Growing tomatoes according to Dutch technology: basic rules

The Netherlands is a leading country in creating the latest technologies for growing crops, which allow achieving excellent yields and crop quality. Growing tomatoes according to Dutch technology makes it possible to collect up to 65 kg of tomatoes from 1 sq. m. per year.

Dutch farmers' technology principles

It is possible to significantly increase the yield of tomato bushes not only by using the rules for their formation and care, but also by applying some important principles of Dutch technology:

Growed tomato, in order to prevent diseases and pests, mineral wool impregnated with complex nutrients is placed in the container, which makes it possible to achieve the necessary growth of seedlings in a shorter time.
In a greenhouse with tomato seedlings, the amount of carbon dioxide in the air increases. This contributes to the process of photosynthesis, in which nutrients are supplied to the plant.
In order to pollinate plants and get the ovary, Dutch farmers launch hornets into the greenhouse, which carry pollen from flower to flower.

Of course, this method is not for everyone, but it is still necessary to adhere to such basic requirements: adequate plant nutrition, photosynthesis promotion, timely pollination. In this way, it is possible to exert the best possible influence on the tomatoes for a high yield.

Greenhouse varieties of tomatoes

It is important to use varieties of tomatoes suitable for year-round cultivation in a greenhouse. It is optimal to select varieties of tomatoes with tall or medium-sized bushes (indeterminate or semi-determinate). You can, for example, plant the following varieties:

Camry. This tomato of the Dutch selection is a hybrid. It grows quite actively in any season. The main stem can reach 2.5 m, and the fruits weigh an average of 160 g. Tomatoes of this variety have a uniform scarlet color over the entire surface, and a round shape.
Hanny Moon. Ideal for growing in greenhouses. Tomatoes ripen in 65 days. The largest fruits weigh 260 g each. The fruits ripened on the bushes have a pink color. They are sweet-tasting. It is recommended to use it in spring and summer.
Debut. This variety of tomato is early ripe, intended for growing in greenhouse conditions. The fruits are quite large and can weigh up to 210 g. They are used for fresh consumption. Under optimal conditions, from 1 sq. m. area harvested up to 9 kg of tomatoes.
Raisa. Variety of early ripening tomatoes with very long stems. It can be planted mainly in greenhouses.The fruits are small in size (weighing up to 140 g). The color of the tomatoes is bright red. The fruits have a very dense upper skin, which allows them to be stored for a long time, and they are also excellently transported. In addition, their advantage is that they can grow on almost any soil, and no special mineral substrate is required.

Only a small part of the varieties used by the Dutch in greenhouses are listed. But the main difficulty lies in the acquisition of seeds of such tomatoes. It is impossible to grow and harvest them from your crop, as tomatoes lose their maternal qualities. Therefore, you will have to buy them at specialized outlets or via the Internet from abroad, since they are practically not available in ordinary seed stores.

Important! When buying, you need to pay attention to the manufacturer's company in order to protect yourself from fakes.

Features of seedling rooms

In winter, tomato seedlings grow to the required condition, ready for transplanting into the soil in 9 weeks. In spring, this period is shortened to 2 months, and in summer to 1.5 months.

To make the plants strong and he althy, the most illuminated area of the greenhouse is selected for planting, without drafts. In this case, the air should have average indicators - approximately +23 degrees. In addition, the following conditions should be created in the greenhouse:

the soil should have a constant temperature of about 16 degrees;
Greenhouse in winter should start heating already 2 days before planting, so that the temperature reaches the required level;
To improve the penetration of sunlight, glass should be thoroughly washed.

In cassette pots, holes are made in the bottoms to allow excess water to glass. Drainage is laid at the very bottom, and on top of it is mineral wool soaked in fertilizers and thoroughly moistened with water. The seeds are laid out on mineral wool and covered with a 1 cm layer of sand and vermiculite. Then the containers are covered with glass or plastic wrap to protect them from overdrying and put away from sunlight.

After the emergence of seedlings of tomatoes, about 10-12 days, young plants are transplanted into containers with soil, sometimes separate pots are used for this purpose. The plants are planted in the soil in such a way that the top of the container is 2 cm higher than the soil level. This allows you to protect the plant from contact with the soil and possible pests, and avoid damage.

Plants are rarely planted in a greenhouse. For 1 sq. m. planted no more than 2.5 tomato bushes.At the same time, distances in rows of 70 cm are adhered to, and at least 55 cm are left between rows of tomatoes. The width of the path between the beds is about 90 cm. Thick planting leads to shading, this prevents the penetration of sunlight to the plants, which reduces productivity.

The temperature requirement in the greenhouse must be met in the following parameters:

Greenhouse night air temperature should be 16-18 degrees Celsius, daytime temperature rises by 2 degrees;
Humidity inside the greenhouse should be maintained between 67-75%, and with drier air, the fruits harden and become more fibrous.

When growing tomatoes in greenhouse conditions, it is necessary to observe the established air humidity and temperature. To do this, install a heating system in the form of pipes through which warm water circulates.It is stretched at the top of the greenhouse. Thus, natural conditions are provided in which flowers or ovaries do not fall off.

Steps of growing tomatoes

In transplanted seedlings, it is necessary to form a bush. This is very important for the future quantity of fruits and their quality. Consider the following points:

The main stem should be of medium thickness. This is achieved by the correct proportions of watering and illumination of the planted seedlings.
Regular flower brushes have a short pedicel, with flowers turned down.
Water should be regular but not heavy. The best solution is a tomato drip irrigation system with water flowing directly to each plant.
Sometimes irrigation is organized through holes in pipes laid along the furrows of rows with tomatoes. This can be used to produce dosed watering of each plant. Water for irrigation should not be much lower or higher than +16 degrees.

The Dutch technology of growing tomatoes provides for top dressing once a week. For this, mineral solutions of boron and magnesium are used. Attention is drawn to the permissible level of soil acidity. If it is violated, vertex rot may form.

Dutch farmers' advice

The Dutch way of growing has some features that farmers use to grow high yields:

Regular inspection of planted tomatoes is carried out in order to identify diseased plants and damaged leaves, to prevent the spread of the virus to other bushes.
In the tomato brush formed at the bottom, no more than 5 flowers should remain, the rest are removed, and the brushes formed above can only have 6 flowers. A larger amount will weaken the plant, and will not allow normal filling and ripening of fruits.
To avoid barren flowers, the Dutch use bumblebees and hornets, which are released into the greenhouse every other day to pollinate the flowers.
The collection of ripe fruits is carried out in the morning, at least 4 times a week. Tomatoes are stacked in boxes, on the bottom of which Styrofoam is laid.

After harvesting the bushes, the soil is prepared for planting another seedling. The bushes are removed and the soil is disinfected or replaced - this is a kind of inoculation against diseases. Dutch technology allows you to plant tomatoes up to several times a year, and at the same time collect abundant crops. On a small garden plot it is difficult to use the Dutch method that works all year round, but you should keep in mind that all investments in a greenhouse will pay off.