To strengthen the film on an open field, wire with a diameter of 6 mm, wooden slats (40 × 40 mm), thin wooden planks from waste wood, wide-headed nails, twine are required.
The wire is cut into equal rods 1.8 m long and bent into an arc so that the distance between the ends is 90 cm. These wire arcs are installed in a row at a distance of 1 meter from each other, plunging their ends into the soil by 15 cm.
A film is stretched onto such a frame. It is advisable to place shelters along the length from north to south, across the prevailing winds.
To give the frame stability, the arcs are tied up at the top, connecting with each other with twine. At the ends of the shelter (from the ends), the twine is strengthened to the peg. The height of the frame depends on the width of the polyethylene film. The film is cut into pieces along the length of the rails, and from the ends one meter longer than the rail. The end of the film is straightened along the rail and pressed with a bar, which is nailed.
Planting tomato seedlings
Seedlings are placed in the middle of the frame in 2 rows with a distance between them of 30 cm, and between plants - in a row - 40 cm. Thus, the location of plants on the field area will be two-line tapes with a distance of 160 cm between the tapes.
After stretching the film on the frame, the width of the path between two parallel shelters will be 100 cm. On such a wide path, it is convenient to carry out work on caring for plants and harvesting fruits. However, this distance between the tapes can be reduced if desired.
Seedlings are planted in spreading, placing the stem along the length of the row. After planting and watering, the film is stretched, covering with soil for the purpose of warming, both the slats and the end ends.
Caring for a tomato under a film
Caring for a tomato under a film is almost no different from caring for plants in the open field. In warm weather, the frame is opened by twisting the film onto a rail. Film shelters serve as a reliable protection for plants at night, when there is a danger of frost, in spring and autumn, as well as during prolonged cold snaps during the summer.
In sunny weather, it is necessary to carefully monitor the air temperature under the film. It can rise to 50-60 degrees, and this will lead to plant burns.
The use of film shelters allows you to plant seedlings earlier than usual, that is, around May 10-15.
The gardener's labor costs for growing tomatoes under the film increase significantly, but the costs are more than 2 times paid off by the early harvest of ripe fruits.
Planting tomatoes under the film is an important stage. Seedlings can develop well in greenhouse conditions, but when faced with temperature changes and possible diseases and pests of the garden, they will receive some stress. Here it is very important to observe the disembarkation deadlines.
Optimal drop off time
When to plant tomatoes under the film depends on climatic conditions. So, in the southern latitudes of Russia, which include the Kuban, seedlings are transferred to greenhouses as early as April, or even earlier. In the Moscow region, the best option is May, the beginning or middle, and basically seedlings are planted here on May holidays. Accordingly, the farther the region is from the south, the later the tomatoes are planted in open ground. For example, in regions such as the Urals, Siberia, the landing may be delayed until mid-June.
On a note! There is a calendar with regional planting dates that allows you to grow tomatoes in almost most climatic zones.
The term for planting tomatoes under a film of finished seedlings can be determined not only by region, but also by air temperature, regardless of the climatic zone. When the average daily temperature stays at plus 8 degrees for five days, you can already safely plant tomatoes in the ground.
When to plant tomatoes
Soil temperature is equally important. Even if it is planned to plant under the film, it is important to wait for the earth to warm up completely. Sometimes it is recommended to spill the ground with boiling water before planting. This method is good if the film or polycarbonate greenhouse is constantly closed and the soil in it warms up quickly. If the film is stretched on the ground, which wintered open and froze, even covering it in the spring, it will not work quickly. You can speed up the heating of the earth by covering the beds with an old film and black roofing material on top. Under the rays of the sun, the area warms up faster. For tomatoes, the minimum soil temperature is plus 12 degrees.
How to plant tomato seedlings
To get an early harvest and save tomatoes from rains and various diseases, they arrange greenhouses and plant tomatoes in a greenhouse. This method is especially relevant for those who are faced with such a common tomato and potato fungal disease as late blight (late blight).
