Do-it-yourself drip irrigation of tomatoes in a greenhouse. Drip irrigation in the greenhouse with your own hands. Benefits of Drip Irrigation for Tomatoes

Tired of running around the yard with a watering can, dragging gallons of water every day? Organize drip irrigation in the greenhouse with your own hands. Such a system will not only help you save a lot of time and effort. A gradual drip of water will also be beneficial for plants.

Read also:

System Benefits

The drip irrigation method was first used in Israel in the 1950s, in a similar way scientists tried to cope with water scarcity. Later it was found that when it is supplied in small portions, not only water and labor resources are saved. Drip irrigation allows you to get earlier harvests.

During normal irrigation, water passes into the ground to a depth of 10 cm. Gradual dripping of it allows the root system to be more saturated with moisture. Roots grow much faster, which means they extract more nutrients from the ground.

Scheme of installation of a drip irrigation system

Since the rest of the soil remains dry, the likelihood of waterlogging the soil is reduced. This has a positive effect on plant health - after all, most of such formidable diseases as powdery mildew, white, gray rot, black leg, bacterial spot develop precisely in conditions of waterlogging.

Since water is supplied under the root, the likelihood of plant burns, which usually occur when moisture gets on the leaves, is significantly reduced. This is due to the effect of the lens, which serve as small drops.

Plus, since only the root zone is irrigated, weeds that don't get enough moisture spread at a slower rate. Prevents a similar system and soil erosion.

Drip irrigation system for greenhouseis simple, but with its help it is possible to achieve an increase in plant yield by 30-40%. This method of irrigation allows you to accurately calculate the time and intensity of watering for each type of plant.

Initially, it was used only in greenhouse conditions. In the future, this method began to be used when growing plants in open ground.

Read also:

Disadvantages of drip irrigation

The main disadvantage of do-it-yourself drip irrigation systems for greenhouses is mandatory control. After all, with an incorrect calculation and an excess of moisture in the area, in addition to overspending water, you will simply destroy the plants. You will need to regularly check the filling of the barrel - it will need to be constantly topped up.

The disadvantages of drip irrigation include the need for periodic cleaning of holes - due to their small diameter, they often become clogged. However, this is not difficult to do - just flush or purge the system.

To protect the system from contamination, a filter is installed at the inlet (that is, at the beginning of the hose in the barrel). You can even use an ordinary piece of foam rubber as it.

It will become much easier to clean the system - it will be enough to pull out and rinse the foam rubber. It is also necessary to protect the barrel itself from the ingress of debris and insects, as well as the receiver-distributor - they will need to be covered with lids.

Read also:

Operating principle

We will describe in detail the device for drip irrigation in a home greenhouse. Water supply with this method is carried out using dropper dispensers (nozzles). Its simplest version is a hose with 3-8 mm holes made in it and a main spout plugged with a cork.

To ensure pressure, a tank filled with water with a hose lowered into it is raised to a certain height. Depending on the required pressure, it can be from 1 to 10 m. More complex systems are automated, but we will talk about this below.

Drip irrigation should be done only under the roots of plants. When water is supplied to the aisle, moisture for the roots will not be enough, and crops will develop worse. At the same time, the earth around will be compacted, loosening will be needed. Plus, the damp earth under the rays of the sun will overheat, which will adversely affect growth.

The source of water does not have to be a tap or a barrel. They can serve as a well, a well or a reservoir. To do this, you will need to connect a pump to the system.

But in any of the cases, the mandatory installation of a filter is required - otherwise the pipeline will quickly become clogged. When taking water from an open source (reservoir), it is first necessary to install a coarse filter, and only then a fine one. In other cases, a single fine filter is sufficient.

But still, for watering a greenhouse or garden, it is better to heat the water in the sun before watering. For this, containers (barrels) of a suitable size are used. When it is raised to a certain height, water will flow into the system by gravity.

Water consumption during drip irrigation for such moisture-loving plants as cucumbers is 2 liters per bush, that is, several times less than the usual norm. Drip irrigation of tomatoes in a greenhouse with already formed fruits is carried out 1 time in 4 days.

Each plant will need 1.5 liters of water. Cabbage and potatoes will need 2.5 liters per day.
Thus, when water is supplied from a dropper of 3 l / h, it will take a little less than an hour to water cucumbers, about 30 minutes for tomatoes, about an hour for cabbage and early potatoes.

Read also:

Required Materials

To equip a permanent irrigation system that will be operated from year to year, it is better to purchase not hoses, but more durable PVC pipes. Since moisture should enter the system slowly, the diameter of the tubes is selected to be minimal - up to 10-16 mm.

It is better not to use transparent pipes or tapes - algae will grow inside them. Metal pipes will not last long - rust will quickly clog the dropper nozzles.

Manufacturers also offer ready-made irrigation systems in the form of polyethylene drip tapes with built-in drippers. With the help of them it is easier to dose watering - micropores inside resemble a labyrinth in which the direction of water flow is controlled.

The wall thickness of the tapes can vary from 0.127 to 0.381 mm. However, such systems serve no more than one season. In the spring, you will need to purchase new tapes.

In addition to distribution and irrigation pipes, you will need:

• a pump that comes with a filter (such systems are called masterblocks) for supplying water at a certain pressure (up to 1.5 bar)
• droppers (we described their device and types above)
• racks for strengthening droppers-dispensers at the roots of plants
• cocks (switches) for adjusting the flow force and shutting off the system in separate modules
• fum-tape or tow for sealing joints
• plastic connectors
• adapters
• tees
• plugs: they are located at the ends of pipelines

When taking water from a well, you will also need a filter. You can buy a regular mesh or disk. To install automated stations, you will also need a control unit (timer) and a battery.

As nozzles (droppers), you can use parts from medical droppers with a diameter of 1-2 mm.

Read also:

System assembly. Main stages of work

Doing drip irrigation in a greenhouse with your own hands is not difficult:

1 To install the system, you will need a 100-200-liter barrel, which is raised to a height of about 1-2 meters. If there is a cover, holes are prepared in it for air to enter. If there is no lid, it is better to cover the container with gauze.

2 To insert the hose at the very bottom of the barrel, a hole is prepared with a tap-tip installed in it.

3 Each of the tubes or hoses is laid with a slight slope of 5 cm for each meter of length. They are fixed on small pegs stuck in the ground.

4 Too long pipelines should not be pulled - they will need very large containers. It is much more profitable and more convenient to use several independent systems.

5 PVC pipes are cut with a hacksaw, pipe cutter or miter saw. To obtain tight joints, the cut angle must be accurate and equal to 90 degrees. Therefore, it is better to clamp the pipes in a vise.

6 Small 2 mm holes must be made in hoses or plastic main pipes. In a simple do-it-yourself drip irrigation system in a greenhouse, droppers can be replaced with pieces of ordinary wire, along which drops of water will descend and be supplied to the plant.

7 You can make holes in the hose with an awl or a nail held by pliers. In PVC pipes, it is more convenient to make them with a small-diameter wood drill.

8 When using the pipeline in the form of finished tapes, they are carefully laid out over the site. Pulling and dragging them to avoid damage is strictly prohibited.

9 Pay attention to the markings on the tape in the form of colored lines. Sprinklers are located on this side. It is necessary to lay the system with colored lines up.

11 When connecting taps, fittings (tees and adapters), fum-tape or tow is required for perfect sealing of joints.

12 Before inserting the plug, the system must be flushed out of plastic chips that enter the pipes when drilling.

13 The last step is to check the system. After starting the water, it is necessary to ensure that water reaches each, including the last dropper in the garden. The soil near them should be evenly moistened.

Read also: TOP-22 of the most popular and non-capricious ornamental shrubs for a summer residence or a private house (90 Photos & Videos) + Reviews

Automated irrigation systems

When installing the controller (timer), the system is fully automated. That is, it will not be controlled by a person by turning the crane, but by special equipment. At a given time, it will turn on and off the water.

