Tomatoes planting and care in the open field for beginners

Secrets of growing tomatoes in the open field

Growing tomatoes outdoors can be difficult for novice gardeners, as the plant is quite demanding to care for. It is necessary to take into account the peculiarities of the culture when preparing for planting, watering and feeding tomatoes, as well as provide them with protection from pests and diseases.

For reference to the reader

Tomato (Latin Solanum lycopersicum) belongs to the Solanaceae family. The fruits of the plant are berries, but the culture belongs to vegetables, therefore, the tomato is equally correctly called both a berry and a vegetable. The birthplace of culture is South America.

When to plant tomatoes in open ground

The culture does not tolerate frost, therefore, it is necessary to plant seedlings in open soil at a stable average daily temperature. Do not rush: early planted bushes will hurt and lag behind in development.

Planting tomatoes outdoors in May

• In the southern regions of Russia, the procedure for planting seedlings of early maturing varieties can be started at the end of April;
• In the Urals and the Moscow region - in the first half of May (the landing time can be shifted by 10-15 days if the night temperature drops below 15 degrees Celsius);
• Mid-season tomatoes are planted later: in the South - in early May, in central Russia - in early June.

The most favorable days for planting tomatoes according to the lunar calendar are May 1-3, 9-10 and 19-20. It is recommended to carry out the procedure in the second half of the day, preferably in cloudy but not rainy weather.

Features of the choice of location and preparation of soil for tomatoes

When choosing a plot of a vegetable garden for planting tomato seedlings, it is recommended to give preference to well-lit southern slopes that are protected from the wind. Since the culture does not like waterlogging, you should choose elevated places with light loamy soil of low acidity.

Preparing the soil for planting tomatoes

Crop rotation rules for tomatoes

Crop rotation allows the land to rest and replenish the micronutrients consumed by the plant. Therefore, the place of planting tomatoes should be changed annually.It is important to take into account which plants grew earlier.

Tomatoes grow much better, cultivation and care in the open field, which are carried out in the beds where they grew: legumes, herbs and root crops. Crops such as potatoes, peppers or eggplants are undesirable. They can cause contamination of the earth with late blight, which will pass on to seedlings.

Preparing the soil for tomatoes in several stages

Soil disinfection can be carried out in the fall. For the procedure, a solution of copper sulfate is used: 1 tablespoon of copper per 10 liters of water. Consumption is 1 liter per square meter of the garden.

In the spring, the soil is fertilized with organic matter and mineral salts: per square meter of soil is applied in equal proportions, 1 bucket each: peat, humus and sawdust. Add 2 tablespoons of phosphate and a couple of glasses of ash.

The soil is well dug up, watered with a warm solution of bleach for disinfection (2 liters per square meter). The preparation of the ridges must be carried out in advance: 5-7 days before transplanting tomatoes into open soil.

Tomatoes planting and care in the open field

The quantity and quality of the crop often depends on more than just proper care. It is necessary to properly prepare the seeds before sowing and take care of the growing seedlings, and after planting in the soil, ensure good watering and feeding.

Cooking tomato seeds for sowing

Complex of pre-sowing measures

Tomato care begins with pre-sowing seed preparation. You can follow all the procedures described, or those that you deem necessary.

Culling

The seeds are placed in a saline solution (1 teaspoon per 0.2 l of water), mixed thoroughly and left to stand for 10 minutes. For planting, full-weight seeds are chosen, which have settled on the bottom of the container, they are washed with water and dried.

Warming up

The seeds are placed in tissue bags and heated on a battery for several days before the sowing procedure.

Disinfection or etching

Necessary for disinfection of planting material. The seeds are soaked for 20 minutes with 1% iodine solution.

Seed replenishment

For a day, they are soaked in ready-made nutrient solutions (Epin or potassium humate). You can use potato juice.

Soaking

The grains in a gauze bag are placed in warm water for 10-12 hours. Every 3-4 hours it is necessary to change the liquid, and let the grains breathe.

Germination

The planting material is placed on a damp cloth or paper towel. It is important to ensure that the material does not dry out and periodically add liquid until the seeds swell and begin to hatch;

Hardening

To ensure friendly shoots, the seeds are placed in a refrigerator overnight, and during the day they are kept at a temperature of 20 degrees. Celsius, the procedure is repeated three times.

Planting tomatoes in open ground

Grown seedlings should be prepared before transplanting. It is necessary to harden in the air and accustom the sprouts to sunlight, otherwise immature sprouts may die from a sharp change in conditions. Air for 2-3 days, then take the seedlings out into fresh air for a week, gradually increasing the time.

We plant tomatoes in open ground

Important

You can plant tomatoes in open ground when the height of the bushes reaches 20-25 cm, and the stem has 7-9 large leaves.

Before transplanting, tomato seedlings are well moistened. The procedure is carried out as follows: the beds are marked in advance: for high varieties of tomatoes, the distance between the bushes should be up to 60 cm, and the same distance between the rows, and for undersized ones: 40 and 50 cm, respectively. The wells are made 25-30 cm deep, filled with water and allowed to be completely absorbed.

The finished seedlings are removed from the containers and planted together with a wet earthy clod. If the bush is very elongated, the lower pair of leaves is cut off on it and the stem is buried in the hole, but so that it does not bend or break.

Tomato seedlings are taken out together with a wet earthen clod

The roots are covered with earth, a little rotted manure is added and sprinkled again. Then they are tamped with hands and watered: 1-2 liters for each bush.

Immediately after planting, the beds should be covered with foil for 6-8 days. During this time, the plants will get stronger and take root, watering is not yet recommended. After that, the shelter can be removed and the planting moistened.

Outdoor tomato care

Tomato bushes must be regularly weeded, hilled and loosened. A peg is placed in advance near each plant. For the highest varieties, the height of the support should be at least 80 cm. It is recommended to use a synthetic thread that does not cause rotting of plants.

