Using a greenhouse for tomato seedlings
Before planting a crop, you should properly prepare a protected ground for tomato seedlings, because the quality of materials and conditions inside the greenhouse determines the level of yield, the taste and marketability of products. Greenhouse design is the most important thing in growing vegetables.
Using a greenhouse for tomato seedlings
Greenhouse varieties
The main difference between a greenhouse and a greenhouse is its size and capacity. Due to the fact that it is much lower than the greenhouse structure, the correct temperature and humidity level are observed in it. Such structures are made from the following materials:
- wood;
- metal.
As a coating, you can choose both glass and ordinary plastic film. Polycarbonate is often used, but it should be noted that its cost is much higher than other materials.
The main difference between a greenhouse and a greenhouse is that you cannot enter the greenhouse. In it, work is done outside. This is, in fact, a box with a maximum height of 50-60 cm, covered with frames made of glass or film. When working in a greenhouse, the frames are raised or removed. A greenhouse is a structure, the height of which allows a person to be there. The height of the greenhouse in the "ridge" can be from 2.0 m (amateur version) to 6 m in an industrial greenhouse.
Wooden frames
A wooden greenhouse is practical and durable, withstands heavy loads and can be made from materials that are always at hand. He also has disadvantages:
- Dependence on the weather. Under the influence of abundant moisture from rains, such a material can get wet and crumble, so it should be covered with a thick layer of paint or ordinary building varnish.
- Low service life. Wooden structures do not last longer than 4 years. After this time, they begin to collapse, and new ones will have to be built.
Metal frames
Advantages:
- resistance to moisture, weather conditions;
- no damage from sunlight;
- the structure is strong, because the connection of metal pipes is carried out not by nails, but by welding.
Among the disadvantages of this structure is the fact that metal components can rust, so they should be covered with enamel.
Surface material
When choosing a coating, you should pay attention to their features: glass does not protect the culture from direct sunlight, which can lead to drying of the leaves, it should not be used for areas where the temperature is low for a long time, because this can lead to the fact that glass burst.
The film is often used because of its versatility: it can be installed on any frame, compared to glass, which is installed only on wooden structures. It can be used to refract sunlight and protect crops from drying out.
Polycarbonate is considered the best option for building a tomato greenhouse.Its advantages: long service life, strength and practicality, resistance to weather conditions. Due to the fact that this type of coating consists of honeycombs, the sun's rays are evenly refracted and distributed along the entire perimeter of the structure.
In terms of light transmittance, cellular polycarbonate occupies an intermediate position between glass and film. Unlike glass, it is lightweight, the advantage over the film is more durable and durable. The disadvantage of polycarbonate is its rapid dustiness and deterioration of light transmission ability. A polycarbonate greenhouse must be washed outside 1-2 times per season.
Recommendations
Polycarbonate protects tomatoes from bad weather
If you decide to build a structure in which tomato plants will be planted only until the seeds germinate, after which you will transplant them into open ground, you can use greenhouses with a polyethylene coating. But, it is important to pay attention to the fact that tomato seedlings in a greenhouse of this type should only be in the warm season.
If you decide to plant tomatoes for long-term cultivation, then it is better to use greenhouses with polycarbonate materials, because they are more weather resistant.
Preparing for landing
Seedlings during transplantation from the room to the greenhouse are stressed, because at this moment not only the temperature regime changes, the soil, humidity and lighting change.
Seedlings should be prepared in advance for transplanting. To do this, you need to take her out of the house every day, literally for a few hours. The procedure is carried out within 14-20 days. This will allow her to acclimate a little to future changes.
There is no specific time when to plant tomatoes in a greenhouse. Each gardener must independently determine this time, depending on the variety of tomatoes, its external indicators, the growing season and climatic conditions of the region.
Usually, the temperature regime in the greenhouse differs little from the temperature in the room where the seedlings were grown. This is the main advantage of the greenhouse compared to open ground. There is no cold or dry wind in the greenhouse, no cold rains. Therefore, such a transplant of tomato seedlings is painless.
Growing plants
To understand how to plant tomatoes in a greenhouse, it is important to follow a few basic rules:
- You need to worry about seedlings in advance. You can buy it on the market or grow it yourself at home.
- Choose good quality soil (fertile and non-acidic).
To plant tomatoes in a greenhouse, you need to loosen the ground a little and water it with a little water. After that, it is important to make holes in it, into which the plants will be planted. The distance between the seedlings should be about 50 cm so that the plants do not interfere with each other's development.
Seedlings of tomatoes in a greenhouse need watering and fertilization. Watering tomato plants should be started only 3 days after planting in the ground. The interval between watering is 3-5 days. It is recommended to use a drip irrigation system, since it allows you to water the tomato seedlings better. Fertilizers in the form of humus or phosphorus are applied as needed: if the tomatoes start to grow poorly, you need to water them with humus infusion (2 kg per 10 liters of water). If flowering is delayed or occurs slowly, then you need to add 20 g of superphosphate to the water for irrigation. The ideal amount is 20 g of the drug per 10-15 liters of water.
Conclusion
Growing tomatoes in a greenhouse depends on quality materials of construction. It is necessary to choose them based on the region in which you live and what weather conditions prevail. Preparation for disembarkation is carried out taking into account the recommendations.