Combination "tomato cucumbers"for the vast majority of people familiar and connected
with their frequent joint stay in fresh salads and winter preparations. It has become a kind of "vegetable classics."
The question of whether it is possible to grow cucumbers and tomatoes in one greenhouse is of concern to many. Is there any benefit from the close proximity of these crops in gardening? How to be if there is one greenhouse, and you want to get a crop of those and other vegetables?
Long road to popularity
In any living organism, be it a plant or an animal, nature has laid a certain genetic code defining its properties and requirements for the environment.
Carried out for many decades breeding work with seed material has allowed to change and improve the appearance and taste of vegetables.
But it is very rarely given the opportunity to change their requirements for the growing environment, although some plants can adapt to changing conditions in nature with the help of mutation processes.
Hot india with high humidity - cucumber homeland. In the wild, it still grows in those places.
Images of cucumber found on the frescoes of ancient Egypt and Greek temples. The vegetable known in so old times in other countries in Russia was first mentioned in printed sources in the 16th century.
The cucumber came to us presumably from East Asia, but in a most surprising way it came to taste and became a truly national product.
Grow abundant crops of cucumbers in most parts of the country - in greenhouses and on the ground. And then with love and diligence prepare cucumbers for eating all year round.
Wild tomatoes were first discovered in South america during the expedition of Christopher Columbus, and their seeds were brought to Europe because of the decorative bushes. At home, tomato thickets were found on dry and ventilated mountain slopes. The climate of those places was ideal for tomatoes - mild, moderate, with occasional heavy rains. Round-the-clock temperature ranged from 20 to 25 degrees Celsius.
Tomato seeds came to Russia under Catherine II, but only in the early 19th century they were grown in the southern regions of the country as edible culture and get good yields.
A photo
In the photo below you can see cucumbers and tomatoes in one polycarbonate greenhouse:
Capricious neighbors
If the garden is only one greenhouse, but I really want to get the harvest of those and other favorite vegetables, then the desire to experiment often wins. Desperate gardeners and gardeners boldly divide the greenhouse area into two adjacent zones and plant on one tomato, on the other - cucumber seedlings. And what is the compatibility of cucumbers and tomatoes in one greenhouse? Let's try to answer this question.
During the summer, both cultures in the polycarbonate greenhouse receive the same care and grow in one microclimate with the same conditions. With special diligence, the hosts do not remain without a crop, but it is not necessary to call it abundant.
The reason for this is all the same genetics, requiring different conditions for each type of vegetables close to those in which their distant wild relatives once grew.
For cucumbers optimal conditions for favorable growth will be a hot atmosphere, with high humidity, up to 90-100%.
Drafts are detrimental to this culture. Moreover, wet "bath" procedures greatly increase the yield of cucumbers. To do this, in warm weather, the bushes are well shed under the root and on top of the leaves, plentifully poured walkways and walls of the greenhouse.
Then the doors are tightly closed and maintain this mode for 1-1.5 hours, after which the greenhouse is opened for ventilation. The leaves of cucumbers are very large, such procedures allow them to safely cope with the evaporation of moisture, preventing drying.
Tomatoes feel better in a different microclimate. Like their relatives in the wild, they prefer low humidity, from 40 to 60%. Very fond of airing.
Watering enough tomatoes on average 2 times a week. In a too humid environment, the pollen in the flowers stick together, the fruits in the hands are not tied. The consequence of high humidity in the greenhouse is always the appearance of fungal and bacterial diseases of tomatoes.
The yield of vegetables decreases, the taste of fruits deteriorates, cracks appear on them.
With such different requirements, any compromise will indicate a situation when both sides lose, therefore it is worth trying to change the conditions by means of arranging separate zones in capital greenhouses.
We divide living space: growing cucumbers and tomatoes in one greenhouse
Split greenhouse in two parts can partitions from slate, polyethylene curtains, plywood. In the far "room" where the window is located, cucumbers are planted. Here they will be protected from drafts, it will be possible to provide them with high humidity.
On the square near the door of the greenhouse will be planting tomatoes. It is possible, keeping the door constantly open, to maintain a relatively low humidity and the desired temperature in the greenhouse.
Now you can treat tomato bushes with good dressings, which they love very much. This is especially true for tall varieties of tomatoes.
Gherkins in the personal "room" abundant water procedures and high humidity are provided without much damage to neighbors. And tomatoes - generous watering with warm water, strictly under the root, avoiding contact with the leaves.
For lovers of the process, working with plants, planting tomatoes in a greenhouse and cucumbers, will bring pleasure even in the case when the harvest of vegetables will not be huge.
The most important thing - in any way in the basket there will be pimply green cucumbers and poured raspberry tomatoes.
ATTENTION: Experienced gardeners, configured to obtain the highest possible yield, will adhere to strict rules, creating optimal conditions for each of the crops. All their vegetables will grow in a separate greenhouse, except when the same medium is needed for growth. For example, the same cucumbers and sweet peppers or melons. Or tomatoes and various green vegetables.
So, is it possible to plant cucumbers and tomatoes in the greenhouse? The answer to the question of how to plant, when to plant, as well as deciding what method of cultivation of cucumbers and tomatoes in the greenhouse to choose, it will be joint or not, remains the right of every gardener. If fussing in the garden is more desirable than being able to bigger harvest - experiments are just for you!