Every season, thousands of gardeners diligently care for tomatoes: water, tie up, and remove side shoots.
But when the time comes to harvest, instead of juicy giants, small, albeit numerous, fruits hang on the bushes.
What's the secret? It turns out it's all about one common mistake involving water.
Most people are sure that the more often you water tomatoes, the better they grow. But this is a misconception.
Tomatoes are drought-resistant plants. Their roots go deep into the ground to extract moisture from the lower layers of the soil.
If you water the bushes superficially every day, the roots remain weak, and excess moisture provokes fungal diseases and cracking of the fruits.
The right approach is rare but abundant watering. Moisten the soil once every 5-7 days, pouring at least 5 liters of water under each bush. This stimulates the growth of the root system in depth, which makes the plant stronger and more resistant to temperature changes.
Another subtlety is the time of watering. Never do it during the day under the scorching sun. Drops of water on the leaves work like lenses, causing burns.
It is better to water early in the morning or after sunset, directing the stream directly under the roots.
But that's not all. Mulching is your faithful ally in growing large tomatoes. A layer of straw, mown grass or compost 5-7 cm thick retains moisture in the soil, suppresses weeds and protects the roots from overheating.
Bonus: mulch gradually decomposes, turning into additional fertilizer.
And the last piece of advice: do not overuse nitrogen fertilizers. They stimulate the growth of green mass to the detriment of fruits.
During flowering and fruit setting, switch to potassium-phosphorus fertilizers - they are responsible for the size and sugar content of tomatoes.
Author: Igor Zur