At large enterprises, systems with a high degree of automation are installed - such devices are able to control soil moisture, ambient temperature and even its humidity.

For an automatic watering device in private ownership or in a country house, it is enough to purchase a simple device that allows you to set up watering at a given period of time. That is, at a certain time, the tap will open and water will be supplied to the system. After its expiration, watering stops.

Installing such equipment is easy. The timer, equipped with fittings on both sides, is inserted into any place in the pipeline. It can also be connected to a pump to control the intake of water.

For tomatoes, as well as for other plants, moisture is important, because the future harvest directly depends on it. There are enough ways to water them, but drip is considered one of the most effective. A number of advantages, among which there is an increase in productivity and significant labor unloading, make it the best among them. How to water tomatoes in a greenhouse with drip irrigation and how to irrigate them in open ground? You will learn about all this in the article below.

Features of drip irrigation tomato in the greenhouse

It is difficult to grow tomatoes in a cold climate, they get sick more often, grow worse, and it is hardly possible to achieve a good yield. In this case, it is better to move away from the practice of planting these crops in open ground and try to grow them in a greenhouse way. Isolation from diseases, maintaining constant heat, fertilizing and, most importantly, competent irrigation - with a combination of all these factors, significant results are achieved.

Undoubtedly, the cultivation of tomatoes in greenhouse conditions is somewhat different from caring for them in open soil. For example, in addition to introducing moisture into the soil, it is also required to maintain air humidity at the same level - approximately 60%.
How to water tomatoes with drip irrigation in a greenhouse? The mode should be something like this:

• Young bushes actively form shoots. Since their root system is not yet developed at a good level, the root hairs are not able to reach the well-moistened bottom layer, so irrigation should be superficial. Check how wet the soil is with your finger and turn on the irrigation system if necessary.
• When the tomatoes reach about 10 cm, you can gradually increase the dormant periods by irrigating once every 10 days. Subsequently, the time between each event should be 7-10 days. Such irrigation is applied until the beginning of the appearance of ovaries. Please note that water should penetrate approximately 20 cm deep. If necessary, open windows and doors in order to normalize the internal microclimate and prevent the development of diseases.
• Watering is carried out more often as soon as the fruits begin to sing. However, be sure to monitor the condition of the soil, as it is important to protect the plants from root rot, which occurs due to too wet soil. If it is slightly damp, it is better to postpone the event. Over time, you yourself will work out the optimal frequency of moistening your bushes at this stage.

Irrigation period plays a significant role. So, in accordance with the rules, drip irrigation is carried out strictly in the warm time of the day, as soon as the sun rises. In cool weather, plan to apply fluids in the middle of the day. It is categorically not recommended to irrigate tomatoes in the greenhouse late in the evening, otherwise the temperature in the greenhouse will either decrease or the air humidity will increase, which is equally negative for them.

With the help of drip irrigation, it is possible to grow both determinate, semi-determinate and indeterminate varieties.

System installation

First, you can plan how the finished system will look like. Even a schematic image will help to roughly calculate the details of the system required for installation, as well as the volume of water that will be required for irrigation. So, for one bush it takes about 1.5 liters for one day. If the water outflow rate for 1 minute is 1.15 liters, then watering can be turned on for an hour and 20 minutes a day. Naturally, the calculations are approximate, moreover, irrigation in some cases is not carried out daily.
For tomatoes enough storage capacity. Of course, you can supply water directly from the tap, it will have time to heat up before it enters the soil, but only the cost of such a system will be an order of magnitude higher. This is dictated by the need to purchase a pressure regulator in order to normalize this indicator and not disable the droppers.

How to make drip irrigation of tomatoes? You will need a PVC hose, it is better if it is in dark shades so that bacteria and algae do not grow in it under the rays of the sun. Its diameter is 10 or 15 mm. It is not recommended to take more, otherwise, the larger the hole, the more pressure will drop in the entire system. In this case, some bushes planted in places remote from the barrel will remain without moisture. Usually up to 8 m of such a hose is enough.
Each bush can be connected to both dropper tubes (medical) and special drip tapes. In the first case, small holes are drilled in the main hose. Since rubber seals cannot be used here, it is better to insert a tube into the hole, and then stick silicone sealant around it.
To install drip tapes, you need to lay a pipe along the beds with tomatoes. In this case, each row-spacing will have such a tape. It is mounted with fittings. Each such tape has a slightly different throughput, the holes in it are also located at equal levels, so it is advisable to immediately outline at what distance the crop will be planted.
Plugs, connectors, clamps, elbows, seals - these materials will also be useful to you in creating a drip system.
If your storage tank is already equipped with a valve, then all that remains is to connect the pipe to the tap to start using the system. Otherwise, you will have to do the installation yourself. Then do not forget to step back from the bottom edge of at least 10 cm, so that the dirt does not fall into the droppers, but settles at the bottom. Set the barrel on a hill.

Such a drip system can be used on an equal footing both for irrigating the soil in a greenhouse and for open beds. The ease of construction and installation pays off in the quantity and quality of tomatoes you end up with. By combining this method of watering with quality care and mineral supplements, you can hope for a rich harvest.
Watch also an interesting video on the topic with useful information:

Tagged

The universal and low-cost method of watering is increasing the number of its supporters every day. Today we will talk about how to make drip irrigation in a greenhouse with your own hands and how to use this irrigation technique correctly.

Spot irrigation will increase the yield of the beds several times Contents of the article

1 What gives drip irrigation for a greenhouse

2 Effective types of watering in the garden

3 Pros and cons of drip irrigation in a greenhouse

4 Drip irrigation: what does the system consist of?

4.1 How to choose the right drip irrigation tapes

4.2 What are Drip Start Connectors and How to Use Them

4.3 An important element of the system: drippers for irrigation

5 Automatic types of drip irrigation where you can buy them

5.1 Drip irrigation system for the Zhuk greenhouse: features and cost

5.2 A set of automatic drip irrigation "Akvadusia"

5.3 Greenhouse drip irrigation kits: reviews of popular models

6 How to make your own drip irrigation system for a greenhouse

6.1 Drip irrigation installation scheme in a greenhouse: what is important to remember

6.2 Requirements for the main pipe for drip irrigation

6.3 Venturi injector or plant nutrition unit

6.4 Using filters for drip irrigation

7 How to make automatic watering in a greenhouse

8 Everything you need to know about drip irrigation materials

9 Nuances of drip irrigation

10 Drip irrigation in a greenhouse: video instruction

What gives drip irrigation for a greenhouse

Much is said about the benefits of drip soil moisture. This irrigation device is efficient and convenient in greenhouses and outdoors. This type of irrigation increases the useful water consumption by almost one hundred percent. For which crops can spot irrigation be used? Full soil moisture is favorable for tomatoes, cucumbers and other vegetables, flower beds in the garden will delight with flowering and fresh greenery.

Drip irrigation pipes can lie on the surface or be located under the topsoil

Facts for those who doubt whether a point irrigation method is needed for a vegetable garden:

the commodity output of tomatoes, cabbage, bell peppers, carrots and other vegetables increases by almost ninety percent;

water consumption for irrigation is reduced by half, you can clearly adjust how much you need to water;

plantings in the garden get sick less;

fertilizers go directly to the roots of plants, which increases their effectiveness several times.

Note! Drip irrigation saves a lot of water. It will be indispensable in areas with low pressure in the water supply. The system can even work by gravity, for this you will need to install a storage tank (barrel) on the site and throw hoses from it to the beds.

In this material, we will try to figure out how to make a drip irrigation system, how to assemble it with your own hands and how to choose components of suitable quality for irrigation from manufacturers. We will find out how much water is needed for which plants, what kind of pump is needed for the system to work, whether a filter is needed and what pressure must be maintained in the pipes. In conclusion, we will tell you how to use spot irrigation and how to properly care for the structure.

