How to plant, grow and form a bush of ampelous tomatoes
Content:
The most unusual vegetables can be considered ampelous tomatoes, the cultivation of which makes them unique. These tomatoes are not grown in the usual way, both in the garden beds and in hanging pots. With proper care, they can even be planted on a balcony or terrace.
Ampel tomatoes: growing
Growing ampelous tomatoes on your own is not as difficult as it seems. Caring for this type of tomato practically does not differ from that for the usual one, but some nuances are still present.
Growing ampelous tomatoes
The main rules for planting ampel tomatoes
Ampel tomatoes are grown in two ways: by sowing seeds directly into pots or through seedlings, which are then transplanted into larger containers. Seedlings of ampelous tomatoes are sown in early March; earlier dates are also allowed at home.
Sowing
Before sowing, it is necessary to prepare the soil, fertilize it in advance: peat and humus. The seeds are sown in boxes, the bottom of which is covered with drainage in the form of expanded clay crumbs to avoid stagnant water. From above they fall asleep with soil, on top of which pits are made at a distance of 2 cm. They put one seed at a time and carefully sprinkle it with earth.
Seedling
Features of planting seedlings
Growing ampel tomato seedlings does not differ from growing other varieties of tomatoes. Before planting seeds, it is necessary to fertilize the soil with ash, potassium sulfate and superphosphate. You can use special complex preparations containing the required dose of minerals. The box must be placed on a well-lit windowsill.
Seedling care
After sowing the seeds, it is important to regularly feed with preparations containing potassium and nitrogen, monitor the illumination of the seedlings. If there is not enough natural light, add artificial light - put a lamp next to the box.
Watering is recommended only as the soil dries up, since excess moisture will lead to the formation of mold, fungus, and diseases. The water should not be cold from the tap, but soft a little warm. Together with watering, it is necessary to feed with complex preparations once every two weeks.
Seedlings require regular loosening of the soil for oxygen supply. Only this is done very carefully so as not to damage the root system. In the apartment, seedlings need to create good ventilation, humidity and lighting. Additionally, fans and artificial light lamps are used for these purposes. If the air is dry, you can put a container of water in the room closer to the seedlings.
How to plant in open ground
Ampel tomatoes can be left for decorative purposes in hanging pots, or they can be planted in open ground. Planting tomatoes in the beds is carried out in May, when the ground outside is warmed up enough.
Before planting seedlings, it is necessary to fertilize the soil.Tomatoes grow well in acidified soil, so the soil is fed with peat, humus, rotted compost. If the soil, on the contrary, has a high level of acidity, you need to add ash, gypsum or lime to it. It is necessary to transplant seedlings into the ground carefully, trying not to damage the root system. After that, water the plant abundantly and take a break for 10 days, then water as the soil dries.
Summer care
Correct and timely care is very important for a rich harvest. If there are extra shoots, pinching is done. This helps the plant to direct all the efforts of forming the main bush, leaves and fruits.
Tomatoes need a constant supply of moisture to form healthy fruits, but excessive watering also has a bad effect on the fruits and the plant as a whole. Water the plant in the morning or evening with rain or river water.
It is necessary to grow ampelous tomatoes at temperatures from 20 ° C to 25 ° C. It is recommended to shake the bushes, remove yellowed leaves and shoots. If necessary, independently carry out pollination in the morning by transferring pollen to pistils.
Every two weeks, it is necessary to feed ampelous tomatoes with mineral fertilizers during watering.
Ampel tomatoes in the open field
How to form bushes
The formation of a bush of ampelous tomatoes during growing at home occurs independently by the plant itself. When planting in open ground, gardeners themselves take measures for convenient placement and growth of the bush. For this, special vertical structures are used, along which the tomatoes grow upward. This helps to conveniently carry out harvesting in the future. Also, tomatoes with this cultivation receive more natural light for growth and ripening.
On suspended containers, the bush is formed in a natural determinant way. Falling down from pots and boxes, the plant branches well, the branches are usually thin and long, on which fruits grow and ripen in the form of bunches. The fruits are small and round.
Top dressing
Tomatoes are usually fed with complex mineral and organic preparations. The procedure is carried out together with watering every two weeks. The first time the plant is fed is when the first pair of leaves appears. In addition, it is useful to increase the plant's immunity to diseases by treatment with phytosporin.
Diseases and pests
Ampel tomatoes are susceptible to the following pests and diseases:
- chlorosis - a violation of the process of photosynthesis;
- fungus;
- rot;
- late blight;
- cracks in the fruit;
- blackleg;
- aphid;
- spider mite;
- whitefly.
Some diseases are dangerous and contagious, such as infectious chlorosis and fungus. If a plant is sick with an infectious disease, it is urgent to treat or get rid of it, otherwise it will infect healthy seedlings.
Late blight is a common disease among tomatoes that can harm not only leaves and stems, but also fruits.
Harvest ampel tomatoes
Harvesting and storage
Ampel tomatoes for eating are usually picked slightly unripe. The fruits are carefully plucked from the bunches and placed in a dry, ventilated place until fully ripe. Some housewives deliberately do not pick ripe tomatoes, but leave them for decorative purposes.Tomatoes are not stored for a long time, so it is recommended to make blanks from them.
The most decorative type of vegetables, perhaps, is possessed by ampelous tomatoes, the cultivation of which can decorate a garden plot, a balcony, a terrace and delight with their fresh ripe fruits at any time. Taking care of them is not difficult, and the result will exceed all expectations.
