How to Grow Tomatoes Well? A Detailed Guide to Planting Methods
Step one, prepare the nutrient soil in a certain ratio; step two, soak plump, disease-free seeds in warm water; step three, germinate the treated seeds, and after germination is complete, sow them by broadcasting, drilling or dibbling; step four, after sowing, cover with soil and either plastic film (winter and spring) or rice straw (summer and autumn); finally, carry out good follow-up management.
In addition, when growing tomatoes, also pay attention to:
1. Sowing time
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, which gives the best results; while in eastern Sichuan, sowing in early July gives a higher yield. In areas where some tomato diseases occur seriously, the sowing period can be appropriately postponed by 1-2 months. The specific sowing time still needs to be determined according to actual conditions.
2. Soil selection
Tomatoes are not very strict about soil conditions, and grow well in deep, well-drained, fertile loam rich in organic matter. The suitable soil pH is 6-7.
3. Fertilization
Before transplanting tomatoes, apply sufficient fully decomposed organic fertilizer to supply nutrients throughout the entire growth period; generally, no additional fertilizer is applied after transplanting until fruit set. When the first cluster of fruits begins to swell, apply additional fertilizer together with watering, and later during the swelling of the second and third clusters of fruits, increase the amount of potassium fertilizer applied. In addition, spray a certain amount of foliar fertilizer at the appropriate time.
At present, there are many tomato varieties on the market, including early-maturing and mid-to-late-maturing varieties, and everyone should choose according to actual conditions. For example, when cultivating for early spring or late autumn extension, early-maturing varieties should be chosen, while for cultivation in the regular season, mid-to-late-maturing varieties should be chosen. Good planting varieties and the correct planting time are both among the important factors for high yield.