To ensure a successful tomato harvest, gardeners must diligently perform several essential tasks throughout the summer season. These include proper watering, mulching, fertilizing, and suckering (pruning).

Watering tomatoes correctly is crucial. According to agronomist Lyudmila Shubina, watering once a week with 5-10 liters of water per hole is generally sufficient, provided moisture is adequately retained. It is important to water at the root to prevent diseases and avoid overwatering, which can lead to fungal infections like cladosporiosis. The best times for watering are early morning or late evening.

Mulching and loosening the soil are also key practices for retaining moisture and controlling weeds. Wilted cut grass, leaf litter, or coniferous litter can be used for mulching, but fresh sawdust should be avoided as it depletes nitrogen from the soil. When mulching, ensure a gap of at least one centimeter around the plant’s stem. If fertilizing, water first, then apply fertilizer an hour later, and loosen and mulch the following day.

Fertilizing tomatoes should be done judiciously. Applying humus and mineral fertilizers during planting is usually sufficient for the entire season. In June, humates or a weak solution of microfertilizers can be applied. Nitrogen should only be used if seedlings appear yellow and unhealthy, as excess nitrogen can lead to excessive leaf growth at the expense of fruit production. Calcium nitrate can be used in June to prevent blossom end rot, while potassium sulfate is beneficial in July for healthy fruit development. Alternatively, a diluted infusion of fermented grass or cow manure can be used.

Suckering, or pruning lateral shoots, is essential for maximizing tomato yield in greenhouses. These shoots, which grow in the leaf axils, divert energy from the developing fruit. Suckers should be removed or pruned regularly, ideally every 10 days or weekly. Use pruners to leave a small stump of about a centimeter to prevent regrowth. It is recommended to grow greenhouse tomatoes with a single stem for optimal harvest. Suckering is best done early in the morning.