Peculiarities of biodynamic outdoor cultivation of tomatoes

Abstract

The aim and tasks of the study. Influence of different factors upon outdoor growing on the formation of healthy plants, in particular tomatoes, was analyzed. The study objectives were determination of biodynamic components of vegetable cultivation, in particular solanaceous crops, and investigation of a biodynamic method of tomato outdoor cultivation.

Materials and methods. Tomato varieties of different origin (Ukraine, Russia, England, USA) was starting material. We applied biodynamic agents: cow horn manure (BD 500), cow horn silica (BD-501), preparation 507, and Maria Thun’s flanden preparation.

Results and discussion. A brief description of biodynamic agents - cow horn manure (BD 500), cow horn silica (BD-501), preparation 507, and Maria Thun’s flanden preparation – is presented. Stages of tomato outdoor cultivation in the Lviv region in 2015 are analyzed. Dynamic grasses that are used for biodynamic teas are described. Methods of tomato fertilization and protection against diseases are summarized.

In particular, according to the biodynamic calendar "Sowing Days", none of 33 tomatoes sown in open ground, when the Sun was in Aquarius, suffered from Phytophthora blight, hence, resistance to Phytophthora blight was 100%. Resistance was 77.4% among 53 tomatoes sown in open ground, when the Sun was in Pisces,

Conclusions. The current state of vegetable cultivation was analyzed, in particular tomatoes, and priority of biodynamic technologies in agriculture development was highlighted. Higher-priority biodynamic components of vegetable cultivation were established, particularly biodynamic seeds, biodynamic soil, biodynamic environment and biodynamic attitude of humans to plants. The expediency of Maria Thun’s biodynamic calendar "Sowing Days" upon choosing the timing of sowing tomato seeds and plant care was justified, in particular, to increase resistance to Phytophthora blight.