One of the most discussed issues while waiting for tomato harvest is watering. Thoughts differ on this question – some insist that only lukewarm water should be used for watering because cold water shocks the plant, while others say that cold water, especially on hot days, is preferable because it cools down the soil.
It is recommended to use rainwater when watering your greenhouse.
Rainwater can be gathered by placing rainwater containers under the rain gutters. Rainwater is soft, without salts. During thunder, it is enriched with a form of nitrogen easily absorbed by plants. Besides rainwater that collects in rainwater containers is warmed up to outside temperature in contrast to watering plants with water right from the cold-water pipe. When watering plants with rainwater, they do not experience shock.
Water in a plant performs three functions –
- transports minerals from roots to leaves and fruits;
- ensures photosynthesis (producing sugars from water and carbon dioxide because of exposure to light);
- when evaporating, water helps cool parts of the plant (during hot weather the plant uses most of the water to cool down).
Keep the container with water for watering in the greenhouse
This creates a pleasant, moist climate, and the water temperature will be ideal for the plants.
Thoughts also differ on the question when to water greenhouse plants – some believe that this should be done in the morning, others, on the opposite, think that it should be done in the evening.
If you water the greenhouse in the afternoon
when the air temperature is warm enough, the plants can dry until the evening, and the water will evaporate from the soil less.
If plants are watered in the morning, not evening.
Plants do not use the moisture during the night, water evaporates from the top layer of the soil and humidifies the air in the greenhouse, promoting the spread of diseases. Plants watered in the morning meet the hottest moment of the day with a certain reserve of water and endure it better. Reanimating wilted plants in the evening is usually less effective.
Leaves
can be sprayed with water for cucumbers, but tomatoes must be watered only from underneath.
The greenhouse must be watered
when digging up the soil with fingers, the top layer is dry within the depth of half a finger.
The soil should be watered plentifully
so that the plants do not form a shallow root system.
Capillary or droplet watering system for greenhouses prevents
water getting onto the leaves. Thus, only the roots of the plant will be watered so the possibility of rot forming on the leaves and fruits is lessened.
Combining the opinions mentioned above, everyone can adapt the watering of tomatoes to one’s schedule and choose the most convenient time. The main rule is moderation because tomatoes do not like neither dried-out soil nor excessive moisture. Excessively watered tomatoes will be watery, and the moisture will create a favourable environment for the formation of fungal diseases. While too little watering will cause the leaves to crack, dry out and fall off.
