PRODUCTION OF TOMATOES
1. ECOLOGICAL CONSIDERATIONS
a. Temperature
• Performs well in cool to warm conditions
• Temperature ranges are from 20 degrees Celsius to 25 degrees Celsius and 13 degrees Celsius to 17 degrees Celsius
• Generally tolerates higher temperatures rather than lower ones
b. Rainfall
• Best grown using irrigation
• But an ideal rainfall requirement is 600mm during production period
• During the first month after transplanting, crop should not face any drought
c. Altitude
• 2,000 meters above sea level
2. SITE SELECTION
a. Soil type and analysis
• Well draining soils and soils that aren’t too heavy are suitable
• pH levels between 5 and 7.5 will do
b. Water proximity
• Ideally, site will be near water source
c. Topography
• Ideal topography is where land is relatively level
• But sloping land also can be used bearing in mind contours
3. CROP PLANNING
a. Farm layout
• Plan land use to allow for crop mix that will enable rotation
b. Crop rotation.
• Very necessary to avoid disease build up
• Rotate with crops that do not belong in the Solanacea family
c. Record keeping
• A very important exercise or tool that needs to be used by all farmers. Any activity undertaken should be recorded
• Should be designed early to ensure timely and proper collection of relevant data
d. Marketing
• Necessary to know where the product will be sold and the likely price
4. NURSERY OPERATIONS
a. Area selection
• Where possible, select virgin land for the nursery
• Site should be close to water source
• Should be protected from interference
b. Preparation
• The area should be thoroughly ploughed two weeks in advance to a depth of at least 15 centimeters
• Solarization treatment is a recommended
• The soil should then be prepared to a fine tilth
• Remove all trash and clods
• Incorporate well cured manure and DAP
• Some types of soils will require addition of sand (thus soil:sand:organic matter mix)
• Measure a bed of 1 meter wide and of suitable length
• The modern nursery type allows for the use of seedling plugs or trays to substitute for beds
• When trays are used, make sure ground or bench is level
c. Sowing
• Before sowing in the nursery, thoroughly wet the soil using a rose sieve
• Depth of seed sowing depends on size of seed
• In beds, drill seeds in lines thinly, 15 centimeters apart
• In the plugs, put one seed per hole
• Then cover with a layer of media
d. Management
• After sowing the beds should be covered with either a Hessian cloth or grass mulch
• Then shade should be provided on top using either shade net or any other appropriate material
•
• Watering is done daily in the morning and in the evening using a rose sieve. But it is always advisable to check the moisture content before irrigating
• Germination is likely from the 6th day onward. Once germination starts, remove the cloth or mulch to be left with a shade of 50 percent to 70 percent
• Watering pattern remains the same
• In the last week before transplanting, remove all shade, reduce watering frequency and apply root guard
5. MAIN SITE PREPARATION
a. Ploughing
• Disc plough to 8 inches deep or more 2-3 weeks before planting using either a jembe or an animal or tractor-drawn plough
b. Harrowing
• Should be done to achieve a fine surface 2-3 weeks after ploughing
c. Beds
• Make beds 1 meter x desired length, depending on the length of the field
d. Spacing
• For processing, tomatoes can be spaced at 60-70cm x 40cm
• For fresh markets can vary from 90-60cm x 30cm or even closer spacing will also be sufficient
e. Starter solutions
• There are various starter solutions available that can be used at planting time to enhance startup. Among them are rootgaurd, kickstart, etc.
6. TRANSPLANTING
a. Timing
• At 4 weeks old, begin the hardening process (reduce watering frequency, remove shade etc.). Also start application of root guard
• Before transplanting, wet the nursery an hour in advance
• Transplant in the evening to reduce shock; plants should be 6 weeks old
b. Depth
• The seedling should be put at the same level as at the nursery
7. CROP MANAGEMENT
a. Feeding/Fertilization
• At planting, phosphorus should be added and select fertilizer suitable for the soil acidity
• Top dressing should follow with a nitrogen fertilizer 3 weeks after planting
• Follow with further top dressing at just about flowering
b. Manuring
• Advisable to incorporate manure during land preparation or at planting time. Aim for 30 tonnes per hectare
c. Weeding
• Ensure field is weed free, thus regular weeding necessary
d. Pest and Disease
• Scouting is important here
• Common tomato pests are red spider mites, American bollworm, nematodes, aphides and white flies, in that order
• Control pests through regular scouting and correct selection of pesticides
• The main tomato diseases are blights (early and late), bacterial wilt, and blossom end rot which is more of a physiological disorder
• Control disease through proper selection and utilization of pesticides
e. Mulching
• Helps to reduce weed pressure, helps keep moisture loss low and helps maintain soil fertility
8. HARVESTING
a. Stage
• 2 ½ - 3 months after transplanting, tomatoes will be ready for picking
b. Specifications
• Would be determined by the type of market
• Should be fully ripe for home consumption
• Should be mature green stage or broken stage (greenish-yellow) for local market
c. Postharvest handling
• Tomatoes should be handled with care to avoid bruising
• Tomatoes should be packed in wooden crates or bread crates with a standard weight to avoid bruising
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS
To be covered later
1. ECOLOGICAL CONSIDERATIONS
a. Temperature
• Performs well in cool to warm conditions
• Temperature ranges are from 20 degrees Celsius to 25 degrees Celsius and 13 degrees Celsius to 17 degrees Celsius
• Generally tolerates higher temperatures rather than lower ones
b. Rainfall
• Best grown using irrigation
• But an ideal rainfall requirement is 600mm during production period
• During the first month after transplanting, crop should not face any drought
c. Altitude
• 2,000 meters above sea level
2. SITE SELECTION
a. Soil type and analysis
• Well draining soils and soils that aren’t too heavy are suitable
• pH levels between 5 and 7.5 will do
b. Water proximity
• Ideally, site will be near water source
c. Topography
• Ideal topography is where land is relatively level
• But sloping land also can be used bearing in mind contours
3. CROP PLANNING
a. Farm layout
• Plan land use to allow for crop mix that will enable rotation
b. Crop rotation.