Pictured is an example of a system:

Spot irrigation system

Effective types of watering in the garden

In the list of the most popular ways of watering plants, sprinkling occupies the first place. Such systems do not require special investments and are very easy to use. They consist of a hose and a sprayer (sprinkler). In addition to the manual method of watering, there are devices for automatic sprinkling. There are types of sprinklers that rotate around an axis and thus cover a large irrigation radius. They are also called sprinklers.

For automatic installation, you will need a small pump that maintains a stable water pressure.

Note! A pump for pumping water into the garden irrigation system is installed at a well or well. There are units that are connected directly to the water tap and create increased pressure, pumping out its contents.

To moisten the soil at the roots of trees, a subsoil irrigation system is more effective. Point drip moisture directly to the root system will favorably affect the plants in the greenhouse. Such irrigation can also be automated.

We have listed the main types of field irrigation, but modern manufacturers offer all new complexes using the latest automation systems. They use sensors that measure soil moisture and rainfall, drain valves and programmable timers.

Such complexes will not be cheap, but they will completely free you from anxiety.

It is quite possible to make a watering mechanism with your own hands. On sale there are various types of hoses and all components of automated systems.

Pros and cons of drip irrigation in a greenhouse

Every plant care system has its advantages and disadvantages. Drip irrigation is no exception.

Cut water use in half compared to sprinkler irrigation. The drip irrigation technique was first invented and tested in Israel, where water is of great value.

The droppers of the system are constantly clogged. To fix this problem, you need to use filtering.

Another advantage is a significant increase in productivity. Spot watering is especially useful for tomatoes and cucumbers.

With the help of such irrigation, it is possible in the greenhouse to deliver nutrients and fertilizers directly to the roots of plants. In addition, pest control products can be applied using this method, they will be unusually effective.

Thin drip lines are often damaged by rodents or pets.

Drip irrigation prevents the formation of a hard crust on the soil surface. Loose soil allows oxygen to pass through, which is necessary for the roots of plants.

Watering can be carried out even on hot sunny days, without fear that drops of water will lead to burns on the leaves.

Service life of a set for a point irrigation - no more than two years. Then you have to buy a new one.

With spot irrigation, it is possible to regulate the temperature and water the plants with warm water, avoiding shock.

The system can work even in the absence of pressure in the water supply.

Installing the system requires financial investments, as well as its timely updating.

Drip irrigation saves a lot of time and effort.

Drip irrigation: what does the system consist of?

All elements of the spot irrigation system can be bought separately and assembled with your own hands:

Droppers or drip tapes - perform a gradual supply of moisture to the roots of plants. Droppers can be non-separable or collapsible (the latter are convenient for cleaning). In some versions, they have an adjustment that allows you to control the intensity of watering.

Supply hose - supplies water to systems.

Taps for switching - connect and disconnect water in different directions of the system.

Masterblock - a device with a set of filters and a pressure regulator.

Important! Before purchasing materials for drip irrigation, it is necessary to make careful calculations, and even better, draw a diagram of the entire system. So you can save a lot on materials.

How to choose the right tape for drip irrigation

There are three main types of drip tapes:

ribbon labyrinth;

emitter type tape;

slotted tape.

Let's take a look at each of these types:

Types of tapes for watering

Description

labyrinth

Labyrinth channels are formed on the tape material. They slow down the flow of water. Labyrinth channels are very fragile and easily damaged during installation. In addition, it is important to know how to properly lay such watering hoses.

In this version, the labyrinth partitions are located not along the entire length of the hose, but in places where there are exits cut by the laser. Installation of such a system is much easier. It should be noted that a slotted system requires good filtration. Such a device can be inexpensively mounted with your own hands.

emitter

This tape irrigation uses individual drippers built into the hose. They practically do not clog during operation due to the self-cleaning process. This quality directly affects the price of the product. Their production is costly. An example of such a material is Tuboflex tapes.

It is not easy to answer the question of which drip tape is better. The opinions of users in the reviews are different. The choice in most cases depends on the financial capabilities of the summer resident. And yet, many consider emitter hoses to be the best, despite their decent cost.

Note! A little about the characteristics of the water supply channel. Tapes are issued in two standard diameters - 16 and 22 mm. The most commonly used hose with a diameter of 16 millimeters. Its maximum working length is two hundred and fifty meters. When calculating the length of the drip tape, it should be noted that twenty-two mm hoses cannot be more than four hundred and fifty meters long.

The strength of the tape depends on the thickness of the material. It happens from 0.125 mm to 0.4 mm.

The thicker the material, the better the system resists possible mechanical damage.

Advice! If you plan to use the tape for one season, purchase material with the maximum wall thickness.

The distance between the emitters is also an important factor when choosing. For different types of landings, the correct number of outlets should be selected. Carrots, onion sets, and other densely planted crops need ribbons with closely spaced emitters. Tomatoes, cucumbers and other plants planted with a large distance will arrange a tape with a distance between holes of 30 centimeters or more. How to lay the tapes and what distance between the tapes must be observed in the following video:

Note! The pitch of the holes from 10 to 20 centimeters is used for watering sandy soils and, if necessary, wetting the plantings with a solid line. Thirty-centimeter distances are suitable for planting potatoes, cucumbers, and bell peppers. Forty centimeters and more - for melons.

How to choose the moisture consumption of the emitter:

Moisture consumption

Description

0.6 - 0.8 liters per hour Needs thorough water filtration and is suitable for soils with slow absorption.

1 - 1.5 liters per hour Standard orifice size suitable for different conditions.

2 - 3.8 liters per hour Suitable for sandy soil and plants with strong root systems. Little clogged.

How to mount pieces of tape together? How to connect a water control and supply system to it? Fittings are required for this purpose. They are selected according to the diameter of the tape.

And lastly, how much does the tape cost? Its price starts from three rubles per meter and can reach ten to fifteen rubles. Tapes are sold in rolls per footage.

What are Drip Start Connectors and How to Use Them

The start connector is also called a fitting. It serves to connect the parts of the irrigation system into one. You can buy connectors with a crane, swivel, branched. All these details are necessary for installation.

Start connector

Advice! Before purchasing fittings, draw up a connection diagram for all parts of the drip irrigation structure. Mark the places where the starting crane, splitter and other elements should be located.

Fitting connection options:

Fitting options

Description

Threaded connectors are designed to connect to standard water pipes with a ¾ or ½ thread.

Designed to connect the system with PVC pipes or soft hose. Especially in demand by summer residents, as they are used as a temporary connection

Connector for connecting PVC pipes of the same diameter

with seal

Suitable for connection through a hole drilled in the pipe wall. Equipped with a sealing rubber ring.

All fittings listed are suitable for the Tuboflex system and other spot irrigation kits.

Faucet connector, the working principle is very simple

An important element of the system: drippers for irrigation

The main thing in spot irrigation is a dropper, which directly supplies moisture to the roots of plants. This element of the system is mounted in a tape or hose.

Important! Do-it-yourself installation of droppers implies that each of them will be directed directly to the roots of flowers and vegetables.

Any dropper becomes clogged over time, the smallest particles of soil fall into the hole. If the device can be disassembled, do periodic cleaning. If not, you can try to blow the system with an air pump.

Types of droppers in greenhouses:

Types of droppers

Description

Adjustable

They have a removable cap for cleaning, regulate the flow of liquid from drops to jets.

Unregulated

A drip irrigation system of this type does not make it possible to increase or decrease the flow of liquid at will. The intensity of irrigation depends only on the pressure in the pipes. For uniform watering it is necessary to use compensators.

Compensated

The complex arrangement of such droppers with silicone membranes makes it possible to consume a strictly defined amount of moisture, regardless of the pressure in the water supply.

Uncompensated

They are based on the usual labyrinth, which reduces the speed of the passage of the water flow.

All of these devices can be used for drip irrigation of indoor plants, greenhouse crops and planting in open ground.

