Tomato root system: structural features and functions

Aerial roots in tomatoes - depth and location of roots

Tomatoes or tomatoes are one of the most popular agricultural crops. The plant has unique characteristics that should be taken into account when growing to increase yield. Tomatoes have a pronounced root system, which can be controlled by changing the direction of growth and shape. For this purpose, agricultural techniques have been developed to increase the total root area and a grafting method that can be used to achieve the development of a two-rooted bush. In this article we will tell you why a tomato is a vegetable and a berry at the same time, and how you can control the structural features of this plant.

Aerial roots.

Many tropical epiphytic plants have aerial roots. For example, such roots are found in plants of the orchid, arum and bromeliad families. These plants have what is called aerenchyma. This is a special loose air tissue made of thin-walled parenchyma cells, from which bridges are formed between large air cavities. Thanks to aerenchyma, these plants are able to absorb atmospheric moisture.

Aerial roots

In the tropics, on marshy soils, trees often form respiratory roots or pneumatophores

These breathing roots rise upward (note - this is negative geotropism!) above the surface of the waterlogged soil to supply air to the plant's underground organs through a system of holes

Breathing roots

Characteristics of the tomato root: what is the depth, branching of the roots

Tomato or tomato is an annual or perennial plant of the Solanaceae family. Both names of the plant are equivalent, although they have completely different etiologies. The word tomato is derived from the Italian “pomo d'oro”, which means “golden apple”. Tomato is an Aztec name for the plant, but it can also be found in old French dictionaries.

The tomato has a strong tap-type root system with numerous branches. They go to a depth of 1 meter and can spread up to 2.5 m in diameter. In comfortable conditions, roots can form on any vegetative parts of the plant, so this crop can be planted not only with seeds, but also with cuttings, as well as with the help of lateral shoots ( stepchildren). If you put a fresh tomato stem in water, it will form new roots within 2-3 days. You can read more about pinching tomatoes in this article.

The stem is usually erect or lodging depending on the tomato variety. It grows in height from 30 cm to 2 m. The leaves have a plate characteristic of all nightshade crops. It is large, cut into symmetrical lobes (potato-type). They quickly form small yellow flowers, which are collected in a distinct raceme.

What are the types based on the structure of the stem?

Most tomato varieties are facultative self-pollinators, with female and male organs on the same plant. There are three varieties of tomatoes depending on the characteristics of the stem:

1. Non-standard (ordinary) - stems fall during the period of fruit formation.
2. Standard - have a thick and short stem with a characteristic corrugated surface.
3. Potato - have a specific leaf blade shape, similar to potato.

Also divided by growth strength:

1. Tall or indeterminate - grow while there is room to grow. You can read about tall varieties and their representatives in this material.
2. Bushy or low-growing : determinate, super-determinate and semi-determinate.

The fruiting period is long, up to several months. The tomato produces juicy multi-locular berries of various shapes and colors depending on the variety. The weight of one fruit can reach from 50 to 800 g. Among the representatives, special attention is paid to beef tomato varieties.

There is also a separate type of tomato - the tomato tree, which you can read about at this link.

From a botanical point of view, tomato fruits are berries, despite the fact that in many countries around the world they are considered vegetables. The US Supreme Court put an end to the dispute by recognizing tomatoes as a vegetable crop, since they are more often served for lunch than as a dessert.

Tomato stems

They are herbaceous and become woody with age.

Most plants have an ordinary lodging stem. Such tomatoes are best cultivated using supports. Amateur vegetable growers also grow varieties with standard stems (Volgogradsky 5/95, Alpatieva 905-a, etc.).

The stem of these plants quickly becomes woody and lies down only in some cases during the formation of fruits. When growing varieties with standard stems, there is no need to install supports.

Different varieties of tomatoes have stems that branch differently. In some, the main stem quickly finishes growing, forming a flower cluster at the top. On plants of the earliest ripening varieties there are only two racemes on the main stem. Such varieties with limited growth are called determinate. Side shoots (stepchildren) also very quickly stop growing by forming a flower cluster at the top.

Therefore, plants of determinate varieties are small in size: from dwarf to stunted.

Amateur vegetable growers also grow tomatoes with unlimited growth.

Such varieties are called indeterminate. The length of the stems of many indeterminate varieties, even in the open ground of the middle zone, reaches 2-3 m or more. The tallest varieties (De Barao, Miracle of the World, etc.) are called liana-like. Plants of indeterminate varieties form lateral shoots in large numbers.

Indeterminate varieties are mainly used for winter greenhouses, where they form stems up to 10-12 m high over the course of a year. In greenhouses, tomatoes are formed, as a rule, into one stem.

In open ground, depending on the heat supply, they are grown in one, two, or three stems; in the southern regions, indeterminate tomato varieties are often grown without pinching, since during a long growing season all the fruits have time to ripen.

Formation from seed

Tomato seeds are small and gray-yellow in color. They remain viable for up to 8 years. Physiologically they become mature while still in fruit. Under favorable temperature conditions and the presence of light, they can germinate in 3-4 days. The first true leaf is formed a week after germination, and after 5-6 days several more leaf blades develop. On average, it takes up to 5 days to develop one leaf. After reaching several weeks, side shoots or stepsons begin to grow. The growth period from planting to fruiting takes up to 70 days, depending on the early maturity of the variety.

