Tomato Freeze Damage: Prevention and Control Methods and Precautions
In winter, tomatoes are susceptible to low-temperature freeze damage, which causes fruit to spoil and drop, resulting in serious economic losses for vegetable growers. So in winter we must take effective measures to strengthen the cold resistance of tomatoes so that the leaves, flowers and fruit are not damaged by freezing. So what are the key points for preventing and controlling tomato freeze damage?
1. Apply plenty of phosphorus fertilizer
In winter, apply plenty of phosphorus fertilizer to tomatoes. Generally, apply monopotassium phosphate once every 15 to 20 days, 25 grams to 50 grams per plant each time. It can be mixed with clean water or 2 kg to 3 kg of decomposed material and then applied to the soil around the plants. This can increase the phosphorus and potassium content of the tomatoes and enhance the cold resistance of the plants.
2. Spray foliar fertilizer
In winter, you can spray foliar fertilizer on tomatoes, about once every 6 days, with a mixed solution containing 0.3% monopotassium phosphate, 1500 times Shennongsu chelated fertilizer, and 5000 times Yunda-120. Spray about 4 times in a row, and spray until the branches, leaves and fruit are dripping. This operation can enhance the plants' cold resistance and ability to prevent freeze damage.
3. Add mulch around the plants
When winter arrives, the tomato plot needs to be hilled with soil, and decomposed fertilizer or pond mud should be applied around the plants for hilling, about 1 to 2 kg per tomato plant, and the bed surface should be covered with straw or other weeds 3 cm to 5 cm thick, to stabilize and raise the soil temperature and protect the tomato roots from low-temperature freeze injury.
4. Fill the furrows with water
In winter, the furrows of the tomato beds must be filled with water. Especially when a cold wave arrives and when frost begins, the furrows of the tomato plot need to be filled with water. This can effectively prevent the formation of frost crystals under low temperatures and better protect the normal growth of tomato branches, leaves and fruit.
Preventing freeze damage is an important step in growing tomatoes. Good prevention and control results can ensure tomato yield and also bring good economic returns to vegetable growers, so that their hard work is rewarded.