Detailed Guide to Tomato Cultivation Techniques: Growing Methods and Management Essentials

First, apply fertilizer and plow the tomato growing plot, and treat the seeds at the same time. Then, in April-May, sow the treated seeds in the soil, water them to soak through, and cover the seeds with a thin layer of soil. Next, set up supports around them and cover with plastic film. Finally, just carry out the later care.

Tomato planting management:

1. Temperature

After planting, ventilate heavily day and night, with bottom ventilation, close the surroundings of the greenhouse, and ventilate only at the middle and upper parts. When the outside temperature drops below 15°C, stop ventilation at night, keep it at 25-30°C during the day and 15-17°C at night. After the whole greenhouse is tightly closed in late October, ventilate at the top of the greenhouse at noon to remove moisture.

2. Water and fertilizer

2-3 days after planting, carry out timely intertillage and weeding, and water once after the seedlings recover. When large flower buds appear, water thoroughly, then shallow plow and restrain seedling growth. When the first cluster of fruit grows to the size of a walnut, apply fertilizer and water. After mid-October, stop watering. During the fruit enlargement stage, spray foliar fertilizer.

3. Pruning and trimming

For plant adjustment, use single-stem pruning, keeping 3-4 well-shaped fruits on each fruit cluster; for small-fruited varieties, 4-5 fruits may be kept, and the remaining fruits should be removed.

4. Pest and disease control

During cultivation, attention should be paid to the control of viral diseases and late blight. In the early stage, pay attention to controlling viral diseases. In addition to selecting disease-resistant varieties, sowing at the right time, raising seedlings in nutrient pots, and selecting disease-free seedlings for planting, the greenhouse can also be covered in advance, which can significantly reduce the number of aphids. If diseased plants are found, they should be pulled out in time, and after washing hands with soapy water, replant. In the middle and late stages, pay attention to controlling late blight. In cultivation, ventilation should be strengthened to lower the temperature, diseased leaves and fruits should be removed, and sprays such as zineb and chlorothalonil should be applied comprehensively.

In addition, when growing tomatoes, appropriate fruit harvesting is also needed. For storage and fresh-keeping, they can be harvested at the green-ripe stage. For transport and sale, they can be picked at the color-changing stage (when 1/3 of the fruit has turned red). For local sale or personal consumption, they should be picked at the mature stage, that is, when more than 1/3 of the fruit has turned red.