Watering tomatoes outdoors

Tomatoes do not like excess moisture, stagnant water can cause the development of fungal diseases. Until the ovary appears, it is recommended to only slightly moisten the soil, preventing it from drying out.

Drip irrigation system for outdoor tomatoes

Watering tomatoes in the open field when ovaries appear is carried out every 7-8 days, 1 liter per plant is enough. During the period of growth and ripening of fruits, the frequency of watering is increased to 5-6 days, the amount of water is increased to 2 liters per bush. It is necessary to pour water under the root, avoiding contact with the leaves, as this can cause apical rot. Drip irrigation is recommended.

Advice

It is recommended to add a couple of pinches of wood ash per bucket to the water during watering (with automated drip irrigation, you can sprinkle the beds) a couple of pinches of wood ash per bucket, such feeding of tomatoes in the open field will strengthen the immunity of plants and accelerate their growth.

Water should be taken from a well or well, and tap water should be defended. Watering is best done in the afternoon. The water should be warmed up, as cold water will only harm the plants.

Top dressing of tomatoes in the open field

The procedure is performed every 2 weeks. For fertilization, use 15 g of ammonium nitrate, 50 g of superphosphate and 30 g of potassium per 10 liters of liquid. For one bush, 1 liter of solution is used. When fertilizing, it is important that the amount of nitrogen does not exceed phosphorus and potassium.

Feeding tomatoes with organics in the open field

Top dressing for tomatoes in the open field according to folk recipes will help to abandon the use of chemicals and pesticides. The most popular among gardeners:

• Infusion of nettle on water will saturate the soil with such trace elements as potassium, calcium and manganese.
• The wood ash solution will help protect tomatoes from pests such as slugs and snails, while saturating the soil with potassium and phosphorus.
• Infusion of nettle with yeast or other green fertilizer will greatly increase the release of methane and nitrogen, which are beneficial for plants.

How to tie tomatoes, care and pinching

Outdoor tomato care is not only about watering and feeding. Immediately after removing the film cover from the garden, it is necessary to put a peg near each tomato bush.

It is placed on the north side at a distance of 10 cm from the stem and driven into the ground by 30-40 cm. The above-ground part of the support is usually 1 m. The bush begins to be tied during the period of its active growth. It is unnecessary to tie the stem tightly to the support, the twine should simply support the plant in an upright position. As you grow, the garter is lifted higher.

Garter tomato bushes

In order for the fruits to be larger and to ripen faster, it is necessary to form bushes. Most often, one main stem is left on the plant, and the excess shoots are removed. The pinching procedure must be carried out regularly.

Tomato pinching procedure

Young shoots emanating from the base of already growing brushes must be removed, like all leaves below the first branches. They are simply pinched off with two fingers.

Outdoor tomato care video

Prevention of diseases and pests of tomatoes

Growing tomatoes outdoors makes them especially vulnerable to common diseases and pests.Compliance with preventive measures will partially avoid problems.

• Observe the crop rotation, try not to plant tomatoes next to potatoes;
• Dig up the soil well before planting and disinfect;
• Plants affected by diseases or pests must be removed to protect healthy bushes;
• During watering, make sure that drops do not fall on the leaves;
• Refuse watering during a period of severe temperature drop;
• Give preference to new varieties and hybrids that are resistant to common diseases;
• Use folk remedies to repel pests that damage plants and carry diseases (infusion of garlic or onions).

Choosing a variety and growing tomatoes in the open field video

Outcome

Growing tomatoes, planting and care in the open field will seem simple and enjoyable if you provide the culture with everything you need and follow agricultural techniques. As a result, you will get an excellent harvest.

Do not be afraid to experiment and try new varieties bred by breeders, grow tomatoes that will be much easier to care for due to their resistance to diseases and temperature extremes.

Hello dear friends!

We continue the tomato theme. After reading the previous article, I hope you learned something new about tomatoes, about the variety of varieties of this wonderful plant, about how to prepare tomato seeds and the timing of their planting, about caring for seedlings.

In this article, we will discuss how to grow an excellent tomato harvest in our summer cottages, provided that the plants are planted in open ground.

So, the topic of our today's article is - growing tomatoes in the open field.

Soil preparation for tomato princes

For a rich harvest, we need, first of all, to find a good place for our pets. Tomato plants love indirect sun and will thrive in sunny but sheltered areas.

• The best predecessors of tomatoes are carrots, cucumbers and onions. And if you plant your pets next to strawberries, both cultures will benefit from this. The yield of tomatoes and fragrant berries will increase several times, and the fruits will become larger.

But the places where potatoes, eggplants and peppers grew should be avoided by tomatoes. Pathogens of various diseases can accumulate in these areas.

Our country is huge. And the quality of the soil is different in all regions (even in different fields). And tomato princes are very demanding and whimsical to the land. Therefore, we need to find out the quality of the soil in our garden.

◊ Check the acidity. A pH test can be purchased from any garden department. The lower the indicator, the higher the acidity. Neutral ground has a score of 7.0.

• Tomatoes need soil with an acidity of 6.0 to 7.0.

In the case of a lower indicator, we add lime to the soil (0.5-0.8 kg per square meter), if the level is higher, sulfur in the same amount.

◊ We estimate the amount of nutrients. Analysis for the presence of trace elements can be ordered and carried out in special laboratories. This is very useful information for gardeners.

It is necessary in order for the cultivation of tomatoes in the open field to take place without losses and to please with a rich harvest.

Nitrogen	Potassium	Phosphorus
Has an effect on the health of tomato leaves. With a lack of it, the tomato will have yellowed, sluggish leaves.	This substance gives tomatoes strength and health. It increases the immunity and resistance of plants to diseases. With a lack of potassium, tomatoes do not grow well and look stunted.	Helps strengthen the root system and regulates seed formation. With its lack, tomatoes give sick, unripe fruits.
If there is a nitrogen deficiency, add fishmeal, compost or inorganic substances such as calcium nitrate, ammonium sulfate or sodium nitrate to the soil.	To compensate for the lack of potassium, supplement the soil with sand, granite dust or wood ash (bucket per square meter).	Add superphosphates, compost, and bone meal to the soil to raise phosphorus levels.

