To get a good harvest, you must adhere to clear rules in the process of growing various crops, tomatoes are no exception. At the stage of the appearance of the fruits, plants need more careful care, since they are susceptible to many negative factors. Mandatory activities for cultivating tomatoes in greenhouse conditions include tying, which, first of all, will protect the branches from breaking off under the weight of their own weight and keep the fruits intact. In this article, we will consider the basic rules for growing tomatoes in a greenhouse, the advantages of the procedure, various methods of tying, as well as useful tips.

Basic rules for growing tomatoes in a greenhouse

The process of tying involves fixing the branches and stems of the plant to a special base with certain materials, but not all varieties of tomatoes need auxiliary fastening. It is not required only for undersized tomatoes, which have small compact bushes and the growth and development of which is not affected in any way by the excessive proximity of the soil.Climatic conditions are also an important factor - in hot regions, tying up is impractical, since the fruits from contact with the ground extract much more nutrient components. As for tall varieties of tomatoes, they need a garter, and this procedure is carried out according to the height of the plants several times. Other rules for growing tomatoes include the following:

1. The first step is to prepare the soil on which seeds will subsequently grow. Activities for soil treatment include: disinfection, digging, mulching, fertilizing and breaking up beds.
2. The most suitable time for planting seeds for seedlings is the period from late January to early April.
3. For sowing seeds, it is best to use small boxes whose height does not exceed 10 cm.
4. A pick is made immediately after the appearance of a pair of real leaves.
5. Planting seeds in open ground provides for its preliminary disinfection and a certain time in the afternoon, preferably in cloudy weather.
6. The density of the rows directly depends on the variety of tomatoes.
7. Further care for the bushes, in addition to tying, also includes regular watering, pinching and feeding.

Important! To protect the fruits from infection, after each harvest, the garter material must be thoroughly disinfected and only then used for the next generation of tomatoes.

Benefits of Proper Garter

Tying tomatoes in polycarbonate greenhouses is one of the important factors for a good harvest for several reasons:

• pros
• since tomatoes are vegetables that do not tolerate moisture on leaves or stems, tying will simplify watering and avoid rotting fruits;
• in limbo, tomatoes reduce the risk of contracting disease;
• in the upright position of the bush, it is much more convenient to collect fruits from it;
• a garter to the support will help to quickly get a crop - the plant is saturated with heat and oxygen in a short period;
• fastening will protect seedlings from various damages;
• tying greatly facilitates further care.

Accessories for tying tomatoes in a greenhouse

An important role is played by the garter with which tomatoes are fixed. Tieing bushes in no case is carried out by rigid and dense materials, since they are capable of injuring plants. These include wire, fishing line, thread and fine twine.If you do not want to allow various mechanical breakdowns of plants and other troubles, it is better to avoid the above-mentioned supporting tools. The most important condition of the material, which will be used in the future for garter, is that it does not pull the stem, but only gently holds the bush.

The ideal garter material for tomatoes can be:

• medium-sized flaps of tissue;
• pieces of cut nylon pantyhose;
• socks;
• loose straps;
• massive ropes;
• plastic clips (a special device that is used repeatedly) - most experienced gardeners give preference to just such plastic mounts for their convenience and multitasking;
• the garter (a special mechanical tool designed for gartering plants) - the principle of its action is very similar to the well-known stapler: the device creates a strong fixation to the stem of the plant, tying it and support the tape, is also popular among vegetable growers for saving time and effort.

Did you know? Unripe tomatoes contain a poisonous substance — solanine, therefore, if the discovery of this vegetable occurred today, it would be recognized as dangerous and forbidden for use in the European Union.

Tying methods

The question of the tomato fastening scheme should be addressed in advance - even before planting seedlings in the greenhouse. Subsequently, this will greatly facilitate the care of the fruits and protect the plants from numerous injuries.

There are a lot of options for tying tomatoes, so everyone can easily choose the most suitable and convenient for themselves. However, it should be remembered that the fastening should correspond to the variety of tomatoes, the height of the bush, productivity and many other subtleties.

The most accessible and well-known methods include fastening tomatoes to an individual support, to a wire frame, linear and trellis methods, as well as tying on a grid. The most popular method among gardeners is linear, since for its implementation it is possible to do without stakes and twines. Consider each of the above methods of tying in more detail.

To individual support

This method is perfect for narrow-film and mobile greenhouses, so it is in great demand among gardeners. Various devices can act as a support - wooden stakes, tight rods or steel or plastic pipes. The selected mount is installed near each bush, in height it must match the height of the plant itself.Then the stalk must be wrapped in a thick piece of fabric and fixed on a support. This method of tying is relevant for tomatoes with small and medium-sized bushes, but it is not recommended to use it for tall varieties, since tall plants easily fall along with a fixed support.

On wire frame

Most often, for tall varieties of tomatoes in a greenhouse, a garter on a wire frame is used, which is suitable for plants with a huge number of heavy and large fruits. To implement this method, it is necessary to prepare a steel mesh with large cells, which is subsequently wrapped around the stem and slightly buried in the ground.To this kind of support it is also convenient to fix the branches with already formed tomatoes. The advantage of this design is mobility, that is, if necessary, it can easily be disassembled and moved. The method has only one drawback - it is a long and difficult harvest.

Linear

The most economical way to garter, because it does not involve the use of stakes and allows you to cultivate a considerable number of tomato bushes. The device is installed immediately after the construction of the greenhouse.

A step-by-step instruction for using this method looks like this:

1. First of all, it is necessary to fix at the two ends of the bed 2 thick steel pipes with a width of at least 7 cm so that they can withstand the plant under a heavy load of tomatoes.
2. Then on these pipes is installed a rope stretched across the entire greenhouse.
3. The plants themselves are attached to this rope at an equal distance from each other.
4. The final step is to fix one of the ends of the rope of the plant stem.