Description

Tomato plants send out a single white taproot immediately after germination. If left alone, this taproot will continue to grow and also send out several lateral roots. If it is given plenty of sunlight, water and fertilizer, it can grow an inch per day during the first 20 days of growth.

How to preserve a bouquet of cut lilies at home longer

Over the next few months, the taproot will continue to grow downward, reaching a depth of 2.5 to 5 feet. Some of the lateral roots will grow as much as 3 feet horizontally before turning around and growing downward. At this point, they may resemble a taproot in thickness. Smaller lateral roots will grow from all these roots in all directions. Healthy plants have white roots.

Root system: types of roots

The root system of a plant is the totality of all roots, their processes and additional elements. They are needed for nutrition, transfer of water and useful elements, as well as for anchoring the plant in the ground. There are two types of root systems:

1. Fibrous - there is no main root, but the lateral and accessory roots are well developed. Outwardly similar to a bun.
2. Taproot - there is a central root, from which a small number of lateral and adnexal processes can extend.

All varieties of tomatoes have only a stem system, which is a feature of this plant. It can go into the ground to a depth of more than a meter. With the seedling method, the roots usually develop in the upper layers of the soil; when planted by seed in open ground, only the main root grows rapidly in length. How to grow tomato seedlings at home is described here.

Root rot

If the stem becomes thinner, begins to dry out and disintegrate into fibers, the cause of the changes may be damage to the roots. The neck of the plant rots first: dark or brown spots appear on it. The changes can be irreversible and the plant dies.

Damage by phytopathogens occurs when:

• water is poorly absorbed into the soil and stagnates in the upper layers;
• the soil contains excess salts;
• at low temperatures.

There are hybrids that are able to resist fungal infections. These are F1 varieties.

• advance: early ripening, with fruit length up to 13 cm, thickness up to 4 cm;
• high-yielding gherkins Benefis;
• early-ripening short-fruited Valdai, Yarmarochny;
• early-ripening medium-fruited Maisky, Orlik;
• vigorous, short-fruited Gypsy.

Such cucumbers can be grown in open ground, film shelters, and greenhouses in risky farming areas. They form a stable root system that tolerates low temperatures.

Formation of the system

Impact on the root system of tomatoes is often used to accelerate the growth and development of the plant. If the tap root of a tomato is damaged, it stops growing vertically, but forms a large number of adventitious shoots. They are located in the fertile soil layer, due to which they quickly absorb water and nutrients from the soil. Special attention should be paid to soil preparation, especially if tomatoes are grown in greenhouses made of polycarbonate or other materials.

To speed up the development of the root system, there are two ways:

• pinching the main tap root at the time of picking seedlings to a permanent place. During this, it is important to treat the plant, as there is a risk of infection. To do this, use a weak solution of potassium permanganate;
• the stem can form roots at any stage of life. Therefore, during its active growth, you can sprinkle the lower part of the plant with fertile soil, thereby increasing the area of ​​the root system.

Hilling up tomatoes is recommended only in moist soil, for example, after rain or watering. The first time, sprinkling is carried out when the length of the stem reaches 15 cm, and the second time - after 2 weeks. During this period, it is recommended to use additional fertilizing to speed up the development of new roots.

The role of the root in the life of a plant

It is generally accepted that the main function of the root is to absorb water and minerals from the soil solution, transfer them to the xylem vessels and supply them to the stem. But it's not that simple. It is known that the composition of the soil solution differs markedly from the composition of the sap, which is a liquid supplied by the root to the stem.

Phosphates are retained in the root, and nitrogenous mineral compounds are mostly converted into amino acids and amides and in this form enter the stem. Rubber, porphyrins, vitamins B1 and B6, nicotinic and ascorbic acids, as well as the hormones ethylene and cytokinins are synthesized in root cells. The latter stimulate flowering, awakening and growth of side shoots. (Plant Physiology, 2005).

The root releases organic and mineral substances into the substrate, which provide a nutrient medium for rhizosphere microorganisms. Without a root, the plant cannot function normally and dies, although it can absorb water and minerals through the surface of the leaves and stem sections.

Features of double-root tomatoes

Forming a double-rooted plant is a common method of grafting tomatoes. It is recommended to carry it out to increase the viability of the individual no earlier than the seedling has grown to 12-15 cm. The diameter is also important - the stem should not exceed the thickness of a pencil (up to 4 mm). Vaccination is carried out according to the following scheme:

1. A thin cut up to 3 cm long is made on the trunks of both plants.
2. They are connected at the cut site and secured with cloth or clothespin.
3. To avoid deformation, it is necessary to install a support.
4. After a week, you need to cut off the weaker plant 3-4 cm above the grafting site.

As a result of this procedure, a tomato bush with a two-root system is obtained. This is necessary when growing crops in unfavorable conditions and in infertile soils, as well as to increase yield. After grafting, two plants develop as a single organism, thereby increasing the area of ​​the root system.

