How to Grow Tomatoes? A Detailed Guide to Planting Methods and Key Techniques

Tomato is an annual herbaceous plant of the Solanaceae family, also known as persimmon tomato, xi hong shi, or yang shi zi. It can be eaten raw, cooked, or processed, and it is grown very widely in our country, so how do you grow tomatoes?

How to grow tomatoes?

1. Seed soaking and germination promotion

Soak the selected seeds in clean water for 1-2 hours, then remove them and soak them in warm water. Usually, seeds that have not been treated with chemicals need to be soaked in warm water for 6-8 hours first, so that the seeds fully swell, then placed under a temperature condition of 25-28 degrees Celsius to sprout for 2-3 days.

2. Sowing and raising seedlings

Sow the germinated seeds by broadcasting, drilling in rows, or dibbling, at the standard seed rate of 20-30 grams per 667 sq m of field (reference standard). The sowing time should be considered based on comprehensive factors such as variety, region, and climate. For example, for open-field cultivation in spring, the Beijing area usually sows and raises seedlings from mid-February to early March. For open-field cultivation in autumn, areas south of the Yangtze River such as Shanghai and Nanjing sow from late July to early August. After sowing, cover with soil immediately, and the soil used for covering should be sieved fine soil.

3. Field planting

For early-maturing cultivation under protection in spring, plant out from late February to early March, seizing the weather at the tail end of a cold spell and the start of a warm one; for open-field cultivation with plastic film mulching, plant out around March 20, also seizing the weather at the tail end of a cold spell and the start of a warm one. You can also determine the planting time and density according to local specific conditions.

4. Field management

During the tomato growing period, apply additional fertilizer appropriately. Do not apply nitrogen fertilizer alone; it must be combined with phosphorus and potassium fertilizers. Topdressing should be carried out at the right time. The first topdressing is done 7-10 days after field planting;; the second topdressing is done when the first truss of fruit begins to swell; the third topdressing is done when the first truss of fruit is about to be harvested and the second and third trusses of fruit begin to swell.

In addition, tomatoes also need timely pruning, trellising, vine tying, etc., and harvesting should also be carried out at the right time.