The fruiting of the tomato requires a lot of water, so hobby gardeners can be very generous when watering. However, only a few gardeners know when the time is right for watering.
If you don’t have a greenhouse, you can build a shelter for your tomatoes. Then the plants are protected from rain. The advantage: The leaves remain dry and harmful fungi can multiply less well, explains Svenja Schwedtke from the perennial nursery Bornhöved.
The expert advises tomatoes In the morning to water so that the leaves can dry off if water does get on them. The tomatoes are also important to water regularly and thoroughly – at hot summer days every day. If you water irregularly, there is a risk that the fruit will burst open, according to Schwedtke.
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Fertilize tomatoes once a week
The tomatoes should also be fertilized once a week. If the leaves turn yellow between the veins, this indicates a magnesium deficiency. Then you can add 25 grams of magnesium sulfate per liter to the irrigation water. Repeat the application two to three times about every two weeks.
Tomatoes should be pinched out at least once a week, i.e. pinch off the shoots in the leaf axils. This promotes fruit set in the plant, explains Schwedtke. All leaves near the ground should also be removed, up to a height of 30 centimeters. This allows the plant to focus its energy on the infructescence.
Support the plants well
Most tomato varieties require support. Bamboo sticks are usually sufficient for small bush and wild tomatoes, other varieties need metal spirals. Before hobby gardeners use supports from last year again, they should clean them with hot vinegar water. In this way they can destroy fungal spores and other pathogens.
By the way: tomatoes can be planted with basil. Both plants not only go very well together in terms of taste, they also have similar requirements. And basil seasons the tomato salad deliciously.
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