It is recommended to use one variety of tomatoes for the rootstock and scion. Otherwise, there is a risk of plant rejection due to genetic incompatibility.

Contraindications for eating tomatoes

In addition to useful substances, tomatoes contain organic acids, which can aggravate chronic diseases.
Therefore, this is the main contraindication for their use. So, for example, oxalic acid negatively affects water-salt metabolism, which causes kidney dysfunction. It activates the digestive system, resulting in increased bile production. In the presence of cholelithiasis, this effect provokes a deterioration in health.

You cannot eat tomatoes if you have:

• disorders of the musculoskeletal system (acids cause severe pain in the joints);
• problems with the gastrointestinal tract;
• hypertension (limit the consumption of salted and pickled fruits);
• pancreatitis.

Heavy smokers should not get carried away with eating fresh fruits, as tomatoes increase nicotine addiction. Of course, it is preferable to give up cigarettes in favor of tomatoes, but everyone must make this choice on their own.

Allergy sufferers should also exclude tomato products from their diet. Tomato is a strong allergen; in addition, purchased fruits can accumulate toxic substances that are included in various plant treatment preparations.

Eating a vegetable of unknown origin to vulnerable people is like playing Russian roulette. You should not conduct such experiments with your health.

Tomatoes should not be eaten if you have allergies or diseases that may worsen after eating red fruits.

general characteristics

Tomatoes belong to the Solanaceae family. Initially, the name tomato was used, which was used by the Aztecs when growing the crop. But another name, Italian, also took root in Europe. In Russia, two names for a vegetable are used at the same time; in the literature and speech of ordinary people, the terms “tomatoes” and “tomatoes” are equivalent.

For reference! Translated from Italian, tomato means “golden apple.”

Tomatoes are grown as a crop all over the world, and industrial cultivation methods are used. This vegetable is undoubtedly one of the most popular. And there are a huge number of ways to use ripened, and even unripe, fruits. Tomatoes are eaten raw, baked and fried, dried, frozen or squeezed. Salads, snacks, pickles and marinades are prepared from tomatoes. Vegetables are added to soups, canned food, and hot dishes.

Tomato flowers

They are bisexual, that is, each flower contains both female (pistil) and male (stamen) organs.

This promotes self-pollination of flowers. In wild and semi-cultivated forms, the flowers are five-membered, consisting of five sepals, five petals, and five stamens. Such flowers usually produce small fruits.

Large-fruited varieties (various giants) are characterized by more complex flowers - polynomial. In many varieties, the first flower in the raceme is fasciated - fused from two to three flowers.

It produces a large but ugly fruit. Such flowers are removed.

The flowers are collected in brushes (curl). In most cultivated varieties, the racemes are simple (non-branching) or intermediate - once branched. Amateur vegetable growers also have varieties with a complex raceme - up to 100 flowers (Wonder of the World, Kronprinz, etc.).

In this case, 30-40 small fruits are formed in each cluster.

The anthers of the stamens contain pollen. Once on the stigma of the pistil, it germinates in the style and fuses with the eggs in the embryo sac.

As a result, zygotes are formed, which then turn into seeds. This is fertilization. Tomatoes, as a result of self-pollination, produce pure-quality seeds. Cross-pollination occurs in exceptional cases, for example in the south (where an open type of flowering is observed in high temperatures) or in greenhouses, where tomatoes of different varieties grow nearby and their stems are located on top of each other. In this case, pollen of one variety, falling out of flowers, falls on flowers of another variety located below.

Some varieties (Severyanin and others) form the first fruits without fertilization. They are seedless and fleshy. At the end of the season, normal fruits with seeds are formed on the plants, which are used for propagation. Tomato pollen is heavy, so it is carried by the wind over a distance of no more than 0.5 m.

Insects, with rare exceptions, do not visit tomato flowers.

Features of growth of tomato varieties

Tomatoes come in a wide variety of varieties and varieties. They often differ in developmental features.

Tall varieties

These varieties grow as long as there is room. If they are not limited in development, they can easily grow up to three meters in height. They gain green and fruit mass throughout the season. If you follow the rules of care from the bush, you can collect up to 10 kg of fruit. Due to disease resistance, these varieties are able to bear fruit for a long time.

Caring for this variety differs from other species. Seeds are sown 10 days earlier than conventional types. It is better to sow in cassettes. Seedlings should have about 10 leaves and a flower cluster formed before being planted in the beds.

Important! If all planting rules are followed, the length of the internodes should be from 5 to 7 cm.

Low growing varieties

Low-growing ones bear fruit early. The bush has a small height. These varieties are popular due to their ease of care. They do not need to be tied up. Such tomatoes are grown both in greenhouses and in beds. This type includes, for example, many cherry tomatoes.

Seeds for seedlings are planted at the end of March. They require soil preparation: humus is mixed with river sand and soil. The soil should be moist. Seeds are planted 10 mm apart. After sowing, the seeds are sprinkled with a small layer of soil. To create a greenhouse effect, cover the top with polyethylene.

What should be the depth of planting tomatoes?

Tomato is one of the most common types of vegetables. In order for the harvest to be good, you need to follow the rules of growing it. This is the preparation of seeds, soil, and containers for growing seedlings. The depth of sowing of tomato seeds is also of particular importance. How well the seedlings sprout depends on this.