♦ Compost - ideal for soil preparation. It also attracts many earthworms, which do an excellent job of loosening the soil and, in turn, attract and create favorable conditions for the parthenogenesis of beneficial bacteria.

Prepare the land for growing tomatoes in the open field you need to start in the autumn after thorough cleaning of all previous plant residues. We dig the area selected for plants to a depth of 30 cm.

• Autumn top dressing. To a depth of 20-25 cm, we apply organic (bird droppings, humus, peat or compost 5 kg per sq. M) or mineral fertilizers (potassium salt 20-25 g, superphosphate 40-50 g per sq. M.).
• Spring top dressing. To a depth of 15-20 cm, we introduce a mixture of 1 kg of poultry manure, 1.5 kg of wood ash and 20-25 g of ammonium sulfate per sq. m. Or mineral dressing (superphosphate 55 g, ammonium nitrate 20 g and potassium chloride 15 g per sq. m).

For a successful growing tomatoes the earth must be thoroughly dug up 2-3 times (preferably with a pitchfork) and harrowed. Tomato plants and humus will like it.

But it is better to refuse manure (tomatoes, having tasted manure fertilizers, begin to actively grow their tops, while the growth of fruits fades away).

• If the soil does not warm up enough, you can cover the area with black film or plastic. The black color perfectly attracts the light of the sun and absorbs it, warming up the soil underneath.

On the prepared site, 5-6 days before planting, we form ridges (width 100-120 cm, height 15-20 cm) in the north-south direction. This will help to achieve uniform illumination of the seedlings.

Maintain a distance between the ridges of about 70 cm (for all varieties).

Growing tomatoes in the open field

As soon as the spring frost comes to an end (usually it is the end of May - the beginning of June), we will plant young tomatoes in the open ground.

It is ideal to carry out this procedure on a cloudy, gloomy day. If it's sunny outside, wait for the evening.

Plant young shoots in two rows with a distance between them for classic planting:

• For low-growing boles and determinant species (row spacing 40-50 cm, between plants 30-35 cm).
• For medium-sized ones (row spacing 50-60 cm, between tomatoes 40-45 cm).

Square-nesting fit

This method will greatly facilitate the care of our tomatoes (it will become easier to loosen them), and the plants themselves will create the most favorable living conditions: it will improve the absorption of nutrients and increase the illumination. As a result, we will achieve a good harvest. We plant it according to the following scheme:

• Standard and determinant varieties: 70x70 cm, 2-3 plants for one nest.
• Early maturing species with a spreading bush: 70x70 cm, a couple of plants in one hole.
• Mid and late ripening: 70x70 cm, 1 bush in one nest. Or 90x90 cm (100x100 cm) - 2 plants each.

Ribbon-nest landing

This method of growing tomatoes in the open field makes it possible to place more bushes in one area. It becomes easier for them, crowded in one hole, to withstand bad weather conditions.

As it grows, weaker shoots thin out.

• With this method, irrigation furrows are cut every 140 cm. Plants are planted on both sides of the furrows (from a row of 60 cm, in the row itself after 70 cm, a couple of bushes in one nest).

Focus on the final growth of the bush. Ideally, for good development, one tomato should be given about 0.3 sq. m.

On average, for a plot of 100 sq. m. will need approximately 340-420 early tomatoes, and late and medium varieties 240-290 pieces.

Getting started disembarking

First of all, you need to moisten the soil well in pots or boxes with seedlings. This will help to easily remove them from the seed container and prevent accidental damage to the root system.

Prepared holes for growing tomatoes in the open field should have a depth of 10-15 cm.

We water them (a bucket of water for 8-10 holes) and apply mineral fertilizers mixed with humus (proportion 1x3).

1. Turn over the container with seedlings, grasp the trunk of the tomato with your middle and forefinger and remove it from the container.
2. Tear off the leaves of the seedlings, leaving only 2-3 leaves on top (this will stimulate root growth).
3. Place the plant with the root clod vertically in the hole and cover with compost. In this case, the stem of the tomato should remain open. Only the roots or a pot of soil are placed in the ground.
4. Press down firmly around the plant and cover the compost with dry soil.
5. After planting, we mulch the soil (for this, mowed, slightly withered grass, sawdust, straw or newspaper leaves are suitable). The mulch layer should be about 10 cm high.

When the planting of tomatoes in the ground is over, we will leave them alone for 8-10 days. During this period, the plants take root and master in a new place.

Do not water them yet. But you need to be prepared for freezing. To do this, immediately after planting, we will cover our young tomatoes with transparent film.

It will remain until the threat of frost disappears (for the middle zone, this usually happens by June 5-10). Holes with a diameter of 10 cm can be made in the film. This will reduce the risk of late blight infection.

After 10 days, we water the seedlings and at the same time plant a new one in the place of the deceased. The first hilling when growing tomatoes in the open field can be done two weeks after planting the seedlings.

In the future, we will huddle the plants as they grow.

How to tie tomatoes

Place pegs 50-80 cm high above the rows with planted tomatoes (depending on the growth of the bush).

The pegs are placed on the north side, retreating from the stem about 10 cm. We will tie each bush to them with a washcloth or twine.

Plants begin to tie up when they have 4-5 true leaves. In total, 3-4 garters are produced during the growth period of a tomato.

Plants are tied up only under a brush with fruits. This allows them to be well lit and receive more heat and sunshine, which speeds up and increases yields.

The fruits, not in contact with the ground, are less susceptible to pest attacks and are better protected from diseases.

Tapestry method

For medium-sized plants, large-fruited and richly fruiting, it is best to use trellises, not garters.

