Do-it-yourself drip irrigation for tomatoes. Growing tomatoes and their drip irrigation in a greenhouse

Drip irrigation for tomatoes in the greenhouse provides essential nutrients and is one of the most effective irrigation methods. Compliance with the rules of care is the key to getting a good harvest when growing tomatoes. The organization of proper watering is very important here.

Knowing how to properly water tomatoes in a greenhouse can significantly improve tomato yield. Solanaceae need moist soil, but at the same time it is necessary to exclude the ingress of water on the leaves. Watering tomatoes in a greenhouse made of polycarbonate or other material is necessary, preventing soil erosion. Therefore, irrigation is carried out necessarily at the root.

If it's cool outside, you need to warm up the water. In hot weather, avoid excessive heating of the water. Uniform watering is a guarantee that nightshades do not overheat due to fumes from the leaves. The best time to water the plants is in the morning.

How often you water the tomatoes in the greenhouse depends on the growing season the crop is in. For example, seedlings must be well irrigated with water at least 2 days before picking. Then the seedlings respond well to transplanting. After 4 days, the procedure is repeated.

When planting seedlings in a greenhouse, it is necessary to ensure the flow of 4-5 liters of water to each hole. Repeat watering no earlier than 1 week later.

During the period of intensive growth, water the crop as needed, as the soil dries out. 1 bush requires up to 3 liters of water 1 time in 3 days. When flowering begins, it is necessary to irrigate the plants 1-2 times a week. On average, 1 bush needs about 5 liters of liquid.

With the beginning of fruiting, watering should not be very frequent, but the amount of water for 1 watering should be increased. The temperature of the liquid is recommended around + 20 ° С, but not more than + 23 ° С.

Watering tomatoes in a polycarbonate greenhouse should be done twice a week. Moreover, the best option would be to use rainwater.

Tomatoes do not like high humidity, therefore, after each irrigation, you need to immediately open the windows in the greenhouse. Leaving a barrel of water in the structure, do not forget to cover it with plastic wrap.

For the tomatoes to ripen sooner, irrigation should be stopped about 20 days before harvest.

You can water tomatoes in different ways. There are several ways:

The cheapest and simplest at the same time - using ordinary plastic bottles without a cap with a cut-off bottom, which are dug in near all the bushes. This will allow the water to flow directly to the roots.
You can also pour tomatoes with an ordinary hose. But with all the prevalence of this option, it has significant disadvantages: the risk of breaking the plants, the inability to dose the amount of water for irrigation.
You can use a plastic or galvanized bucket or bucket. With the dosing of water in this option, everything is in order, but not all gardeners can afford to carry heavy filled buckets.
Drip irrigation of tomatoes in a greenhouse or greenhouse will allow you to set the irrigation parameters yourself. Also, this option eliminates the need to use physical force, which is already an undoubted advantage.

Features and Benefits

The use of drippers for irrigation allows you to ensure an even flow and movement of water at any point in the system due to the creation of the same pressure. The volume of water that flows out of the structures can be set yourself.

The droppers are placed right next to the beds, so the liquid is directed in uniform streams directly to the roots.

Installing such a system in a greenhouse with your own hands is not an insoluble task and does not require special skills and abilities. Using the system in greenhouse conditions solves the problem of weed removal due to the direction of water flows strictly according to the intended purpose.

For a long and trouble-free operation of the system, the fluid must be cleaned using a filter.

Drip irrigation of tomatoes in a greenhouse as an irrigation method has gone from devices built into the hose to droppers that are inside the hose. These are the so-called compensation systems that allow you to organize irrigation in areas with difficult terrain.

The main types of droppers today are katif and supertyff.Their differences are that katif is used in flexible hoses with a wall thickness not exceeding 1.5 cm, and supertyf allows you to organize high-precision watering of several bushes using a special device for branching water flows.

Installation and operation

Despite the differences in application, there is a lot in common in the installation of drip irrigation devices.

Before installing a drip system in a greenhouse as the main method of irrigation, it is necessary to carefully study the rules for installing and using the structure. Competent connection guarantees long and trouble-free operation of the drip irrigation system.

First, let's look at the connection of a katif-type device.

Before watering tomatoes in the greenhouse, you should fix the device in the hose yourself. This is done as follows: holes of the required diameter with necessarily even edges are cut in the hose. Next, proceed to the installation of the droppers directly. Installation requires sufficient effort. It is necessary to achieve a snug fit of the tube, so it is better to entrust this work to strong male hands. Once installed in all holes, the irrigation system is ready for use.

Supertyff is installed in the same way. The tube, which will be responsible for the flow of water to the tomatoes, is put on the outlet of the device. A special end, designed to direct the flow of water to the required place, is put on one of the sides of the tube. It is placed in the soil near the plant to be watered. The set includes a special holder, used in case of too long an additional tube.

An important advantage of the Supertif type dropper is the presence of a special device for branching water flows in 4 different directions. Three tubes with special tips installed on such a device will allow watering 4 tomato bushes at once at the same time.

You can independently choose the performance of the system and the direction of irrigation.

DIY drip irrigation

If buying ready-made devices for a drip irrigation system is not suitable for financial or other reasons, you can create a similar system in a greenhouse with your own hands using medical droppers. You need to find a pipe with a diameter of 20 mm with a wall thickness of 2 mm. Then cut it according to the size of the beds, make holes in it every half a meter. Medical droppers need to be fixed in the pipe, and the amount of water can be adjusted using the wheels that are on such devices.

