Tomato plant

A tomato plant typically lives for one growing season (6-8 months) when grown outdoors, but when nurtured in controlled growing conditions indoors, tomato plants can survive between 2-5 years.

On average, a tomato plant can yield 10 to 30 pounds of tomatoes. Depending on the size of the tomatoes, this can be roughly 20 to 90 tomatoes from a single plant. Tomatoes love the sunshine. A position in full sun (that means an average of at least eight hours a day) gives the best results in most areas.

The soil should be fertile, free-draining, and ideally shouldn’t have grown a crop from the same plant family (for instance potatoes or peppers) within the past two years. The soil should be kept damp 6-8 inches down in the ground around the root system to encourage proper growth.

Tomato plants need space – not only to reach their full potential, but to encourage a good flow of air between plants, which should help to reduce the threat of disease. Plant spacing varies, depending on the variety of tomato, but, as a general rule, space 24 to 36 inches apart in rows 4 to 5 feet apart.

Tomato plants need to be watered daily or every other day. The plants need 1-1.5 inches of water per week, but container-grown tomato plants need to be watered twice per day.

Pruning tomatoes encourages healthy production and provides better air flow between plants, which helps prevent disease and limit pest problems.

Tomatoes take 60 days to more than 100 days to harvest, depending on the variety. Due to their relatively long growing season requirements (and late planting date), most gardeners plant small “starter plants” or transplants instead of seeds after the weather has warmed up in spring.
Tomato plant

Weed control of tomato crop

An important first step in planning a weed control programme is to know the types of weeds and their density in the field where the tomatoes will be planted, in order to prepare a weed map.

Chemical soil weed control is a normal practice for field grown tomatoes. Methyl bromide is one method used for sterilizing soil.

Pre- and post planting weed control chemicals can be used, depending in which weeds occur. In very case the residual effect of herbicides that were used for the previous crops have to be considered when planting tomatoes.

Although herbicides can be effective in controlling weeds, cultural practices such as crop rotation, tillage practices and seedbed preparation are equally important means of control.

With the used of improved cropping methods, including chemical weed control, certain common weeds associated with the crops are becoming scarce and even disappearing. Therefore, a combined strategy of nonchemical and chemical techniques can effectively control most weed problems.

Crop ration can reduce some weed problems. Maize can used advantageously in rotation with tomatoes because several herbicides are available for use then that cannot be used selectively in tomatoes.

Some of these maize herbicides control weeds such as nightshades, field bindweed and nutsedge that are tolerant to tomato herbicides.
Weed control of tomato crop

Pruning of tomato crop

Tomato plant like most plant, need regular pruning or other care of to get the best out of them. Pruning technique varies by type of tomato.

Once the plant has grown to full height or about 6 trusses from the ground, it can be trimmed the top and halt the upward growth. This will allow the nutrients to be used to feed the tomatoes instead of going to encourage leaf growth.

Fresh-market tomatoes are pruned early in the season in order to increase fruit size and earliness. Pruning involves removing from the stem a number of axially shoots that grow between the soil level and first flower cluster.

The axillary shoots are removed when 7-10 cm long. The number of shoots removed depends on the cultivar. The flowering and fruiting are significantly influenced by spacing and pruning.

The bush tomatoes generally do not need this kind of pruning as they are developed to grow bush -like and have a shortened growing and fruit-bearing season.
Pruning of tomato crop

Planting of tomato crops

Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) is one of the most important vegetables worldwide.

Before planting, the soil is fertilized by applying organic matter. Tomato is usually given a combination of organic and chemical fertilizers.

Tomato seeds are generally planted indoors and nurtured until they reach a certain stage. Smaller quantities of seed are needed, the seedlings can be selected for growth and death before planting in the field, the plantlets can be well protected and the planting distance is more regular than after sowing directly in the field.

When the seedlings are approximately six inches in height, they are ready to be planted outdoors.

Add one cups each of kelp meal and bone meal into every planting hole before transplant the tomato seedlings.

It is important to water the plants regularly, especially during flowering and fruit formation. The amount of water that is needed depends on the type of soil and on the weather (amount of rain, humidity and temperature).

If the tomato seedlings have developed tall and leggy stems, it can be supported with trench planting.
Planting of tomato crops

Fertilizer for tomatoes

For most soil, it needs to fertilize every six months or so. For fertilizer that less nutrient rich its many need to be done so slightly more often. Rich garden soil that has adequate nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium will grow great tomatoes.

The ideal ration of these three key nutrients is 1:4:2 – highest in phosphorus.

Fertilizers should be applied in different stages of plant growth. The first round of fertilizers should be supplied while planting tomato seedlings.

Dig planting hole about three inches deeper and tow inches wider than the plant root. Add three to four tablespoon of fertilizer into the planting hole and set the tomato seedling.

Once seeing the fruit of tomato appeared it’s time to do the second fertilizing.

The tomatoes should be about the size of golf balls and will now be ready for more constant fertilizing. The frequency of fertilizing necessary will depend on the particular type of fertilizer used. It is best to follow the directions that should come with the fertilizer.

To lend balance to the nutrient composition, try to incorporate dry manure with bone meals.

The condition called fertilizer burn may occur when gardeners use too much fertilizer or too strong a concentration, don’t water fertilizer in properly or allow undissolved granules to remain on leaves.
Fertilizer for tomatoes

Tomato crop

Tomato belongs to the family Solanaceae, genus Lycopersicon, subfamily Solanoideae and tribe Solaneae. 

Tomatoes are one of the most widely eaten vegetables in the world. Their popularity stems from the fact that they can be eaten fresh or in a multiple of processed forms.

The tomato crop is commonly grown in solid of texture varying from sand to clays. The best soil for tomato is rich loam with a little sand in the upper layer and good clay in the sub soil.

Tomato is a warm season crop. It requires just the requisite amount of water in right time.

Fresh market tomato fruits are often harvested at different stages of ripeness, from mature green to pale pink, depending upon distance and time needed to market the fruit.

Generally, fruits harvested at pre-ripe stages tend to have lower quality than fruits ripened on the plant. Lower quality means in term of lower soluble solids ascorbic acid and reducing sugars.
Tomato crop