This method of growing tomatoes in the open field makes it easier to care for the plant, harvest, and also lengthen the fruiting period of tomatoes. Plants are less likely to develop fungal infections. This method allows you to more effectively use a plot of the garden (especially when it is small in size).

To do this, install posts about 1.2-1.5 m high in the rows (the more often the posts are driven in, the stronger the structure will be).

Drive carnations onto the posts every 20-25 cm. Attach horizontal slats to them with twine or wire.

When the tomato seedlings start to grow (this will happen two weeks after planting), gently tie the brush of the plant to the slats with a soft twine or cord. Continue tying them as they grow, every 15-20 cm.

• This method is ideal for growing tall tomatoes in greenhouses (we will tell you more about caring for greenhouse giants in another article).

With the trellis method, further care for the plants will be very simple: timely tying of fruiting shoots and their stepchildren to the slats.

Care when growing tomatoes in the open field

Operation	How often to do	Tips
Grassing tomatoes (or shaping)	It is necessary to remove side shoots constantly, starting from an early age of the plant. By the time the fruit ripens, there should be no stepsons.	They must be removed before the shoots reach 3-5 cm in length. It is best to do this in the morning. In the southern, sunny regions, you can not completely remove the stepsons, just do not tie them up. But in the north, this operation is required (leave only 2-3 stems for each bush). In extreme heat, this procedure cannot be carried out.
Top dressing tomato	Once every 10 days. The first time we feed tomatoes two weeks after planting.	The first feeding with a solution of mullein (1x10) or chicken manure (1x20).We make repeated dressings with mineral fertilizers (nitrofoska 60g + water 10l). Quantity: before flowering, 1 liter for each bush, after flowering for 2-5 liters.
Watering tomatoes	Abundant, but rare watering.	Water the tomatoes once a week in the spring and early summer. In warm summer, limit yourself to one watering every 2-3 days. Water the root bushes in the evening.
Spraying	We spray every week, alternating the compositions of the liquid. First spraying immediately after planting in open ground (Bordeaux liquid).	Alternate between Bordeaux liquid and homemade onion tincture.

How to pinch tomatoes. When removing the stepsons, do not pull them out, but gently break them out, grabbing them with your index and thumb. Pull gently to the side and break off.

If they have grown too large, cut with a sharp knife or razor. First of all, get rid of the stepchildren growing under the brushes (otherwise the tomato can shed the ovary).

For the best yields when growing tomatoes outdoors, pinch the tops of all fruit shoots at the end of summer.

Also remove excess flower brushes where the fruit has failed to form.

Preparation of Bordeaux liquid. In water, extinguish quicklime (100 g) and add water (about 5 liters). In another container, dissolve copper sulfate (100 g) in a small amount of hot water and add 5 liters of water.

Then pour the vitriol solution into the slaked lime. The correct liquid will have a sky blue tint.

Just in case, measure the alkaline reaction with an indicator (Bordeaux liquid should be neutral or slightly alkaline).

• Any iron objects can be used to check. If the metal is covered with a layer of copper, you made a too acidic solution. More lime needs to be added. But do not overdo it, otherwise the liquid will lose its beneficial qualities.

Preparation of onion tincture. Grind onion and garlic (100 g each) with a meat grinder. Transfer the mixture to a 3-liter glass container and fill it ¾ with water. We close and insist for 3 days.

Shake it periodically. At the same time, pour bird droppings (200 g) in a plastic bucket with water and set to infuse. Both mixtures are mixed and filtered before use.

Feeding Tips

For top dressing when growing tomatoes in the open field, it is useful to use fermented nettle and ash.

Also, a couple of times in the fruiting season, feed the plants with microelements (crush 5 tablets and stir them in ½ l of water, then add another 10 l of water). Consumption of 1 liter for each bush.

Banana fertilizer. We are preparing a natural, very healthy top dressing, enriched with calcium and phosphorus. This remedy is made from banana peels.

1. Cover the oven tray with food foil. Put the banana peel on top of the skin with the outside side down (so that it does not stick). Place the tray in the oven.
2. After roasting and cooling it, grind the peel into flour and place it in an airtight bag.

Sprinkle banana flour on the soil near the plant roots once every two weeks.

To get an excellent harvest of tomatoes, you need to do more than just water and feed them correctly. They need pollination.

Pollination of tomatoes

Tomato is a self-pollinating plant. When growing tomatoes in the open field, these plants create a lot of high-quality pollen, which is also enough for neighboring flowers.

To help with pollination, attract insect helpers (bees, bumblebees).

To do this, plant bright annual melliferous plants between the tomatoes: rapeseed, coriander, basil and mustard. By the way, these crops also improve the taste of the fruits themselves.

But it is not always possible for a tomato to self-pollinate. There can be many reasons:

• Lowering the temperature at night (below + 13 ° C). Under such conditions, the deformation of the anther occurs.
• The daytime temperature is too high (above + 30-35 ° С). In the heat, the flowers fall off, and the pollen grains die.
• Features of the structure of the pistil of some large-fruited varieties (it protrudes outward and the pollen does not fall on the stamens). Or the pestle is too wide.

In such cases, we need to help our tomatoes to pollinate. You can tilt down the buds with a protruding pistil and shake the flower slightly. Or it is easy to knock on a trellis or a flowering brush.

• The best time for artificial pollination is 10-14 hours, at a temperature of + 22-27 ° С. The ideal air humidity is not more than 70%. Repeat the pollination procedure after 4 days.

Immediately after pollination, water the tomatoes or spray over the flower (so that the pollen sticks to the pistil). The last flowers to appear are usually empty and underdeveloped. It is better to remove them immediately.

Secrets of growing tomatoes. An amazing tomato has one peculiarity - it is completely unpretentious.

And it can bear fruit even if your care is limited only to watering and weeding.

But the tomato is very responsive. And the more carefully you take care of the plants, the more harvest they will give you.

But don't overdo it in your quest to please him. The golden rule for growing tomatoes is that everything is good in moderation!

Caring for tomatoes should be within reasonable, competent limits!