Such a system is a really economical and practical option for creating an inexpensive drip irrigation system in greenhouse conditions. However, you can make such a design in a greenhouse, the costs will be even less.

Before starting installation work, it is recommended to plan well the length of the system, the location of the water supply through which the water will be supplied (it is preferable to put it perpendicular to the tomato rows). Longer lengths increase the risk of irregular irrigation.

It will not be superfluous to make a drawing of the site and fix all the elements of the landscape on it, this will make it possible to correctly and conveniently place the greenhouse and the irrigation system.

Drip irrigation of tomatoes in a greenhouse is an opportunity to organize a convenient and efficient irrigation system. Its use will not only facilitate the hard work of the gardener, but also make it possible to harvest an excellent harvest of tomatoes with minimal investment of time and effort.

Experienced summer residents organize do-it-yourself drip irrigation from plastic bottles for tomatoes, since water in the garden and in the garden is an essential item.

Irrigation methods depend on the size of the plot and the number of vegetables growing. The most economical drip irrigation using flexible containers. It requires little water pressure and is used for growing tomatoes in the greenhouse.

Container for creating an irrigation system

For do-it-yourself drip irrigation from plastic bottles for a tomato, you need to prepare the following tools and materials:

flasks of various capacities;
foam rubber;
awl or nail;
scissors;
supports for hanging bottles;
flexible cocktail tubes;
toothpicks;
Scotch;
sealant;
burlap.

Watering tomatoes in a greenhouse using a hand-made device involves observing some rules. The most convenient for work are 2-liter containers. For watering a large area, you will need a container of 5 liters.

To prevent water loss, make several holes in the bottle with a diameter of 1-1.5 mm. Gardeners note that during operation, the flasks are clogged with soil particles, so they are wrapped in pieces of burlap.

To ensure watering of plants located in a small area, the amount of flexible containers required is calculated. Reduces water consumption and improves irrigation quality. The correct ratio between the number of containers and the number of plants.

Gardeners use 1 jar to water 1 plant. The amount of liquid needed to irrigate tomatoes is calculated based on the type of soil, climatic conditions, and the frequency of watering.

Moisture consumption increases in hot weather as it evaporates intensively. A self-made structure is installed in the soil during planting seedlings.

The bottle is buried in the ground at a distance of 15-20 cm from the seedlings. Watering with plastic containers does not damage even the smallest plants, ensures soil permeability by 30-40 cm.

Installing the sprayer with the cover facing down

Watering tomatoes begins with the installation of a plastic flask with small holes near the roots of the plant. The container is filled with settled water heated by the sun.

Dig a hole at a distance of 15 cm, insert a flexible container so that the lid is at the bottom, and sprinkle it with a little earth.
Water enters the soil slowly and does not damage the seedlings. Experienced gardeners place the flask in a small nylon bag so that the soil does not penetrate the hole in the cork.
Summer residents do not use drip irrigation if sandy soil prevails on the site, since water quickly comes out of the bottle. The flow of liquid is regulated by turning the flask to the side.

Water consumption is reduced by mulching the soil around the plants with grass or black film. The rate at which liquid flows to the roots of the seedlings depends on the capacity of the bottle.
Adult plants are irrigated once a week in several doses. Drip irrigation protects tomatoes from late blight disease.
The main disadvantage of this method is that it becomes difficult to fill the bottle with water from a hose, since it has a diameter larger than that of the bottle neck.

Upgrading the device
Gardeners often improve the drip irrigation system. The plastic container is fixed over the canister. With a significant consumption of liquid in the tank, it is possible to restore the water level with the help of a bottle. Watering a tomato in a greenhouse through plastic bottles is not used for tall plants.

A 5 liter bottle is mounted under the tomato bushes in the greenhouse, into which water comes from the barrel. Several holes with a diameter of 1-2 mm are burned in the container with a nail. A plastic container is dug into the ground.
The needle from the blood transfusion system is injected into the lid of the flask, and from the inside it is fixed with a plaster. The container is filled with water and the lid is tightly closed.
Summer residents - amateurs use a long plastic nozzle for the bottle irrigation system. In this case, there is no need to bury the container with water in the ground.
Plastic bottles are sometimes placed with the neck up in the soil. If the bottom of the bottle is cut off, it is necessary to remove it not completely, then use it as a lid to prevent evaporation of the liquid.
Root watering
For irrigation of tomatoes, containers of 2 liters are often used. Watering is carried out once a week, as an excessive amount of moisture leads to the death of seedlings. 3-4 bottles of water are poured under each bush 1 time in 7 days.
In greenhouse conditions, plants absorb well not only moisture, but also mineral fertilizers. With drip irrigation, the air in the greenhouse is dry, tomatoes are not affected by late blight.
During the period of intensive growth of tomatoes, without waiting for the appearance of signs of disease, watering is reduced. Intrasoil drip irrigation in the greenhouse keeps the surface of the beds dry and protects tomatoes from diseases.

