How To Grow Tomato

How To Plant Tomato

Who love tomatoes? For sure I do!! Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) can be grown throughout the year. You can start harvesting tomato fruits 8 - 9 weeks after transplanting. One tomato plant can yield 4 - 6 kg (10 - 15 lbs.) of fruits. Tomato belongs to the Solanaceae family and are in high vitamins A and B and lycopene.

Varities 

• Royal Peral

• Royal Gold

• Chandini

• Akash 

Soil Preparation

• Land preparation 

If planting in the ground, loosen the soil using a garden fork to encourage drainage and aeration. Remove all stumps and large stones. Make drains to remove excess water from the garden if needed.Too much water in the soil will kill the plants and encourages disease.

• Container preparation

If planting in containers, use a container at least 45 cm (18 inches) by 40 cm (16 inches) and 30 cm (12 inches) deep. Prepare the container and the growing medium and transplant your seedlings as described on “Container Planting”.

Spacing

Planting tomato seedlings in the ground.Space seedlings 30 cm (12 inches) within rows and 60 to 90 cm (2 - 3 feet) between rows.

Transplanting

Transplant healthy seedlings late in the afternoon (3:30 – 4:30 p.m.) when they are 3 - 4 weeks old. Make a hole 10 cm (4 inches) in diameter and 10 cm (4 inches) deep.

Agricultural limestone is required since most soils in Trinidad are too acidic for tomato. Mix 1/2 cup of limestone and two handfuls of cured (well-rotted) pen manure or compost with the soil that was removed and refill the hole with the mixture.

Fertilizing

One week after transplanting 

• Use a complete NPK fertilizer high in phosphorus e.g., 10:40:10 at the manufacturer’s recommended rate. Repeat once in the 3rd week after transplanting.

When new leaves appears (2-3 weeks) after transplanting

• Use a complete NPK fertiliser high in potassium (e.g. 12:12:17+2) according to manufacturer’s recommendation to promote flowering and fruit development. A tomato plant can continue to flower and fruit for 3 - 4 months.

How to stake tomato plants? Do not worry....this video got you covered.....this is the most effective common practice...good luck!!

Pest and Control

Natural pesticides are recommended for use in the home garden. Use the information provided on “Making Natural Pesticides Using Local Materials” as a guide.

Harvesting

• Harvest fruits when they are mature or ripe. Tomato fruits are ready for harvest when they have changed colour from green to streaks of red, all grooves are filled and they have lost their shine.
  
• Do not harvest fruits when they are wet or when it is raining because this can lead to rotting.
  
• Harvest the fruit with the stem attached to it. This will encourage continued flowering.
  
• Hold the fruit and snap upwards; mature tomatoes will easily separate from the main stem of the plant.