Is the cherry tomato a fruit? Mastering the planting time is key
The cherry tomato is surely familiar to many people, and we can often see it in daily life. Because of its high edible value and good taste, the cherry tomato is deeply loved by consumers. Many people now want to grow cherry tomatoes, but before planting, the thing everyone most wants to know is probably its planting time!
When to plant cherry tomatoes
1. Spring sowing: In December, raise seedlings in a greenhouse using heating lines plus small tunnels, then after mulching with plastic film in late March, transplant to the open field, and harvest from late May to late July. Choose early-maturing, high-yielding varieties such as Sijihong and Shengnyu.
2. Autumn sowing: Sow and raise seedlings in late June; nutrient-pot seedling raising can be used; transplant in late July; harvest from late September until before frost. The Sijihong variety can be used.
Is the cherry tomato a fruit
The cherry tomato can be eaten as a fruit and can also be used as a vegetable. The cherry tomato, also known as the small tomato, is an annual herbaceous plant belonging to the genus Solanum in the nightshade family, and the plant can grow up to 2 m tall. It can be cultivated all year round in our country. However, in the north it only grows for one season each year, and is grown in greenhouses the rest of the time; compared with open-field cultivation, there is a big difference in taste.
In South China, because the climate is suitable for the growth of cherry tomatoes, from July and August each year until February of the following year, you can eat open-field cultivated cherry tomatoes with a pure flavor.
Cherry tomato cultivation methods
1. Seedbed preparation. The seedbed should be sheltered from the wind, face the sun, and have good drainage. For 667 sq m of field, 6-7 sq m of seedling bed and 35-40 sq m of transplanting bed are needed. For the subsoil of the seedbed soil, apply 1500 kg of decomposed human excrement and urine per 667 sq m, and spread 8 cm of nutrient soil on top.
2. Nutrient soil. Use fully decomposed organic fertilizer and fertile soil that has never been planted with nightshade crops, half of each, mix well and sieve 7-10 days before sowing, mix in 5 kg of superphosphate, spray carbendazim to disinfect the soil, and pile it up for later use.
3. Seed soaking and germination. Use 20 g of seed per 667 sq m; after soaking in 1000-fold potassium permanganate solution for 10 minutes, rinse with clean water and soak in warm water for 6 hours, wash the seeds, shake off the water, keep moist with wet gauze, and germinate at about 25°C; sow after the seeds show white.
4. Planting. Dig a small hole 1 cm deep in the soil, put the germinated seed in, and cover it with 0.5 to 1 cm of loose soil, keeping the temperature at about 25°C. It is best to water this soil thoroughly the day before. Water more before the seedlings push through the soil to keep the soil moist. After three to four days, the two cotyledons of the seed will emerge from the soil. Then keep the daytime temperature unchanged and let the nighttime temperature drop to about 20°C, until the number of leaves increases to four or five. After that, when watering, it needs to be “dry and wet alternately”, that is, water after the soil dries, and water thoroughly. After each watering, use a small hook to loosen the soil about 5 cm deep.
5. Transplanting. After the seedlings grow 4-5 leaves, they can be transplanted. Dig the seedlings out of the original small pot with soil, dig a hole in a large flowerpot, put the whole small soil ball in, and water thoroughly. Transplanting allows the seedlings to have their roots broken and then regrow, so that the crop will grow better. In principle, after transplanting, do not water or apply additional fertilizer, but also adjust according to the actual situation; if the soil is too dry, supplement some appropriately.
Common diseases of cherry tomatoes and their control
1. The main insect pests are cotton bollworm and aphids. For cotton bollworm, spray insecticide + Xin Gao Zhi Mo solution every 5-7 days during the flowering period, and often change the application. For aphids, use agents such as pirimicarb and imidacloprid + Xin Gao Zhi Mo solution for spray poisoning.
2. Leaf mold. Before and after the disease occurs, spray with 70% mancozeb wettable powder or 50% procymidone wettable powder + Xin Gao Zhi Mo 800-fold dilution, once every 7 days, for 3-4 consecutive sprays.
3. Gray mold. During the flowering period, add 50% procymidone wettable powder or 50% iprodione wettable powder plus Xin Gao Zhi Mo 800-fold solution to the flower-dipping agent, and the effect is very good. It can also be sprayed on the fruit; when spraying, pay attention to rotating the medication to prevent the pathogen from developing resistance.
The cherry tomato is a combination of vegetable and fruit. It can generally be sown in spring and autumn. When planting, do a good job of site selection, and then sow at the appropriate time. After planting, strengthen management, especially the prevention and control of pests and diseases; only in this way can the growth of cherry tomatoes be ensured.