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This is the mistake 99% of gardeners make: check your beds urgently
13.02.2025 09:40
Every year, millions of summer residents make a fatal mistake, turning their plots into an ecological disaster zone.
We are talking about planting tomatoes and cucumbers in one greenhouse.
Professor of the Department of Agronomy of the Moscow Agricultural Academy named after. Timiryazev Dmitry Solovyov sounds the alarm:
"It's like putting a desert dweller and a tropical dweller in the same room - they'll both die from stress."
Why is this killing the crop?
Cucumbers need 85-90% humidity, tomatoes - no more than 70%. When planting together:
- Tomatoes are affected by late blight due to condensation.
- Cucumbers drop their ovaries due to dry air.
A study by the magazine “Gardener and Vegetable Gardener” showed that crop yields fall by 55% with such a neighborhood.
Budget Saving Solution
Install a thick film curtain in the greenhouse, dividing the space into two zones.
Summer resident Andrey Kovalev from Rostov shared a life hack:
"I use old banners from advertising agencies - they are free and last for 3 seasons." Install additional ventilation for the tomato part, and close the cucumber part, preserving the "bathhouse" effect.
What to plant instead of cucumbers
Ideal neighbors for tomatoes:
- Basil (repels aphids).
- Asparagus (secretes substances against root rot).
Results of the experiment at the experimental station in Sochi: such a tandem increases the tomato yield by 20%.
A Surprising Fact About "Safe" Strains
Breeders have tried to develop hybrids that are resistant to being grown together.
But, as the Science TV channel found out, the gene of the modified cucumbers “Friendly F1” causes mutations in worms in the soil.
Ecologist Maria Petrova warns: “In 5 years the land will become barren.”
How to revive already damaged beds: if the error is detected late:
1. Spray the tomatoes with a solution of whey (1:10) with iodine (5 drops per bucket).
2. Treat the cucumbers with Epin and cover with damp gauze overnight.
Feedback from Svetlana from Kazan: “This saved 60% of the harvest, although the leaves partially turned yellow.”
Why don't they talk about this in stores?
Owners of greenhouse complexes deliberately hide the problem. Market expert Artem Voronov admits:
"Selling two greenhouses instead of one increases profits by 300%". Don't fall for the tricks!
The most dangerous month
July is a critical time. At temperatures above +30°C, cucumbers require daily watering, and tomatoes - rare but abundant. Create a schedule:
- In the morning: watering cucumbers + spraying.
- In the evening: watering tomatoes at the roots.
Use a drip irrigation system with a timer to reduce labor costs.
In the 18th century, English farmers planted cucumbers and melons together, which led to epidemics of powdery mildew.
Only those who read the works of scientist John Evelinde survived; he was the first to prove the harm of cross-contamination.
Adviсe
1. Measure the humidity in the greenhouse with a hygrometer (sold in any pet store).
2. If tomatoes and cucumbers are together, replant immediately or install a partition.
3. Add trichodermin to the soil to prevent fungus.