Now, my dear friends, you know how to grow our precious tomatoes outdoors. Next, we have to learn about growing tomatoes in a greenhouse and about the possible difficulties (diseases and pests) when growing them.

I also suggest watching a short video with some useful tips for growing tomatoes.

See you soon, dear friends!

You can also read on this topic:

Tags: Actually, tomatoes

The bright and juicy fruits of tomatoes are valued for their pleasant taste and vitamin composition. Proper planting and caring for tomatoes in the open field will require compliance with a number of agrotechnical rules. To obtain a high-quality harvest, it is important to use seeds of zoned varieties, grow strong seedlings and create optimal conditions for abundant fruiting.

Choosing tomato seeds for open field

When selecting varieties, the climatic features of the region, the quality of the soil and the location of the site must be taken into account. They also pay attention to the nature of the growth of tomato bushes: whether the formation, installation of a trellis and a garter will be required.

Development features

There are indeterminate and determinant varieties of tomatoes. The former are distinguished by unlimited growth, bloom and set fruits from summer to autumn; reach a height of 2 m or more. In the south, they manage to ripen in the open field, but in the northern regions they create problems.

The height of determinant tomatoes is from 40 to 80 cm. Tomatoes of this group are grown in open ground in the south and in the middle lane, to the north they are cultivated in greenhouses. After the last flower cluster has formed, the shoot no longer grows in height. The crop ripens amicably in a relatively short time.

Ripening terms

In the southern regions, tomatoes of early, middle and late ripening are grown. In the north, precocious hybrids are preferred. Usually early tomatoes have red, medium-sized fruits. Among the late varieties, there is a wide variety of shapes and colors: round, elongated, pink, yellow and almost black berries.

Varieties and hybrids of tomatoes for open ground:

1. Early ripening: Podmoskovny F1, Northern Miracle, New Transnistria (determinant).
2. Mid-season: Appetizing, Oxheart, Pioneer, Monomakh Hat (determinant).
3. Late ripening: Andrew's surprise, De Barao (indeterminate).

Attention! Hybrid tomatoes usually yield high quality early crops, but are more demanding on growing conditions. Bushes grow from the seeds of such tomatoes, which differ from the hybrid for the worse.

When choosing a seed, it is also necessary to take into account the suitability of the region. If tomato varieties are not zoned, then they will not show their best qualities, calculated for cultivation in a particular climate.

Growing seedlings for planting in open ground

This method is optimal for obtaining a tomato harvest in a short time, for the cultivation of plants in the northern regions.

Sowing tomato seeds

They use plastic containers with a diameter of 8–10 cm filled with nutrient soil. The choice is wide enough: round and square seedling pots, special cassettes, plastic cups.

How to sow:

1. The soil mixture is watered with warm water with dissolved universal fertilizer for vegetables (1 tablespoon per 10 liters of water).
2. Two shallow pits (1 cm) are made in the center.
3. Place one seed on the bottom.
4. Sprinkle the seeds with soil.

In the south, sowing of seeds for seedlings is carried out in February, in the middle lane - from the beginning of March to the end of the month.

Seedlings

After sowing, individual seedling pots or glasses are placed in a box installed in a warm place (at least 22 ° C). After a week or earlier, sprouts begin to hatch. The box is moved to a well-lit place, for example, on a windowsill, but not on the north side.

Advice. If both seeds germinate, they leave a larger, more even seedling. Healthy stocky seedlings with 7-10 leaves take root better in the area.

To prevent seedlings from stretching, they need a temperature during the day not higher than 16 ° C, at night - about 14 ° C. The optimal temperature regime for the formation of leaves is 18–20 ° С.

Proper care of young plants before planting in open ground

Seedlings are regularly watered and fed three times for 50-60 days. For the first time, a complex fertilizer is used - nitrophoska (nitrate nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium). The second time a mixture of organic and mineral fertilizers is applied. For the third feeding, a superphosphate solution is prepared in advance (2 tablespoons per 10 liters of water). After a week, you can plant tomatoes in open ground.

Hardening of seedlings

Young plants become stronger and less elongated as a result of exposure to low temperatures. Seedlings are hardened in April to prepare for planting in open ground in May. In the afternoon, they open a window for a short time or take out the boxes to the balcony or terrace. The temperature for such air baths should not be lower than 10–12 ° С.

Plants gradually get used to outdoor conditions and direct sunlight. In the early days, it is recommended to shade the seedlings. Do not overmoisten the soil in pots or leave it dry.

Selection of purchased seedlings

Purchase from nurseries or self-cultivation? The answer is most obvious for those who do not have enough time to sow in pots and harden plants. In addition, when buying seedlings, there is the possibility of purchasing plants of various varieties and maturity dates. Growing and labeling large numbers of seedlings at home is a hassle task.

It is risky to buy seedlings from private owners. If they prepared the seeds of hybrid tomatoes on their own, then the offspring will be less productive and earlier than the mother plant. There is a high risk of acquiring contaminated planting material.

It is recommended to purchase seedlings in containers with soil. The age of the plants should not exceed 60 days, the height - up to 25-30 cm. Although you can plant seedlings with flowers in the ground and get the first fruits early. It is desirable that the stems below are thick, darker in color. The root system must be well developed and free from damage.

By the appearance of the seedlings, it is determined whether the plants are sick or healthy. Signs of disease - spotty, deformed leaves, shoots. It should not be hoped that after planting it will be possible to quickly correct defects by spraying with pesticides.

Soil preparation

Tomatoes prefer open, well-lit areas, fresh fertile soils. Tomatoes do not grow well in lowlands or in high places that are blown by the wind. In a crop rotation, tomatoes are best grown after peas and other legumes. Good predecessors of root crops: beets, carrots.Areas where potatoes and eggplants were grown in the previous season are not suitable.

The site is prepared in advance: it is dug up, leveled with a rake. Poor soils need the addition of peat, humus, wood ash. You can pour humus directly into the hole during planting.

