How to Grow Tomatoes | Tomato Farming Tips

How to Grow Tomatoes | Tomato Farming Tips

climate and soil 

A warm-season crop is the tomato. 26–32 °C is the ideal range for seed germination. The best soils are loamy, well-drained, high in organic matter, and have a pH range of 6.5 to 7.5.

land preparation 

The land should be finely tilled. Add FYM (25 t/ha) to the field to fully prepare it, then create ridges and furrows 60 cm apart. Apply 50 kg of FYM mixed with 2 kg/ha of Azospirillum and 2 kg/ha of phosphobacteria.

seed rate and spacing 

Depending on the type of crop variety or hybrid, one of two spacing systems—60 45 cm or 45 30 cm—is typically used. For hybrids, the seed rate is 60–80 g/ac and for varieties, 160–200 g/ac.

operation 

Mulch with black LDPE sheets of 25 micron thickness and bury both the ends into the soil to a depth of 10 cm.

irrigation management 

Irrigate the furrows and transplant 25-day old seedlings on the sides of ridges. Light irrigation needs to be given on the third day of planting. During summer season, irrigation every 5–7 days is necessary, whereas in winter 10–15 day interval is sufficient.

weed management 

Weeds

Weeds need to be managed both in the tomato nursery as well as in the main field, after transplanting the tomato.

Weed Management

Application of pre-emergence herbicides like Pendimethalin (1 kg a.i./ha) or Fluchloralin (1 kg a.i./ha) 1–3 days after transplanting tomato and by a hand weeding done 30 days after planting, help in keeping the weeds in check.

pest management 

1. Fruit Borer Management
   • Collection and destruction of damaged fruits and grown up caterpillars.
   • Growing of trap crops like marigold and castor on the borders of the tomato field.
   • Spraying of any of the insecticides on need basis: Emamectin Benzoate @ 100 gm/ac or Chloranthraniprole @ 60 ml/ac or Flubendimide @ 40 ml/ac or Thiodicarb 200 gm/ac or Spinosad 75 ml/ac.
   • Spraying of Azadirachtin 1.0 % EC @ 2.0 ml/ lit or Indoxacarb 14.5 % SC @ 8 ml/10 lit or Flubendiamide 20 WG @ 5 g/10 lit or Novaluron 10 % EC @ 7.5 ml/10 lit also helps in control of fruit borer.
2. Whitefly Management
   • Uproot and destroy the diseased leaf curl plants
   • Use yellow sticky traps at 12/ha to attract and kill insects.
   • Soil application of carbofuran 3% G @ 40 kg /ha or spraying of Dimethoate 30 % EC (1.0 ml/lit) or Malathion 50 % EC (1.5 ml/ lit) or Oxydemeton –Methyl 25 % EC (1.0 ml/ lit.) or Thiamethoxam 25 % WG (4.0 ml/10 lit.) or Acetamiprid @ 100 gm/lt

disease management 

1. Damping off Management
   • Using raised seed bed
   • Providing light, but frequent irrigations for better drainage.
   • Drenching with Copper oxychloride 0.2% or Bordeaux mixture 1%.
   • Seed treatment with fungal culture Trichoderma viride (4 g/kg of seed) or Thiram (3 g/kg of seed) is the only preventive measure to control the pre-emergence damping off.
   • Spraying of 0.2% Metalaxyl when there is cloudy weather
2. Leaf curl Management
   • Keep yellow sticky traps @ 12/ha to monitor the white fly.
   • Raise barrier crops-cereals around the field.
   • Removal of weed host. Protected nursery in net house or green house.
   • Spray Imidachloprid 0.05 % or Dimethoate 0.05% @ 15, 25, 45 days after transplanting to control vector.

harvesting 

Tomatoes are harvested and properly graded and packed in corrugated boxes or wooden baskets in order to avoid post harvest transit loss during transportation.