Young plants are irrigated as the surface dries, since the seedlings have small roots. In a polycarbonate greenhouse, it is watered abundantly during the planting period. During fruit formation, the volume of water for irrigation is 12 liters per m², the procedure is carried out 2-3 times a week.
Suspension system
For drip irrigation of tomatoes through plastic bottles, containers attached to the support are used. The bottom of the flask is removed, several holes are pierced in the cork to ensure the flow of water into the soil.
Gardeners mount a slingshot-shaped support on both sides of the garden bed. A crossbar is placed between the holders. The water bottle is fixed by turning the neck down. The ground is covered with plastic oilcloth to protect it from washing out.
Water from flexible containers falls on the protective layer and then penetrates into the soil. The suspension system, made from plastic bottles, helps control weeds as the soil is dry and the seeds of dangerous plants die.
If containers are hung over tomato seedlings, small holes are punctured at the bottom and top of the jar. It is necessary to ensure that water does not fall on the leaves, as the seedlings may die.

For an overhead irrigation system, the diameter of the holes should not exceed 1.5 mm, otherwise the water consumption will increase by 2 times.
Advantages and disadvantages of the method
The drip system for watering plants has proven itself well, since even novice gardeners use its advantages.

It is not difficult to make a device with your own hands, without special knowledge. The irrigation system does not require large financial costs. The design is reliable in operation, reduces water consumption and improves irrigation uniformity.
A do-it-yourself drip system is not without certain disadvantages. It is not used to water a large area of tomatoes.
A device made of plastic bottles is not suitable for regular and abundant watering of vegetables. It is used only for irrigating tomatoes in greenhouses.

Water supplied pointwise affects the development of the root system, causes its compaction and dysfunctions. It is not recommended to use the system on loamy soils, as the holes in the bottles are clogged with soil.
Some gardeners are afraid of the interaction of harmful substances with the soil, so they do not use plastic flasks for irrigating tomatoes.
The use of drip irrigation gives the gardener many advantages, and the experience in using it allows him to get high yields of tomatoes.

Before the seedlings sprout, the ground is sprayed with water once a day and covered with foil. In the future, the film is removed and the seedlings are watered 1-2 times a week.

The optimum water temperature for tomato seedlings is 20-25 ° C. Some summer residents heat the water and then dilute it with colder water. But when boiled, water loses oxygen necessary for plants. Therefore, it is better to let the water stand warm for a while to warm up to room temperature on its own.

Depending on the phase of development, the tomato needs a different amount of moisture. When transplanting seedlings into a greenhouse, each hole is watered (4-5 liters), and the plants are left for 10 days for rooting. Previously, organic feeding is placed in each hole (compost or humus with the addition of wood ash).

After 7 days, the seedlings begin to grow actively and need regular and abundant watering. A weak root system itself is not able to obtain moisture from the soil, therefore, before the formation of peduncles, irrigation is carried out twice a week at the rate of 2-3 liters per bush.

Watering tomatoes in a greenhouse once a month is combined with the introduction of mineral fertilizers: 15 g of potash, 25 g of nitrogen-containing and 40 g of phosphorus are dissolved in 10 liters of water. Consumption rate based on 1 liter per one bush.

When the flower stalks are already formed, the frequency of watering is reduced to once a week, but the volume is increased to 5 liters of water per bush. Watering is alternated with fertilization (1 tbsp. L potassium sulfate, 0.5 l of chicken manure and 0.5 l of mullein per 10 l of water) at the rate of 1.5 liters per plant.

With the onset of fruiting, the frequency of irrigation is increased to twice a week, and in order to improve the taste and accelerate the ripening of tomatoes, 2 tbsp. l. superphosphate and 1 tbsp. l. liquid sodium humate dissolved in 10 liters of water. When the tomato turns red, watering is reduced to 1 time in seven days, and before harvesting, it is completely stopped for 20 days.

About what else you can feed tomatoes in order to get the maximum yield - read our article.

Organization of irrigation in the greenhouse.

During the formation of fruits, tomato bushes are watered abundantly (20 liters per 1 square meter) as the soil dries. However, this increases the humidity in the greenhouse, which is not very pleasant for the plants. Ventilation, as a rule, does not allow maintaining constant humidity at the level of 45-65%. In this case, you can use a drip irrigation system with a centralized water supply or with the use of plastic bottles feeding each plant individually.

The droppers are placed right next to the beds, so the liquid is directed in uniform streams directly to the roots.

Installing such a system in a greenhouse with your own hands is not an insoluble task and does not require special skills and abilities. Using the system in greenhouse conditions solves the problem of weed removal due to the direction of water flows strictly according to the intended purpose.

The main types of droppers today are katif and supertyff.Their differences are that katif is used in flexible hoses with a wall thickness not exceeding 1.5 cm, and supertyff allows you to organize high-precision watering of several bushes using a special device for branching water flows.

For the full development of tomato bushes in greenhouse conditions, it is necessary to maintain soil moisture at 90%, and the ambient humidity should be 50-60%.

If the degree of soil moisture can be determined mechanically, by simply squeezing a handful of earth in your hand and at the same time it will slightly compact, then the gardener will need a hygrometer to determine the dryness of the air.

Do not forget about the quality of water for irrigation.

Water temperature

Do not water tomatoes with cold water directly from a well or water pipe. Sudden changes in temperature cause stress to plants, which can cause diseases and stunted development.

Water is collected in large containers and allowed to settle and warm up to a temperature of 22-25⁰С. If the tanks are in a greenhouse, then they must be equipped with lids, because evaporation of moisture in hot weather increases the air humidity inside the structure, and tomatoes do not like this.

Watering time in a greenhouse is directly dependent on the weather outside. On hot and dry days, irrigation is carried out early in the morning or in the late afternoon, when the solar heat subsides. It must be remembered that by the evening coolness, the plants had time to absorb most of the moisture, and watering did not cause an increase in humidity.

