Mastering Tomato Cultivation: Tips for High Yields
Content
1. Description
2. Propagation
3. CULTIVATION PRACTICES
4. Common Pests and Diseases
5. Summary of Crop Solution for Tomato
1. Description
Tomato is one of the most consumed and widely grown vegetable crops in the world. They are a rich source of vitamins and a valuable cash crop for smallholders and commercial farmers. Tomatoes are in high demand as flavor enhancers in various dishes, both fresh and processed. The fruit can be eaten raw or cooked and is used in many dishes. It can also be processed into juice, soup, ketchup, puree, paste, or powder.
2. ADAPTABILITY
2.1 CLIMATIC REQUIREMENTS
Climate is one of the most important factors when determining planting times. Tomatoes are known to be a warm season crop. It can survive certain amounts of cold units, but are intolerant of very low temperatures. A tomato crop requires very stable temperature ranges with minimums and maximums not being too wide apart. Temperature variation might result in poor fruit quality or reduced yields. The minimum temperature is around 10°C with the maximum being 34°C. Optimum temperatures are around 26 - 29°C.
2.2 SOIL REQUIREMENTS
High soil fertility is essential for profitable tomato production. Key factors include:
Nutrient Composition
Compaction
Effective Soil Depth
pH
Crop Rotation
Herbicide Residues
Water Holding Capacity
Soil should support root growth, provide water and nutrients, and be free of toxic elements. Organic matter (e.g., compost, manure) improves soil structure and nutrient retention. Products like King's Landing TerraBoost and King's Landing SoilVitalizer can enhance soil health and fertility.
King's Landing TerraBoost can address soil health issues such as compaction, salinization, and weak water and fertility retention. King's Landing SoilVitalizer can balance pH, promote root growth, reduce salinization, and provide slow-release nutrients, all while being safe for crop roots and seedlings. King's Landing RootRevive can replace manure fertilizers, increase soil fertility, and save labor, cost, and time.
3. CULTIVATION PRACTICES
3.1 SOIL PREPARATION
Soil preparation is crucial for successful tomato production. It aims to create optimal growing conditions for tomato roots, which primarily develop in the top 600 mm of soil. Benefits include:
Unrestricted root development
Reduced compaction
Improved oxygen levels
Higher yields and lower costs
Enhanced vegetative growth
Increased drought tolerance
Reduced root diseases
Soil preparation should be done to depths of 200-400 mm, with ridging recommended to manage excess water and improve root development.
3.2 PLANTING PERIODS
Consider the following when determining planting times:
Temperature Effects: Optimal fruit set occurs at nighttime temperatures of 15-20°C. Avoid planting when daily temperatures exceed 32°C or drop below 13°C.
Earliest Planting: Start seedlings when soil and air temperatures meet minimum growth requirements.
Latest Planting: Ensure enough time for growth and harvest before adverse conditions begin.
3.3 SEEDLING PRODUCTION
Seedling Establishment: Seedlings take 4-6 weeks to reach transplant maturity in summer and 8 weeks in winter. Optimal germination temperatures are 20-30°C.
Growing Medium: Use well-aerated media with good water-holding capacity and a pH of around 6.5 (e.g., peat, bark, vermiculite).
Seedling Management: Avoid over-fertilization and ensure correct sowing time. Maintain consistent temperatures to prevent stress.
Seeding: Use precision seeders for uniform depth.
3.4 PLANT POPULATION AND SPACING
Plant populations vary from 8,000-10,000 plants per hectare in mixed cropping to 25,000-35,000 plants per hectare in greenhouses. Key considerations include:
Row Spacing: 1.8-2.5 meters to avoid damage during harvest.
In-Row Spacing: At least 35-40 cm for vigorous varieties.
Higher densities can lead to more concentrated yields but may reduce per-plant productivity..
3.5 FERTILIZATION
Fertilization is the most critical factor for successful tomato production. While tomatoes can grow under various conditions, optimal nutrient management is essential.
Factors to Consider:
Previous fertilizer use on the planting area.
Soil type.
Soil analyses.
Soil pH (acidity).
Irrigation water quality.
Micronutrient levels.
Ideal Soil Conditions for Tomato Production:
pH (H2O): 5.6 – 6.8 (NB!! MUST BE CORRECT.)
