Tomato is the most widely consumed vegetable globally. Tomatoes can be eaten in various forms, including raw, ripe, and cooked. They are used to make a variety of products such as sauce, ketchup, chutney, juice, paste, and powder, among others, every season. Tomatoes are highly valued for their vitamin C content, but their color, shape, and taste also make them appealing to many. They are a popular salad ingredient worldwide. Growing tomatoes is effortless, and you can cultivate them on your balcony, roof, or yard. Let’s learn how to do it.
Containers are a popular option for growing tomato plants. Pots and drums are commonly used for planting tomato seedlings, although smaller containers or bags can also work. It’s important to remember that each pot should only contain a single tomato seedling.
Tomato Varieties
There are different varieties of tomatoes, some of which are harvested early in the season, while others are available throughout the year. You can choose the breed that suits you best.
Proper Timing of Planting
The timing of planting tomatoes can vary depending on the variety you choose. Winter tomatoes are usually sown between October and mid-January. Seedlings grown from these seeds should be planted in October or November. On the other hand, summer tomato seedlings should be planted in March or April. After sowing the seeds, it takes at least 100 days for the first fruit to ripen, and fruiting can last for 30 to 60 days depending on the tomato variety. However, you can choose to cultivate tomatoes throughout the year by selecting the right variety and planting them in a garden pot.
Seed Collection and Treatment
To achieve success in tomato cultivation, it is important to collect good quality seeds. Pathogens can often be found in seeds, which can cause diseases such as early blight, mosaic virus, or fungal downy mildew. These pathogens become active when they come in contact with water, leading to the death of the plant. Therefore, it is crucial to purify the seeds before using them for cultivation.
There are several ways to treat the seeds. Soaking the seeds in hot water is an effective way to clean them. By soaking tomato seeds in water at 50 degrees Celsius for 30 minutes, the bacteria and fungi present on or inside the seeds can be eliminated. After this, the wet seeds should be picked and dried in the shade before sowing. Another way to treat the seeds is by using the juice of certain plants, such as garlic juice. Additionally, fungicides can also be used to treat the seeds.
Soil Treatment of Seedbeds
Tomatoes are grown by making seedlings. To do this, seeds are sown in seedbeds and seedlings are grown there. However, the soil in the seedbeds may contain harmful pathogens, such as those that cause seedling collapse or damping off disease. These pathogens can also attack the seedlings and cause damage. Therefore, it is important to clean the soil of the seed bed.
One way to purify the soil is to till it and mix it with organic manure. Covering the seedbed with polythene for two weeks can also help, as the heat from the sun kills many of the microbes in the soil. If you don’t have the time to wait for two weeks, you can spread wood powder that is at least three inches thick on top of the soil in the seedbed and set it on fire. This can also help to purify the soil and reduce the risk of harmful pathogens.
Soil Preparation
For best yield, cultivate tomato seedlings in fertile sandy loam soil by mixing 1 part dung and TSP fertilizer in 2 parts soil, and allow it to rest in an open place for 10-12 days.
Seedling Preparation and Planting
Prepare small polybags with soil and plant tomato seeds. After 30-35 days, transplant the seedlings to pots or containers filled with soil.
Fertilizer Application
Tomato plants are commonly fertilized with organic substances such as dung manure, compost, kitchen vegetable peels, and eggshells. Inorganic fertilizers like urea and TSP fertilizer can also be used.
Pest Control
Whiteflies or white gnats are responsible for causing viral problems in plants. To prevent these insects from infecting the plant, it is recommended to cover the tree with nets or mosquito nets. In case the tomato plant is already infested with insects, spraying it with soapy water or sprinkling it with ash can help to get rid of the pests.
Care and Maintenance
If the tomato plant grows a little big, it should be tied to a sturdy stick. Remove the lower leaves and some branches to prevent the plant from becoming too crowded. After a few days, gently shake the soil in the container to loosen it up. Make sure the plant gets enough light. Tomato plants require a lot of nutrients from the soil, so water the plant regularly but avoid overwatering, which can cause root rot.
Tomato Harvesting
To preserve the red color of tomatoes, they should be collected only when the spot that remains after the flowers fall off is red, indicating that the fruit has ripened. Once the tomatoes are ripe, they can be stored for a long time.