Planting seedlings in open ground

The second decade of May is best suited for planting tomatoes. It is important to avoid the threat of late spring frosts. If the weather is cloudy, you can start planting tomatoes in the open ground in the morning. On a sunny day, it is better to postpone this work to the evening.

Plants are placed in the hole at a slight angle or vertically. The first method is more suitable for tall seedlings. The root ball or peat pot is completely buried in the soil. The earth around the seedlings is pressed by hand to the roots. Then watered and sprinkled with humus. After two weeks, the lower part of the plant is spud to a height of 10–12 cm for better formation of adventitious roots.

It is important to consider mulching after each watering. This promotes the growth of additional roots in the surface layer, protects against moisture loss.

One - and two-line planting of tomatoes is practiced, on the ridges and without them. For low-growing varieties and hybrids, the distance between plants in a row is 40 cm, row spacing is from 40 to 50 cm. Tomatoes of medium height are placed 40–45 cm apart. The row spacing is 50 cm.

Tomato care

Tomato roots take root within 7-10 days after planting in open ground. If frosts are expected, then the seedlings are covered with plastic wrap or cut off plastic bottles overnight. Caring for tomatoes also consists of watering and feeding, removing weeds, loosening row spacings and pinching.

Watering, feeding and fertilizing

In the heat, tomatoes are poured with warm, settled water once every three days. Reduces the amount of irrigation in cloudy and rainy weather. After watering, be sure to mulch the garden bed with compost or peat to a height of about 2 cm. It is recommended to water the tomatoes in the evening to avoid crusting on the soil, but it is better to do this early in the morning to protect the plant from fungal diseases.

For the first time, root feeding is carried out 20 days after planting the seedlings. Use a universal liquid fertilizer and nitrophoska granules: add 1 tbsp. l. on a bucket of water. Tomatoes are fed the second time after the blooming of the flower cluster. Pour under each plant 1 liter of a solution of the same composition that was used for the first feeding.

Tomatoes are fertilized for the third time, in which the third flower cluster has blossomed. The fourth feeding of tomatoes is after 2 weeks. A solution of liquid universal fertilizer is used. You can feed in July with urea and nitrofoskoy (1 and 2 tablespoons per 10 liters of water).

How to shape and pinch tomatoes?

You can leave one stem, remove all side shoots. This technique is called pinching. The main shoot should have 5 or 6 flower clusters.

How to pinch tomatoes in the open field: leave a few leaves above the upper brush and pinch the top. Either the lower stepson is left, but then the number of flower brushes on the main shoot should be reduced to four, and on the stepson - to three.

How to tie up tomatoes outdoors?

Near each plant, which they plan to tie up later, a peg is installed, or strong stakes are driven in along the edges of the row and a wire or cord is pulled between them. Twine, thick synthetic threads that do not rot, are used as the material for the garter. The pegs can be wooden or metal.

Tomatoes are tied to a wire or a peg not too tightly, making the so-called "figure eight" from the twine in front of the stem (intertwined). There are other options for strengthening the stems: a cap made of twigs, a lattice and a net.

The main problems associated with growing

Tomatoes are highly susceptible to low temperatures, they do not tolerate excessive moisture and lack of light. Even the best zoned varieties are weakly resistant to unfavorable environmental factors if they do not receive proper care.

In conditions of a lack of water, the leaves turn yellow and dry, the fruits remain small and tough. Excess moisture is also harmful: roots rot, fruits crack. Bushes overfed with fertilizers increase the vegetative mass to the detriment of fruit set. Leaves and fruits on a hot afternoon can get sunburn, which looks like whitish spots.

Diseases and pests of tomatoes

Fungal, bacterial and viral diseases are dangerous for tomatoes. To combat the first group of pathogens, once a decade, tomatoes are treated against phytophthora and fusarium wilt with Bordeaux liquid. Strong fungicides can be used 2 times per season.

Tomatoes affected by bacterial infections are treated with solutions of Baktofit or Fitosporin preparations. The second remedy is also used against fungus. Biological products are less dangerous for humans, they are used for spraying up to harvest.

The most effective method of combating viral diseases of tomatoes is the breeding of resistant varieties and hybrids. Be sure to disinfect the seeds before sowing with a solution of potassium permanganate (if you can buy this antiseptic at the pharmacy).

Dangerous pests of tomatoes are bear, wireworm, Colorado potato beetle, nematodes. The moth caterpillars are capable of destroying the crop by eating the fruits from the inside. The control measures used are the same as on other nightshade crops.

Harvesting and storage

In July, August, September, ripe fruits are harvested for fresh consumption and canning. After the night temperatures have dropped, green tomatoes can be harvested, stored at temperatures up to 18 ° C for ripening. Brown fruits, on which light falls, reach ripeness faster.

Put tomatoes for ripening in flat boxes in one or two layers. The stalks are removed, but so as not to damage the skin and pulp. Add a few red ones to green and brown tomatoes to speed up ripening. It is better to store ripe fruits in a cool dry place, but not in the refrigerator.

The homeland of tomatoes is South America, where today you can find various types of this culture in nature. Due to its nutritional and taste qualities, variety of varieties and good yield, tomato is popular everywhere. It is most often grown in greenhouses, but in the open field, you can get a fairly bountiful harvest. The main thing is to choose the right variety and provide the culture with the most optimal conditions for vegetation and fruiting.

We grow tomatoes in the open field

Choosing a place for planting, soil quality

It is advisable to prepare the soil for growing tomatoes in the fall: humus should be added to the ground, which will provoke saturation of the substrate with substances useful for culture. Tomatoes grow very poorly on acidic soils, therefore, at high pH values, it is advisable to deoxidize the soil with chalk or ordinary charcoal. If it is not possible to determine the acidity of the soil, know that sorrel or horsetail grows well on acidic lands.