On sale you can find sets of droppers

Basic principles for selecting droppers:

they should be easy to clean from clogging. Removable caps are very convenient, they allow you to quickly and easily return the dropper to operation;

bandwidth is important. The bigger it is, the better. In this case, for cleaning, it is enough to increase the fluid flow;

the use of high-quality polymers that do not react with chemical fertilizers.

You can make an external dripper for irrigation with your own hands. Many gardeners use medical devices for these purposes; you can make a simple device from a plastic bottle. The price of a homemade device will be several times less, especially if you use improvised materials. In the following video story, an example of how to make a drip irrigation system for cucumbers:

Automatic types of drip irrigation, where they can be purchased

Automatic self-watering system greatly facilitates the work of the gardener. Modern manufacturers offer the best systems with timers, sensors and programmable control. The price of the machine starts from two and a half thousand rubles. Where can I buy ready-made kits for greenhouses? They are offered by numerous online vendors. There are systems for several greenhouses or irrigation of large areas. In this case, it is better to entrust the installation of a watering complex to professionals.

What is included in the irrigation complex and how the system works:

Complex component

Description

You can use water from a barrel or a plastic tank. In such a container there should be a device for heating water. Plants in a greenhouse need warm water.

Controller

A device that includes watering at the right time of the day and regulates its intensity. This device effectively controls the flow of water.

Sensor system

Devices control water heating, soil moisture and temperature conditions.

Pipe and drip system

Directly carry out the supply of water to the plants.

What is the best automatic watering? For greenhouses made of polycarbonate or other materials, there are several options for automatic irrigation:

Drip point - protects planting from the first frost, optimally consumes moisture.

Sprinkling - water is supplied from above with the help of special sprayers. This option is not bad for a greenhouse, but don't expect water savings in this case.

Inground - requires large expenses for arrangement, since it is necessary to bury perforated pipes into the soil. Used in large greenhouses.

Which system to choose? In each case, the approach is purely individual. Ground irrigation is considered to be more efficient than spot irrigation, but it is costly; sprinkling reduces costs to a minimum, but is inferior in efficiency.

You can assemble automatic systems with your own hands; for this, all the elements necessary for installation are on sale. You can stop at ready-made options from manufacturers, for example, Water strider or Gardena.

Advice! To decide on the most suitable automatic watering system for you, do not be lazy, study the reviews that buyers post online. As a rule, it is in them that all the advantages and disadvantages of devices are objectively evaluated.

Drip irrigation system for the Zhuk greenhouse: features and cost

The kit for the automatic watering system "Beetle" is connected to a tank with water. If necessary, you can take water not from a barrel, but directly from a water pipe. Installation of the device is extremely simple. To automate irrigation, you can provide an installation with a timer, it is sold separately.

There are special pegs in the irrigation kit to securely fasten the droppers. They will not only fix the tape, but also prevent it from twisting.

Non-toxic materials are used for the manufacture of system elements. You can buy such a set at a price of 1600 rubles. The timer will cost two and a half thousand. The device is designed for watering six dozen plants in two beds.

Complete set of the "Beetle" system

Set of automatic drip irrigation "Aquadusia"

The Aquadusia system can be used not only in greenhouses, but also in the open field. It is available in two versions: full automatic and semi-automatic. Currently, semi-automatic kits marked 60 and 50 are out of production and what is sold is the remnants of batches. Modern models "Akvadusi", Start and Water Tap, can work both without automation and with it. The difference between the Start model and Water Tap is that the first uses warm water from a barrel, and the second uses cold water from the plumbing system. Greenhouse plants need warm water. Cold, you can water flowers and vegetables planted in open ground.

An automatic irrigation kit allows you to leave the site unattended for a week. This is very convenient for summer residents visiting country estates on weekends.

Note! Aquadusia uses a battery-powered pump to pump water. For this reason, it is not necessary to lift the liquid container onto a high stand to provide pressure.

There is a float in the "Start" set. If you install it on the water pipe going to the barrel, after filling the liquid supply will be stopped. The principle is the same as in the toilet cistern.

Among the advantages of this kit, users note that watering is done with settled water heated in the sun. Such watering is very fond of all garden crops.

But Water Tap will work only if the pressure in the water pipe is at least 0.3 atmospheres, and this does not always work, especially during the season.

Drip irrigation kits in the greenhouse: reviews of popular models

In the ranking of models most in demand according to Yandex Market, there are several inexpensive kits. We have read reviews of their work.

Beetle Aquadusia Beetle

Aquadusia

water strider

water strider

How to make your own drip irrigation system for a greenhouse

A device for spot irrigation can be made independently. It's not as difficult as it seems. A homemade kit will cost much less than the factory version.

Tomato beds with a homemade irrigation system

A few important tips on the configuration and use of equipment:

The tank for the irrigation system must be made of plastic. Metal barrels quickly rust, the smallest particles of rust instantly clog droppers.

The barrel should be filled with purified and filtered water. So you save yourself from the need for frequent cleaning of the micro-irrigation system.

At least once every ten days it is necessary to check the functioning of the system in the greenhouse and the cleanliness of the filters.

Dissolve fertilizers thoroughly before pouring them into a container of water. After adding chemicals, the barrel and tapes must be rinsed.

Disassemble the capillary irrigation kit for the winter.

How to make a device yourself? To work, you will need a drip tape, a tank, a water pipe, fittings for connecting parts, a mortise faucet, a water filter.

In the photo, a scheme for organizing self-watering:

Before installation, you need to decide where the water tank will stand. This is an important issue, as the location of the tank affects the pressure in the belts. The higher the barrel stands, the faster its contents are consumed. Do not get carried away with high stands: on hot days, the water will leave too quickly, besides, a high stand will require additional hassle to install.

The tap for connection must not be cut into the bottom of the barrel, but at a height of five to ten centimeters from the bottom. All the sediment will accumulate there and will not get into the drip irrigation.

After the tap, it is necessary to mount the filter. It will remove all the smallest particles and ensure the normal operation of droppers

Advice! Medical droppers can be used as nozzles for subsurface irrigation of tomatoes and other garden crops. The diameter of their tubes is only one and a half - two millimeters.

It remains to install a pipe for the main fluid supply and plug it at the ends.

Idea! If you still have questions about how to make the device yourself, try out a mini-model that can be used in a greenhouse for seedlings.

If done correctly, watering will work without your participation.

Drip irrigation installation scheme in a greenhouse: what is important to remember

To irrigate plants in a greenhouse, the simplest system with one main channel and droppers connected to it is sufficient. The barrel for watering can be located in the greenhouse itself or outside. The first option is convenient because on cool days the barrel cools less. In the second, free access will be provided to the container, which will facilitate its timely cleaning and filling. So think carefully about how to install the tank. To estimate the minimum volume of the tank, multiply the area of ​​the greenhouse by 20 (the required amount of water per square meter). For example, for a greenhouse with an area of ​​30 square meters, you will need to install a container with a volume of at least 600 liters.

Mounting diagram

Advice! Use plastic pipes to organize the main channel.

The distance between droppers in the diagram should be at least thirty centimeters. Drip irrigation continues 2-3 hours a day. This is the time required to fully provide moisture to the roots of plants. If you leave watering for a longer time, the roots may rot.

Advice! The length of drip lines should not exceed one meter.

To understand how to organize drip irrigation, develop a detailed drawing. Indicate on it all the places of connections, turns and fasteners.

Video example of how to properly do drip irrigation in a greenhouse:

Requirements for the main pipe for drip irrigation

HDPE pipes with a diameter of 32 or 16 mm are used as the main line. You can also make a line from PVC pipes or metal-plastic pipes. How to choose something most suitable? It is difficult to say which pipe is better, they are all strong enough, durable and great for irrigation. And yes, they are almost the same price.

When deciding which diameter to choose, consider the size of the area to be irrigated. In a greenhouse, it makes sense to make the main supply from polypropylene pipes of a smaller diameter.

For summer irrigation of open ground in a summer cottage, use a construction made of plastic pipes with a diameter of 32 mm Practice advice! To easily insert pipe fittings, use a screwdriver and a wood drill for drilling. They do a great job with polyethylene pipes.

