To achieve high yields of tomatoes with quality and healthy fruit, it is crucial to cultivate them properly. Growing tomatoes is not simply about planting them and watering them occasionally. Instead, it requires careful attention to their growth and development, alongside specific care measures and timely protection against diseases, pests, and weeds.
General and Specific Tomato Care Measures
The general care measures for tomato cultivation include inter-row tillage, irrigation, and mulching. Meanwhile, specific care measures include tying, pruning, decapitation, supplementary fertilization, and mulching. These steps ensure the plants grow optimally and produce abundant fruit.
Supporting Tomato Growth
Once transplanted, tomato seedlings easily establish themselves, whether they are plucked from a nursery or grown in a pot with a well-developed root system. After about ten days, once the plant has rooted well and gained height, it is time to provide support. Tomatoes do not have sturdy stems to support themselves, and if left to spread on the ground, they become vulnerable to infections and rot. Additionally, sprawling tomatoes may develop roots at various points, creating a chaotic and unproductive growth pattern.
Tying tomatoes is crucial for tall varieties to create an upright structure capable of bearing the weight of the plant and its heavy fruit. The most common tying method in greenhouses and open fields is using twine. The lower part of the stem is loosely tied with a knot, while the top of the rope is secured to the greenhouse structure or an outdoor framework.
Plastic buckles are also available for securing tomatoes. The string is lightly wrapped around the plant and tied to the construction, ensuring the plant remains upright. Throughout the growing season, the plant should be wrapped around the twine every 5-10 days, ensuring the flowers are not damaged. If necessary, additional ties should be made to prevent the plant from sagging under the weight of its fruit. Leaving excess twine at the top allows for adjustments to prevent the plant from being squeezed too tightly.
Apart from tying tomatoes with twine, other support methods include using wooden stakes, plastic rods, or trellises. The plant is tied using a rope or a special rubber cord to the support structure. This allows for monitoring plant development and adjusting the ties as needed. Tying should be done above the leaves to prevent the rope from slipping down the stem and under the flower branch to avoid damage.
The Importance of Pruning and Pinching
Another essential practice in tomato cultivation is the removal of suckers, or pinching. This is a necessary measure for tall varieties from the moment they are planted. Suckers are lateral shoots that emerge at the leaf axils along the main stem. If left unremoved, these shoots take away nutrients that the plant produces through photosynthesis. While suckers can grow, develop, and bear fruit, their produce is often smaller and in fewer quantities, which is not ideal for high yields.
To ensure optimal growth, suckers should be removed as soon as they reach a length of 4-5 cm. Special care should be taken when pinching the last sucker located below the flower branch, ensuring the plant continues to grow healthily and produce abundant, juicy fruit.
For low-growing tomato varieties, suckers do not significantly impact production. However, it is beneficial to remove them below the first flowering branch to improve aeration and airflow around the plant. Tall varieties can be cultivated using either a single-stem method for earlier ripening and larger fruit or a two-stem method for later ripening and higher total yield. When using the two-stem method, the first sucker below the first flower branch is left to grow. For semi-tall varieties, a third stem can be maintained by allowing the sucker above the first flower branch to develop.
Decapitation and Leaf Removal
Decapitation, or pruning the top of the plant, is another critical practice for regulating tomato growth and ensuring an adequate number of harvests. The timing of decapitation depends on the production season. In spring-summer production, the top of the plant is pruned in mid-May after developing 8-10 flowering branches. In autumn production, decapitation is performed in early October after 4-6 flowering branches have developed. As a rule, pruning is done so that 2-3 leaves remain above the last flower branch.
Throughout the growing season, diseased, pest-damaged, and yellowing leaves should be removed. Leaf removal is especially necessary during fruit ripening and harvest periods, as older leaves begin to turn yellow and lose functionality. Removing these leaves helps improve air circulation and reduces the risk of disease.
Fertilization and Pollination
Supplementary fertilization is another essential aspect of tomato cultivation, particularly in winter production and during years with prolonged cloudy weather. One method of additional fertilization involves shaking plants daily, either manually or using specialized vibrators. This action helps break pollen bags and promotes fertilization.
In recent years, trained bees or bumblebees have been introduced in protected tomato cultivation areas to aid in pollination. These pollinators are brought into the greenhouse in small hives, with approximately three hives per 1,000 square meters being sufficient.
The Benefits of Mulching
Mulching is a widely used practice in tomato production, both indoors and outdoors, as it provides significant benefits. The two main types of mulch used are organic and inorganic. Organic mulch includes straw, compost, and sawdust, while inorganic mulch consists of colored foils and agrotextiles.
Drip irrigation can be used under both types of mulch, although it is not necessary for organic mulch as rainfall naturally soaks the soil. However, when using plastic foils as mulch, drip irrigation is essential to ensure proper hydration.
Mulching offers several advantages:
- Increases soil temperature
- Prevents weed growth
- Reduces the need for frequent watering
- Creates favorable microclimatic conditions
- Promotes better plant growth
- Leads to earlier harvests and higher yields
By implementing these care measures, tomato growers can maximize their crop’s health, quality, and productivity. Proper attention to tying, pruning, fertilization, and mulching ensures that tomatoes thrive and produce abundant fruit. Successful tomato cultivation requires dedication and knowledge, but the rewards of a bountiful harvest make the effort worthwhile.