Tomato planting depth

At what depth to sow seeds?

Before you start sowing tomatoes, you need to prepare a special container. Cups, cassettes or shallow boxes are suitable for this. Pour moist soil into the container and make furrows about 1 cm deep, the distance between them should be about 3 cm. If the seeds are not planted very close, then the sprouts in the future do not need to be pricked.

There is another landing option. You can place tomato seeds on pre-prepared soil and then sprinkle with a 1 cm layer of soil.

Landing Features

The depth of seed placement also depends on the plant variety. Tall varieties are planted 1.5 cm deep to help them take root better. Low-growing species can be sown to a depth of up to 8 mm. This will improve seed germination. The type of soil must also be taken into account. If it is heavy, the seeds will sprout later, and if it is fluffy, the sprouts will emerge in 2-4 days.

If you sow tomato seeds shallow, they may become bare during watering. In such a situation there are 2 options:

• add 1-1.5 cm of soil;
• Instead of watering, spray the seedlings with a spray bottle.

After sowing the seeds, it is necessary to constantly keep the soil moist. As the bushes grow, the amount of water is reduced.

Tatyana Orlova (candidate of agricultural sciences):

The soil in the seed boxes should be slightly compacted before sowing. This is done to ensure that the seeds fall to the same depth, otherwise the germination rate (germination energy) will be low. Some seeds will sprout earlier, others a little later, and the degree of development of the seedlings and their readiness for picking will vary.

Consequences of improper sowing of tomato seeds

If the seeds are sown too deep, there is a chance that they will not be able to germinate and will rot. The sprouts that emerge will be weak, and their first cotyledon leaves will be damaged. This affects the quality of photosynthesis of the young plant.

At what depth to plant tomato seedlings?

Planting depth is important for plant development

In order for the plants to take root, you need to know at what depth to plant tomatoes. It is necessary to plant seedlings in a hole 7-8 cm deeper than the depth in which it grew before. The bottom two leaves need to be torn off and the roots placed in the hole, the stem covered with soil about 8 cm.

There is no need to be afraid that the plant is planted too deep, since when watering the soil will settle a little, and a small depression will form around the plant, which will hold water.

Tatyana Orlova (candidate of agricultural sciences):

Tomato is one of the plants that easily forms additional roots on the stem when in contact with moist soil. This feature can be taken into account when planting seedlings. Deep planting (up to the cotyledon leaves) promotes the growth of additional roots. This property is absent in pepper and eggplant. There is no need to deepen them when planting.

Planting depth of overgrown seedlings

If the seedlings are overgrown, then they need to be planted a little deeper. To do this, the holes are made 7–10 cm deeper. Such a plant will take longer and worse to take root in a new place. It is for this reason that it is not recommended to plant tomatoes later than 55 days after germination.

If the seedlings experienced a lack of sunlight during their growing season, then their stems become very elongated. Internodes become longer and thinner. Such seedlings cannot be buried. They are buried at the usual depth, but the stems are placed sideways in the hole. Subsequently, the tomato can grow additional roots in this place.

Dependence of planting depth on soil

Affects planting depth and soil quality:

1. If the area where the tomato bed will be located consists of rocky soils, then the plants need to be planted a little deeper. Such soil is well drained and allows moisture to pass to the deeper layers of the soil cover.
2. Loams are denser and do not allow water to pass through easily. If the hole is too deep, the plant will not receive enough moisture and will soon die.
3. Light sandy soils are highly susceptible to erosion by precipitation and blowing of the top layer by winds. This feature of the soil causes deeper planting of seedlings. Otherwise, the root system may be exposed.

Types of root system

If tomatoes grow in comfortable conditions, roots appear in any vegetative part. This allows them to be propagated by cuttings, seeds and side shoots. The taller and stronger the variety, the longer its roots will be. A tomato bush has two types of root system.

Tap root system

If the type of root system of a tomato is taproot, this means that small shoots extend from the main trunk. The depth of the roots depends on the type of soil. Before and after planting, it is important to loosen the soil.

In order for this type of root system to grow well, the appendages need to be stimulated. To do this, seedlings are planted at an angle. This will allow new root appendages to grow from the trunk.

Fibrous root system

The fibrous root system has numerous roots, among which the main root does not stand out. With this structure, the underground part can grow deep into the soil up to 0.5 meters. First, the root system grows in width. If nothing interferes, and there is enough nutrition, then the roots branch greatly and are capable of enveloping very large areas.

If the tomato has a fibrous type of root system, then it needs to be watered less abundantly, but more often. For such varieties, mulching becomes important, which prevents overheating of the roots near the soil surface. It’s a good idea to hill up such tomatoes, which also helps preserve the roots.

Tomato leaves

In tomato plants they are alternate, cut into lobes, segments and lobules.

The surface of the leaves is pubescent, expressed differently in different varieties. Each variety of cultivated tomato is characterized by a special type (structure) of leaves. In ordinary tomatoes they are smooth or slightly corrugated, mostly green in color (rarely light green). The surface of the leaves of standard tomatoes is highly corrugated (sometimes wrinkled), usually dark green. Large-leaved tomatoes are characterized by leaves with large lobes (often with the absence of lobes and lobules).

