Greetings to all lovers of gardens and orchards!
Not always natural and weather conditions allow us to grow tomatoes in the open field under the sun. And how often we are faced with the fact that a lot of green fruits appear in greenhouses, but there are practically no ripe ones. About why tomatoes in greenhouses do not turn red or turn red unevenly, I want to talk today.
Tomato ripening stages
Tomatoes have two stages of ripening:
- After the formation of the ovary, the formation and filling of fruits occurs within a month. During this period, tomatoes gain the desired volume, but the pulp is still very dense and the color is juicy green.
- Over the next 2-3 weeks, the tomatoes are filled with juice and reach the required degree of maturity, becoming bright red or raspberry.
A deviation is considered if after 2 months:
- There is no weight gain (fruits no larger than a walnut).
- The fruits have gained weight, but the color is green or redness is fragmentary.
Reasons for the slowdown in development and their solution
Violation of the temperature regime
- When the temperature in the greenhouse is below +15° or above +35°, the production of lycopene, the natural pigment responsible for the red color, slows down in tomatoes.
- As a result, tomatoes form a yellow rim around the stem, or they have a spotted and orange tint.
- The fruits that are constantly under the scorching sun have the same color.
Solution:
- In cool weather, it is necessary to raise the temperature with heating.
- With a sharp onset of cold weather, the bushes are dug up with the roots and transferred in boxes to an insulated shed or garage, where they successfully ripen.
- It is useful to put 2-3 ripe tomatoes in each box. Ethylene released by them will accelerate the ripening process.
- On hot days, the greenhouse must be shaded and regularly ventilated.
- The distance between plants should not be less than 30, and for some varieties - 40–50 cm.
- If this requirement is violated, the plants thicken and block the access of light to the fruits from below, as a result of which only the upper tomatoes turn red.
Solution:
- Remove the lower leaves and some of the leaves from above, providing sufficient light to the entire plant.
- Unfold the fruit branches so that they come out of the shadow.
- Remove all stepchildren and flowers, pinch the top to stop the formation of new shoots that take over the strength of the plant.
Incorrect use of dressings
- It is necessary to strictly observe the norms for the introduction of dressings, especially nitrogen.
- An excess of nitrogen contributes to the set of green mass, but inhibits the development of fruits.
Decision:
- We stop the application of nitrogen fertilizers from the moment the fruit ovaries are formed.
- We introduce nutritional supplements at the rate of 1 liter per 1 plant: superphosphate (2 tbsp. l. per 10 l) with the addition of 1 tbsp. l. potassium humate.
- Chlorine-containing preparations should not be used.
- A good effect for fruit ripening is given by spraying with a solution of iodine (10 drops per bucket of water) and ash dissolved in water (2 tbsp. ash per 2 liters of hot water).
- Alcoholic injections help (0.5 ml of vodka directly into half-ripe fruits). This process does not affect the quality of tomatoes.
- For the same purpose, you can put in the greenhouse several boxes with carrion apples, which release ethylene during fermentation.
Wrong humidity level
Humidity levels above 75% (especially at low temperatures from 12° to 20°) lead to the defeat of tomatoes by fungal late blight.
It is very difficult to deal with it, therefore it is necessary:
- Avoid waterlogging the soil.
- Cut off the lower leaves so that the spores of the fungus do not fall on the fruit.
- For prevention, treat with biological agents: "Fitosporin", "Baktofit" and others.
And one more important tip! Choose the right variety! Best of all, hybrids designed specifically for your region ripen in the greenhouse.
Observing all the necessary rules when planting or eliminating violations, you will get a generous harvest of ripe tomatoes in the greenhouse.
Tell us if you had problems with the ripening of tomatoes and how you solved this problem. I'm waiting for your comments
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