Before inserting the drip hose, rubber seals must be inserted into the drilled holes. Without them, a oozing hose will lose a lot of valuable moisture.

How to make a main pipeline with your own hands in this video story:

Venturi injector or plant nutrition unit

Timely application of fertilizers is a condition for good yields. Scientifically, the process of applying fertilizers during irrigation is called fertigation, and the source from which the dissolved chemicals come to the roots of plants is a fertigation unit or a feeding unit.

For fertilization, you can choose intermittent or constant mode. The simplest calculation is a concentration of three to ten kilograms per hectare.

How to dose chemicals for drip irrigation? For this purpose, you will need a fertilizer tank and a Venturi dispenser.

Dissolved chemicals are placed in a separate container. They enter the drip irrigation system in parallel with the main moisture, mixing with it. At first glance, the setup is very primitive. But how to choose the right proportion for mixing and maintain the required concentration?

The principle of operation of the Venturi injector lies in the specifics of the movement of fluid with a pressure drop. Water passing through the dispenser forms a vacuum that carries the chemical solution with it. Thus, two liquids are mixed in the main main channel and evenly flow to the roots of plants. The injector can be connected to a 1" or 2" pipe. You can buy Venturi at any gardening store.

The dispenser device in the diagram:

The direction of the main flow is indicated by an arrow on the injector

Note! The dispenser is made of chemically resistant materials.

Another option for maintaining the necessary concentration of chemicals is the use of a dosatron. This is a more advanced and accurate control system. It is not difficult to mount it with your own hands directly into the drip irrigation system. A turbine is located inside the device, which is driven by the pressure of the liquid in the pipeline. Adjustment of the dosatron is carried out only when it is installed. Further, the device does not need your attention. There are many videos on the net on how to properly use and install the dispenser.

Standalone battery operated controllers are not always convenient. The duration of their operation is limited by battery life. On the other hand, network controllers are more expensive than battery controllers. Which one to use for irrigating the beds from the barrel is up to you.

Network automation is installed indoors, therefore, it will be necessary to conduct a drip irrigation mounting line from the tank to the irrigation system through the house or utility block.

Not everyone is ready for such expenses. You can make auto watering with your own hands. To do this, the water tank is placed at an elevation sufficient to create the necessary pressure in the line.

Watering will occur by gravity, without your participation. The only thing you need is to open and close the faucet

Everything you need to know about drip irrigation materials

We have already talked about how to plan an irrigation system in a greenhouse. The water tank should be made of plastic and placed on a high stand. In this case, the water will flow by gravity and you can do without a pump.

Advice! How to make a reliable stand for the tank with your own hands? For this purpose, it is better to use a columnar base or screw piles. Such a solid foundation will not allow a heavy barrel to tip over. Four screw piles are screwed to the required depth, connected with a grillage, on which, in turn, a container platform is mounted. In this version, even if you use a two thousand liter tank for water, you can be sure of its stable position.

From the barrel there is a main pipe that supplies liquid to the droppers. For this element of the system, you need to buy plastic pipes. If the system provides for pumping water with a pump, it is installed at the very beginning of the line. A feeding unit with an injector is also connected to the same line. For chemicals, a second container is installed next to the main tank. All this equipment is placed on a common platform. You can assemble the components separately, but it is easier to buy ready-made kits that include injectors, nozzles, drippers and valves for the greenhouse.

If drip tapes are used for irrigation, they are connected to the mains using tees. You don't need any special tools for this job. Plastic fittings are easy to insert by hand.

Advice! For irrigation of plants under covering material, it is better to use a drip tape.

If droppers are used for irrigation, you will need a drill or screwdriver to connect them.

A drip irrigation system can also be made from improvised materials. What you need for this: plastic bottles. One container is used for one or two plants. Holes are made in plastic using a thin awl. The bottle is buried next to the plant. Moisture gradually comes from plastic bottles to the roots. In the photo, a diagram of how to equip watering through bottles:

Drip irrigation from improvised materials

The disadvantage of such a device is that you will have to constantly fill the containers, and this is a rather laborious task. With a barrel and drippers, you need to spend more time on installation, but the labor costs will quickly pay off with a complete lack of watering hassle.

The nuances of drip irrigation

In order for the irrigation system to function properly, simple rules should be observed:

Water for irrigation should be as free of impurities as possible. You can use water from a well, natural reservoir or water supply. If the intake comes from a lake or well, set the pump to a medium depth, do not raise turbidity and silt from the bottom. Keep in mind that fry, eggs, larvae and algae live in natural reservoirs, so no matter how clean the moisture seems, it must be carefully filtered out. The installation of several filters is justified - at the inlet and outlet of water into the storage tank.

After assembling the irrigation device in the greenhouse, it is necessary to carry out a trial run and check the operation of the automation. Before starting, check the tightness of all connections, to do this, blow the hoses and nozzles with a pump.

After start-up, determine the optimal operating time for the system. The most optimal mode of operation is evening. During a sunny day, the water in the storage tank will warm up, watering will be carried out with warm moisture, the plants will appreciate it.

Once every seven to ten days, carry out a preventive cleaning of the system by pressurizing the air pump.

That's all the principles of operation of the drip irrigation complex.

Drip irrigation in a greenhouse: video instruction

Kira Stoletova

The sale of vegetable crops is now very common in the consumer market. Especially among farmers, planting and growing tomatoes is revered. But, like any plant, the bush requires proper care and attention, crops are especially in need of irrigation. Drip irrigation of a tomato is one of the most effective irrigation systems that allows you to properly and timely introduce the necessary moisture into the soil and supply vegetables with nutrients.

Description of the method

The most optimal solution for growing vegetables in open ground or greenhouse conditions is drip irrigation of tomatoes, then a sufficient amount of water will always be added to the soil. The essence of the method is to conduct water through a hose located along the perimeter of the beds due to pressure and to ensure a uniform flow of water.

The advantage of the method is its functionality, it not only irrigates the ground, but also frees you from the grueling manual application of liquid to the soil. Another benefit is the fact that with the help of drip irrigation of tomatoes in a greenhouse, you can do the job twice as fast, while water gets into all the beds in the right amount. With the help of such a system it is very easy to comply with the required watering regime.

If you are growing tomatoes in a greenhouse, drip irrigation is the best solution for you, just like outdoors. The system is designed to water vegetables, houseplants, flowers in the garden. Thanks to the automatic irrigation system, water is distributed only to the right plants, which prevents the growth of weeds.

Crop Irrigation Rules

In order for drip irrigation of tomatoes to bring the expected benefits, you should follow the general recommendations for irrigation when growing vegetables in a greenhouse. Tomato species grow well in moist soil, but it is necessary that the air be dry. Therefore, it is not recommended to aerate the soil immediately after irrigation - these manipulations will dry it out and will not have the desired effect. It is best to fertilize the ground with freshly cut grass, such actions will retain moisture.

Rules for applying liquid:

• watering should be under the root system, the main thing is to make sure that you do not wash the rhizome with your actions;
• in order to avoid diseases, try to prevent the leaves and stems from getting wet in the greenhouse, excessive moisture may be created;
• all water procedures should be carried out in the morning;
• the liquid must be warmed up to 22-24 ° C;
• improper care can lead to excessive evaporation of moisture through the leaves, which will lead to the death of the plant;
• vegetable culture requires abundant, but not frequent liquid application, in order to avoid dampness and suppuration.

It is optimal to carry out the water procedure several times a week. For each bush you will need about 4 liters of water.

Irrigation systems

Dripper systems for irrigating vegetables can be of different types.