Preparing the beds

In addition to humus, in the fall, the soil should be fertilized with potash and phosphorus types of mineral fertilizers. Potassium nitrate, which contains nitrogen, is especially useful for tomatoes.

Potassium (potassium) nitrate

It is advisable to choose those types of fertilizers that remain in the soil for a long time.

If you plan to fertilize the soil with ammonium nitrate, then it is best to apply it to the ground in the spring, since its ions dissolve very quickly in the substrate and are washed out of it.

Ammonium nitrate

It is advisable to choose a place for tomatoes wisely.Tomatoes need a long day of light and feel good in direct sunlight. Because of this feature, you need to choose a place for planting a crop not in the shade, but in open, well-lit areas. You should also avoid lowlands, where water accumulates in the soil after precipitation. This can lead to a number of diseases.

Place for planting tomatoes

Tomatoes should not be planted in areas where nightshade crops and corn used to grow. It is also not recommended to plant tomatoes for several years in a row in the same place. The most useful precursors of tomatoes are root vegetables, radishes, cabbage, lettuce, legumes.

Vegetable crop rotation

Transplant process

Most often, seedlings are planted in tomatoes. Germinating seeds in open ground is fraught with a number of problems even in regions with a very mild climate: low germination, uneven germination of seedlings, the inability to create optimal humidity and temperature, and so on. Therefore, the most popular method is seedlings, which were sown in boxes in late February or early March.

Tomato seedlings

It's important to know! Seedlings that are planned to be planted in open ground must be well hardened. Otherwise, you can lose some of the shoots or, due to abrupt changes in conditions, the growth of seedlings will be delayed.

The timing of transplanting young plants depends on the climatic region, since the seedlings will not withstand frost or too low night temperatures. The optimal time is all May. When the air temperature drops, you can always protect the seedlings with special structures with a film or agrotextile.

The best shelter for a tomato

After the site with soil for planting a culture is completely ready, that is, it is dug up, leveled, you can start planting seedlings. It is best to do this early in the morning, when the sun is not too hot yet. The area for tomatoes should be divided into sectors and mark the places where holes for seedlings will be dug. The distance between the holes depends on the variety of culture, if the tomato bushes are tall, then it is recommended to leave about 70 cm, if not too large, then 40-50 cm.If you plan to plant several rows of tomatoes, then it is best to place the plants in a checkerboard pattern, this will help save square. The distance between the rows should also depend on the variety (70 to 40 cm).

Tomato planting scheme

The scheme of planting seedlings in open ground

After digging holes that are not too deep, the soil should be disinfected. For these purposes, potassium permanganate is diluted in a bucket of water, the solution should be light pink. Wells are thoroughly watered with a disinfectant solution. After this procedure, you can additionally water the depressions so that the soil is very well moistened, since after planting the seedlings cannot be watered for several days.

Planting methods for seedlings

The vertical method is the classic planting method. The seedling is removed from the container and placed in a hole, after which the roots of the plant are sprinkled with a substrate and slightly compacted. This method is suitable for those young plants, the length of which does not exceed 40 cm during the planting period.

Planting tomato seedlings

The horizontal planting method is used for seedlings that are too long in height during cultivation. When planting, the seedling is tilted, the roots and part of the stem are sprinkled with earth. It is believed that this method allows an additional root system to develop on the stems and thereby improve plant nutrition during the growing season.

Planting seedlings - scheme

Landing scheme

Watering tomatoes

After planting seedlings in the ground, it is not recommended to water them for the first 8-10 days. An exception can be made only when the weather is too hot and sunny. It is best to water the seedlings in the evening with settled water, which is heated in the sun.

Watering tomatoes

If the weather conditions leave much to be desired, watering the seedlings after transplanting is prohibited. Watering will negatively affect the plants, they can become infected with late blight and you can forget about the harvest. This rule applies not only to young animals, but also to adult plants during the growing season and fruiting.

How often to water tomatoes

Adult plants during the growing season should be watered periodically, focusing on the weather and the appearance of the bushes. When adding moisture under tomatoes, you should pay attention to the fact that water gets only on the root area. Watering leaves and shoots is prohibited.

How to properly water tomatoes

During flowering and fruiting, tomatoes need increased watering, since a lack of moisture can provoke the discharge of inflorescences, cracking or a decrease in the size of the fruits.

Plant care

Tomatoes need constant care as they grow. Hilling is a very important process when growing tomatoes outdoors.

It is advisable to spud tomatoes 2-3 times per season

With periodic hilling, additional roots are formed in plants, which contribute to a greater assimilation of nutrients from the soil. Hilling is especially important during the fruiting period, when more oxygen and nutrients are required for the formation of fruits, with a shortage of which the plants shed inflorescences or recently set tomatoes.

Hilling tomatoes

Tomatoes can be mulched. This will help to preserve moisture near the roots, which is important in dry summers. The only caveat is that the bark of coniferous trees increases the acidity of the soil, since it releases acids into the ground when wet. Therefore, it is best not to use it.

Tomato bushes under mulch

Fertilizer for tomatoes

Top dressing significantly affects the productivity of tomatoes. For the entire period after transplanting plants into open ground, it is recommended to carry out 4 fertilizing with mixtures, which include different fertilizers.

Fertilizing tomatoes

Fertilization rates NUTRIFLEX AND NOVALON

The first feeding should be carried out 21 days after transplanting seedlings into open ground. It is recommended to dilute a tablespoon of nitrophoska and ready-made fertilizer "Ideal" into a bucket of water. 0.5 liters of solution is poured under one bush.

Fertilizer Ideal

The second fertilization is carried out when the second pair of inflorescences appears on the bushes. Plant breeders recommend using a ready-made solution "Signor Tomato" or a fertilizer with a similar composition.

Fertilizer "Signor Tomato"

The third root fertilization is carried out after the appearance of the third pair of inflorescences. The composition and dose of fertilizers are exactly the same as for the first feeding.

