Tomato planting technology and management methods

Tomatoes are warm-loving vegetables. They usually prefer warm climates and are less cold-resistant. They like plenty of sunlight but don't like overheated environments. They prefer dry air and are not adapted to high-humidity conditions. Their water requirement is that they like moisture but avoid waterlogging. They have a semi-drought-tolerant physiological characteristic. Therefore, according to the local natural cultivation environment, rationally regulating the key conditions required for vegetable growth, such as temperature, humidity, water, light and nutrition, and timely preventing and controlling possible diseases and pests, are extremely important for increasing tomato yields and increasing the economic benefits of growers. Let’s learn about tomato planting techniques and management methods.

1. Plot selection

Choose a plot with deep soil, good drainage and irrigation conditions, strong ventilation and air permeability, and the plot has not been planted with Solanaceae vegetables in the past 2-3 years. Avoid planting in areas that lack irrigation facilities.

2. Variety selection

Select tomato varieties that are disease-resistant, of excellent quality, high yield, durable in storage and transportation, good in commercial quality and in line with market demand.

3. Sowing and seedling raising

The suitable sowing time is from early March to early April, and the sowing time should be adjusted according to local actual conditions. The fertilizer ball method is combined with mulch and small arch shed seedling raising technology. The decomposed farmyard manure is mixed with soil to make fertilizer balls with a diameter of about 5 cm. A seed is placed in each fertilizer ball. After evenly arranging them, they are covered with nutrient soil, applied with dilute manure water, and then covered with mulch. Next, use a small arch shed that is 1.3 meters wide and 8 meters long to cover it.

For seedbed soil disinfection, you can use 58% carbendazim-mancozeb or 70% propineb mixed with 70% methyl thiophanate in a 1:1 ratio. Use 10 grams of the medicine per square meter and mix it with 5 kilograms of sieved fine soil. To promote early emergence, cover the seedbed with plastic film , maintain the daytime temperature at about 30 degrees Celsius and no more than 32 degrees Celsius. When 1/3 of the seedlings have emerged, remove the plastic film; after all the seedlings have emerged, lower the temperature to about 25 degrees Celsius to prevent excessive growth.

After the seedlings are all in place, use 10 grams of 68.75% oxadone·mancozeb or 30 grams of 70% propineb plus 20 ml of 72.2% cymoxanil hydrochloride mixed with 15 kg of water to spray the seedlings to prevent damping-off, sudden wilt and early blight. When three cotyledons grow, remove the film in time to ventilate and cool down, and train the seedlings, and transplant them after a week.

4. Planting management

Land preparation and basal fertilizer application: 15-20 days before transplanting, apply 7-8 cubic meters of well-rotted high-quality manure per mu, or 5-6 cubic meters of livestock and poultry manure fermented with an equal amount of crop straw, and then apply 100-150 kilograms of well-rotted cake fertilizer, using east-west high ridges. When cultivating in a greenhouse , cover the soil with film 20 days before planting. After covering the film, dig trenches and irrigate the soil with water to ensure that the soil is fully moist.

Planting time: generally from early April to early May.

Planting method and density: plant spacing 50-60 cm, row spacing 1.2-1.3 meters, and about 2,000 tomato seedlings are planted every 667 square meters. Choose a sunny day after 4 pm or a cloudy day for transplanting. Water thoroughly after transplanting and water again after 3-5 days to help the seedlings grow.

5. Field management

Trellising and pruning: When the tomato plants are about 30 cm tall, trellises should be erected and vines tied in time. Use a "human" shaped support and fix the main trunk to the support with a plastic rope. Prune single stalks, retaining 5-6 spikes of flowers per plant and 4-5 fruits per spike. Remove unnecessary side branches in time, and remove deformed, diseased and excess fruits. In the later stage of growth, remove the old and diseased leaves at the bottom to enhance ventilation and light transmission.

Intertillage, weeding and soil mulching: Intertillage and weeding should be done after the seedlings have grown. Shallow tillage should be used so as not to damage the roots. The soil should be mulched 2-3 times during the entire growing period.

6. Fertilizer and water management

Use drip irrigation or secret irrigation for watering. Water immediately after planting and water the seedlings to grow slowly after 3-5 days. The relative humidity of the soil should be maintained at 60%-70% in spring and 75%-85% in summer and autumn. Apply fertilizer in time according to the length and conditions of the growing season. After deducting the base fertilizer, apply it with water in multiple times. It is strictly forbidden to use organic fertilizers that have not been decontaminated. It is recommended to use oil cakes and biological fertilizers.

7. Pest and disease control

In accordance with the policy of "prevention first, comprehensive control", harmless management is carried out based on the principle of "agricultural control, physical control, and biological control as the main ones". Common diseases and pests include early blight, late blight, viral diseases, navel rot, etc.

Early blight: It mainly harms leaves, stems and fruits. The disease starts from the lower leaves and gradually spreads upwards.

Prevention and control methods : seed disinfection, crop rotation, seedling cultivation, application of more organic fertilizers, increased application of phosphorus and potassium fertilizers, strengthening field management, and spraying with 500-800 times diluted 75% Benomyl wettable powder.

Late blight: It mainly harms leaves, stems and fruits. The lesions start from the tip or edge of the leaves, initially appearing as water-soaked chlorotic spots, and then gradually expand.

Prevention and control methods: Select disease-resistant varieties, cultivate disease-free seedlings, rotate crops, remove diseased plants, manage the field, control watering, increase ventilation, and use 800 times diluted 72.2% Prolike water solution for spraying.

Viral diseases: The main types are fern leaf type, streak type, mosaic type, curled leaf type, yellow top type and necrosis type.

Prevention and control methods: Prevention first, crop rotation, selection of disease-resistant varieties, seed disinfection, cultivation of disease-free and insect-free seedlings, field management, removal of weeds, removal of old and diseased leaves, removal of diseased plants, reduction of virus transmission routes, prevention and control of whiteflies, aphids, etc. After the disease occurs, spray with 600 times diluted 20% virus A wettable powder.

Navel rot: occurs when the fruit grows to the size of a walnut, and water-soaked spots appear on the navel, which gradually expand and cause the top of the fruit to become concave and brown.

Prevention and control methods: water and fertilize scientifically, and keep spraying 1% superphosphate, amino acid calcium solution, etc. on the leaves. Note that in pest control, organic synthetic pesticides with the same active ingredients can only be used once in a growing period. It is prohibited to use pesticides such as methyl isothioate, systemic phosphite, carbofuran, aldicarb, ethoxychlor, thiophanate-methyl, and chlorpyrifos.

The above is an introduction to the key points of tomato planting and management techniques. While you can refer to it, you also need to combine it with the actual situation and develop a plan suitable for your own vegetable garden.