A serious problem of greenhouse cultivation of tomatoes is, in addition to diseases and pests, cracking of fruits. This process brings significant damage to farmers, because damaged tomatoes become unsuitable for sale. The article discusses the causes of this phenomenon, as well as methods of dealing with it.
Why do tomatoes crack when ripening in a greenhouse?
To prevent spoilage, you must first understand what it can cause. There are several reasons for cracking.
Microclimate
Most often, tomatoes are planted in polycarbonate greenhouses, or in glass or film rooms. It can be excessively hot in them - often the temperature reaches 50 ° C, and the humidity drops, causing the growth of tomatoes to stop, the skin hardens and breaks.
Did you know? Tomatoes appeared in Europe in the middle The 16th century, however, was considered poisonous, which is why they were grown for a long time only as an ornamental plant. The first recipe for eating tomatoes appeared in 1692 in Naples.
Incorrect fertilizer application
The condition of the fruit also depends on this factor. Fertilize the tomatoes according to the instructions. Excess of any substance, as well as its lack, affects the appearance of tomatoes.
Wrong watering
Tomatoes can burst from heavy watering in the heat. Then the earth dries up very quickly. If the tomatoes are poured heavily, they quickly absorb water; as a result, the fruits increase sharply, and their skin begins to crack. Moreover, not only ripe, red tomatoes crack, but also green ones.
Tomatoes also crack due to lack of moisture, so regular watering is so important.
Excessive plucking
You can not get too carried away by pinching bushes: it can also cause cracking of the fruit. When a plant is barely exposed, it directs all the moisture and nutrients that come to it to the fruit. They, in turn, are not ready for such a volume of substances, so their skin is torn.
Using the wrong grade
Often gardeners grow varieties that are easily cracked by nature. First of all, these are early and mid-season tomatoes. Fine-skinned, fleshy and soft varieties are also prone to cracking.
Important! According to the observations of experienced gardeners, light yellow varieties are more prone to skin damage.
Varieties with thick peels do not burst on the bush: “Harlequin”, “Centaur”, “Favorite”, etc.
Diseases and pests
Tomatoes are rarely damaged in this way from disease, but still it happens. Most often, fusarium wilting causes cracking. Effective means of fighting the infection are the preparations “Alirin B” or “Gamair”, which are used to water the bushes according to the instructions. Pests usually do not cause cracking of the fruit.
How to deal with it
Next, consider what to do to avoid cracking.
Climate recovery
First of all, the microclimate is restored in the greenhouse. The optimum temperature is 25 ° C. In the heat, the room is covered with a white cloth. Glass and polycarbonate greenhouses are poured with milk of lime instead of using a cloth - in this way a shadow forms in the room.
It is very important to observe the permissible humidity level - 65–70%.
Provide air access
The room is regularly ventilated by opening doors and windows. At the same time, drafts should be avoided. If there is enough fresh air, the fruits develop more actively and ripen faster.
Stepson
Leaves need to be removed gradually. It is permissible to pick only 2-3 leaves per week from the bush.
Top dressing and proper watering
Use fertilizer according to instructions. For example, ammonium nitrate, potash and phosphorus fertilizers contribute in the amount of 1 tbsp. spoons on a bucket of water. When the fruits are formed, it is better not to use phosphorus, and the amount of potassium, on the contrary, should be increased.
Adjust the correct application of fertilizing. Potash, nitrogen fertilizers and superphosphate are used in a diluted form with water. Tomatoes are watered directly under the roots - in the holes, while using only warm water. In the heat, watering should be done once every 3-4 days. In cool weather - once every 6-7 days.
Important! It is permissible to use no more than 20 g of any fertilizer in a bucket of water.
Watering can be facilitated by using a cropped plastic bottle: it is half-buried in the ground near the bush with its neck down.
The water regime can be normalized by mulching the soil. This is best done with straw or sawdust. So that water is delivered to each bush evenly, you can equip a drip irrigation system in the greenhouse.
The danger of cracking tomatoes
Tomato cracking is very dangerous because it causes various diseases - many pathogens settle in the place of the cracks, which makes them brown. To prevent bushes from becoming infected with various infectious diseases, treat the greenhouse with disinfectants.
Such prevention is especially useful in the fall, after fruit ripening. Having processed the greenhouse at the end of the season, you will protect the future crop.
Prevention
In order to avoid cracking tomatoes, observe the following preventive measures:
- choose varieties that are unpretentious in care, which easily tolerate dryness and waterlogging of the soil (“Perfect Ice”, “Our Masha”, “Applein,” Stracay, “Favorit”, “Remover” and others);
- protect the greenhouse from the scorching sun using the methods described above;
- water the tomatoes as recommended;
- be sure to ventilate the greenhouse.
Important! For humans, affected fruits are safe. They can Feel free to use it for its intended purpose, cutting off unusable places.
Cracking tomatoes causes significant damage to farms. But with constant monitoring of plantings and observing all the rules for caring for tomatoes, you can save your plants from death.