P: 30 – 60 mg/Kg (Bray1)
K: 100 – 250 mg/Kg
Ca: 300 – 2000 mg/Kg
Mg: 120 – 300 mg/Kg
Na: 10 – 50 mg/Kg
Proper fertilization ensures healthy plant growth and high yields.
Functional Fertilizers for Tomato:
King's Landing HarvestHero: Promotes root development, increases flowering and fruiting, and enhances photosynthesis.
King's Landing BloomMax: Increases flowering and fruiting, improves quality, and enhances resistance to adverse conditions.
King's Landing NutriFe: Enhances photosynthesis and helps prevent viral diseases.
3.6 IRRIGATION
Irrigation is critical for tomato production. Key considerations include:
Effects of Inadequate Irrigation:
Too Little Water: Sub-optimal yields, reduced photosynthesis, poor flowering, and small fruit size.
Too Much Water: Insufficient soil oxygen, wilting, and increased root diseases.
Irrigation Scheduling: Monitor root development and soil moisture using irrometers. Deep, thorough irrigation is preferred over frequent, light watering. Drip or flood irrigation is better than overhead irrigation to prevent foliar diseases.
Water Requirements: 25 mm per week in cooler months, up to 50 mm in hot, windy conditions.
Growth Stages:
Stage 1: Establishment (up to 4 weeks) – Low water use.
Stage 2: Vegetative Growth – Double the water use compared to Stage 1.
Stage 3: Fruit Set – Peak water demand.
Stage 4: Ripening and Harvesting – Water use decreases.
3.7 Harvesting
Tomatoes have seven ripening stages:
Green
Mature Green
Color Breaker
Half Ripe
Ripe
Red Ripe
Full Ripe
Size grades include:
Cocktail: 0-30 mm
Small: 35 mm and smaller
Medium: 56-63 mm
Large: 73-82 mm
Extra Large: 83-94 mm
Double XL: 95 mm and larger
(Source: STARKEAYRES)
4. Common Pests and Diseases
Diseases
Category : Fungal
Early blight - Alternaria solani
Early blight symptoms on tomato stem Early blight symptoms on tomato fruit Early blight symptoms on tomato foliage
Symptoms: Dark brown stem cankers, V-shaped fruit lesions, yellow leaf spots, etc.
Management
Apply appropriate fungicides at the first sign of disease.
Destroy volunteer solanaceous plants (e.g., tomato, potato, nightshade).
Practice crop rotation.
Recommended Products:
King's Captan
King's Soldier
King's Shield
Late Blight - Phytophthora infestans
Late blight symptoms on tomato leaves Late blight symptoms on tomato stem Late blight symptoms on tomato fruit
Symptoms: Water-soaked leaf lesions, brown fruit spots, white fungal growth, etc.
Management
Plant Resistant Varieties: Choose tomato varieties with resistance to late blight.
Sanitation: Remove volunteer plants and crop debris to reduce inoculum.
Irrigation: Avoid overhead irrigation; use drip irrigation to keep foliage dry.
Fungicide Application: Apply appropriate fungicides at the first sign of disease or when conditions are favorable for infection.
Recommended Products:
King's Captan
King's Soldier
King's Shield
Powdery Mildew - Leveillula taurica
Powdery mildew symptoms on tomato leaves
Symptoms: Yellow spots on leaves, white powdery growth, etc.
Management
Organic Treatments: Use horsetail slurry (rich in silica) or garlic infusion with added milk (acts as an adhesive and antifungal agent).
Sanitation: Remove and destroy infected basal leaves.
Nutrient Management: Apply nitrogen-rich treatments (e.g., nettle purin) to stimulate growth.
Ventilation: Ensure proper ventilation in tunnels to avoid excessive heat.
Preventive Measures: Spray with a mixture of water and skimmed milk (10%) to strengthen plant immunity and control the disease.
Recommended Products:
King's Care
Downy Mildew - Peronospora parasilica
Downy mildew symptoms on tomato leaves
Symptoms: Yellow leaf spots, white fungal growth on undersides, etc.
Management
Cultural Controls:
Ensure proper plant spacing to improve air circulation and reduce humidity.
Avoid overhead irrigation; use drip irrigation to keep foliage dry.
Remove and destroy infected plant debris to reduce inoculum sources.
Chemical Control:
Apply protective fungicides at the first sign of disease or when conditions are favorable for infection. Repeated applications may be necessary during prolonged wet periods.