Rules for planting seedlings of tomatoes in a greenhouse and in open ground
Rule number one: don't overcrowd. Even if the area is small, if the greenhouse is small, crowding will still not increase the yield. On the contrary, the plants will suffer, and there will also be inconvenience in the cultivation of the land and in the harvest. Here's what the scheme for planting seedlings of different types of tomatoes looks like:
- tall ones are those varieties that are good in small areas, as they give the greatest yield from one bush. One bush can form up to a dozen fruit clusters, with less weeding and watering work than with several ordinary bushes, while tall tomatoes do not obscure each other. The ideal planting pattern here is a meter between rows and 70 cm in a row. In some cases, it is allowed to reduce the area under the bushes to 70 and 50 cm between rows and between plants, respectively;
- medium-sized - these tomatoes are planted denser, leaving a distance of 80 cm between rows, and 55 in a row. This scheme is used both when planting in open ground and in greenhouses;
- undersized tomatoes are planted half a meter between rows, the distance from bush to bush is 30 cm. As a rule, these are the earliest tomatoes that private gardeners love to grow so much. At the same time, undersized tomatoes are often planted in a checkerboard pattern, which compacts the plantings and makes them even more productive.
Knowing the optimal distance, it is easy to calculate the planting pattern in the greenhouse. If it is small, it is wiser to make one pass between the beds. With a large greenhouse area, it is more convenient to use two rows of aisles.
Advice: Tomatoes are very fond of light. In order for all the plants in the greenhouse to have enough of it, it is worth planting tall varieties closer to the center, short ones - to the edges, that is, along the walls. And in an open area, when planting in the ground, just choose the right location relative to the light source.
Seedling farming
Planting tomato seedlings in a greenhouse
Many gardeners grow their own seedlings. But what if the window sill is not suitable for this? There is a proven way to grow seedlings directly in the ground using a film coating. In comparison with greenhouse seedlings, such seedlings have a number of advantages:
- seedlings grown under a film cover are more hardened, it takes root more easily and tolerates temperature fluctuations;
- seeds can be sown about a month earlier;
- harvest is speeding up.
How to care for tomatoes under the film? It is not so difficult, it is only important to choose the right varieties of tomatoes, prepare the land for planting, and build a quality shelter.
Tomatoes should not be planted all in a row, but zoned varieties adapted to local conditions. As a rule, these varieties include cold-resistant and hybrids. Among them are, for example, Siberian precocious, Sanka, Far North, etc.
Algorithm:
- If you plan to sow tomatoes under a film shelter in the spring, you need to take care of preparing the site in the fall. This is the digging of the earth, the introduction of organic matter and mineral fertilizers.
- In the spring, a trench is prepared with a width equal to the film coating, with a depth of no more than 20 cm. A layer of sawdust or straw laid along the bottom will protect the seedlings from the cold of the earth. This advice is especially relevant for the northern regions. Next, the excavated soil is laid, on which the seeds are sown in a tape way. Usually the aisles are made narrow, and the width of the film is enough for a couple of rows.
- Shelter is made of metal or plastic arcs, films with a thickness of at least one hundred microns. The number of arcs should be such that every meter of landings there is a new arc.
For ventilation, the end side of the cover is opened, and in case of possible frosts, the bed is covered with a second layer of film. When the weather stabilizes, the threat of frost disappears, the bed with seedlings can be freed from the film, having first hardened the greenhouse a little by airing for 5 days. If heat is not expected, the film is left, limited to ventilation.
Tips from experienced gardeners on the rules for planting tomato seedlings
When should seedlings be planted in the ground?
When to sow seeds for seedlings?
When to sow seedlings
Experienced summer residents know when it is warm in their region so that the soil can reach the right temperature. Approximately from this date it is necessary to subtract 60-65 days and at this time to start sowing seeds for seedlings. The usual time for sowing in Central Russia is mid-March, but in the south they sow earlier.
Advice! If you plan to plant seedlings in a greenhouse, then the timing of sowing seeds can be shifted forward by three weeks.
Years of experience tells summer residents that seedlings grow best if you sow seeds on the growing moon. Today, the so-called lunar calendars provide comprehensive information about the days allowed and prohibited for sowing tomatoes.
How to prepare seeds?