Video: tying tomatoes linearly

Among other advantages, there is also the absence of the need to tie the bush again, since it will be independently interwoven with a rope. However, this method also has a significant drawback - it is completely unsuitable for excessively large bushes with massive bunches.

Trellis

Another similar method of tying tomatoes is trellis. Despite the complexity of the execution technique, it is believed that this is the most break-even method of garter for high-yielding and tall plants. To begin with, it is necessary to install two steel pipes at the edges of the greenhouse, digging them deep into the ground, and then pull twine (or wire) between them with a 30 cm cycle, which ultimately creates a reliable mesh. A support is subsequently attached to this grid, to which tomatoes can be tied. Most often, plastic clips act as a support, but you can also pass the stems through the wire, creating an equally strong fixation.

Important! Particularly heavy clusters need to be tied separately so that they are not damaged under the weight of large fruits. In no case should the vertical garter be tight. While the trellis will move (which is inevitable), a tight wire will simply rip the plant from the root.

There are several options for fixing tomatoes to a trellis:

1. In the case of a large number of rows of twine, it would be advisable to fix the stems with any garter (pieces of fabric are ideal) to a horizontally stretched trellis. As they grow, plants will entangle this construct, becoming more resistant.
2. A good option would also be to fix the stems on the trellis, pulling them in parallel, that is, to direct the plants on both sides of the wire, creating a kind of weave.
3. If the twine is pulled too high - right under the ceiling, a different algorithm of actions is needed. First of all, you need to choose a supporting material so that it meets all the requirements of a tomato garter: it is quite durable and waterproof, able to withstand the load of tall plants throughout their growing season. In length, it should correspond to the height indicator from the ground to the twine, and ideally be 30–40 cm higher. The harvested material is tied at the very bottom of the plant, preferably under the bottom sheet, on the basis of considerations that, developing, the stem will be compacted. After this, the plant is entangled in garter material, curling it up. With the end of the string, they form a transverse twine, wound it by the wire, and fix it with a knot (such options as a tie, a simple knot or a bow will be most suitable).

This method is distinguished by its convenience for spreading bushes with a high fruiting rate. To use it, you can leave not one stalk, but several stepsons at once, which will increase the yield. However, it should be remembered that the structure must be fixed very firmly so that it does not collapse with the plants and, accordingly, does not spoil the tomatoes.

To the grid

This method of garter involves replacing the rope trellis with a conventional coarse mesh, to which both branches and stems of tomatoes are fixed. The most successful option for these purposes is precisely a plastic mesh, but, if desired, a metal one is also suitable.The mesh should be stretched along the entire length of the row and the plants should be tied up during the entire period of their growth, fixing in certain places. The advantage of the method is that the structure can be easily dismantled by untying the plants and fastened at a more favorable and suitable level.

Features of a tomato garter in a greenhouse

The process of tying up tomatoes, like other plant care measures, has its own nuances that you need to know about and be sure to adhere to get the maximum benefit from the final result. It should be remembered that the method of growing different varieties includes its own characteristics. Let's consider them in more detail.

High

For tying tall bushes, it is ideal to use vertical trellises, as they will serve as a good support for tomatoes with cut side shoots.

Of the other characteristic features of the garter of tall plants, the following can be distinguished:

1. It is necessary to water the tied tall tomatoes exclusively under the root, trying to prevent water from getting on the stems and leaves of the bush. Since this vegetable crop needs abundant watering, about one liter of water is required per bush, however, in cloudy weather it is enough to do with two watering procedures per week.
2. After the growth of seedlings reaches 2.5 m, regular tying procedures must be interrupted.
3. It is strictly forbidden to pull the knots and pull the stems under the very support.
4. In some cases, for greater effect, fixing the plants is necessary in several places.

Medium height

As for tomatoes of medium height, they are more moody and require increased attention, time and energy of the gardener.

Varieties of such tomatoes grow mainly up to 1–1.5 m, on the basis of this, it is necessary to take into account some features of their cultivation:

• the optimal garter pattern for tomatoes of medium height - horizontally stretched twines that control the lateral shoots of the plant;
• after the garter, it is immediately necessary to carry out the herding procedure, removing the extra shoots necessarily only until the first brush;
• organic materials are best suited for tying shrubs of medium height, not synthetics or plastic;
• medium-sized tomatoes do not need to tie branches; they only need to tie the stem;
• It is recommended to dress the average height of the bush to a higher level.

Did you know? In South America, you can find the fruits of wild tomatoes, whose weight does not exceed one gram.

Useful Tips

For a more accurate and thorough tying of tomato bushes, you can follow simple rules that will help avoid unnecessary injuries and deformations of the plant:

1. It is not recommended to fix the stalk with the help of the G8 node, since this risks you pulling it too much.
2. The method of tying to an individual support is more suitable for bushes of medium height, and trellis is best suited for tall varieties.
3. To avoid rotting fruits, do not allow them to touch the ground.
4. Garter should be carried out only when you notice that the plant is slightly squinting and tilting to the ground. Avoid excessive distortion of the stem.
5. Many gardeners combine different tying methods. For example, near the root of a plant, you can hammer a peg and fix the main part of the stem on it, and tie the upper part to the trellis.
6. Do not be too lazy to make a heavy and complex structure for support, because the stronger it is, the easier and more reliable the growth process will go.

The importance of the tying procedure is difficult to question - it is one hundred percent protection of fruits and plants from damage and a guarantee of a high-quality and high yield. The most important thing is to pre-select the most suitable method of garter and timely change the fixation as the plant grows.