Recommended Products:
King's Captan
King's Soldier
King's Spring
Gray Mold (Botrytis Blight) – Botrytis cinerea
Gray molds infected stem Gray mold symptoms on tomato fruit
Symptoms: Gray-brown stem lesions, fruit rot, etc.
Management
Sanitation: Remove and destroy infected plant debris to reduce inoculum sources.
Air Circulation: Space plants adequately to promote drying and reduce humidity.
Liming Soil: Increase calcium content to reduce plant susceptibility.
Fungicide Application: Apply appropriate fungicides before disease develops, especially during cool, wet weather.
Recommended Products:
King's Shield
Leaf Mold - Passalora fulva
Leaf mold symptoms Symptoms on leaf mold infected fruits
Symptoms: Yellow leaf spots, black fruit lesions, etc.
Management
Resistant Varieties: Grow available resistant tomato varieties.
Irrigation: Avoid leaf wetting and overhead watering; use drip irrigation instead.
Spacing: Follow proper plant spacing to ensure good air circulation.
Sanitation: Remove and burn infected plant debris to reduce inoculum sources.
Fungicide Application: Apply suitable fungicides if the disease is severe.
Recommended Products:
King's Spring
Anthracnose - Colletotrichum coccodes
Anthracnose symptoms on tomato leaf Anthracnose on tomato fruit
Symptoms: Sunken fruit lesions, concentric rings, etc.
Management
Irrigation: Avoid sprinkler irrigation when fruit is ripening to reduce humidity and prevent disease spread.
Crop Rotation: Rotate crops with non-solanaceous plants to reduce inoculum in the soil.
Sanitation: Remove and destroy infected plant debris to minimize disease carryover.
Fungicide Application: Apply appropriate fungicides at the first sign of disease or when conditions are favorable for infection.
Recommended Products:
King's Captan
King's Patrol
Category: Bacterial
Bacterial wilt - Ralstonia solanacearum
Severely wilted tomato plants Severe symptoms of bacterial wilt
Symptoms: Sudden wilting, brown vascular tissue, etc.
Management
Crop Rotation: Rotate tomatoes with non-susceptible crops to reduce soil inoculum.
Irrigation: Avoid over-watering to prevent conditions favorable for bacterial spread.
Sanitation: Remove and destroy infected plant debris to minimize disease carryover.
Soil Management: Improve soil drainage and avoid planting in poorly drained areas.
Recommended Products:
King's Virtuoso
Bacterial Spot – Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria, Xanthomonas euvesicatoria, Xanthomonas perforans, Xanthomonas vesicatoria, Xanthomonas gardneri
Symptoms of bacterial spot on tomato fruit Symptoms of bacterial spot on tomato foliage
Symptoms: Water-soaked leaf spots, fruit blisters, etc.
Management
Seed and Transplants: Use only certified seed and healthy transplants.
Sanitation: Remove all crop debris from the planting area to reduce inoculum.
Irrigation: Avoid sprinkler irrigation; water from the base of the plant to keep foliage dry.
Crop Rotation: Rotate crops with non-susceptible plants to reduce soil inoculum.
Recommended Products:
King's Spring
King's Virtuoso
Category: Viral
Tomato mosaic virus (TMV)
Tomato Mosaic Virus infected tomato plant
Symptoms: Mottled leaves, reduced fruit yield, etc.
Management
Resistant Varieties: Plant virus-resistant tomato varieties.
Seed Treatment: Heat-treat seeds at 70°C (158°F) for 4 days or at 82–85°C (179.6–185°F) for 24 hours to eliminate surface virus particles. Alternatively, soak seeds in a 100 g/l tri-sodium phosphate (TSP) solution for 15 minutes, followed by thorough rinsing and drying.
Sanitation: Remove and destroy infected plants to limit spread. Disinfect all equipment when moving from infected areas.
Crop Rotation: Use a 2-year rotation, avoiding susceptible crops like peppers, eggplant, cucurbits, and tobacco.
Recommended Products:
King's Virtuoso
Tomato Yellow Leaf Curl Virus (TYLCV) family Geminiviridae, genus Begomovirus
Tomato Yellow Leaf Curl Virus infected plant
Symptoms: Upward leaf curl, stunted growth, etc.
Management
Resistant Varieties: Grow available resistant tomato varieties.
Healthy Seedlings: Transplant only disease-free and whitefly-free seedlings.
