How to grow potted tomatoes? Detailed explanation of cultivation techniques

Preparation of cultivation soil

Prepare the nutrient soil in a certain ratio. The nutrient soil is required to have a porosity of about 60%, pH 6-7, contain available phosphorus of more than 100 mg/kg, available potassium of more than 100 mg/kg, and available nitrogen of 150 mg/kg. It should be loose, retain fertilizer and water, and have complete nutrition. Spread the prepared nutrient soil evenly on the sowing bed (thickness 10 cm), or in a seedling tray.

Environmental condition requirements

1. Temperature. Tomatoes are a warm-loving vegetable. Under normal conditions, the optimum temperature for assimilation is 20-25°C, and the optimum soil temperature for root growth is 20-22°C. Increasing the soil temperature not only promotes root development, but also significantly increases the nitrate nitrogen content in the soil, accelerating growth and development and increasing yield.

2. Light. Tomatoes are a light-loving crop, with a light saturation point of 70000 lx and a suitable light intensity of 30000-50000 lx. Tomatoes are short-day plants. In the process of transitioning from vegetative growth to reproductive growth, short-day conditions are basically required, but the requirement is not strict. Some varieties can bud and flower earlier under short-day conditions, while most varieties flower earlier and grow robustly under 11-13 h of daylight.

3. Water. Tomatoes need a relatively large amount of water, but do not need frequent large-scale irrigation. Generally, a soil moisture of 60-80% and an air humidity of 45-50% are suitable. High air humidity not only hinders normal pollination, but also leads to severe disease under high temperature and high humidity conditions.

4. Soil and nutrition. Tomatoes are not very strict about soil conditions, but in order to obtain high yield and promote good root development, tomatoes need to absorb a large amount of nutrients from the soil during their growth process. According to Edelstein's report, for every 5000 kg of fruit produced, 33 kg of potassium oxide, 10 kg of nitrogen, and 5 kg of phosphoric acid need to be absorbed from the soil.

Cultivation management techniques

1. Growth period management. This includes measures such as intertillage and weeding, storing water and preserving soil moisture, trellising and tying vines, pruning and removing side shoots, removing old leaves, ventilation and light transmission, strengthening pest and disease control, and strengthening temperature management. Temperature management means that during the day, the ventilation of the greenhouse should be appropriately increased to keep the temperature inside at around 25°C. The nighttime temperature should be kept between 10-13°C. When ventilation begins, the ventilation openings should be gradually increased from small to large and from few to many, and after the temperature drops in the afternoon, the openings should be gradually reduced or closed.

2. Fertilizer and water management. During the growing period of tomatoes in the summer and autumn rainy season, watering is generally not needed, but when the 1st-3rd trusses of fruit mature and drought occurs, appropriate watering should also be done. According to the growth condition of the tomato plants, apply topdressing at the right time to promote fruit development and preserve flowers and fruits. Generally, microbial bacterial fertilizer can be applied as a base fertilizer, and Beizhuang seedling strengthener and sweetening agent can be applied as topdressing to make them look better and taste more delicious. If conditions permit, cake fertilizers such as soybean cake and cottonseed cake can be applied as topdressing.

3. Pruning management. During the growth process of tomatoes, tender buds will grow from each leaf axil. The tender buds below the first inflorescence should be removed in time to avoid consuming nutrients and affecting fruit lighting and yield. After leaving 4-6 inflorescences per plant, pinch off the growing tip of the tomato plant to control nutrients so they are supplied only to the fruit and ensure yield.