Organization of correct watering of tomatoes in the open field, depending on the variety and stage of growth

• 2 Watering frequency
• 3 Basic rules

  3.1 Photo gallery of the rules for watering a tomato

Watering tomatoes in open ground - features

Watering rules common to all tomatoes are often difficult to implement in an open field bed. It is easy to adhere to a clear schedule for greenhouse tomatoes, while ground tomatoes are directly dependent on the weather.

1. Tomatoes tolerate temperatures up to 3 ° C only with sufficient soil moisture. Due to the active evaporation of moisture from the leaves, the bush itself copes with overheating.
2. An excess of moisture leads to outbreaks of fungal diseases, fruits crack, bushes shed flowers, ovaries and fruits. Bottom line: the quality of the crop is lower than expected, the fruits are watery, tasteless.

The nuances of moisture conservation

There are many agricultural practices that aim to make plants use liquid more intelligently and to conserve water in the soil. A smart soil tillage system is of the utmost importance. From the point of view of moisture conservation, autumn plowing has a significant advantage over spring main cultivation. It is recommended to plow with a plow without a harrow, as well as other auxiliary tools, in order to create a ridge-like structure of the soil surface. At the same time, good conditions are formed for the retention of snow masses in the fields, better absorption of rain and melt water.

If there is a gap of more than one week between the harvesting of the previous crop and plowing, it is rational to carry out surface treatment (loosening, peeling) immediately after harvesting in order to save agrosoil reserves of liquid. In early spring, as soon as the soil reaches the state of the so-called “physiological ripeness”, the surface layer is loosened (“covered with moisture”) with a coupler of heavy or medium tooth harrows. As a result of such treatment, the capillary structure is broken and the liquid pulling up through the capillaries, as well as its volatilization, is prevented.

When cultivating crops without irrigation, it is necessary to limit deep cultivation with soil mixing to the required minimum and, if necessary, increase surface treatments. Shallow loosening is performed at the end of precipitation, as well as the formation of a soil crust, breaking which, again, you can get rid of unnecessary capillary extraction of moisture from the lower layers. A similar function is carried out both by continuous harrowing (pre- and post-emergence) and inter-row cultivation.

Deep inter-row cultivation is not recommended not only for reasons of fluid conservation, but also to prevent damage to the root system, which, under conditions of unstable or insufficient moisture supply, slowly recovers and initiates a delay in the formation of the entire plant. Hilling of plants must be performed only with high soil moisture, or abandon it completely.

Proper watering of a tomato garden at a specific time

Years of experience in growing ground tomatoes have been studied and systematized.Recommendations for caring for tomatoes in open ground did not arise from scratch, they have been tested by more than one generation of gardeners and agronomists-practitioners.

When is it better and more correct to water? The unequivocal answer - just not in the heat. Watering of tomatoes in open ground begins no earlier than 3-4 hours before sunset. As a last resort - in the morning, while it is not yet very hot.

All recommendations come down to one rule - tomatoes need abundant watering no more than 1-2 times a week:

• 5 liters under a bush of undersized tomatoes;
• 10 l - for tall varieties.

The frequency of watering ground tomatoes depends solely on the climate and soil characteristics. So, sandy soils do not retain moisture well, water goes into sand in the literal sense.

Frequent watering in small portions does more harm than good, only the upper roots eat, the lower ones die off, the bush suffers from insufficient nutrition.

Experienced gardeners can feel the need to water their tomatoes by touch. It is necessary to dig a bed with a shovel and squeeze the earth in your hand. If you can mold it into a lump, which will then crumble without effort, watering is not needed yet. Tomatoes themselves will tell you about the lack of water by wilting and darkening of the foliage.

You don't have to worry in rainy weather. Do not forget about the prevention of late blight and other fungi - prolonged drizzling rains create optimal conditions for their appearance.

Regular watering 1-2 times a week can be reduced to 1 time if you mulch a tomato bed, for example, with straw. Mulch perfectly regulates the moisture of the garden and is the best prevention of late blight. When the ovary is full and picks up the size of the fruit according to the variety, you can limit watering the tomatoes, and if mulch is available, stop altogether.

During ripening, it is important not to overdo it with watering - the peel of the fruit cracks and the tomatoes are then only suitable for urgent processing. At the other extreme, a lack of moisture can cause the plant to shed all flowers and ovaries.