It is not recommended to postpone watering until late in the evening. in a closed space, a greenhouse effect will be created, air humidity will increase, and this, in turn, will entail an increase in humidity in the greenhouse.

Regularity of watering

The tomato plant is more drought-resistant than moisture-loving.

Excessive hydration soil leads to decay of the root system and provokes the emergence of many diseases, and the most insidious of them - late blight. In a matter of days, she can destroy the entire crop on the vine. This is especially dangerous with thickened plantings.
But also a prolonged drought adversely affects the development of tomatoes. From a lack of moisture, the leaves begin to curl, wither, which ultimately leads to the weakening of the plant and its death.

You can determine the need of plants for moisture by their appearance: the leaves lose their turgor and begin to droop to the ground. With prolonged drought, the tips of the leaves begin to dry out, which will certainly affect the amount of the crop.

Tomatoes in a greenhouse are watered on average once every 2-3 days, and 3-5 liters of water are consumed for each adult plant. Again: it all depends on the condition of the soil, its structure and external factors.

Tomatoes are mainly grown in seedlings, due to the long growing season, which means that we are dealing with pampered plants that are not accustomed to providing themselves with moisture and this concern falls on the shoulders of the gardener.

Tomato seedlings are planted in moistened soil and additionally watered from above so that the root system is tightly connected to the ground.

During the adaptation period - this is about 10-14 days - the seedlings are watered sparingly and only if necessary. Severe conditions are necessary in order for the plant to direct its forces to the development of the root system, which must go deep into the soil and learn to extract water on its own.

Frequent watering of seedlings after planting will make the plant lazy, and most of the roots will remain in the surface layers of the soil. For young seedlings, 2-3 liters per plant will be enough.

Read more in the article: Caring for tomatoes in the greenhouse from planting to harvest

During flowering

Do not allow the soil to dry out for a long time during the budding and flowering period. Lack of moisture can lead to massive shedding of color, which will lead to a decrease in yield. Tomatoes are watered at least 2 times a week, taking into account the state of the soil, but the volume of water is increased to 4-5 liters per bush.

During the fruiting period, when the tomatoes begin to turn red, the frequency of watering is minimized: irrigation is carried out once a week. The amount of moisture supplied is also reduced.

Excessive moisture very often leads to cracking of the fruit, which reduces the presentation, quality and quantity of the crop.

It is necessary to water the tomato bushes at the root, avoiding the ingress of water on the leaves and stems of the plant. Water droplets can act as a magnifying glass, leading to yellow spots on the leaves - these are sunburns. To eliminate this possibility, several watering methods are used.

Traditional (manual),
drip,
using plastic bottles,
dimple,
auto.

Any option should provide uniform soil moisture along the entire circumference of the tomato bush stem.

In small summer cottages, you can watch the gardener in the evening run between the water tank and the greenhouse, carrying out the next watering. And this is not surprising, because manual watering with the power of a garden watering can or a bucket and a ladle is the most common.

Another thing is that the process is quite laborious and requires considerable physical strength. It is necessary to scoop up water, bring it to the greenhouse, water it, and given the size of the greenhouse and the number of tomatoes grown, when 10 liters of water are consumed for 2-3 plants, one can imagine how the summer resident feels at the end of the working day.

But, despite all the laboriousness, manual watering has a number of advantages.

The gardener knows exactly how much water he pours under each tomato bush.
It is possible to water the plant carefully, without water droplets falling on the leaves and stems.
Combine watering with top dressing, depending on the stage of development of the tomatoes.

Hose watering

Watering the beds with tomatoes in the greenhouse with a hose, of course, makes it easier for the gardener, but has some drawbacks.

There is a high chance of damage to the plants when the hose is moved around the greenhouse.
There is no way to control the amount of moisture supplied.
With a strong pressure, the soil under the tomatoes is compacted and washed out, which leads to the exposure of root shoots located close to the soil surface.
If the hose is connected to a water pipe or a well, then the low temperature of the water adversely affects the growth of tomatoes: in extreme heat, watering with cold water causes a sharp cooling of the root system, the plants fall into a stupor and slow down in development.

To facilitate watering tomatoes, you can use drip irrigation. An irrigation line is purchased in a specialized store or made by hand.

I would especially like to note the high efficiency and highlight the advantages of drip irrigation.

This method provides a slow and even water supply exclusively to the root system.
There is significant water savings.
The ability to connect to a conventional container installed at a height, where, if necessary, you can add fertilizers and then watering will be combined with fertilizing with minerals.
The soil is not compacted during watering, and, therefore, there is no need to loosen it.
The physical and time costs for watering tomato beds in a greenhouse are reduced.

Gardeners with economic ingenuity have found use for plastic bottles, which accumulate in large quantities at their summer cottage from drunk lemonade and soda water. This is a simplified drip irrigation option.

Option number 1

In the walls of a plastic bottle (of any volume), holes are made along the entire height with a red-hot nail or awl.
Then the vessel is buried in the ground near the tomato bushes, leaving only the neck above the soil surface. You should be careful and try not to damage the root system. Ideally, this work should be carried out together with the planting of tomato seedlings in a greenhouse.
The bottles are filled with water, which will slowly go into the soil, feeding the root system with life-giving moisture.

Option number 2

The plastic bottle must be cut by the hangers, and holes must be made at the bottom and at its bottom. The vessel is buried in the ground, deepening 2/3 of the height.