Formation of tomatoes

There are several ways to shape tomatoes. The specific method depends on the type of tomato. If the tomato variety is tall, then the bush must be formed into one stem. There is no point in leaving the side branches, since flowers will appear on them when summer is over and the bush will have wasted its energy.

When forming, it is worth deciding on the number of fruit clusters. If tomatoes grow in a greenhouse, then seven trusses are left on them. One leaf is left above the upper inflorescence, and the top is cut off. The bush will stop growing and will spend all its energy on setting fruit.

If the bush grows in open ground, then five clusters are left, since the others will not have time to form ripe fruits. One leaf is left above the upper inflorescence and the top is cut off.

If the tomatoes are undersized, they can be shaped in the following ways:

1. In one stem: the stepsons are removed, the top is not cut off, the fruit clusters are left.
2. In three stems: leave the main stem and two lower stepsons. There should be one flower brush and one leaf left on the stepsons. This will help you get eight inflorescences.
3. The growth point is transferred to the side shoot. This option is suitable for bushes that grow in a greenhouse. One main stem and a lower stepson extending from it are left. Then, as it grows, another stepson is left on a side shoot. The top is trimmed, leaving one leaf.

Important! On the stepsons, the third cluster bears fruit of poor quality tomatoes. That's why you shouldn't leave it.

Tomato diseases

Tomatoes are subject to frequent diseases, as well as attacks by parasites. To maintain the health of your plants, it is necessary to observe crop rotation, add ash to the soil before planting tomatoes, enrich the soil in a timely manner, and also treat tomatoes with special means, both for medicinal and preventive purposes. The most common tomato diseases are:

Late blight is a fungal, very common disease that affects almost all varieties of tomatoes, with the exception of hybrids that have immunity to it. The main cause of the occurrence and development of this disease is dampness. For preventive purposes, in the fight against this disease, spraying plants with whey, as well as special broad-spectrum antifungal drugs, can be used.

Macrosporiosis or brown spot. Also a fairly common disease, it causes infection of the entire plant, starting with the lower leaves and gradually spreading. Tomato leaves begin to dry, flowering stops, and the fruits fall off. This disease can be combated with the help of antifungal drugs and compliance with the rules of crop rotation and cultivation of tomatoes.

Cladosporiosis, a fungal disease that affects plants at any stage of growth. Symptoms of the disease are the appearance of yellow-brown spots on the leaves, after which the leaf becomes covered with a continuous coating and gradually dries out, causing death as a whole. Prevention of this disease will involve spraying the bushes with preparations whose active component is copper. The disease is treated with antifungal drugs.

Blossom rot is the most dangerous for tomato fruits. This disease affects the fruits of the plant. Brown spots first appear on tomatoes, caused by the proliferation of fungal spores. The disease is contagious, spreads from bush to bush and can become a dangerous threat to the tomato crop.

Therefore, it is so important not to leave infected fruits on the site after harvesting, and also to promptly identify lesions and exclude infection by collecting infected fruits. Top rot indicates that the soil composition is unbalanced; excess nitrogen or lack of calcium can provoke this disease.

Treatment consists of examining the fruits for rot and removing them.

Tomatoes are very often infected with fungal diseases. Among them, gray rot, brown rot, black leg, root rot and others are often found. Antifungal drugs, crop rotation, good soil aeration, balanced soil indicators, as well as timely removal of infected parts of the plant will help in the fight against these diseases.

Topping

When pinching, remove the top of the stem with the growing point. The pinch stops the growth of the plant, so the bush directs all its energy to the formation of fruits.

The procedure is carried out during the active growing season, in the second half of July. Pinching allows you to improve the quality of the bush, reduce the ripening time of tomatoes, and extend the fruiting period.

All this has a positive effect on the fruit and significantly increases productivity. Pinching will speed up internal processes and speed up the ripening of tomatoes two weeks ahead of schedule.

Double root tomatoes

Tomatoes are a highly grafted crop, which is why experienced gardeners practice growing tomatoes on two or more roots. The point is that with the help of grafting, two plants are connected and develop as one organism. The area of ​​plant tissue increases and they both receive equal amounts of nutrition. This has a positive effect on productivity.

During picking, two plants are planted in one pot at a distance of about two centimeters from each other.

When the plant stems develop to a thickness of 4 millimeters, they are grafted onto each other. To do this, a strip of skin on the stem, no more than a centimeter long, is removed above the cotyledon leaf.

On these exposed sections, cuts are made obliquely and the stem is slightly split: on one shoot from the bottom up, and on the other - vice versa. The plants are inserted into each other and fixed in this position, that is, they are simply tied with fabric strips so that the cuts do not “suffocate”.

Splicing is also done by combining two stepsons from different plants of the same variety. But this method is a little more complicated.

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Stepsoning

The process of removing excess shoots is called pinching. When caring for tomatoes, this procedure is mandatory. It should be carried out regularly, and the stepson itself should be removed as early as possible so that there is less damage to the tomato bush.

