A Detailed Guide to Cherry Tomato Planting Methods and Key Techniques
Cherry tomato, often called small tomato, whose official Chinese name is cherry tomato, is an annual herbaceous plant belonging to the Solanaceae family, genus Solanum. The plant can grow up to 2 m at its tallest. It has the effects of promoting saliva production and quenching thirst, strengthening the stomach and aiding digestion, clearing heat and detoxifying, cooling the blood and calming the liver, nourishing the blood, and increasing appetite.
Cherry tomato planting methods:
(Temperature requirements) 1. Cherry tomato does not have very high temperature requirements and can be planted in a greenhouse or in a field. The most suitable growing temperature for cherry tomato is 23 degrees to 28 degrees, with nighttime temperature at 15 degrees to 18 degrees. Temperatures above 28 degrees will cause excessive vegetative growth of branches and leaves in cherry tomato, and temperatures above 32 degrees will cause sunscald and increased disease. Temperatures below 15 degrees will slow the growth of cherry tomato, and temperatures of 1 degree to 5 degrees will cause cold injury, and in severe cases will directly kill it.
(Humidity requirements) 1. Cherry tomato does not have very high humidity requirements; humidity controlled at 60 percent to 80 percent is enough. At the early seedling stage, humidity should be controlled at 75 percent to 80 percent; at flowering, humidity should be controlled at 60 percent; during fruit growth, humidity should be controlled at 65 percent to 75 percent.
(Soil requirements) 1. Cherry tomato does not have very high soil requirements; as long as the pH is between 6 and 6.5, it can meet its growth needs. The soil is best if it is loose, fertile and thick, with strong water retention capacity. Cherry tomato has very high phosphorus fertilizer requirements, so some phosphorus fertilizer should be added at every fertilization. Nitrogen fertilizer is mainly used during seedling growth, and potassium fertilizer should be used during the fruit ripening stage. This can ensure the growth needs of cherry tomato and increase yield.
(Seedling raising and sowing)
(Seedling raising) 1. Seeds can be sold in regular wholesale and retail stores. The seeds bought back should first be disinfected with medicinal solution, then taken out and rinsed clean with clear water, placed in a wet towel, and germinated in an environment at 25 degrees to 30 degrees. Water 1 time to 2 times a day to ensure the moisture of the towel. When the germination rate of the seeds is above 85 percent, they can be sown.
(Sowing) 1. After germination is complete, the plants should be sown in a seedling tray or on a seedling bed, with temperature controlled. Do not water the seedlings before they break through the soil and sprout; after the seedlings emerge, water lightly to ensure sufficient moisture. When the seedlings grow to 10 cm to 15 cm, they can be transplanted.
(Transplanting) 1. The normal sowing time is from April to May in spring, and the autumn sowing time is in August. A pit planting method can be used in the field, with each plant spaced 25 cm to 35 cm apart and each row spaced 30 cm to 40 cm apart, using about 3000 to 3200 seedlings per mu. This planting density is better for management.
(Trellising and pruning)
(Trellising) 1. When cherry tomato grows to 30 cm to 40 cm, trellising should begin. Use thin branches inserted between each plant, with the tops fixed with wire in a herringbone shape so the trellis is sturdy.
(Pruning) 1. This process is very simple: remove all yellowed, diseased, excessively growing and other branches and leaves, then fix the fruiting branches to the trellis, otherwise lodging and similar problems will occur during fruiting.
(Water and fertilizer management)
(Fertilizer) 1. Cherry tomato has very high fertilizer requirements during growth. Per mu, 2000 jin to 2500 jin of farmyard manure can be used, 50 jin to 60 jin of compound fertilizer, and 80 jin to 90 jin of phosphorus fertilizer.
(Water) 1. Cherry tomato needs more water when the seedlings are planted. During flowering, water use should be well controlled; at this stage the water requirement is not high. If too much water is given, it will affect pollination and reduce the chance of fruit set, which will seriously affect yield. After the fruit ripens, water once after each harvest.
(Harvest) 1. Ripe cherry tomatoes are red, light red, yellow or light yellow; different varieties have different colors. When harvesting, the fruit should be stored separately according to high and low grades, and sold promptly after harvest.
Effects and functions of cherry tomato
Cherry tomato has the effects of promoting saliva production and quenching thirst, strengthening the stomach and aiding digestion, clearing heat and detoxifying, cooling the blood and calming the liver, nourishing the blood, and increasing appetite. It can treat thirst and poor appetite.