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Why cucumbers and tomatoes grow poorly in a greenhouse: you should know about this
16.03.2023 05:50
Updated: 14.04.2023 16:41
Most often, cucumbers and tomatoes are grown in greenhouses. But what to do if they grow poorly? To succeed and get a good harvest, you need to follow certain rules.
Rule number one: use light correctly
When placing the greenhouse itself and planning the beds, do not forget that greenhouse plants need a lot of sunlight to grow.
Make sure in advance that all plants will receive good sunlight after planting.
Consider not only the cardinal directions, but also the shadows from buildings and trees.
However, it is worth remembering that heat-loving crops still do not tolerate excessive heating. And in a greenhouse, the air temperature can rise very high.
At temperatures above 30 degrees, the pollen of tomatoes becomes sterile and the fruits do not set, and cucumbers shed their ovaries. During particularly hot periods, it is recommended to shade the greenhouse with special nets.
Rule number two: pay attention to the soil
The best soil for a greenhouse is medium-heavy loamy soil, which binds nutrients and retains an optimal amount of water. A substrate with a large amount of humus is also suitable
In 2-3 years the soil becomes depleted and needs to be changed. In extreme cases, this can be done once every 5 years, but then you will have to leave the greenhouse to rest for at least one year, sowing green manure. If you change the soil rarely, you need to pay a lot of attention to filling the beds with nutrients.
This is especially important for cucumbers.
For example, horse manure, which decomposes quickly, is excellent, as well as semi-rotted manure or compost (for cucumbers), well-rotted manure or compost (for tomatoes). It is also necessary to regularly fertilize the planted plants throughout the season. Better in smaller quantities and more often, since the plants may not cope with a large dose of fertilizer.
Rule number three: provide plants with carbon dioxide
For normal development, garden crops need carbon dioxide, which is in the air, released during fermentation and processing of organic matter by bacteria. But in a greenhouse, cucumbers and tomatoes quickly absorb carbon dioxide. Its deficiency affects the development of plants.
They grow more slowly and bear fruit worse. The problem can be eliminated by frequent ventilation, using mulch, which releases carbon dioxide when it rots. Some gardeners put barrels in the greenhouse for this purpose, where green grass ferments for fertilizer, or simply dilute old jam in water.
Knowing these three rules, you will be able to grow cucumbers and tomatoes in a greenhouse, getting a large harvest.
