Observing for a rather long period of time the growth and patterns of tomato development, Igor Maslov (engineer from the city of Kaliningrad) came to the conclusion that he needed a powerful and developed root system to form and pour a large number of fruits on the plant. The scientist tried to achieve this in several ways. He first introduced his planting technology to a wide audience in 1983-1984 on central television in the thematic programs “Subsidiary farming” and “You can do this”.
His suggestions on how to grow tomatoes in open ground aroused great interest among the audience, and for a long time the name of the academician was well known, and gardeners were engaged in experiments on the site.
Method number 1
It is a new technology for planting tomato seedlings in the ground. This should not be done in the traditional way - vertically, but horizontally. A not too deep furrow (10-12 cm) is prepared in advance, watered, and then a bare stem is laid (the leaves must first be carefully cut), or rather 2/3 of its parts to the bottom. Top cover with a layer of soil. It is important to observe one more planting rule - the strict direction of the plant from south to north, so that as it grows, it gradually straightens vertically and stretches to the sun. By the way, this method is also an excellent way out of the situation when homemade tomato seedlings are very long due to lack of lighting or other growth factors.
On the part of the stem buried in the ground, roots develop very quickly, which quickly connect to the general seedling nutrition system. It is noteworthy that in their strength and size they are many times greater than the main root system. This method is recommended to a greater extent to those who plant tomatoes for the purpose of their subsequent sale.
Method number 2
This technique is even more simple and affordable for absolutely any gardener, even inexperienced. I. M. Maslov suggests cultivating tomatoes for open ground without pinching, that is, removing side shoots. Of course, you do not need to leave them all, select only the very first, lower ones (2 or 3). Stepsons should be given a little time for growth, so that they stretch out. Then you need to act partly similar to the first method. Remove the leaves from the processes, bend them to the surface of the earth (you can pin them for the first time using wire) and sprinkle with a layer of soil 10-12 cm thick.
The stepsons dug in this way very quickly “start moving” into growth, and after a month they can hardly be distinguished from the mother bush both in size and in the number of fruit ovaries.
What to do if tomatoes are already planted?
If we admit the fact that you hurried with the planting or later found out how tomato cultivation is carried out according to the method of I. M. Maslov, then, in principle, everything is fixable. According to an experienced gardener, he himself does not have the opportunity at home to get strong seedlings with an overgrown stem. In this regard, it is practiced planting tomatoes in an unheated greenhouse in an initially vertical way. For some time they grow stronger, grow up, gain strength and color. Almost at the stage of ovary formation, I. M. Maslov recommends transplanting seedlings as indicated in the first method. However, he notes that tomatoes normally tolerate such an intervention. Moreover, they become stronger, as if a transplant gives an impetus to the development of the root system and the whole plant as a whole.
Growing tomatoes by the method of I. M. Maslova
In his interview, I. M. Maslov repeatedly noted that although tomatoes are not a vital product, such as potatoes, wheat or even meat, they are still very popular. They are loved not only in fresh form, but also in canned food, as well as in various preparations (tomato juice, sauce, pasta, etc.). The relevance of Maslov's work is that, having even a small area or garden, you can grow a vegetable and have it in sufficient quantity. To put such a method into practice, no additional costs are required. All that is needed is an understanding of the nature of the plant and the processes of its growth, development and fruiting.
Let the tomatoes spread
Note that the cultivation of tomatoes by the method of I. M. Maslov has another small but important secret. Tomatoes are not adapted by nature for vertical growth. It is enough to compare them with typical plants that need support - grapes, cucumbers. They have a special device - antennae. Tomatoes do not have them, but people forced them to grow vertically by applying garter technology, pegs, etc. If you observe the plant carefully, you will notice that it constantly tends to the surface of the earth, that is, to its natural state. According to I. M. Maslov, gardeners get a very good tomato crop when they are stepsoning and garter, however, the method proposed by him allows him to almost double it in the same area.
What is the reason for this?
Mainly by the fact that you allow the plant to live the life that nature itself intended for it - to spread freely on the surface of the earth. In this regard, as needed, it can easily increase the volume of the root system due to the green stem in contact with the soil.
Take a closer look at the plant, and then you will notice small tubercles or pimples on the stem of the tomato - this is nothing but the germ of future roots, which are required for a more powerful and rapid development. You can even conduct an experiment. To do this, squeeze a part of the tomato stem to the ground or hang a small feeding trough filled with a nutritious soil mixture, and in a short time you will be able to observe how real roots begin to form in the place of contact. They can appear in the air.
Such roots in a very short time are connected to the general plant nutrition system and thereby increase its fruiting. Thus, the cultivation of tomatoes according to the method of I. M. Maslov represents the return of tomatoes to their natural "lifestyle", which nature itself dictates to them.
Don't forget about the seeds
Variety selection is fundamental. Always carefully read the characteristics and description of plants. It is important that they meet your specific climatic conditions. It is simply impossible to list all varieties within the framework of one article, therefore we will only focus on the most popular large-fruited hybrids that are well suited for cultivation according to the method of I. M. Maslov.
"Ukrainian giant"
This is a fairly productive variety of medium maturity (110-120 days from seedling to fruiting). The plant is very tall, reaches up to 1.5-2 meters, so if you are not a supporter of these methods, be sure to use a trellis. It is best cultivated in three stems. The root system of tomatoes of this variety is very powerful, therefore, the soil is required accordingly - light chernozems with humus, the introduction of complex and phosphorus fertilizers in the first phase of growth. The fruits of the plant are fleshy, weighing up to 600 g, the shape is flat-round, the color is pale red.
The Pink Giant
This is a salad variety of medium early ripening. Its main feature and advantage is a small number of seeds in the fruits or their complete absence. The fruits are fleshy, have a rounded shape, ribbed, light raspberry hue, weighing an average of 400-450 g. They are very sugary, and when broken or cut, juice is practically not released. The plant grows up to 2 meters.
"Giant"
A variety of medium-term ripening with a powerful stem up to 150-170 cm in height. The main shoot has 6-8 brushes, on each of which up to five fruits are formed. Tomatoes of high taste quality, slightly ribbed, bright red in color, flat-round shape, fleshy. Suitable for processing into juices, pastes, sauces, as well as for fresh use.
"Russian giant"
The main advantage of the variety is the fruit. They have the largest specific gravity in comparison with specimens of a similar size from other hybrids. The shape is slightly flattened, round, weight up to 600 g (in the brush up to 4-5 pieces). Tomatoes have high palatability, are resistant to cracking. A variety of medium-late ripening period, plant height reaches 140-180 cm, is resistant to disease.
Summing up everything written, we can safely say that the cultivation of tomatoes according to the method of I. M. Maslov is an activity quite simple and unsophisticated, but giving an amazing and absolutely stunning result. Many gardeners do not trust this method, but this does not interfere with testing its effectiveness, if only for the purposes of the experiment, using several plants to start with.