Tomato Seed Planting Methods and Management Tips

1. Determining the seeding rate:

Generally, tomato seeds contain about 300 seeds per gram. Depending on the planting density, the seeding rate is usually 20-30 grams per 667 sq m of field. Each square meter of seedbed can be sown with 10-15 grams. If the seed germination rate is below 85%, the seeding rate should be increased appropriately.

2. Determining the sowing period:

The appropriate sowing period should be determined by comprehensively considering factors such as the tomato planting season, climate conditions, cultivation method, and seedling facilities. For example, for spring open-field cultivation, the Beijing area usually sows and raises seedlings from mid-February to early March. For autumn open-field cultivation, areas south of the Yangtze River such as Shanghai and Nanjing sow from late July to early August for the best results; while eastern Sichuan sows in early July for higher yields. The yield is also relatively higher. In areas where tomato diseases occur severely, appropriately delaying the sowing period by 1-2 months, and then taking measures such as close planting, early pinching, and increasing fertilizer and water, can also achieve relatively high yields.

3. Sowing methods:

There are usually broadcast sowing, drill sowing, and dibble sowing. After sowing tomato seeds, soil should be covered immediately, and the covering soil should be sifted fine soil. The thickness of the covering soil should be about 0.8-1.0 cm, and the thickness should be uniform. After sowing, for each square meter of seedbed, 8 grams of 50% carbendazim wettable powder mixed with fine soil should be evenly and thinly spread on the bed surface, which can prevent the occurrence of damping-off disease in seedlings. In winter and spring, the seedbed surface also needs to be covered with plastic film. In summer and autumn, the seedbed surface needs to be covered with a shade net or straw, and the covering should be removed when 70% of the seedlings emerge from the soil.