Such tanks are installed along the entire length of the bed and filled with water. The top cut is used as a lid to prevent water from evaporating and causing moisture inside the greenhouse to rise.

Option number 3

A hollow tube is driven into the ground next to a tomato bush. Holes are made in the lid of a plastic bottle, and the bottom is completely cut off - an impromptu funnel is obtained.

Watering tomatoes after planting

Immediately after planting in a greenhouse or open ground, it is better not to water tomatoes for 5-10 days. In the future, it is advisable to moisten the soil on average once a week (or more often as the soil dries up). Water consumption - 3-5 liters per bush.

Watering tomatoes during fruiting

Tomatoes are watered exclusively at the root. This advice is especially relevant during the flowering period, since sprinkling causes shedding of buds, and also delays fruit setting. In addition, an increase in air humidity can cause the development of fungal diseases. During flowering, the amount of water is reduced to 1-2 liters per bush.

During the growing period of tomatoes, they are watered 1-2 times a week at the rate of 5-12 liters per square meter of beds or 3-5 liters per bush (depending on weather conditions and soil moisture). If you are late with the next watering, and the soil is very dry, the amount of water should be reduced to 0.8-1 liters per bush. Otherwise, the fruits may begin to crumble or crack, and the plant will become especially vulnerable to top rot.

Watering methods.

Drip or capillary irrigation. It is used both for large greenhouses and for small ones.

Automatic watering of tomatoes in a polycarbonate greenhouse is used for growing on an industrial scale, since this method requires significant financial costs. Autowatering is most often combined with a drip water supply system.

Farms use pumps, dispensers, filters, automatic control of the microclimate in the greenhouse, and many summer residents make a drip system from improvised means.

Watering tomatoes in a polycarbonate greenhouse with a drip method is most effective when growing, since:

the cost of water is reduced, while it falls directly under the roots and can be strictly dosed depending on the needs of the plant;
the risk of soil salinization and leaching is reduced, no crust forms on the soil surface.
the hoses are laid in the aisles along or in the middle once and are not moved throughout the season - this prevents damage to the plants;
watering a tomato does not require physical effort;
yield increases.

Proper watering of tomatoes is carried out using the following methods:

plastic bottles;
hose;
bucket or watering can.

With the help of bottles.

The first method is simple and economical. Next to each plant, you should dig a plastic bottle without a lid and with a cut bottom into the ground. So, the liquid will flow to the root system evenly and not fall on the green parts of the bush.

From the hose.

Traditional watering with a hose is difficult.

during the ripening period of vegetables, it is difficult to dose moisture
and there is a risk of damage to the tomatoes.

Irrigation of the beds with a watering can or a bucket is considered the best method, however, it is not safe to transport heavy containers.

Drip.

It is most convenient to use drip irrigation. This device is located near the beds and delivers liquid directly to the roots of the plants. Thanks to this, they receive maximum moisture and do not suffer from its excess.

Drippers are often used by gardeners to care for a large number of bushes in a greenhouse or large greenhouse.

Automatic irrigation is often used by summer residents in the process of growing popular vegetable crops - cucumbers and tomatoes.

This method has the following advantages:

full soil moisture;
no crust on the ground;
delivery of nutrients directly to the roots;
labor saving.

However, such a system has disadvantages.

Its service life does not exceed 6 years, which must be taken into account when arranging a greenhouse.
In addition, the structure is often damaged by rodents and is difficult to repair.

Methods for watering tomatoes in a greenhouse

Water temperature

An open barrel of water should not be left in the greenhouse, as it will create excessive dampness in the air. It is best to cover it with foil or place it outside the greenhouse.

This vegetable crop needs a sufficient amount of water from the moment shoots emerge, therefore, after the shoots are found, they must be sprayed with moisture from a spray bottle.

When young plants grow up, the bushes should be irrigated sparingly, but the soil should not be allowed to dry out. Organic food is added to the liquid every month.

Shortly before the pick, the seedlings are saturated with moisture for the last time, after which the seedlings are temporarily not watered.

When the fruits are poured, they need more water.

Air humidity here in summer varies from 60 to 80%, with the exception of dry periods, when it drops to 40%, as well as cloudy days, which increase this indicator to 90%.

Such changes are detrimental for tomatoes, which are demanding on the presence of water in the soil, but at the same time the culture loves dry air, which has a positive effect on the green mass of plants.

It is important to maintain a moisture balance, because both poor and generous watering negatively affects the health of tomatoes.

Proper irrigation of the beds in the greenhouse provides soil moisture of about 90%, while the air remains sufficiently dry. In such conditions, the bushes are protected from fungal infections and other garden ailments.

In addition, active sun creates a greenhouse effect and promotes water evaporation.

It is important to monitor the ripening process of tomatoes, as soon as the upper brushes yield a crop, watering can be interrupted. In September, summer residents harvest vegetables of late varieties, after which the garden is cleaned of plant residues.

Low-growing crop varieties are watered less when vegetables ripen, since abundant watering can provoke the formation of rot, and irrigation stops 30 days before the final harvest. So, the fruits ripen amicably and are not subject to garden diseases.

That's all, guys. Take good care of the plant bushes and you will have a good harvest!

The summer cottage season will begin soon and the preparation time has already come. Knowledge and experience is what you need to get a harvest and be stocked in winter.

See you!

You will find detailed information on caring for tomatoes in the open field in our material.