Seed preparation is usually necessary when using your own seeds taken from your garden. They must be checked for germination before sowing and selected empty, substandard. To do this, the seeds are immersed in water, and those that have surfaced are removed. If there are a lot of seeds, you can check their germination by soaking them in advance and waiting until they hatch. Some of the summer residents are accustomed to pickling the seeds with a weak solution of soda before sowing (2 g of soda is added to a glass of water). Someone soaks in aloe juice - it is believed that the seeds from this become more hardy. However, all these procedures are unnecessary if the seeds are bought ready-made, already processed and tested for germination. In this case, they just need to be sown correctly.
Sowing is recommended to be done in peat pots or ready-made tablets. In practice, many gardeners use low seedling boxes in order to save space on the windowsill. They are comfortable, ergonomic, they can be placed on any size window sill. The boxes are filled with nutrient soil, it is moistened and the seeds are sown in shallow grooves.
picking
Picking achieve rooting and strengthening of plants. What if the seedlings turned out to be weak, but there are a lot of them? Many advise diving two seedlings at once. They are transplanted together, fastening thin stems with synthetic thread. Subsequently, when the stems grow together, forming a single plant with one powerful root, the second tip can be pinned.
picking
It is better to plant plants in the garden in cool and cloudy weather. It is recommended to water, as the people say, three dawns. This means that watering is very important in the first three days after disembarkation. At this time, the plant takes root and really needs watering. It is also good to fertilize the holes a little before planting.
What if the spring turned out to be cold, and the seedlings outgrew?
Elongated seedlings can be saved if you dig a hole deeper and plant the root not up to the first leaves, but a little deeper - in this case, the first leaves must be cut off. It happens that the seedlings have become so tall and thin that it is impossible to plant them at all. Experienced summer residents have two tips:
- dig a small trench along the bed and lay the stem almost lying down, leaving the desired part on the surface of the earth. The rest of the stem will soon give underground roots and further strengthen the seedlings;
- Cut off part of the top and place in water. She will give new roots and she, too, can be planted in the garden. And plant the cropped part, as usual.
When choosing ready-made seedlings on the market, you need to look not at its height, but at the thickness of the stem. High-quality tomato seedlings have a large root lobe, a thick, bright green stem with a dark shade, in general, the bush is stocky and low. This is the best seedling, and you need to choose it.
The seedling method of growing tomatoes is a fascinating business, effective in terms of getting a quick harvest, and by and large, not so complicated. It is only important to follow all the rules.
Tomato- a heat-loving plant, resistant to air droughts, it works well on loamy and sandy loamy soils. Tomato seedlings can be grown indoors using boxes, glasses, cans. Boxes can be kept in a room or greenhouse. For hardening seedlings during the day, boxes should be placed on the veranda or in other cool rooms. To get healthy tomato seedlings, seedlings that have not shed their seed coat are removed. Seedlings dive into cups 6x6 cm. Usually seedlings of early tomatoes are grown up to 50-60 days of age.
Planting time for seedlings. Seedlings with a height of 15 - 30 cm are suitable for planting in the ground, there can be 6 - 10 true leaves on it. To obtain especially early production, containers of 10 x 10 cm are used, in this case, the age of seedlings when planted in the soil can reach 65 - 70 days (with the first flowering brush). For medium and late varieties, the age of seedlings at planting is 40 - 50 days.
Tomato seedlings are planted in the ground when the threat of spring frost has passed. For an early tomato, row spacing is 50-60 cm, and the distance between plants in rows is 30-35 cm; for mid-late, the distances between rows and in rows are increased by 10-15 cm. Seedlings of tall varieties are planted according to the 60X60 cm pattern. After planting, the plants are watered abundantly and the soil around them is covered with humus or dry earth. Seedlings should be planted in the holes 2-3 cm deeper than they grew before planting in the ground.
Further care consists of loosening the soil, weeding, fertilizing and watering. Tomatoes are rarely watered, but in large doses, so as not to create high humidity, which contributes to the development of late blight, the main enemy of this crop.
To combat it, plants are sprayed with a 0.4-0.5% solution of copper sulphate, having previously collected all the fruits, including unripe ones.
To enhance the formation of fruits and speed up their ripening, on early varieties of tomato, remove stepchildren - young shoots that form in the axils of the leaves.
Reckless method. In regions with a frost-free period of 150 - 180 days, it is recommended to grow a tomato for mass gathering in late August - September using a seedless method. To do this, it is better to take medium-early and medium-late varieties, sow the seeds in holes, to a depth of 2-3 cm. Sow 5-6 seeds, break through in the phase of 2-3 leaves.