You need to remove the side shoot when it reaches a length of 5-10 cm. To distinguish the stepsons from fruit racemes, you should be guided by the following signs:

1. The leaves are located on the tops of the stepsons.
2. From the moment of extension, there are already small bell-like buds on the brush.

Structure and functions

When a tomato seed germinates, the root appears first. This is the most important root, and it is always one.

It is formed from a root, which is usually called the embryonic root. From this embryonic root, the main one grows very quickly, vertically downwards, and already in the first week of development it sends out lateral roots.

Adventitious roots grow later; they come from the stem, and in some plants they form on the leaves. Lateral roots can also grow on appendages. Thus, the system branches.

The root is not the same along its entire length. At a short distance from the root tip there are root hairs that vaguely resemble fluff. Thanks to this fluff, the plant collects moisture along with the minerals dissolved in it. In science, this gap with hairs is called the suction zone. Each adventitious and lateral root has hairs at its tip.

There are no hairs higher up the root. With this part of it, it conducts water with useful substances higher into the stem. This area also has lateral roots, which is why it is called the zone of conduction and branches.

Tomato root system: types and characteristics

If the plant is in favorable conditions for development, roots can appear in any vegetative part, which makes it possible to propagate the crop not only with seeds, but also with cuttings and side shoots (stepchildren). The depth of the roots depends on the variety: the higher and stronger the variety, the longer and thicker its rhizome. The root system of tomatoes has a rod structure. Small lateral shoots extend from the central strong trunk.

Tomato root system

Important! The depth of the roots of tomatoes depends on the density of the soil, so before planting and periodically after it, the soil needs to be loosened.

For the growth of any plant, the development of its root system is important. In order for it to develop well, the appendages need to be stimulated. Tomato roots also need additional stimulation. To do this, seedlings, especially tall varieties, are planted at an angle so that the trunk grows new root appendages.

In order for the harvest to be good, you need to pay special attention to soil preparation. The length of the roots of tomatoes directly depends on the composition of the soil, which will naturally affect the yield.

To accelerate development you need:

• Pinch the main stem when picking seedlings to a permanent place. Treat the tomato with a weak solution of potassium permanganate to protect against infection.
• Sprinkle the stem with fertile soil when it is actively growing in the lower part to increase the area of ​​the root system.
• Spud up the bushes regularly.

When white tubercles appear on the stem slightly above the soil, this means that the period of root growth has arrived and the time has come for the first hilling (with moist soil). You will need to hill the plantings a second time when the stem turns blue. Correct and timely hilling helps to significantly increase the root system, thereby giving the plant the opportunity to produce more fruit.

Types of tomato root system

Another useful and effective technique is mulching the soil. Mulch prevents the soil from drying out completely and retains moisture, thereby nourishing the plant, and also protects the soil from overheating and saves the plant from drying out or rotting. In addition, microorganisms beneficial to soil and plants multiply well under it.

Important! It is imperative to protect the stem from late blight, pests, overheating or moisture. And only with comprehensive care will a tomato produce a good harvest.

Features and parameters of roots

Unlike other fruit crops, the root system of grapes is highly developed and large in size. It is characterized by branching, spreading, being buried in the ground and rapid adaptation to environmental conditions. For this reason, the grapevine is cultivated in all regions, but the development of root shoots is retarded by rocky, salty soils and high groundwater level.

Cultivation zone - depth indicator

Depending on the region of growth, the depth of the roots may vary:

• in cool climates, the shoots approach the ground surface, lying at 20-40 cm;
• in a warm climate zone (in the south), the roots are located at the level of the fertile layer - 60-120 cm;
• on sandstones, the underground part of the plant requires access to water, and it goes deeper by 150-370 cm;
• The rhizome of a plant grown on rocky soils reaches a depth of 300 to 1500 cm.

The system of thick roots and thin shoots is the most vulnerable part of the grape crop. It can rot or wither when there is an excess of moisture, a decrease in temperature, or oily soil.

Parameters of grape rhizome

Grape roots are characterized by uneven development. The underground part of a crop planted on slopes is directed towards a water source, so its length will be longer. In addition to access to moisture, soil aeration affects the length of shoots. Volume, i.e. The radius of the rhizome is determined by the size and age of the bush. The voluminous root part (6-10 m) indicates the health of the bush. To see the level of interweaving of the shoots, it is necessary to remove the fertile layer.

Degree of development and structure

The intensity of root development depends on the quality of the ground vine - drought resistance and frost resistance. When there is a lack of moisture, the roots penetrate into the deep layers of the earth, increasing in length. The plant spends resources on access to water, and therefore loses productivity. For good yield, the roots should lie 100-150 cm into the soil. The structure of root outgrowths is determined by the age of the vine:

• 3/4 of the underground part of annual bushes is occupied by overgrown roots;
• 1/2 of the fouling material falls on grapes under 10 years old;
• 1/5 shoots is an indicator of 20-year-old grapes.

The older the bush, the lower its activity - the underground shoots become thick and produce fewer useful substances.