1. Qatif - a device for irrigation on an industrial scale, made of a hose of an elastic structure, the width of the walls should be no more than 15 mm.
2. Supertief is an external dropper with a flow rate of up to 2 liters per hour, which is designed to irrigate several beds at once. Such a device can be installed on steep slopes and not worry about excessive fluid consumption.
3. Also, in your personal garden, you can do without any devices and make a system with your own hands, for example, with plastic bottles. To do this, you need to take a bottle, make several holes in it with an awl at a distance of 3-4 cm from the bottom and dig a container to a depth of 10-12 cm upside down between the plants.
4. Signor Tomato automatic irrigation system is a drip tape, which is designed for 100 m of beds. It runs on a battery and does not require recharging with electricity because it is powered by the sun.

With each of these systems, it is quite easy to maintain the irrigation regime, which is so necessary for growing shrubs and adult crops.

Installation methods

Qatif and Supertif

The method of installation and operation of droppers Katif and Supertif are very similar. In order to make an irrigation system, we need to insert droppers into the hose with our own hands:

• we make holes of the desired size;
• make sure that the holes are even;
• make sure that all the tubes are well attached to the holes.

A distinctive feature of the Supertif installation is that the hose is inserted into special supports and is located around the perimeter of the garden. Such a system is capable of watering tomatoes in four directions at once. Depending on how much water you need for irrigation, you can choose devices with different capacities.

Before the seedlings sprout, the ground is sprayed with water once a day and covered with a film. In the future, the film is removed and the seedlings are watered 1-2 times a week.

The optimum water temperature for tomato seedlings is 20-25°C. Some summer residents heat water and then dilute it with colder water. But when water boils, it loses the oxygen that plants need. Therefore, it is better to let the water stand warm for a while in order to warm up to room temperature on its own.

Depending on the phase of development, the tomato needs a different amount of moisture. When transplanting seedlings into a greenhouse, each well is watered (4-5 l), and the plants are left for 10 days for rooting. Beforehand, organic top dressing (compost or humus with the addition of wood ash) is placed in each hole.

After 7 days, the seedlings begin active growth and need regular and abundant watering. A weak root system itself is not able to get moisture from the soil, therefore, before the formation of flower stalks, irrigation is carried out twice a week at the rate of 2-3 liters per bush.

Watering tomatoes in a greenhouse once a month is combined with the application of mineral fertilizers: 15 g of potash, 25 g of nitrogen-containing and 40 g of phosphorus are dissolved in 10 liters of water. Consumption rate based on 1 liter per bush.

When the peduncles are already formed, the frequency of watering is reduced to once a week, but the volume is increased to 5 liters of water per bush. Watering is alternated with the application of fertilizers (1 tablespoon of potassium sulfate, 0.5 l of chicken manure and 0.5 l of mullein per 10 l of water) at the rate of 1.5 liters per plant.

With the onset of fruiting, the frequency of irrigation is increased to twice a week, and in order to improve the taste and accelerate the ripening of tomatoes, 2 tbsp. l. superphosphate and 1 tbsp. l. liquid sodium humate dissolved in 10 liters of water. When the tomato turns red, watering is reduced to 1 time in seven days, and completely stopped before harvesting for 20 days.

About what else you can feed tomatoes to get the maximum yield - read our article.

Organization of irrigation in the greenhouse.

During the formation of fruits, tomato bushes are watered abundantly (20 liters per 1 sq.m) as the soil dries. However, this increases the humidity in the greenhouse, which the plants do not like too much. Airing, as a rule, does not allow maintaining a constant humidity at the level of 45-65%. In this case, you can use a drip irrigation system with a centralized water supply or using plastic bottles that feed each plant individually.

The use of drippers for irrigation allows you to ensure uniform flow and movement of water at any point in the system due to the creation of the same pressure. The volume of water that flows out of the structures, you can set yourself.

Droppers are placed right next to the beds, so the liquid is directed directly to the roots in uniform flows.

Installing such a system in a greenhouse with your own hands is not an impossible task and does not require special skills and abilities. The use of the system in greenhouse conditions solves the problem of weed removal due to the direction of water flows strictly for their intended purpose.

Drip irrigation of tomatoes in a greenhouse as an irrigation method has evolved from devices built into a hose to droppers that are inside the hose. These are the so-called compensation systems, which allow organizing irrigation in areas with difficult terrain.

The main types of droppers today are katif and supertief. Their differences are that katif is used in elastic hoses with a wall thickness not exceeding 1.5 cm, and supertief allows you to organize high-precision irrigation of several bushes using a special device for branching water flows.

For the full development of tomato bushes in greenhouse conditions, it is necessary to maintain soil moisture at 90%, and ambient air humidity should be 50-60%.

If the degree of soil moisture can be determined mechanically, by simply squeezing a handful of earth in your hand and at the same time it will slightly compact, then a gardener will need a hygrometer to determine the dryness of the air.

We should not forget about the quality of water for irrigation.

Water temperature

Do not water tomatoes with cold water, directly from a well or a water pipe. Sudden changes in temperature cause plant stress, which can cause diseases and developmental inhibition.

Water is collected in large containers and given time to settle and warm up to a temperature of 22-25⁰С. If the tanks are in a greenhouse, then they must be equipped with lids, because. evaporation of moisture in hot weather increases the humidity of the air inside the structure, and tomatoes do not like this.

Watering time in the greenhouse directly depends on the weather outside. On hot and dry days, irrigation is carried out early in the morning or late in the evening, when the solar intensity subsides. It must be remembered that by the evening coolness the plants have had time to absorb most of the moisture, and watering does not cause an increase in humidity.

It is not recommended to postpone watering until late in the evening, because. in a closed space, a greenhouse effect will be created, air humidity will increase, and this, in turn, will lead to an increase in humidity in the greenhouse.

Watering frequency

Tomato plant is more drought-resistant than moisture-loving.

• Excessive hydration soil leads to rotting of the root system and provokes the occurrence of many diseases, and the most insidious of them is late blight. In a matter of days, it can destroy the entire crop in the bud. This is especially dangerous in dense plantings.
• But long-term drought adversely affects the development of tomatoes. From a lack of moisture, the leaves begin to curl, wither, which ultimately leads to a weakening of the plant and its death.

You can determine the need for moisture in plants by appearance: the leaves lose turgor and begin to droop to the ground. With a prolonged drought, the tips of the leaves begin to dry out, which will certainly affect the amount of the crop.

Tomatoes in a greenhouse are watered on average 1 time in 2-3 days and 3-5 liters of water are consumed for each adult plant. Again: it all depends on the condition of the soil, its structure and external factors.

Tomatoes are mainly grown in seedlings, due to the long growing season, which means that we are dealing with pampered plants that are not accustomed to providing themselves with moisture, and this care falls on the shoulders of the gardener.

Tomato seedlings are planted in moist soil and additionally watered from above so that the root system is tightly connected to the ground.

During the adaptation period - this is about 10-14 days - the seedlings are watered moderately and only if necessary. Harsh conditions are necessary for the plant to direct its forces to the development of the root system, which must go deep into the soil and learn how to extract water on its own.

Frequent watering of seedlings after planting will make the plant lazy, and the bulk of the roots will remain in the surface layers of the soil. For young seedlings, 2-3 liters per plant will be enough.

Read more in the article: Caring for tomatoes in a greenhouse from planting to harvest

During flowering

Do not allow prolonged drying of the soil during the period of laying buds and flowering. Lack of moisture can lead to massive shedding of color, which will lead to a decrease in yield. Tomatoes are watered at least 2 times a week, taking into account the condition of the soil, but the volume of water is increased to 4-5 liters per bush.

During the fruiting period, when the tomatoes begin to turn red, the frequency of watering is minimized: irrigation is carried out once a week. The amount of moisture supplied is also reduced.

Excessive moisture very often leads to cracking of the fruit, which reduces the presentation, quality and quantity of the crop.

It is necessary to water the tomato bushes under the root, preventing water from getting on the leaves and stems of the plant. Drops of water can play the role of a magnifying glass, which will lead to yellow spots on the leaves - these are sunburns. To eliminate this possibility, several irrigation methods are used.

• Traditional (manual),
• drip,
• using plastic bottles
• pitted,
• auto.