Watering in the greenhouse is carried out early in the morning before sunrise or late in the evening after sunset twice a week. After irrigation, the greenhouse must be ventilated so as not to create excessive moisture. On average, about 4 liters of water are consumed per 1 bush.

In greenhouses, it is necessary to control the humidity of the air (not less than 50%) and soil (not less than 90%). To check compliance with these standards, at a depth of 10 cm, a small lump of earth is taken, which should easily be molded into a lump with your hands, and not crumble.

Watering a tomato is always carried out at the root. It is important to ensure that no drops fall on the foliage - in the open field this can cause burns, and in the greenhouse the development of phytophthora. The water temperature should be at least 22-24 degrees Celsius.

Signs of insufficient and over-watering

Strong and healthy seedlings receive the necessary amount of liquid, the following signs indicate possible problems:

curling of leaves;
cracking of the stem.

The first symptom indicates a lack of water, but abundant watering causes damage to the green parts of the plant and fruits - they become inedible.

In the greenhouse, it is important to irrigate the beds moderately, however, in dry and hot weather, the rate of liquid can be increased.

Signs of lack of moisture in tomatoes:

Twisting the sheet plate along the center in the form of a "boat";
Drying of ovaries and buds without disease symptoms.

With a lack of watering, the plants become weak and frail. There is an increased vulnerability to fungal diseases and insect-borne viruses.

Signs of excess moisture:

Over-watered tomatoes become watery and tasteless;
The stem and fruit crack, which leads to further infection and disease of the plant;
Fungal diseases spread rapidly in the greenhouse.

With high humidity and poor ventilation of the greenhouse, all types of rot occur, late blight develops rapidly, the fruits deteriorate and lose the quality of keeping quality and transportability.

The rate of watering tomatoes in the open field depends on the weather conditions. For these plants, both excessive and insufficient moisture are harmful. To prevent tomato leaves from turning yellow, it is necessary to water the bushes as the soil dries.

On average, irrigation can be carried out 1-2 times a week. For one bush, 5 liters of water is usually enough.

For watering tomatoes in the open field, you can use rainwater, since the degree of its hardness, saturation with trace elements and oxygen are optimal for plants. Of course, there are exceptions: for example, if you live near industrial enterprises or if you collect water from roofs, materials of which contain copper, lead, asbestos and other substances that can have a negative effect on plant and human health. In no case should such water be used for irrigation.

Drip irrigation: how to do it yourself

Drip irrigation of tomatoes in a greenhouse is an opportunity to organize a convenient and efficient irrigation system. Its use will not only facilitate the hard work of the gardener, but also make it possible to harvest an excellent harvest of tomatoes with minimal investment of time and effort.

Drip irrigation is the most convenient technology for soil irrigation, since water consumption is significantly reduced. At the same time, it is not spent on the needs of weeds and does not get on the leaves of plants, which reduces the risk of fungal diseases. It is especially convenient that, together with drip irrigation, root feeding can be organized.

Drip irrigation can be organized from empty plastic bottles, along the walls of which small holes are made at different heights. The plastic with water is not completely closed and is buried upside down so that the seeping moisture constantly flows to the roots of the plant. If necessary, unscrew the lid and add water.

A homemade drip irrigation system must be constantly checked so that the holes are not clogged with soil. If this happens, the plants will die from drought.

Phased watering and feeding of tomatoes in the greenhouse: from seedlings to harvesting

Many fertilizers, including organic ones, are quite aggressive and can burn the fragile roots of plants. Therefore, it is advisable to combine top dressing with watering. And in some cases, this is a prerequisite, for example, if you are bringing bird droppings to the beds.

Watering tomatoes with iodine

Experienced gardeners believe that feeding tomatoes with iodine can accelerate fruit ripening and protect plants from late blight. The simplest recipe is to dissolve 4 drops of an alcohol solution of iodine in 10 liters of water and water the tomatoes at the rate of no more than 2 liters per bush.

Also, in order to combat late blight, you can add 1 liter of skim milk and 15 drops of iodine to 10 liters of water and spray the plants with this solution no more than once every 2 weeks.

You can feed tomatoes with yeast already a week after transplanting into the ground. For this, 100 g of dry yeast and 2 tbsp. sugar is dissolved in 10 liters of warm (25-30 ° C) water. After two hours, this mixture is diluted with 50 liters of water and poured under one bush no more than 0.5 liters of solution. Re-feeding is carried out after the rooting of the bush and before flowering.

Spraying with boric acid (5 g per 10 L of water) can be beneficial for tomatoes if flowers begin to crumble in hot weather. Also, foliar dressing using boric acid (2 g), manganese sulfate (4 g), copper sulfate (2 g) and zinc sulfate (2 g), diluted in 10 liters of water, can have a beneficial effect on the growth of tomatoes in a greenhouse. Do not fertilize in the daytime or in sunny weather - this can cause leaf burns.

The mullein is diluted with water in a ratio of 1:20 and the tomatoes are fed 10 days after planting in the ground. You can re-apply this organic fertilizer no earlier than after 10-14 days. You can also feed your green pets twice during the period of fruit formation. Under one bush, previously abundantly watered with water, add 0.5 liters of solution, after which the plants are watered again.

Ammonia is a nitrogenous compound that is sometimes used for root dressing and insect control. A pungent smell, which after a while a person does not feel, scares away pests for a long time.