Cherry tomatoes growing in a greenhouse

If you want to harvest cherry tomatoes earlier, you should grow cherry tomatoes in a greenhouse. Growing tomatoes in a greenhouse is not a complicated process, but it does require certain rules. So, cherry tomatoes are planted at a distance of at least 50 cm from each other, and at the same time, each plant should receive enough sunlight. The greenhouse must be regularly ventilated, because... Excessive air humidity can not only negatively affect the growth of tomatoes, but also lead to the development of dangerous diseases. As for watering, it is better to do it in the first half of the day, to do it regularly, without allowing the soil to dry out. Sudden changes in temperature should not be allowed. The optimal temperature for growing tomatoes is considered to be a daytime temperature of about +22 degrees and +16 at night. Also, do not forget about gartering tomatoes, loosening and mulching the soil. The soil is mulched with humus, straw or grass clippings. Harvesting tomatoes should be done only after all tomatoes are fully ripened. However, you should not be late with cleaning, because... Cherry tomatoes may simply fall off. Unripe fruits are cut off along with the trusses and placed in containers where the cherry tomatoes can ripen.

Cherry tomatoes on the balcony

Cherry tomatoes on the balcony are a great option if you don’t have a garden plot. If you are the owner of a glazed balcony or loggia, then you can start growing cherry tomatoes from the beginning of spring. Only balconies facing south are suitable for growing tomatoes. It is better to grow tomatoes in pots (or boxes) with holes for draining water. For better ventilation of plantings, it is better to place pots on stands. The optimal daytime temperature for growing tomatoes is about +25 degrees and night temperature is about +15. The air temperature is regulated by ventilating the balcony. Ventilation a couple of hours after watering is considered especially important. Cherry tomatoes at home should not suffer from a lack of sunlight. Tomatoes can only be covered in very hot weather. Cherry tomatoes at home are watered with warm water in the first half of the day; as the soil dries, watering should be plentiful. Cherry tomatoes on the balcony need loosening the soil and hilling. Also, the plant needs feeding. The plant is fed with both mineral and organic fertilizers (for example, mullein). Off-root feeding is an excellent solution when growing tomatoes on the balcony. Spraying the leaves with a nutrient solution will promote rapid growth and development of the plant. Cherry tomatoes on the balcony also need to be tied up. Cherry tomatoes also need stem formation. To prevent the plant from becoming thickened, it is necessary to remove the shoots formed in the axils of the leaves. Also, it is necessary to promptly remove yellowed, diseased leaves. Harvesting is carried out as the fruits ripen. By following simple rules for caring for tomatoes, you can easily grow this plant both in your garden and on your balcony.

Tatyana Kuzmenko, member of the editorial board of the online publication “AtmAgro. Agroindustrial Bulletin"

Growing seedlings

Seeds are planted in the soil in early April. In order for the seedlings to grow strong, the soil must be well fertilized; it is best to use a mixture of sawdust, humus and peat. The soil substrate is disinfected with an infusion of potassium permanganate heated to 70 degrees; seeds can be planted in it no earlier than 2 days later.

To develop a powerful root system, the depth of the containers for seedlings must be at least 15 cm. Furrows are made in moist soil, and seeds are planted in them to a depth of 3 cm.

Lighting and temperature requirements

In order for the seeds to germinate faster, they need to be provided with a temperature of at least 30 degrees by placing the containers next to the radiator and covering them with film or glass on top.

Seedlings should be placed in a well-lit place, ensuring daylight hours of at least 14 hours. The air temperature in the room should be +20...+24 degrees; at temperatures below 16 degrees, fruits will not set.

Picking

In the phase of appearance of 4-6 leaves, tomatoes require mandatory picking. This type of tomato does not develop well in close quarters, so all the bushes are planted in separate containers. To form a powerful root system, it is shortened by a third during picking. After transplanting, the seedlings are fed with sodium humate in the proportion of 1 g per 2 liters of water.

Caring for seedlings consists of watering, loosening and fertilizing once every 10 days.

Cherry tomatoes growing in open ground

Caring for and growing cherry tomatoes includes weeding, watering, fertilizing, protection from diseases and pests. Before planting in the ground, seedlings must have at least 8 leaves, about 30 cm high, and at least 60-65 days old.

The seedlings are planted to a depth of 10 cm, maintaining a distance between bushes of at least 50 cm. After planting, the hole is watered with water and covered with earth.

When planting tall varieties, a vertical support is required, to which the bush is tied as it grows. If the plant produces many additional shoots, pinching is carried out.

Feeding and watering

Plants need daily moderate watering; if the soil dries out, brown cracks may appear on the fruits. When over-watered, the fruits become too watery and may also crack.

Tomatoes need complex nutrition containing microelements such as phosphorus and potassium, as well as molybdenum, zinc, manganese, cobalt and selenium. It is very difficult to calculate microdoses of fertilizer yourself. therefore, it is better to purchase ready-made, balanced fertilizers, for example, Agricola, Effecton or Kemira.

Fertilizing is carried out weekly, along with watering, and during the period of ovary formation, fertilizing with ammonium nitrate with the addition of ash is added. If the bushes grow green mass, but the fruits do not ripen, nitrogen fertilizing is excluded. The presence of white spots in the ripened pulp is a signal of a lack of nutrition. In this case, fertilizing with potassium sulfate is necessary.