Sanitation: Remove and destroy infected plants to prevent the spread of the virus.
Weed Control: Keep the field free from weeds, which can serve as alternate hosts for the virus and whiteflies.
Monitoring and Control: Use yellow sticky traps to monitor and control whitefly populations.
Recommended Products:
King's Virtuoso
Pests
Category: Insects
Leafminers - Tuta absoluta
Tomato leafminer damage
Symptoms: White leaf mines, fruit deformities, etc.
Management
Natural Enemies: Leafminer natural enemies (e.g., parasitic wasps) can help control populations.
Monitoring: Use pheromone traps and white sticky traps to monitor insect populations.
Sanitation: Remove and destroy infested plants after harvest; keep fields free from weeds, especially Solanum, Datura, and Nicotiana.
Chemical Control: Apply insecticides only when damage is identified to avoid reducing natural enemy populations.
Resistant Varieties: Plant resistant tomato varieties where available.
Transplant Inspection: Check transplants for signs of leafminer damage before planting.
Recommended Products:
King's Tuta Off
Whitefly - Trialeurodes abutilonia, Trialeurodes vaporariorum, Bemisia tabaci biotype B
Whitefly on tomato
Symptoms: Yellowing leaves, sooty mold, etc.
Management
Cultural Practices:
Maximize distance and time between host crops.
Plant tomatoes upwind from key whitefly hosts.
Maintain good sanitation by removing crop residues and controlling weeds.
Use reflective mulches to delay whitefly infestation.
Avoid broad-spectrum pesticides early in the season.
Biological Control:
Encourage natural enemies such as predators like big-eyed bugs, lacewing larvae, and lady beetle larvae.
Monitoring:
Regularly check field margins for whiteflies.
Use yellow sticky traps to detect initial migrations.
Monitor fields twice weekly during critical periods.
Recommended Products:
King's Kylin
Thrips (Western flower thrips, Onion thrips, etc.) - Frankliniella occidentalis, Thrips tabaci
Western flower thrips damage Onion thrips damage on tomato Green tomato showing damage caused by flower thrips
Symptoms: Silvery leaves, black feces, TSWV transmission, etc.
Management
Crop Placement: Avoid planting tomatoes next to onions, garlic, or cereals where thrips populations can build up.
Reflective Mulches: Use reflective mulches early in the growing season to deter thrips.
Insecticide Application: Apply appropriate insecticides if thrips become problematic.
Recommended Products:
King's Thrips Off
Category: Mites
Spider mites (Two-spotted spider mite) - Tetranychus urticae
Spider mites on tomato
Symptoms: Yellow stippling, webbing, etc.
Management
Cultural Practices:
Regularly spray plants with a strong jet of water to dislodge mites and reduce populations.
Maintain proper irrigation to avoid water stress.
Chemical Control:
Use insecticidal soap if mite populations become problematic.
Avoid broad-spectrum insecticides that kill natural enemies and promote mite reproduction.
Sanitation:
Remove and destroy heavily infested plant parts to prevent spread.
Recommended Products:
King's Mites Off
Category: Nematodes
Root knot nematode - Meloidogyne spp.
Healthy tomato plant (left) next to one infested with root knot nematodes (right)
Symptoms: Root galls, stunted growth, etc.
Management
Resistant Varieties: Plant nematode-resistant tomato varieties if nematodes are known to be present in the soil.
Root Inspection: Check roots mid-season or earlier if symptoms indicate nematode presence.
Soil Solarization: Use soil solarization to reduce nematode populations and inoculum levels of other pathogens.
Recommended Products:
King's Nema Off
(Source: Plantvillage)
5. Summary of Crop Solution for Tomato
For successful tomato production, consider the following:
Climate and Soil: Ensure optimal temperature and soil conditions.
Cultivation Practices: Proper soil preparation, planting periods, and irrigation.
Pest and Disease Management: Use resistant varieties, cultural practices, and targeted treatments.
Products: Utilize King's solutions for soil health, fertilization, and pest control.
Since 2003, King Quenson has been thriving to introduce the latest technologies to agricultural industries and farmers to achieve mutual development and prosperity. With years of dedication and rich experience, King Quenson devotes more than 20 years to crop protection and offers solutions.
If you have a need, you can contact us at any time:
Email: info@kingquenson.com
Tel: 86-755-86612760, 86-755-86612793
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