Most often, 10 ml of ammonia is diluted in 1 bucket of water and the beds are watered up to 4 times over 2 weeks. When signs of nitrogen deficiency appear, the seedlings are watered with a 2% solution of ammonia in one of the four usual waterings.

Watering tomatoes with ash

Wood ash contains about 30 minerals that contribute to the proper development of plants. These elements are involved in the process of photosynthesis, improve metabolic processes, help your green pets absorb vitamins and regulate water balance. Ash is brought under digging when preparing beds for tomatoes (3 cups per 1 square meter) or into the holes when planting seedlings (a handful of ash in each hole). Ash infusion can be used as an alternative.

Watering tomatoes with potassium permanganate

Due to its antiseptic properties, potassium permanganate fights fungi and bacteria. Therefore, it is most often used for seed dressing (for tomatoes, it is recommended to use a 1% solution). Experienced gardeners also spray the soil for seedlings with a solution of potassium permanganate (3 g per 10 l of water).

Manganese increases the resistance of young plants to diseases. The main thing is not to exceed the dosage in any way, because if the solution turns out to be too concentrated, the plants will die.

Garden equipment can be wiped with a sponge dipped in a 2% solution of potassium permanganate; it is recommended to rinse seedling pots with a 1% solution.

Watering, of course, plays a huge role in growing tomatoes. However, it is equally important to choose the right varieties that will not only be productive, but also resistant to diseases and adverse weather conditions.

11 best varieties of tomatoes for greenhouses and open field - rating from our readers

The greenhouse is ideal for growing tomatoes.

In the conditions of central Russia, large varieties of tomatoes ripen only in transparent shelters. In wet and cool summers, transparent walls will protect plants from excess moisture and maintain the optimum temperature for fruiting. In hot and dry summers, when tomatoes “burn” in the open field and do not bear fruit, an excellent harvest can be collected in greenhouses. This requires partial shading, ensuring proper watering and creating a humid microclimate. The most balanced conditions for growing tomato plants are created by drip irrigation of tomatoes in a greenhouse.

How to properly arrange drip irrigation in a greenhouse?

And how to grow a rich harvest of tomatoes?

In order to obtain a sufficient high-quality yield, it is necessary to know the characteristics of the growth and development of plants. Tomatoes are native to South America with a humid warm climate. Therefore, plants are thermophilic and do not tolerate frost. The optimum temperature for growing them is 20-25˚C. Tomatoes do not bear fruit at temperatures below 10˚C and above 30˚C.

The moisture content of the soil under the tomatoes should be such that a dirty wet track remains on the finger dipped into the ground. Tomatoes require abundant watering, but infrequently. However, the above-ground part of plants during watering is often affected by late blight, a fungal disease of nightshade crops, in which leaves and tubers deteriorate. Watering tomatoes should be done carefully in the ground, without splashing the green parts of the plants. The ideal method for such irrigation is drip irrigation.

Light is one of the main factors affecting the size and sweetness of a tomato. Therefore, tomatoes should not be planted closer than the indicated sizes. You need to know that tomato flowers are self-pollinated, that is, for the formation of a fruit, there is no need for insect pollination. A little shaking is enough - from a gust of wind or by hand (when grown in a greenhouse).

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Greenhouse soil preparation

The beds in the greenhouse for winter planting are prepared in the fall. For growing tomatoes in winter, it is necessary to heat and insulate not only the airspace of the greenhouse. Warming up will also require soil in the beds. To isolate the soil from the cold at a depth of 50-70 cm, a heat-shielding layer is arranged from empty plastic bottles or special insulating material. In this case, the entire volume of earth from the garden bed is taken out, and the bottom with the walls of the formed pit is covered with an insulator. Humus is poured at the bottom of the pit (rotted manure two and three years ago) and the dug earth is placed on top of it. To process humus into a form that is digestible for plants, the soil is populated with worms.

The width of such an insulated bed should be about a meter, then a pathway 0.5 meters wide (covered with boards, paving slabs) and the next bed. The width of the bed is 1 m and will accommodate three rows of low-growing tomatoes or 2 rows of tall varieties. At the same time, it will be possible to reach any plant without stepping on the ground of the garden.

It is produced by specially laid pipes in the upper surface of the soil at a depth of 10-30 cm. Natural heating is possible using the principle of accumulating solar heat. To do this, a black polyethylene sleeve with a diameter of about 10 cm (sold in organic farming stores) is laid along the bed from two edges. The sleeve is filled with cold tap water. On sunny days, the water accumulates the energy of the sun's rays and at night gives this heat to the space of the beds. This heating can raise the air temperature around the plants by 4-5 ˚C.

The length of the beds is formed at will - along the entire greenhouse or with an interruption for arranging a passage in the middle.

If tomatoes are grown in boxes on racks, humus and soil in them will also fall asleep in the fall.

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Arrangement of drip irrigation

Modern can be optimized and arranged economically. To automate the process of watering plants, to prevent late blight disease in tomatoes, build drip irrigation in the greenhouse. To do this, lay hoses with droppers along the future rows of tomatoes and connect them to the main hose. The distance between the emitters in the drip chamber should correspond to the planned distance between the seeds in the bed. Tall tomatoes are grown at a distance of up to 1 meter. When water is supplied through the main hose, irrigation will be dosed, through the holes of the droppers, and only to the root system of the plants. If the drip hose is deepened 5 cm into the ground and sprinkled on top, then you can absolutely exclude the top of the plants getting wet. And, as a result, to prevent late blight in tomatoes. You can turn the drip tape upside down to prevent splashing water.

