Drip irrigation for tomatoes in a greenhouse: how often and correctly to carry out

When planting tomatoes, it should be noted that their development will be influenced by how to water the tomatoes in the greenhouse. As a result, the yield of vegetables depends on it.

Growing tomato bushes are adversely affected not only by lack of water, but also by excess moisture. A small part of gardeners mistakenly believes that they should be watered very often, using a large amount of water. However, in the end, from such actions, the plant is exposed to diseases, and the yield decreases.

Required microclimatic indicators

How to water correctly, the frequency and volume of water must be determined based on the microclimatic conditions of greenhouses.The air in summer has a humidity of approximately 60 to 80%. Only on very hot days can the humidity be as low as 40%. During summer showers alternating with hot weather, air humidity can approach 90%.

If watering tomatoes in a polycarbonate greenhouse is organized incorrectly, then the humidity can significantly exceed the permissible level, which has a detrimental effect on tomatoes. The peculiarity of the tomato is that their aerial part prefers dry air, and the roots, to ensure the growth of the stems, require a sufficient amount of water. Therefore, optimal conditions should be created in the greenhouse by choosing the right irrigation regime.

Excess water, forming stagnation at the level of the root system of tomatoes, causes root rot. But if there is not enough water in the soil, then the foliage becomes dehydrated, causing the plants to overheat, this can lead to the death of the entire bush.

Pay attention! If the leaves of tomatoes are twisted relative to the central vein, forming a kind of "boat", then this is a clear sign of insufficient soil moisture.

The calculation of the number of tomato irrigations in the greenhouse is carried out in such a way that they provide ninety percent soil moisture and 50% air humidity. This ratio allows the bushes to develop normally, at the same time, protects the plant from infection with fungal bacteria. To maintain an optimal microclimate in the greenhouse, tomatoes are watered every 3-7 days, based on the level of temperature and air humidity.

When irrigating tomatoes, it should be noted that each bush needs 4-5 liters of water, which should only flow into the soil to the root system of the plant, and so that the drops do not fall on the foliage. On a sunny day, a drop of water acts as a lens, projecting the sun's beam and increasing its power many times, causing the leaf to burn. Therefore, it is recommended to irrigate early in the morning, or in the evening, so that moisture has time to soak into the soil, without creating a greenhouse effect during evaporation.

Remember! Watering tomatoes with cool water creates stress for the plant. The optimum water temperature for irrigation should be no less than +23-+24 degrees.

Irrigation methods in greenhouses

Greenhouse tomatoes can be watered using several methods.

Manual watering

For small structures, manual watering is often considered optimal. To do this, use watering cans and hoses to ensure the flow of moisture directly to the roots. If the water does not penetrate the soil quickly enough, you can make several depressions in the soil near the plant.

It is dangerous to water tomatoes with a hose, using water from a well or a water pipe, as their root system may be dangerously cooled. At the same time, there is no strict dosing that provides each plant with the required amount of liquid.And when you change the position of the hose, you can break the planted tomato seedlings. Another disadvantage of this type of irrigation is that a dense crust remains on the surface of the soil.

It is better if manual watering of tomatoes in the greenhouse will be carried out with watering cans, settled water of the required temperature. With this method of watering, it is necessary to ensure that water does not fall on the aerial part of the plants, and does not cause a burn or hypothermia of the plants during evaporation.

Sometimes a barrel filled with water is placed near the greenhouse. Rainwater collected in containers is considered ideal for irrigation. When a container of water is placed in a greenhouse, it should be covered with a film or lid so that an excess of air humidity does not form, which can harm the tomatoes.

Drip irrigation device

This method is used if tomatoes are grown in a greenhouse over large areas. Manual watering in such areas will require a lot of time and labor. To simplify this procedure, they are building a system that will allow drip irrigation of tomatoes.

Moisture is delivered only to the roots, without raising the level of air humidity in the greenhouse, and water splashes on the aerial parts of the plant are also excluded.

This way you can water tomatoes, regardless of the time of day. Also, its advantage is that the soil is not washed out and its s alting does not occur. A drip irrigation device for tomatoes in a greenhouse is mounted even before planting seedlings. Tight hoses with holes are laid along the length of the rows.

Ready-made systems are sold in specialized stores. They can be mounted in a greenhouse with your own hands according to the attached instructions. With this system, you can also apply fertilizer during top dressing.

Small greenhouses can be equipped with drip irrigation of tomatoes using plastic bottles. Small holes are made in the bottom of the bottle and they dig it in at the bush, and fill it with water through the neck. You can bury the bottle with the neck down, and add water to the cut bottom. This way you can ensure the slow access of water to the roots of the plant, and you can also accurately determine the amount of liquid needed for the plant.

Tomatoes can also be watered in a polycarbonate greenhouse using another drip irrigation device. It is necessary to build a system using a small hose buried near the plant. The end of the hose is screwed into the bottle neck, and water enters through a small hole in the bottom, while moisture is slowly delivered to the roots of the tomato.

Automatic

In industrial greenhouses with a large area, an automatic watering system is often used. Only with large areas can its cost be recouped.

Watering tomatoes in different phases of development

How often to water tomatoes in a greenhouse, and how much water is needed, directly depends on the phases of their development. 2 days before the pick, the seedlings are thoroughly irrigated. This makes it possible for the plants to absorb moisture and it is easier to transfer the transplanting process to another container. The next watering in the greenhouse is carried out on the fourth day after the dive.

When planting seedlings in a greenhouse way, approximately 4 liters of water is poured into each hole. This contributes to the speedy rooting of tomatoes. The next watering is carried out only after at least 7-10 days.

After this time, the tomatoes begin to grow intensively. But, since by this time the root system of tomatoes is not yet too developed, it is difficult for them to get the necessary moisture. Because of this, until about the beginning of the ejection of color, the tomatoes in the greenhouse are watered as often as the ground dries out, this is after about 3 days.For each bush, 2 to 3 liters of water are consumed for each watering.

During the formation of flowers on a plant, they need water in a volume of 5 liters. The frequency of watering during this period is reduced to 1 time every 7 days, and when the fruits are poured, watering is again carried out twice a week. Do not water the bushes with too much water so that moisture does not stagnate. This causes rotting of the tomato root system. If the fruits begin to ripen on the brushes, then watering is carried out once a week, the amount of liquid is reduced to 2 liters under 1 bush. Excessive soil moisture contributes to the formation of cracks in the fruit.

Important! It is recommended to leave the windows in the greenhouse open for some time after watering, so that the fungus does not appear.

The frequency of irrigation and the volume of water should be taken into account, starting from weather conditions and the specifics of the structure of a separate greenhouse.Warm and dry weather conditions do not affect the frequency and abundance of watering. You should only pay attention to the fact that when watering, moisture is not splashed onto the foliage, to avoid plant burns.

It should also be borne in mind that late watering will require prolonged ventilation of the greenhouse, which can adversely affect the plants due to the cool night air. It is best to irrigate in the evening. But if the weather is cool and damp, then it is recommended to water before noon so that the excess moisture in the greenhouse disappears faster.