Detailed Explanation of Key Management Techniques for Tomatoes at the Early Flowering Stage
????I. Temperature Management
During the flowering stage of tomatoes, the suitable daytime temperature is 24-26°C, and the nighttime temperature is 12-14°C. Tomatoes are relatively sensitive to temperature during the flowering stage, especially from 5 days before flowering to 3 days after flowering. Temperatures below 12°C and above 30°C are both unfavorable for flowering, pollination, and fertilization.
?II. Pruning and Sucker Removal at the Early Flowering Stage
The first large flower that opens above the first cluster on the tomato plant will affect fruit setting of other flowers, so it should be removed promptly. Before the first cluster sets fruit, suckers should not be removed too early, as removing them too early will reduce the plant's early growth vigor and affect root development. Generally, when the suckers grow to about 10-12 cm, they should be removed. After the first cluster sets fruit, the suckers on the upper part of the tomato plant should be removed promptly. When removing suckers, take care to minimize wounds as much as possible. Along with pruning and sucker removal, do a good job of vine training and hanging.
????III. Precautions for Flower Dipping
1. Regardless of which flower-dipping agent is used, different concentrations should be used according to different temperatures, and it should be prepared strictly according to the instructions for the flower-spraying agent;
2. Avoid repeated flower dipping;
3. Flower dipping is best done in the morning on the day of flowering;
4. In early spring, low temperatures and high humidity in greenhouses favor the occurrence of gray mold. The pathogen easily invades through wounds or weakened spent flowers, and the flowering stage is the peak period for pathogen infection. Therefore, flower dipping should be combined with gray mold control. When preparing the flower-dipping solution, 50% iprodione suspension concentrate or 40% pyrimethanil suspension concentrate can be added, with 1 ml of the agent added per jin of water.
IV. Pest and Disease Control at the Early Flowering Stage
The main pests at this stage are whiteflies and leafminers. For whitefly control, use imidacloprid plus buprofezin; for leafminer control, pesticides such as emamectin benzoate or abamectin can be sprayed.
After tomatoes enter the early flowering stage, they also reach a period of high disease incidence. Disease control should follow the principle of "prevention first, combining prevention with control," carry out good cultivation management practices, and regularly spray protective fungicides before diseases occur to take preventive measures in advance. Once a disease occurs, promptly spray targeted pesticides at the early stage of onset.