When, at what time is it better to water

It is difficult to make an unambiguous choice in favor of morning or evening watering. Each option has positive and negative sides:

• if the plants are watered in hot weather in the morning, then the beds must be mulched, since the soil will dry out quickly. With evening watering, the soil will retain moisture longer. However, if the tank is in an open area, then the water will be too hot for evening watering;
• if the weather is cool, then the water in the irrigation container will warm up during the day. However, watering in the evening will increase humidity at night, which can trigger the growth of fungal diseases. If you irrigate the beds in the morning, you will have to use cool water, but during the day the excess moisture will evaporate and by the night the air humidity will be normal.

When choosing morning or evening watering, you need to take into account not only the availability of time for the summer resident to carry out the procedure. It is necessary to take into account the weather conditions, irrigation methods, and the area of ​​the garden.

What kind of water do tomatoes like?

It is best to use rainwater - it is softer than tap water and does not contain chlorine impurities. It is advisable to use tap water separated, since:

• chlorine reagents decompose and precipitate;
• excess content of calcium and phosphorus salts become insoluble;
• the water is warming up.

It is undesirable to use cold water so that the plant does not experience shock from the contrast of temperatures.

After work, it is imperative to loosen the topsoil. Using mulch on a tomato bed makes this operation unnecessary.

Watering types - advantages and disadvantages

Depending on the area and layout of the tomato bed, the availability of free time and the connection to the centralized water supply, various methods of irrigating tomato beds are practiced.

Hand made from a watering can

A small garden bed is easy to water by hand from a watering can.

1. For 1 bucket of water, it is advisable to add 1 tablespoon of ash for simultaneous feeding of tomatoes.
2. Pour water strictly at the root so as not to wet the leaves.
3. After abundant watering, be sure to loosen the topsoil after absorbing water.

Advantages: you can adjust the composition (add fertilizers), use prepared or rainwater;

Disadvantages: laboriousness of the process, time costs.

From a hose manually

A flexible hose with various nozzles and a system of adapters, connected to the water supply, greatly simplifies watering the beds.

Advantages: work does not require significant physical effort to water even a large garden;

Disadvantages:

• watering with hard cold water,
• work requires special care so as not to wet the tomato leaves;
• it is difficult to ration the amount of water for a bush; the hose is constantly confused, it is difficult to move it around the site.

Filling the beds with water

If you organize the planting of bushes in a special way, you can water it by filling the beds. Tomatoes are planted in 2 rows with a wide row spacing. Shallow ditches are made between the rows and along the outer edges of the long bed. A hose is placed in these ditches and the grooves are filled with water flush with the edges.

Benefits:

• simplicity of the method;
• the ability to give any top dressing;
• watering can be done no more than 1 time per week.

Disadvantages:

• high water consumption;
• availability of central water supply;
• watering with cold water.

The simplest drip

Drip irrigation can be thought of as a type of hose irrigation. The simplest option can be made on your own, so that when unfolded, the system supplies water to all plants. The water should flow out through the small holes drop by drop. Such a system can be made from old rubber tubes.

It is necessary to check the process 1 time and note the time it takes for the garden. Usually, this is at least 3-4 hours.

Benefits:

• water droplets are heated;
• can be left overnight;
• there is no need for subsequent loosening;
• water does not get on the leaves;
• saving water.

Disadvantages:

• water supply is required;
• holes are constantly clogged;
• the irrigation system must be purchased or made independently;
• the beds should be planned with the irrigation system in mind.

Automation

An automatic irrigation system can be a solution to save labor and time. In this case, it is possible to regulate the flow of water under each bush.

Benefits:

• to start irrigation, you just need to open the tap.

Disadvantage:

• the cost of the system, which includes a special container, pipes;
• everything is connected to a conventional drip irrigation system.

How the irrigation irrigation of bushes with tomatoes occurs can be found by watching the video.

The importance of proper watering

How well tomatoes grow in your area depends on their nutrition. Of course, the best way to deliver nutrients to them is in the form of solutions, so watering rules are especially important.

The method of watering from plastic bottles will help provide tomatoes with moisture when the garden owner cannot be on the site every day.

In general, the irrigation rate in each case is set differently depending on the growing conditions. However, there are optimal conditions for the growth and development of a tomato that need to be considered. Air humidity should be in the range of 45-50%, and soil moisture 85-90%.

It is easy enough to check these conditions manually. At a shallow depth, a part of the earth is taken and rolled with your fingers. If a lump is easily and quickly formed, destroyed by light pressing of the fingers, then everything is observed.