Agrotechnics of tomatoes under film cover
It has been established that seedless tomato plants form a powerful root system, and therefore better absorb soil moisture and are less susceptible to diseases.
I usually buy tomato seedlings in the market, but this year I decided to grow them myself. Unfortunately, the "sill" method does not suit me, because there is not enough free space. I heard that you can sow the seeds right away in the garden and make a mini-greenhouse over them. Tell me, how to grow seedlings in open ground under a film?
The method of obtaining seedlings of vegetable crops under a film cover is quite often used by gardeners who do not have the opportunity to do this in a greenhouse or in apartment conditions. Most often it is used for tomatoes.
Advantages of the method of growing seedlings under temporary shelter
The main advantage of this method of obtaining seedlings is that the "film" plants have a stronger immunity to adverse climatic conditions compared to. They are easier to tolerate transplantation and lowering the air temperature.
In addition, the film shelter allows you to sow seeds in the ground for seedlings almost a month earlier. So, under temporary shelters, seeds can be sown from the second decade of March, and seedlings will be ready for transplanting to a permanent place as early as the 20th of May. Accordingly, this will bring the harvest time closer.
Growing seedlings in open ground under a film can be conditionally divided into three stages:
- selection of crop varieties and site preparation;
- placement of landings;
- shelter construction.
Seed selection and site preparation
For growing seedlings under film cover, it is recommended to use zoned early and mid-season varieties of garden crops. As for tomatoes, the Far North, Sanka, Siberian early ripening, Ogorodnik varieties are suitable here.
The site for the film nursery should be prepared in advance: dig in the fall, apply organic matter and mineral fertilizers. In the spring, dig a shallow trench (up to 20 cm) along the width of the film.
Placement of landings and construction of shelter
Seeds for seedlings are best sown in a tape way, alternating narrow row-spacings with wide ones. It should be borne in mind that one sheet of film should be enough to cover 2 rows with narrow row spacing.
Shelter construction
In order to make a film shelter, you will need:
- Film - it is better to use polyethylene with a thickness of at least 100 microns and a width of up to 160 cm.
- Supports - special wire arcs from 160 to 180 cm long.
The arcs should be placed every meter across the planted row and pulled over the film. Fix the edges of the film (sprinkle) with earth on all sides. If a strong wind that can break the shelter is not a frequent guest in the region, you can not sprinkle one side of the film, but simply press it with something heavy. This will make the ventilation process easier.
With expected frosts, the nursery should be covered on top with a second layer of film.
Shelter can be removed when stable warm weather sets in, but before that, the nursery must be well ventilated for 5 days. And if the summer is predicted to be cold, vegetables are grown under a film, periodically airing a mini-greenhouse.
Growing early cabbage under a film - video
Planting a tomato in a greenhouse is used to obtain strong seedlings. Some start growing tomatoes by choosing seeds. This is an important and responsible moment. Not only the taste and appearance of vegetables, but also their viability depend on the quality of the planting material. It would be superfluous to explain in detail why seeds should be bought only from trusted sellers who have the appropriate licenses and quality certificates for the product.
There is another important nuance - the right choice of variety. It must have qualities that allow it to grow seedlings in a greenhouse precisely in the climatic conditions to which the region belongs.
Tomatoes are nightshade crops. These are quite sensitive plants, for which proper care is very important. Therefore, before planting tomatoes, you should carefully study the requirements for choosing a place, temperature, watering and fertilizing.
Planting tomato seedlings in a greenhouse always requires a certain procedure:
- Seed treatment to improve their viability.
- Growing seedlings of vegetables in a greenhouse or at home.
- Preparation of beds in the greenhouse.
- Planting tomato seedlings in a greenhouse.
It is necessary to take care of plants at all stages of their development. It is worth starting with the processing of seed. Tomato seedlings grow well in a warm and fairly bright room. If it is planned to leave it on the balcony, then it should be well insulated.
Seeds of vegetables must be wrapped in damp gauze. It is placed in hot water and kept in it for about 2 hours. After that, an antiseptic treatment is carried out: the tissue with the seed is placed in a weak solution of potassium permanganate for 15 minutes.