Soil preparation

To avoid overheating of the soil, it is mulched with straw or sawdust, and also covered with agrofibre. In addition, mulch prevents the fruits from coming into contact with the ground, providing protection against fungus and rot.

To protect against diseases, tomatoes are grown in buckets, dug into the ground, or simply placed in a greenhouse or garden bed.

Common diseases and pests

-Late blight. This disease is the most common and can kill most of the crop. When infected, brown spots appear on the fruits, and a whitish coating appears on the underside of the leaves. Any fungicide will help cope with the disease.

-Mosaic of tomatoes. The first signs of the disease are a change in the color of the leaves, the appearance of yellow and dark green spots on them. Then the leaves become wrinkled and curled, and the fruits turn yellow and dry out. Affected bushes should be removed and then burned.

-Brown spotting. Appears as brown spots on the underside of the leaf. To avoid disease, plant debris should be carefully removed.

-Medvedka. This pest lives in the soil and gnaws at the base of the stem of tomato bushes, which leads to their death. To destroy the pest, use the drug “Thunder”.

-Wireworm. It gnaws the roots of plants and can penetrate inside the stem, leading to the death of bushes. For preventive purposes, when digging the soil, pest larvae are collected and destroyed; acidic soils need liming.

Secrets of care

Watering

Kolkvitsia planting and care photo Propagation of Kolkvitsia by cuttings Photos of varieties Kolkvitsia planting and care in open ground Propagation by cuttings Photos of varieties

Cherry doesn't like the soil to dry out - the tomatoes immediately crack. Excess water causes wateriness, blandness and bursting of fruits, as well as diseases of the bushes. Irrigate the soil in the evening. Watering is combined with loosening, 5 liters of liquid per bush.

Feeding

During the growing season, Cherry tomatoes are fed three times:

1. 10 days after planting, feed with liquid mullein in a ratio of 1:10, add superphosphate (20 g) per 10 liters of liquid. A liter jar of the mixture is poured under the root.
2. The next feedings are carried out after 2 weeks. Under plantings per 1 m2 of area, 10 g of saltpeter, 25 g of superphosphate, 15 g of potassium salt are fertilized. The area is loosened and the soil is intensively watered.

Interesting. In addition, if necessary, foliar feeding of Cherry with complex fertilizers is carried out.

Formation of a tomato bush

For most plants, this is one of the conditions for generous fruiting. In the garden, tomatoes are grown in 1 stem, side shoots are periodically removed.

Harvest

Cherries are harvested at the stage of biological ripeness. When tomatoes are ripened at home, they lose their taste. Before the weather gets colder, it’s time to dig up a couple of crops with unripe tomatoes and plant them in containers and place them on the window to prolong fruiting at home.

Cherry harvest

Growing Cherry tomatoes in the garden

Diascia plant photos, types, growing from seeds, planting and care in open ground

Hello, friends!

Today, sweet and tasty cherry tomatoes can be grown in Russia with a rather harsh cold climate. Cherry tomatoes are one of the varieties of tomatoes whose name in translation from English, as you know, means “cherry”. Indeed, in appearance they resemble large cherries and do not exceed 25-30 grams in weight.

Cherry tomatoes were first grown in Israel. Today they are grown on an industrial scale and exported to many countries around the world, and of course, including Russia.

It’s not at all difficult to grow them in your garden plot or even on the balcony or window sill of your apartment. These tomatoes are cultivated using the seedling method. On average, tomatoes begin to ripen 90 days after the very first leaves appear in the soil. It is well known that the first ovaries begin to form at an ambient temperature of at least 16 degrees, therefore, in regions with low temperatures, these varieties are best grown in greenhouses or indoors.

After planting in the ground, this plant requires careful watering, loosening, and vitamin feeding.

Rules for growing cherry tomatoes

There are several well-known rules for successfully growing cherry tomatoes, developed by experienced gardeners:

1. Dry soil is the main enemy. Therefore, daily abundant watering is the main source of growth.

2. Maintain a sufficiently large distance when planting in open ground (about 1 meter).

3. Mandatory garter.

4. Harvesting should be done after the last tomato on the stalk has ripened.

Quite often, gardeners grow cherry tomatoes in metal buckets, since iron prevents the plant from becoming infected with late blight (iron, to the delight of gardeners, is very repressive of these pests).

It is necessary to clarify: the choice of variety of these small-fruited tomatoes depends on the place in which you will grow cherry tomatoes

, so you need to decide where this crop will grow.

— Beads;

— White currant;

— Black cherry;

— Yellow cherries, as well as everyone’s favorite red cherries;

Used for balconies

— Minibel;

— Cherry Kira;

— Cherry Lisa;

— Balcony miracle;

— Cherry Mio;

— Cascade Yellow, as well as the famous Cascade Red.

These tomatoes can be used primarily fresh, as well as canned, and even made into delicious jam. This product has great dietary value, which is why it is good to use in various diets. They are very helpful. They contain various minerals. They also contain a lot of antioxidants and vitamins.

And finally: all these tomatoes are distinguished by fairly high yields and, undoubtedly, excellent taste. See you later, friends!