A Detailed Guide to Tomato Planting Time and Methods
The tomato is a common fruit vegetable that can be eaten raw or cooked. It has a sweet-and-sour taste and is rich in various vitamins, and it is widely cultivated in China. So do you know its planting time and planting methods? Tomato planting time should take into account the local climate, conditions and various other factors. Let us take a look below at the planting time and methods for tomatoes.
Planting Time
Tomatoes have a long history of cultivation and, after many years of breeding, there are numerous varieties. Their ability to adapt to the environment has greatly improved, and the planting time must also change with the climate and temperature of the region. The planting time for spring tomatoes is from February to May, the planting time for the autumn-winter crop is generally from July to September, and the planting time for the winter-spring crop is from November to February of the following year.
Planting Methods
1. Seed treatment
Before planting, soak the seeds in warm water. This not only breaks seed dormancy and promotes germination, but also has a certain sterilizing and disinfecting effect. First soak the seeds in clean water for one to two hours, then place the seeds in warm water at 50-60 degrees and stir constantly. This prevents the seeds from being scalded. When the water temperature drops, add water to raise the temperature again, keeping the whole process at about 15 minutes. Then continue soaking the seeds for 3-5 hours before sowing.
2. Sowing and planting out
After treating the seeds, sow them in a seedbed. Sowing should not be too dense; about 30 grams of seeds per sq m is best. Keep the soil moist, with the temperature between 22-28 degrees, and sprouts will emerge in about 3-4 days. When the seedlings grow two or three true leaves, they can be planted out. At planting out, the ground temperature should be stable above 10°C, which is good for root growth and increases the survival rate.
3. Field management
After planting out, cultivate the soil promptly to promote rapid rooting and recovery growth. Along with cultivation, loosen the soil and remove weeds. Fertilization should mainly be base fertilizer; apply sufficient base fertilizer to the growing area before planting out, and basically no fertilizer is needed later. If you want them to grow quickly, you may apply fertilizer once or twice as appropriate. After fertilizing, water immediately; this lowers the fertilizer concentration and prevents root burn. For ordinary watering, water according to seasonal climate changes. In dry seasons, water more; in winter, water as little as possible; in the rainy season, take good drainage measures to avoid excessive water accumulation that causes root rot. Apart from a few upright varieties, all other tomato varieties need trellising for cultivation.
The above is the introduction to tomato planting time and methods brought to you by Qinnongwang. The planting methods for tomatoes are still relatively simple, and their cultivation and management are also convenient. Except in special circumstances, they generally grow very well with only a little management after planting.