The first start-up of the drip irrigation system is carried out unburied, you can lay the hose with emitters in the recess, and, if desired, cover it with earth after planting the seeds. After a trial run of the system, the seeds are planted in the resulting wet land.

The irrigation container can be made from a barrel, a metal sealed box or a plastic container. Water can also be supplied directly from the tap. The irrigation liquid should not be too mineralized. Salts in the water can clog the small drip openings.

Watering tomatoes in the greenhouse and in the open field is an obligatory and most labor-intensive part of maintenance. The installation of automatic soil moistening helps the grower to facilitate and simplify his work. The gardener should know how to choose and set the right drip irrigation for tomatoes in the greenhouse.

Automatic drip irrigation has the following advantages to use:

facilitates the work of caring for plantings and saves time;
can work in the absence of a person;
tomatoes receive as much moisture as they need;
gradual water supply does not lead to soil erosion under the bushes;
no crust forms on the ground;
savings in water consumption by 30-40%;
the humidity of the air in the greenhouse does not increase, which does not lead to the development of fungal diseases;
through the drip irrigation system, fertilizing with fertilizers can be carried out.

There are few disadvantages of automatic watering:

it is necessary to purchase hoses, droppers, taps and containers, which can result in a large amount;
installation of a drip system requires certain skills;
it is necessary to monitor the purity of the water to prevent clogging of the droppers.

According to the reviews of gardeners who have tested such a system of soil moistening, it is most advisable to install drip irrigation of tomatoes in a greenhouse, and not in open ground.

Watering tomatoes at different stages of development

The moisture requirement of plants varies during the growing season. The frequency of watering is influenced by:

weather (frequency of natural precipitation);
soil composition (more often on sandy soil);
phase of plant development.

Watering tomatoes, immediately after planting seedlings in the ground, should be 2-3 times a week, spending 1.5-2 liters per bush.

In the active period of growth, when the tomato grows green mass, the consumption of liquid for each plant also increases. Depending on the height of the tomato, from 2 to 8 liters of water are poured under the root. Watering frequency remains the same - once every 3 days.

Optimum soil moisture for tomato is 70-75%. If you take a handful of soil from the root zone and squeeze it in the palm of your hand, the soil should stick together in a lump. Water should not flow out of it.

It is necessary to maintain the indicated soil moistening regime until the stage of fruit pouring. When the tomatoes begin to sing, the soil moisture is reduced to avoid cracking the tomatoes. Water the plantings once a week, releasing 3-5 liters of water under the bush.

Due to the high humidity of the air, tomatoes in the open field are watered less often than in a greenhouse. The signal of the plant's need for moisture is the drooping of the leaves and their twisting by the boat.

Types of drippers for irrigation

The automatic drip irrigation system consists of hoses (sleeves), containers, adapters, controllers (optional) and a drip system. It is through the last element that the water seeps to the plant. There are several types of droppers:

External devices. The dropper is attached to the hose from the outside. She passes water through herself, regulating the pressure. You can independently adjust the device to pass the liquid dropwise (water consumption 3-6 liters per hour) or in a trickle (up to 20 liters per hour). You can completely stop the fluid supply by closing the dropper cap. Non-adjustable external sprinklers are commercially available. Water flows through them by gravity. Such devices are used in small areas.
Submersible droppers. A plastic hollow pin (peg) is stuck into the ground. Water enters from the hose through a flexible tube into the "peg", from where it directly seeps into the soil to a depth of 10-20 cm. The water consumption is from 1 to 2.2 liters per hour. allows you to nourish several plants.

In a small garden, you can do without droppers, just put a special tape with holes in it on the beds with tomatoes.

Installation of a drip system

There are different ways to install an irrigation system, depending on the type of construction. General installation rules:

the longer the irrigation sleeve, the higher the container with water should be in order to provide the required pressure;
for uniform filling of long belts, pumps are installed;
the surface of the ground for laying out the tape must be flat;
droppers should be located in close proximity to the tomato (no further than 15 cm from the trunk).

An irrigation system with a drip sleeve is laid out on the beds after planting tomato seedlings. The hoses are pulled in close proximity to the bushes, preventing them from twisting. Caps are installed at the ends of the sleeves.

A tap and a filter are installed on the irrigation tank, which prevents debris from entering the hose and clogging the droppers. A tap is needed to block the access of water to the sleeves.

It may be necessary to install a pump to create the required water pressure.

Submersible droppers are inserted into the soil directly into the root zone of the tomato, to a depth of 12-15 cm.

Drip irrigation rates for tomatoes in the greenhouse

Unlike tomatoes in the open field, where plants get moisture from the air and from precipitation, in a greenhouse, tomatoes are completely dependent on watering. The drip system is adjusted so that the moisture input meets the needs of the crop.

Water consumption for each bush is from 1.5 to 2.5 liters. By counting the number of growing roots in the greenhouse and adding 20% of the stock to this amount, the capacity of the irrigation tank is determined. This will eliminate the need to shut off the water when the tomatoes have received the right amount of moisture.

The grower needs to turn on the tap as many times a week as the plants need to be watered. When all the water has drained out of the container, the tap must be closed and the barrel must be re-filled. By the time of the next watering, the liquid will be heated to a comfortable temperature.

The automatics installed on the tank will allow irrigation to start at a certain time.