Either option should ensure uniform soil moisture around the entire circumference of the stem of the tomato bush.

In small summer cottages, you can observe how a gardener in the evening scurries between a container of water and a greenhouse, conducting regular watering. And this is not surprising, because manual watering with the power of a garden watering can or bucket and ladle is the most common.

Another thing is that the process is quite laborious and requires considerable physical strength. It is necessary to scoop up water, bring it to the greenhouse, water it, and given the size of the greenhouse and the number of tomatoes grown, when 10 liters of water are spent on 2-3 plants, you can imagine how the summer resident feels at the end of the working day.

But, despite all the complexity, manual watering has a number of advantages.

• The gardener knows exactly how much water he pours under each tomato bush.
• It is possible to water the plant gently, without getting drops of water on the leaves and stems.
• Combine watering with top dressing, depending on the stage of development of tomatoes.

Watering from a hose

Watering beds with tomatoes in a greenhouse from a hose, of course, facilitates the work of a gardener, but has some drawbacks.

1. There is a high chance of damage to plants when moving the hose around the greenhouse.
2. There is no way to control the amount of moisture supplied.
3. With strong pressure, the soil under the tomatoes is compacted and washed out, which leads to the exposure of root processes located close to the soil surface.
4. If the hose is connected to a water pipe or a well, then the low water temperature adversely affects the growth of tomatoes: in extreme heat, watering with cold water causes a sharp cooling of the root system, the plants fall into a stupor and slow down their development.

To facilitate the watering of tomatoes, you can use drip irrigation. The irrigation main is purchased in a specialized store or made by hand.

I would especially like to note the high efficiency and highlight the advantages of drip irrigation.

• This method provides a slow and uniform supply of water exclusively to the root system.
• There is significant water savings.
• The ability to connect to a conventional container installed at a height, where, if necessary, fertilizers can be added and then watering will be combined with fertilizing with minerals.
• The soil does not compact during irrigation, and, therefore, there is no need to loosen it.
• The physical and time costs for watering the beds with tomatoes in the greenhouse are reduced.

Gardeners with economic ingenuity have found use for plastic bottles, which accumulate in large quantities in their summer cottage from drunk lemonade and sparkling water. This is a simplified version of drip irrigation.

Option number 1

• In the walls of a plastic bottle (of any volume), holes are made along the entire height with a red-hot nail or awl.
• Then the vessel is buried in the ground near the tomato bushes, leaving only the neck above the soil surface. You should be careful and try not to damage the root system. Ideally, this work should be carried out together with the planting of tomato seedlings in the greenhouse.
• The bottles are filled with water, which will slowly go into the soil, nourishing the root system with life-giving moisture.

Option number 2

The plastic bottle must be cut along the shoulders, and holes should be made at the bottom and in its lower part. The vessel is buried in the ground, deepened by 2/3 of the height.

Such tanks are installed along the entire length of the beds and filled with water. The top cut part is used as a cover so that the water does not evaporate and does not lead to an increase in humidity inside the greenhouse.

Option number 3

A hollow tube is dug into the ground, next to a tomato bush. Holes are made in the lid of a plastic bottle, and the bottom is completely cut off - an impromptu funnel is obtained.

Watering tomatoes after planting

Immediately after planting in a greenhouse or open ground, it is better not to water the tomatoes for 5-10 days. In the future, it is desirable to moisten the soil on average once a week (or more often - as the soil dries up). Water consumption - 3-5 liters per bush.

Watering tomatoes during fruiting

Tomatoes are watered exclusively under the root. This advice is especially relevant during the flowering period, since sprinkling causes shedding of buds, and also delays fruit set. In addition, an increase in air humidity can cause the development of fungal diseases. During flowering, the amount of water is reduced to 1-2 liters per bush.

During the growth period of tomatoes, they are watered 1-2 times a week at the rate of 5-12 liters per square meter of beds or 3-5 liters per bush (depending on weather conditions and soil moisture). If you are late with the next watering, and the soil is very dry, the amount of water should be reduced to 0.8-1 l per bush. Otherwise, the fruits may begin to crumble or crack, and the plant will become especially vulnerable to blossom end rot.

Irrigation methods.

Drip or capillary irrigation. It is used both for large greenhouses and for small ones.

Automatic watering of tomatoes in a polycarbonate greenhouse is used when grown on an industrial scale, since this method requires significant financial costs. Automatic watering is most often combined with a drip water supply system.

Farms use pumps, dispensers, filters, automatic climate control in the greenhouse, and many summer residents make a drip system from improvised means.

Watering tomatoes in a polycarbonate greenhouse by drip is the most effective when growing, because:

• water costs are reduced, while it falls directly under the roots and can be strictly dosed depending on the needs of the plant;
• the risk of salinization and washing out of the soil is reduced; a crust does not form on the surface of the soil.
• hoses are laid in row-spacings along or in the middle once and do not move during the season - this prevents damage to plants;
• watering a tomato does not require physical effort;
• productivity increases.

Proper watering of tomatoes is carried out using the following methods:

1. plastic bottles;
2. hose;
3. bucket or watering can.

With bottles.

The first way is simple and economical. Near each plant, a plastic bottle without a lid and with a cut bottom should be dug into the ground. So, the liquid will flow to the root system evenly and not fall on the green parts of the bush.

From a hose.

But traditional watering with a hose is difficult.

• during the ripening period of vegetables, the dosage of moisture is difficult to produce
• and there is a risk of damaging the tomatoes.

Irrigation of beds with a watering can or bucket is considered the best method, however, it is not safe to transport heavy containers.

Drip.

It is most convenient to use drip irrigation. This device is located near the beds and delivers liquid directly to the roots of plants. Thanks to this, they receive maximum moisture and do not suffer from its excess.

Often, gardeners use droppers to care for a large number of bushes in a greenhouse or a large greenhouse.

Automatic irrigation is often used by summer residents in the process of growing popular vegetable crops - cucumbers and tomatoes.

This method has the following advantages:

1. complete soil moisture;
2. lack of crust on the ground;
3. delivery of nutrients directly to the roots;
4. labor savings.

However, such a system has disadvantages.

• Its service life does not exceed 6 years, which must be taken into account when arranging a greenhouse.
• In addition, the structure is often damaged by rodents and it is quite difficult to repair it.

Methods for watering tomatoes in a greenhouse

Water temperature

An open barrel of water should not be left in the greenhouse, as it will create excessive dampness in the air. It is best to cover it with a film or place it outside the greenhouse.

This vegetable crop needs a sufficient amount of water from the moment of germination, therefore, after sprouts are found, they must be sprayed with moisture from a spray bottle.

When young plants grow up, it is necessary to irrigate the bushes moderately, but the soil should not be allowed to dry out. Every month organic top dressing is added to the liquid.

Shortly before picking, the seedlings are saturated with moisture for the last time, after which the seedlings are temporarily not watered.

When the fruits are full, they need more water.

The air humidity here in summer varies from 60 to 80%, with the exception of dry periods, when it drops to 40%, as well as cloudy days, which increase this figure to 90%.

Such drops are detrimental to tomatoes that are demanding on the presence of water in the soil, but at the same time, the culture loves dry air, which has a positive effect on the green mass of plants.

It is important to maintain a balance of moisture, because both meager and generous watering negatively affects the health of tomatoes.

Proper irrigation of beds in a greenhouse provides soil moisture of about 90%, while the air remains quite dry. In such conditions, the bushes are protected from fungal infections and other garden ailments.

In addition, the active sun creates a greenhouse effect and contributes to the evaporation of water.

It is important to monitor the ripening process of tomatoes, as soon as the upper brushes yield a crop, watering can be interrupted. In September, summer residents harvest vegetables of late varieties, after which the garden bed is cleaned of plant residues.

Low-growing crop varieties are watered less when vegetables ripen, since abundant watering can provoke the formation of rot, and 30 days before the final harvest, irrigation is stopped. So, the fruits ripen together and are not subject to garden diseases.