Why is balance so important? Everything is very simple.With an excessive moisture content in the soil, tomatoes will begin to lose their sugar content and become watery. This will create an excellent flora for the multiplication of various bacteria and fungi. Cracks will appear on the fruits, and the fruits themselves will begin to fall off. Overdried land will not lead to good either. The buds and ovaries will begin to crumble, cracks will appear in the fruits again, and there will be a threat of being affected by apical rot.

Stages of growth and flowering of tomato

Immediately after planting and until the time when the bushes take root well and go into active growth, the tomatoes are watered, depending on the weather, every day or every other day. After loosening the soil and watering 1 liter of water under the root, the final loosening is carried out. This regime is observed for about 7-10 days.

Before the beginning of flowering and the appearance of the ovary, 1 brush is carried out, depending on the weather, 1-2 times a week. Until the fruits are poured and gain the required size, tomato bushes need artificial irrigation. The main criterion to be guided by is the state of the foliage. The drooping foliage is the first signal of the need for watering.

It is important not to overmoisten the soil, otherwise you can lose the entire crop from an outbreak of late blight and other diseases. With a lack of moisture, the bushes themselves regulate fruiting - they shed color and ovaries, and the remaining fruits become smaller.

During the fruiting period, it is necessary to control the soil moisture especially carefully - to prevent drops. Watering after the soil dries out will certainly lead to cracking of the fruit. The crop will only be suitable for immediate processing for juice.

Why watering tomatoes correctly is important

Tomatoes are not very demanding on moisture, they can even be called a relatively drought-resistant vegetable crop that needs dry air. However, despite this feature, in order to get a good and tasty tomato harvest, you need to regularly water the plants correctly. In this case, this must be done immediately after planting in open ground and until the very harvest.

Without moisture in the required quantities, the following problems are possible:

• Plants will develop and grow poorly and slowly;
• During flowering, dropping of the ovary is possible;
• During the formation of the fruit, it will be difficult for them to gain mass.
• Curling of the leaves is possible (the plant's defense mechanism, because during the curling of the leaves, evaporation from their surface is reduced).
• Irregular watering and sudden changes in conditions can cause cracking of the fruit.

Important! Watering tomatoes for the greenhouse and open ground should be done in moderation, according to the recommended scheme. If the procedure is abused during the ripening of the crop, then the ripening period itself may become longer, and the fruits may acquire a watery taste.

In addition, excessive humidity in the air and soil can provoke the appearance of fungal diseases, in particular phytophthora.

How to water different types of tomatoes

The specificity of watering tomatoes of low and tall varieties differs only in the amount of water, which is determined solely by the size of the bush. The determinant "Ephemer" 40-50 cm high and the giant indeterminate bush "De barao" consume different amounts of water. The standard scheme "undersized - 5 liters, tall - 10 liters" is very conditional.

The intensity is determined by the moisture content of the soil. It is necessary to observe moderate humidity without overdrying.

The need for watering should be determined either by touch: by the flowability of the soil, or by the foliage: wilted or fresh.

Large-fruited indeterminate varieties require more frequent watering. With a lack of water, the fruits become smaller, cracking after the first rain.

Differences between tomatoes in terms of ripening do not have a particular effect on the irrigation regime. The rule common to all varieties also works here - tomatoes give a high-quality harvest only with moderate but sufficient watering.

Recommendations for gardeners

You should think about watering even at the planning stage of the beds.

1. It is necessary to take into account the location of the bed so that it is convenient to carry water or lay a hose.
2. If watering is supposed to be done by filling the beds, you need to plant the seedlings in 2 rows with a wide row spacing.
3. Prepare barrels for collecting rainwater at the summer cottage.
4. If there is a water supply system, think in advance and prepare a system for connecting and distributing water throughout the site.
5. Prepare mulch (straw, wood chips, sawdust) for more comfortable growth of tomatoes. The use of mulch reduces the risk of fungal diseases when the soil is waterlogged in a rainy summer.
6. In regions with traditionally rainy summers, it is recommended to grow tomatoes in high beds. They are prepared in advance, preferably in the fall.

The harvest of tomatoes and its quality directly depend on the uniformity of the irrigation regime. There should be no overdrying of the soil followed by waterlogging. Such extreme conditions provoke a response - the plants throw off the color and ovaries. Only compliance with the rules guarantees a bountiful harvest.