• Very necessary to avoid disease build up
• Rotate with crops that do not belong in the Solanacea family
c. Record keeping
• A very important exercise or tool that needs to be used by all farmers. Any activity undertaken should be recorded
• Should be designed early to ensure timely and proper collection of relevant data
d. Marketing
• Necessary to know where the product will be sold and the likely price
4. NURSERY OPERATIONS
a. Area selection
• Where possible, select virgin land for the nursery
• Site should be close to water source
• Should be protected from interference
b. Preparation
• The area should be thoroughly ploughed two weeks in advance to a depth of at least 15 centimeters
• Solarization treatment is a recommended
• The soil should then be prepared to a fine tilth
• Remove all trash and clods
• Incorporate well cured manure and DAP
• Some types of soils will require addition of sand (thus soil:sand:organic matter mix)
• Measure a bed of 1 meter wide and of suitable length
• The modern nursery type allows for the use of seedling plugs or trays to substitute for beds
• When trays are used, make sure ground or bench is level
c. Sowing
• Before sowing in the nursery, thoroughly wet the soil using a rose sieve
• Depth of seed sowing depends on size of seed
• In beds, drill seeds in lines thinly, 15 centimeters apart
• In the plugs, put one seed per hole
• Then cover with a layer of media
d. Management
• After sowing the beds should be covered with either a Hessian cloth or grass mulch
• Then shade should be provided on top using either shade net or any other appropriate material
•
• Watering is done daily in the morning and in the evening using a rose sieve. But it is always advisable to check the moisture content before irrigating
• Germination is likely from the 6th day onward. Once germination starts, remove the cloth or mulch to be left with a shade of 50 percent to 70 percent
• Watering pattern remains the same
• In the last week before transplanting, remove all shade, reduce watering frequency and apply root guard
5. MAIN SITE PREPARATION
a. Ploughing
• Disc plough to 8 inches deep or more 2-3 weeks before planting using either a jembe or an animal or tractor-drawn plough
b. Harrowing
• Should be done to achieve a fine surface 2-3 weeks after ploughing
c. Beds
• Make beds 1 meter x desired length, depending on the length of the field
d. Spacing
• For processing, tomatoes can be spaced at 60-70cm x 40cm
• For fresh markets can vary from 90-60cm x 30cm or even closer spacing will also be sufficient
e. Starter solutions
• There are various starter solutions available that can be used at planting time to enhance startup. Among them are rootgaurd, kickstart, etc.
6. TRANSPLANTING
a. Timing
• At 4 weeks old, begin the hardening process (reduce watering frequency, remove shade etc.). Also start application of root guard
• Before transplanting, wet the nursery an hour in advance
• Transplant in the evening to reduce shock; plants should be 6 weeks old
b. Depth
• The seedling should be put at the same level as at the nursery
7. CROP MANAGEMENT
a. Feeding/Fertilization
• At planting, phosphorus should be added and select fertilizer suitable for the soil acidity
• Top dressing should follow with a nitrogen fertilizer 3 weeks after planting
• Follow with further top dressing at just about flowering
b. Manuring
• Advisable to incorporate manure during land preparation or at planting time. Aim for 30 tonnes per hectare
c. Weeding
• Ensure field is weed free, thus regular weeding necessary
d. Pest and Disease
• Scouting is important here
• Common tomato pests are red spider mites, American bollworm, nematodes, aphides and white flies, in that order
• Control pests through regular scouting and correct selection of pesticides
• The main tomato diseases are blights (early and late), bacterial wilt, and blossom end rot which is more of a physiological disorder
• Control disease through proper selection and utilization of pesticides
e. Mulching
• Helps to reduce weed pressure, helps keep moisture loss low and helps maintain soil fertility
8. HARVESTING
a. Stage
• 2 ½ - 3 months after transplanting, tomatoes will be ready for picking
b. Specifications
• Would be determined by the type of market
• Should be fully ripe for home consumption
• Should be mature green stage or broken stage (greenish-yellow) for local market
c. Postharvest handling
• Tomatoes should be handled with care to avoid bruising
• Tomatoes should be packed in wooden crates or bread crates with a standard weight to avoid bruising
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS
To be covered later
Posted 3rd November 2011 by kanyeni ngunu
Hakuna maoni:
Chapisha Maoni