Tomatoes are a popular vegetable on our tables. They are loved for their excellent taste, valuable nutritional and dietary qualities. They contain many essential substances, minerals and vitamins.

In 1985, there was a publication in the magazine "Household Economy" about roots seeking soil. Its author was I.M. Maslov, a Kaliningrad gardener. He described his own scheme for obtaining large yields, talked about the stimulation of root formation.

Many summer residents practice growing tomatoes according to the method of I.M. Maslov. The main point is planting tomato seedlings lying down. It lies in the fact that it is necessary to rationally use all the possible potential of plants, because vertical cultivation uses less than half of the potential.

Growing tomatoes

In their natural environment, tomato bushes spread along the ground, this allows you to develop the root system and keep ripening fruits. To save space, breeders breed tall varieties with large berries; plants have to live with weak roots and branches broken under the weight of the harvest.

Why plant tomatoes lying

Nature has endowed culture with the ability to grow a number of additional rhizomes along the entire length of the stems. They can be found on close inspection - there are small tubercles on the stems. When planting seedlings lying down, the nutritional level of tomato bushes increases, respectively, productivity will also increase:

  • Low-growing varieties - up to 3 times;
  • Tall - up to 10 times.

Important! The fruits will ripen according to the due date.

In a normal planting, the plants are tied up to save space. But in this case, tomatoes cannot receive nutrients in sufficient quantities, which significantly reduces yields.

Planting seedlings

When to use the technique

Planting tomatoes lying down will be especially relevant for too elongated seedlings (about 40-50 cm). Seedlings that have outgrown, after transplanting, give all their strength to the formation of roots. This leads to delays in fruiting. To avoid losses, it is necessary to plant lying down.

When to plant tomatoes in a greenhouse in the Moscow region

Often, overgrown seedlings are planted in the usual way, only with a significant deepening. Then a garter is carried out. Such manipulations are often not justified due to the fact that the lower soil layer may still be cold. In addition, greater depth reduces the flow of oxygen to the roots, which interferes with the full development of the culture.

Note! When grown according to Maslov's method, the fruits of low-growing varieties will be located very close to the ground, which will provoke rapid decay. Mulch will help prevent this.

Weaknesses of the method - the size of vegetables decreases, but their number increases. It is worth highlighting the most famous varieties that can be grown lying down:

  • Ukrainian giant;
  • Giant;
  • Russian giant.

Tomato variety Russian giant

How to plant tomatoes lying down

How to plant tomatoes

Do not rush to plant seedlings in open ground, you need to wait until the end of the period of possible frosts. The earth should warm up normally. Experienced gardeners recommend adhering to these simple rules:

  • The furrow should be 10 cm deep;
  • Provide sufficient moisture, cannot be planted in semi-dry soil;
  • The stems are stripped of leaves by about two-thirds;
  • Plants are laid in furrows;
  • Cover with dry soil until only the top of the seedling is above the surface.

Soil preparation

When choosing planting material, you should take into account the thickness of the stems. If it is large, the additional roots will become strong, surpassing the main one.

Plants should be planted at a considerable distance. When laying, you need to take into account one detail: the root system should be deployed to the south, and the tops - to the north. Then the culture in the process of growth will begin to reach for the sun's rays, acquiring an upright position.

Cultivation scheme lying

For additional access to nutrients, you can manipulate the lower stepsons: when they grow up, they need to be bent and well sprinkled with earth. After a while, they will take root. Their fruiting will be abundant.

Care

After what crops can tomatoes be planted

If the decision is made to plant a tomato while lying down, it will be easier to care for the crop, because there is no need to carry out pinching. The plant will have to expend considerable energy to heal wounds that damage the ovary. Carefully remove only badly damaged or diseased leaves, from which there is no longer any benefit. Hilling is not done either.

Watering

Water is supplied by irrigation ditches or by drip, in which the soil is moistened through furrows that are made between the rows. So the necessary moisture will enter the area of ​​the root system, no compaction will appear on the ground, the plants will receive enough oxygen. Watering is carried out in the evening, preventing the soil from completely drying out. Tomatoes especially need moisture when the ovaries are forming and the fruits are poured.

Watering tomatoes

Loosening and garter

To prevent a dry crust from forming on the soil surface, the soil must be loosened after each watering. The manipulation is done after the earth dries out. Weeding should also be regular, otherwise weeds will slow down the development of the crop.

Before the garter over the beds, you need to pull the cable. Twine and loops are attached to it, and ring-shaped elastic bands on the plants themselves. Connection - by means of hooks. This method has a definite plus - when tying, breaking the stems is excluded, the crop will not touch the ground.

Garter tomatoes

Important! Plants do not spend energy on holding vegetables, all forces are directed to ripening.

Top dressing

After planting tomatoes lying both in the greenhouse and in open soil, experts recommend fertilizing the soil - this can increase the yield and quality indicators of products. Top dressing should be carried out at least three times throughout the season with a desired frequency of 14 days.

A culture cannot do without nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus. It is necessary to carefully monitor the nitrogen content in feeding solutions - it should not be too much, otherwise an active build-up of green mass is provoked with damage to the formation of future ovaries.

To prepare the solution you will need:

  • 5 g of nitrate;
  • 50 g superphosphate;
  • 30 g of potassium chloride;
  • 10 liters of water.

All components should be thoroughly dissolved in water.

Top dressing for tomatoes

Summer residents also observe good results after applying a solution of poultry manure, but it does not need to be given too much. When a crop begins to bloom, products containing boron will be helpful. They do not allow flowers and ovaries to wither and fall off. You can add the following solution by the foliar route: dilute a gram of boric acid in a liter of water. Processing is done after sunset.

Strengths and weaknesses of the technique

It can be used to cultivate both short and tall varieties. Plants don't need a special approach. In addition, planting material is saved, which allows you to grow expensive crops without special costs. But despite the indisputable benefits, you need to take into account several nuances:

  • A layer of fresh grass should be laid under low-growing crops to prevent rotting;
  • Special attention to watering - you need to monitor the amount of water that goes to the plants all the time;
  • It is believed that planting tomatoes lying down is not able to reduce the amount of area allotted for a greenhouse or garden bed.

The technique excludes plant pinching

You can only draw final conclusions regarding this growing technology by figuring out how to properly plant tomatoes while lying down and trying the technique on your favorite varieties. To grow strong bushes and get an excellent harvest, in addition to theoretical knowledge, you will also need the ability to care for tomato bushes.