Why Annoy "Signora Tomato"?

2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38

Outside the window, it begins to get colder, and the tomatoes still do not want to blush and keep up - what to do? There is an exit. It turns out that if the "signor tomato" is in no hurry to put on a red caftan, then he needs to be pissed off properly. Namely: to stimulate the synthesis of ethylene - the so-called stress hormone. Let's talk about what you need for this and how to do it

How to make tomatoes turn red?

Ethylene is a phytohormone. It is also called the hormone of biotic or mechanical stress. He is responsible for the ripeness of the fruit. If a plant or fruit is damaged, then ethylene is actively synthesized, and the fruits ripen faster, and a separating layer on the cuttings is also rapidly formed. Knowing this, the gardener can use such a technique as creating a state of stress for the plant, deliberately and wisely damaging the plant.

What can “anger” the signor tomato and cause him stress, and as a result - accelerated reddening (or yellowing - depending on the variety) of the fruit. To do this, resort to the following tricks:

• damage to the roots by twitching the bush from the ground;

• splitting the trunk at the bottom of the bush and inserting chips, toothpicks or wire into it;

• removing all leaves from the bush;

• pinching the tops of plants;

• break the brush petiole near the trunk.

All these methods force the plants to hurry up to produce offspring. Or rather, so that the fruits ripen at an accelerated rate.

Important. Do not make the mistake that inexperienced gardeners make when starting to accelerate the maturation of fertilizing with phosphorus and potash fertilizers. On the contrary, you do not need to fertilize and water. After all, our task is to create stress for the late plant.

"Microsurgery" of tomato

You will need a sharp knife to split the trunk of a tomato bush. Before the "operation" the instrument should be disinfected. Then, at a height of about 10 cm above the ground, make a vertical through-cut of the trunk with a length of about 3-5 cm. Then insert into this gap, for example, an iron wire or a wooden stick. This procedure will give the plant a signal to accelerate fruit ripening.

Another operation on green tomatoes, which helps them to blush as soon as possible, is to make injections at the base of unripe fruits with a depth of 0.5-1 cm with a needle or a toothpick. Also, do not forget to disinfect our "surgical" instruments.

Spraying plants safely with salt or iodine

It is not recommended to spray plants with chemicals before harvesting. But you can use spraying of tomato bushes with a solution of salt or iodine solution that is safe for humans. Such processing will accelerate the ripening of the fruit. But what should be remembered is that at the same time it stops the growth and development of the bush. Therefore, this method is used only if they are going to complete the harvest.

To do this, prepare the following solutions:

• the first method - 1 glass of sodium chloride is dissolved in a bucket of water and the plants are sprayed;

• the second way - 10 ml of an alcoholic solution of iodine in a bucket of water and spray the bushes.

Good to know. Why can tomatoes still inhibit fruit ripening? In addition to unfavorable weather conditions, poor lighting, the use of certain drugs that stimulate the appearance of an ovary also plays a role. They can also inhibit fruit flow and redness. And, of course, it is important to choose the right varieties. In particular, if your area has a short warm period, it is not worth growing late varieties.

If it was not possible to accelerate the ripening of the entire crop and had to pluck the fruits and put them on ripening, use this trick. Put a couple of red fruits in a box with green tomatoes. They will release ethylene, and this will also help the green congeners turn brown more quickly.