That's all guys. Take care of the plant bushes correctly and you will have a good harvest!

The summer season is about to begin and the preparation time has already come. Knowledge and experience is what you need to get a harvest and be stocked in winter.

See you!

You will find detailed information on caring for tomatoes in the open field in our material.

Watering in the greenhouse is carried out early in the morning before sunrise or late in the evening after sunset twice a week. After irrigation, the greenhouse must be ventilated so as not to create excess moisture. On average, 1 bush spend about 4 liters of water.

In greenhouses, mandatory control of air humidity (not less than 50%) and soil (not less than 90%) is required. To check compliance with these standards, a small lump of earth is taken at a depth of 10 cm, which should be easily molded into a lump with your hands, and not crumble.

Watering a tomato is always carried out at the root. It is important to ensure that drops do not fall on the foliage - in the open field this can cause burns, and in the greenhouse the development of phytophthora. The water temperature should be at least 22-24 degrees Celsius.

Signs of under and over watering

Strong and healthy seedlings receive the necessary amount of fluid, the following signs signal possible problems:

• twisting leaves;
• stem cracking.

The first symptom indicates a lack of water, but abundant watering causes damage to the green parts of the plant and fruits - they become inedible.

In a greenhouse, it is important to moderately irrigate the beds, however, in dry and hot weather, the liquid rate can be increased.

Signs of lack of moisture in tomatoes:

• Twisting the sheet plate along the center in the form of a "boat";
• Drying of ovaries and buds without symptoms of diseases.

With a lack of watering, the plants become weak and frail. There is an increased vulnerability to fungal diseases and insect-borne viruses.

Signs of excess moisture:

• Tomatoes that have been watered too much become watery and tasteless;
• The stem and fruit crack, which leads to further infection and disease of the plant;
• Fungal diseases spread rapidly in the greenhouse.

With high humidity and poor ventilation of the greenhouse, all types of rot appear, late blight develops quickly, the fruits deteriorate and lose their quality of keeping quality and transportability.

The rate of watering tomatoes in open ground depends on weather conditions. For these plants, both excessive and insufficient moisture is harmful. So that the leaves of tomatoes do not turn yellow, it is necessary to water the bushes as the soil dries.

On average, irrigation can be carried out 1-2 times a week. For one bush, 5 liters of water is usually enough.

For irrigation of tomatoes in open ground, you can use rainwater, since the degree of its hardness, saturation with microelements and oxygen are optimal for plants. Of course, there are exceptions: for example, if you live near industrial plants or if you collect water from roofs, the materials of which contain copper, lead, asbestos and other substances that can have a negative impact on plant and human health. Such water should never be used for irrigation.

Drip irrigation: how to do it yourself

If the purchase of ready-made devices for a drip irrigation system is not suitable for financial or other reasons, you can create a similar system in a greenhouse with your own hands using medical droppers. You need to find a pipe with a diameter of 20 mm with a wall thickness of 2 mm. Then cut it according to the size of the beds, make holes in it every half a meter.

Such a system is a really economical and practical option for creating an inexpensive drip irrigation system in greenhouse conditions. However, you can make such a design in a greenhouse, the costs will be even less.

Before starting installation work, it is recommended to plan well the length of the system, the location of the water supply through which water will be supplied (it is preferable to place it perpendicular to the tomato rows). The long length of the structure increases the risk of uneven watering.

It will not be superfluous to make a drawing of the site and fix all the elements of the landscape on it, this will allow you to correctly and conveniently place the greenhouse and irrigation system.

Drip irrigation of tomatoes in a greenhouse is an opportunity to organize a convenient and efficient irrigation system. Its use will not only facilitate the hard work of the gardener, but will also make it possible to harvest an excellent crop of tomatoes with minimal time and effort.

Drip irrigation is the most convenient soil irrigation technology, as water consumption is significantly reduced. At the same time, it is not wasted on the needs of weeds and does not fall on the leaves of plants, which reduces the risk of fungal diseases. It is especially convenient that, together with drip irrigation, root dressing can be organized.

Drip irrigation can be organized from empty plastic bottles, along the walls of which small holes are made at different heights. Plastic with water is not completely closed and buried upside down so that the seeping moisture constantly flows to the roots of the plant. If necessary, unscrew the lid and add water.

A homemade drip irrigation system must be constantly checked to ensure that the holes are not clogged with soil. If this happens, then the plants will die from drought.

Phased watering and top dressing of tomatoes in a greenhouse: from seedlings to harvest

Many fertilizers, including organic ones, are quite aggressive and can burn fragile plant roots. Therefore, it is desirable to combine top dressing with watering. And in some cases this is a prerequisite, for example, if you bring bird droppings to the beds.

Watering tomatoes with iodine

Experienced gardeners believe that feeding tomatoes with iodine can speed up the ripening of fruits and protect plants from late blight. The simplest recipe is to dissolve 4 drops of an alcoholic solution of iodine in 10 liters of water and water the tomatoes at the rate of no more than 2 liters per bush.

Also, in order to combat late blight, you can add 1 liter of skim milk and 15 drops of iodine to 10 liters of water and spray the plants with this solution no more than once every 2 weeks.

You can feed tomatoes with yeast already a week after transplanting into the ground. To do this, 100 g of dry yeast and 2 tbsp. sugar is dissolved in 10 liters of warm (25-30°C) water. After two hours, this mixture is diluted with 50 liters of water and no more than 0.5 liters of solution is poured under one bush. Repeated top dressing is carried out after the rooting of the bush and before flowering.

Spraying with boric acid (5 g per 10 liters of water) can be useful for tomatoes if flowers begin to crumble in hot weather. Also, foliar top dressing using boric acid (2 g), manganese sulfate (4 g), copper sulfate (2 g) and zinc sulfate (2 g), diluted in 10 liters of water, can have a beneficial effect on the growth of tomatoes in the greenhouse. Do not fertilize during the daytime or in sunny weather - this can cause leaf burns.

The mullein is diluted with water in a ratio of 1:20 and the tomatoes are fed 10 days after planting in the ground. You can reapply this organic fertilizer no earlier than 10-14 days later. You can also feed your green pets twice during fruit formation. Under one bush, previously abundantly watered with water, 0.5 liters of solution are added, after which the plants are watered again.

Ammonia is a nitrogenous compound that is sometimes used for root dressing and insect control. A pungent smell, which after some time is not felt by a person, repels pests for a long time.

Most often, 10 ml of ammonia is diluted in 1 bucket of water and the beds are watered up to 4 times for 2 weeks. When signs of nitrogen deficiency appear, the seedlings are watered with a 2% solution of ammonia in one of the four regular waterings.

Watering tomatoes with ash

Wood ash contains about 30 minerals that contribute to the proper development of plants. These elements are involved in the process of photosynthesis, improve metabolic processes, help your green pets absorb vitamins and regulate water balance. Ashes are brought in for digging when preparing beds for tomatoes (3 cups per 1 sq.m) or in holes when planting seedlings (a handful of ash in each hole). As an alternative, you can use ash infusion.

Watering tomatoes with potassium permanganate

Due to its antiseptic properties, potassium permanganate fights fungi and bacteria. Therefore, it is most often used for dressing seeds (for tomatoes, it is recommended to use a 1% solution). Experienced gardeners with a solution of potassium permanganate (3 g per 10 liters of water) also spray the soil for seedlings.

Manganese increases the resistance of young plants to diseases. The main thing is not to exceed the dosage in any case, because if the solution turns out to be too concentrated, the plants will die.

Garden tools can be wiped with a sponge dipped in a 2% solution of potassium permanganate, pots for seedlings are recommended to be rinsed with a 1% solution.

Watering, of course, plays a huge role in growing tomatoes. However, it is equally important to choose the right varieties that will not only be productive, but also resistant to diseases and adverse weather conditions.

11 best varieties of tomatoes for greenhouses and open ground - rating from our readers