The fourth fertilization is carried out 14 days after the third. 2 teaspoons of superphosphate are diluted in a bucket of water and the mixture is applied at the root, the dose is a bucket of water per square meter of soil.

Garter bushes of tomatoes

Garter tomatoes

Tomato varieties can be of different heights, so very often tall bushes need to be tied up. This must be done so that the rather fragile shoots of plants do not break from the wind or from the severity of the fruit during the period of fertility. To fix the shoots, you can use ordinary wooden sticks, soft mesh, trellises. It all depends on the height of the culture. Bushes up to half a meter in height should not be tied up, for two-meter giants, a trellis is best suited, for one and a half meter shoots, you can use an agro-mesh made of soft material that will not damage delicate branches.

Support for tomatoes

How to tie tomatoes

It is also worth monitoring the condition of the shoots during fruit ripening. In high-yielding varieties, sometimes many fruits ripen on one branch, under the weight of which the plant can break. Therefore, it is recommended to take measures to save the harvest.

Ways to increase the yield

Tomato bushes, under favorable conditions, tend to grow very strongly, forming many lateral shoots.Because of this, yield decreases due to the fact that the plant spends a lot of nutrients to grow unnecessary branches. In case of strong growth, it is recommended to carry out pinching - removal of lateral branches with ovaries.

Grassing tomatoes

Stepping

Grasshopping is carried out during the growing season of plants. The most important stem and the first stepchild should be left - the second well-formed stem. The rest of the shoots are recommended to be carefully removed, which allows you to form a tall and strong bush. Doing this procedure is shown every 10 days. If, for some reason, there are too many large side shoots, they do not need to be broken off, this can destroy the plant. In this case, it is recommended to stop the growth of the lateral shoot by pinching off the top.

Peculiarities of pinching various types of tomatoes

By removing the top from the main shoots, you can accelerate the formation and ripening of fruits, since the plant will direct all its strength and nutrients not to the growth of the bush, but to fruiting.

Video - How to correctly pinch tomatoes

Pests and diseases

Late blight is a fairly common disease that affects tomatoes in the open field. It manifests itself as brown spot on the surface of leaves and fruits, white bloom under the leaves, significantly reduces productivity and leads to the death of plants. Appears with high humidity or sudden changes in temperature. An effective remedy for late blight is the "Zaslon" composition, which needs to process tomatoes several times per season.

Late blight

Mosaic is a viral infection that infects the green mass of tomatoes, causing the plants to quickly wither and die. Modern hybrids have resistance to mosaic, but when the first symptoms of the disease appear, it is recommended to use a potassium manganese solution to treat the infection.

Mosaic

Gray rot appears at the end of the season, when the temperature drops or drops. It is manifested by the appearance of brown spots on mature or green fruits. Tomatoes affected by gray rot are not stored, they very quickly become watery and tasteless. In the fight against the disease, fungicides are effective, removing infected fruits from branches.

Gray rot

Also, tomatoes very often become attractive to various pests, from which special preparations effectively help. Fruits and bushes of culture can be affected by aphids, whitefly, bear, scoop.

Harvesting

Picking tomatoes

Tomatoes tend to ripen very quickly and unevenly, therefore, during the fruiting period, you need to constantly monitor that ripe fruits are removed from the bush on time. Under unfavorable conditions, you can harvest in advance, despite the fact that the tomatoes are still green. If the plant is not infected with any infection, the fruits ripen normally in boxes or on windowsills, which does not affect their taste in any way.

The most adapted varieties of tomatoes for growing outdoors

table

Mystery	A fairly new variety, which is distinguished by its high yield and fruit quality. The bushes are not too tall - up to 40 cm, the shoots are strong, elastic, so they do not need tying. Fruits are round, ripe, deep red in color, weight up to 170 grams. The riddle is one of the earliest ripening varieties: 85-90 days pass from germination of seedlings to technical ripeness of fruits. The only drawback of this type of tomato is excessive pinching, which can lead to a decrease in yield.
Crimson giant	This variety is known for its large fruits - up to 700 grams. The fruits are lobular, without voids, the color is light crimson. The peduncle is immersed deeply in the pulp, the taste is sweet, the skin is thin. Bushes are strong, tall, in need of a mandatory garter. Refers to a mid-early variety: from the appearance of shoots to the ripening of the crop, a little more than 100 days pass. The variety needs constant watering, is resistant to most diseases and pests.
Anastasia	The variety belongs to early maturing, technical maturity occurs in 100 days. The bush is formed into several stems, the tomatoes are tied in a cluster, due to which the variety has a high yield. The average fruit weight is 200 grams. The shape of the fruit is slightly elongated, with a pointed tip, the color is red, the skin is dense, the pulp is juicy. In mature fruits, the area near the stalk is often green. With proper care, up to 11 kg of fruit can be harvested from one bush.
Anniversary Tarasenko	This variety belongs to the mid-season - fruit ripening occurs 3 months after the appearance of the first seedlings of seedlings. The bushes of this tomato variety are very high - up to 2 meters, so they need a mandatory garter. Tomatoes ripen on a complex bunch, sometimes up to 25-30 fruits can form in one bundle, weighing about 200 grams. The shape of the fruit is round, with a noticeable protruding tip, the color is scarlet, the pulp is juicy, sweet and sour. the skin is hard. Well transported, used for canning.
Wonder of the world	This tomato has an exotic shape and color and resembles a lemon in its appearance. The variety belongs to the mid-season - up to 120 days of growing season. The bush is high - up to 2 meters, blooms well and bears fruit. Up to 12 kg of fruit can be removed from one bush per season. The taste of tomatoes is sweet, fleshy, with a dense skin. The variety is distinguished by evenness of fruits, good preservation, resistance to lack of watering.
Watercolor	This honeycomb is early maturing: less than 3 months pass from seed germination to technical maturity. The height of the bushes does not exceed half a meter, the fruits are elongated, of medium size. Differs in excellent taste, resistance to septoria and apical rot.

Video - Growing tomatoes in the open field