Nightshade vegetables are annual plants with a relatively long growing season, therefore they are grown from seedlings (potato from tubers). All vegetables in this group come from the warm climate zone, which places high demands on the temperature (a drop below 0 ° C is lethal for them). Rather, they prefer lighter soils, airy, warming up well, about good culture, rich in humus and nutrients.
Tomatoes
Tomatoes, thanks to the high nutritional and taste value, as well as suitability for preserves and frozen food, it belongs to the staple vegetables eaten fresh, as well as in the form of various preparations. It contains large amounts of nitrogen compounds, sugars, citric and malic acid and vitamins (A, B1, B2 i C). As a hot climate plant, the tomato has high heat and light requirements; it dies during the slightest frost. Tomatoes should be grown in a sheltered and sunny place. The tomato is not demanding on the soil, however, it grows bad on both sands, as well as on heavy clay or waterlogged soils. The most suitable for him are sandy loam soils, carious. Usually, tomatoes are grown in the second year after manure; on humus-rich soils, they can even be cultivated in the third year.
Mineral fertilization is necessary due to the high requirements of tomatoes. The doses of mineral fertilizers on 1 m2 are 20-30 g saletrzaku i po 30-50 g of superphosphate and 40% potassium salt. Phosphorus deficiency delays fruit ripening, and the lack of potassium causes the bunches to collapse. For tall varieties, deeply rooted, it is recommended to give half the dose of phosphorus and potassium fertilizers in autumn when digging the soil, and the rest before planting.
Tomatoes are grown from seedlings prepared in a warm inspection or in a box (containers) in the apartment. Tomato seeds are sown at the end of March – At the start of April; with 0,6-0,8 g is obtained approx 120 plants. Since some tomato diseases are transmitted through seeds, they should be treated with seed dressing before sowing. When the cotyledons part, the plants are quilted at a distance of 8X10 cm; w 1 the inspection window is approx 180 plants. Temperature in the inspection (or in an apartment) should be around 20 ° C. After the plants are accepted, they should be aired and watered, by lowering the temperature during the day to 18 ° C, at night to 15 ° C. A week before planting into the ground, the seedlings are hardened, by applying slight cooling and reducing watering.
The seedlings are planted to the ground from the second half of May to the beginning of June. Depending on the variety and type of soil, tomatoes should be planted at intervals:
1) weakly growing: 80-90X35-40 cm;
2) vigorously growing: conducted on 2-3 shoots at the stakes -100X50-70 cm and without stakes (which is rather undesirable in amateur production); 100-120X70-90 cm.
In small gardens, tomatoes are grown on wires or stakes, choosing high-growing varieties. The first way is this, that something is stuck in the designated row 4-5 m paliki, which are wrapped twice with wire horizontally in height 40-50 cm above the ground and then higher at the same distance. Tomato shoots are placed vertically between the wires, which growing larger, they will hang on the knitting needles. You can also stretch individual wires and tie tomatoes to them, or to a wire placed at a height 1-1,5 m tie the ends of the strings attached to the base of the stalks of tomatoes. Then the growing shoot must be gradually wrapped around the string.
The second way is to stick hard – on the north side of the planted tomato – a wooden stake and tying tomato shoots to it several times. Paliki, which wear out quickly, it is recommended to impregnate with linseed varnish. They also need to be disinfected annually with 2% formalin.
Tomatoes are planted with a spade or spatula, and then he plants them well with soil and water them. Further caring for tomatoes is to weed, watering during drought and top dressing: first time, when the first fruits are formed, and the second - when harvesting begins, using each time 20 g saletry na 1 m2. Early harvest varieties are grown on one shoot, removing all side shoots. Tomatoes are often carried on the stakes 2-3 shoots. Then the main shoot and one or two side shoots are left. The shoot under the first cluster is left as the first side shoot, and as the second side – butt shoot. All side shoots, later appearing in the leaf axils, break out, while they are still small. To speed up the ripening of the fruit, the tops of the shoots are removed, that is, the so-called. topping over 3-4 a bunch of fruits. Medium early and late tomatoes should not be topped. Tomatoes should not be covered with soil, that is, making mounds, because it delays fruiting.