How to water tomatoes in hot weather?
Tomato is a plant that requires a lot of attention from the summer resident. With an overabundance or, conversely, a lack of water, it can die. You can find out how and how much to water tomato bushes below.
How often and how much to water?
For good growth and fruiting of tomatoes, it is necessary to pay a lot of attention to their watering at all stages of growth. Summer residents can argue a lot about how many times a week it is necessary to water these plants. However, it is impossible to accurately answer this question, since the number of waterings directly depends on the weather, temperature, as well as on the condition and size of the bush.
For example, in extreme heat, tomatoes require much more water than under normal conditions. If the plant lacks moisture, then this will be noticeable by its condition: its foliage curls, and the buds and ovaries begin to fall off.
Please note that it is important not only to avoid excessive dryness of the soil, but also its waterlogging.
Usually, an adult bush takes from 3 to 5 liters of water, and in the heat - 5-6 liters. In this case, the water must be warm, regardless of the conditions. The use of cold water is only allowed in the early stages of tomato growth. In other cases, low temperatures can not only harm the planting, but also lead to its death.
In hot periods, special attention should be paid to the temperature of the water, since the difference in temperature between the hot soil, the heated bush and the cool water will definitely be felt by the plant, and it will not benefit it. At the same time, watering the bushes is best at the root, trying to prevent drops of water from getting on the foliage. Tomatoes love when the soil is saturated with moisture and the air from above is dry.
In addition, watering tomatoes depends not only on weather conditions, but also on where they grow: in a greenhouse or outdoors. Most often, greenhouse plants require less water.
What time of day can you water?
Many recommend watering, especially in hot weather, in the evening 5-6 hours before sunsetso that the water evaporates as little as possible, and the plant, if water accidentally falls on the foliage, does not get sunburn. However, evening watering can lead to the appearance of a disease in the plant such as late blight.
Watering in the evening, you need to carefully monitor the amount of water. It should not be allowed to stagnate, especially when it comes to a greenhouse. This increases the moisture content of the air masses in greenhouse conditions, which can lead to root rot. After watering, the greenhouse should be well ventilated by opening windows and doors. Otherwise, there is a risk of fungus in plants, which will be difficult to get rid of.
It is best to water the plants in the early morning. In this case, the bushes get the opportunity to ventilate in a day. At night, the air temperature drops, which increases the likelihood of fungal diseases in tomato. Watering this plant during the day, especially in the heat, is by no means impossible. This can lead to the plant getting a large number of sunburns and even to its death.
Watering at different stages of growth
At each stage of tomato growth, watering it has its own characteristics.
- So, before planting, it is required to thoroughly moisten the wells. Each of them requires about 4–5 liters of water. After that, they should not be moistened for about 10 days.
- When the plant comes to the phase of active growth, then it must be watered 2-3 liters at a time for each bush.The frequency of watering directly depends on the weather, most often it is enough 1 time with an interval of a week. Please note that the roots of young plants do not differ in strength and development, and therefore it is difficult for them to extract the missing moisture from the soil.
- Before the beginning of the flowering phase, the plants need to be watered 2 times a week and more often, depending on the weather. At the same time, the volume of water increases, each bush needs about 5 liters.
- With the same frequency, it is necessary to water during the period of fruit emergence. However, keep in mind that you should not overdo it with the amount of water, so that the decay of the root system does not begin.
- When the fruits begin to ripen and turn red, you need to reduce the amount of watering. Most often, once a week is enough. If you overdo it with water during this period, it can harm not only the roots, but also the fruits - they will turn black, begin to crack and burst.
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