.
To grow tomatoes in the greenhouse, you can not neglect the application of fertilizers and the use of a protection system. Timely treatment – the key to an abundant harvest of quality fruits.