The next step is feeding. A solution of wood ash has proven itself well. It is very easy to prepare it. You need to take 1 tbsp. substances and stir in 1 liter of warm water. Gauze with seeds should remain in this solution for 2 days.
The hardening procedure allows vegetables to become more resistant to diseases and weather conditions. To do this, they are placed in the refrigerator for 48 hours. Immediately before planting, they are heated for 5-6 hours in a warm place.
Tomatoes in a greenhouse (video)
Planting seeds
Tomato seedlings are grown in special boxes filled with high-quality soil intended for garden crops. If it is decided to leave containers with seeds in a greenhouse, it is better to cover them with a film. This will protect weak young roots from possible temperature changes during the day and at night.
The ground should be warm and moist. It is allowed to use humus and complex mineral fertilizers that promote the development of the root system and the growth of green shoots. Seeds are placed in grooves to a depth of no more than 1 cm. The distance between future shoots should be 2 cm.
The first 5-7 days the boxes are kept in a dark place. As soon as shoots appear, the container should be moved to where the young plants will receive a lot of sunlight. Seedlings can be watered once a week with an ash solution or liquid complex top dressing.
After 14 days, when the stems are well strengthened, it is recommended to pick the plants. Tomatoes need to be planted 50 days after the start of growth. By this time, the greenhouse should be completely ready.
Planting a tomato in a greenhouse (video)
Tomatoes in the greenhouse: the secrets of a good harvest
Growing tomatoes in the open field is not very different from the rules for caring for vegetables cultivated in greenhouses. Many people wonder how to properly plant vegetables in order to guarantee a rich and high-quality harvest. To do this, you need to observe a few simple conditions that are necessary for the growth and development of seedlings in a greenhouse:
- Planting a tomato should be carried out when the soil is warm enough. This refers to ground temperatures above 10°C. You can wait until mid-May, when warm weather sets in, or put a heater in the greenhouse, artificially creating optimal conditions for planting vegetables.
- 7-10 days before transferring seedlings to open ground, beds are made in a greenhouse. They should be about 40 cm high and 70-80 cm wide. The distance between the rows is 60 cm. The earth is fertilized with humus and dug up, then lightly watered.
It is strongly not recommended to add fresh manure to the soil. It overheats slowly, while releasing a lot of heat. This can damage weak roots. A large amount of nitrogen, which is contained in fresh organic fertilizer, will cause a rapid growth of green mass and slow down the formation of fruits.
Processing seedlings before transfer to open ground
Some gardeners know a special secret on how to grow a rich crop of vegetables in a greenhouse without fear of changeable spring weather and various diseases that affect cultivated plants. It consists in preparing seedlings before transferring them to the beds.
After the shoots appear, the boxes with plants are periodically exposed to the open air or the room in which they are located is well ventilated. By additionally hardening the crop, it is possible to ensure its resistance to diseases and low soil temperatures, which is not excluded even in a greenhouse.
A week before planting tomatoes in a greenhouse, seedlings are sprayed with a solution of boric acid. To prepare it, it is enough to take 1 g of the substance per 1 liter of water. This will save the formed buds and increase the yield of the plant.
About half an hour before the start of work on the transfer of young shoots to a permanent place, they are recommended to be watered abundantly.
Transplanting tomatoes from a container to a greenhouse
Planting tomato seedlings is done carefully so as not to damage the roots. Cotyledon leaves are best cut off immediately. If the shoots have grown too large, then the lower branches are also removed. Otherwise, they will end up in the ground.
Holes are made in the garden with a depth of no more than 25 cm. The distance between them is 40-50 cm. This is necessary so that the grown bushes are not crowded. Seedlings are placed in the hole at a slight angle and its roots are lightly covered with earth. Then watered and covered with soil again. After that, the surface of the earth in the root region is rammed.
If the shoots are too large, then experienced gardeners recommend making not holes, but trenches. In them, the plant should be laid almost horizontally, leaving a small above-ground part. This allows the seedlings to develop additional roots and take root faster in new conditions.
During planting, the use of complex mineral fertilizers is allowed, subject to the instructions for use. Next to each bush, it is better to immediately build a support for plants.
Growing tomatoes is a rather laborious process. But following the basic rules for caring for a crop allows you to get a great harvest of tasty and healthy vegetables.
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