Tomato production manual

PHOTO TAKEN 18.07.2011 AT MSABAHA FARM

1. PURPOSE

To promote the growing of tomatoes throughout the year.

2.INTRODUCTION

-Tomatoes are scarce in wet (rainy) seasons and plenty during dry seasons. In wet seasons tomatoes are seriously infected by various diseases, the most common being tomato late blight.

-Some areas are generally cool and wet, making it very difficult for tomato growth

—Requirements

(a) Inputs

(i) Labor – for construction, digging trenches, mixing planting medium,leveling and crop management

(ii) Seeds – 5gms (1000 seeds)

(iii) Fertilizers – 15kgs DAP, 15kgs CAN and 15kgs CN for top dressing.Foliar feed – 2 liters

(iv) Insecticide and fungicides

-Insecticides – systemic (½ liter) and contact(½ liter) at harvesting

-Fungicides – Preventive (1kg) and curative (1kg).

NB/ Alternate preventive fungicides with curative fungicides for effective disease control and to avoid disease resistance.

(v) Planting medium

-Sawdust/Sand/Manure at the ratio of 3:1:1 Or Top soil/sand/manure at ratio of 3:1:1

5.2 Nursery Establishment

ANNA F1 SEEDLINGS AT NURSERY 30.05.2011

a) Construction of germination boxes

-Measure boxes of 90cm (length) x 45cm (width) x 10cm (depth)

-Fill the first 5cm of the box with small stones (2 inches) followed by 2cm of sand and then 2cm of forest soil mixed with well rotten manure or use the already mixed growing medium

-Mix the forest soil/growing medium with a handful of DAP fertilizer and Nematicide to control nematodes.

-Make drills of 8cm apart, leaving 5cm from both edges of the box. This gives 10 lines/box

-Plant 50 seeds per line (to give 500seeds/box). 2 boxes are required.

(b) Nursery Management

-After sowing, cover the seeds with a thin layer of soil or sisal bag and water immediately

-Water twice a day, early in the morning and late in the evening for the first 2 weeks. Reduce watering in the third week to harden off the seedlings.

5.3 Transplanting

-Transplanted at 3 weeks.

NB:After transplanting, initial watering should be mixed with a curative fungicide to eradicate any fungal manifestation e.g.

Ridomil, Equation Pro, Galben, Milraz, Acrobat, etc.When transplanting spray with Preventive fungicide such as Dithane

M45, Milthane Super, Sancozeb,etc.

-Dig holes at 30cm by 60cm for 1000 plants

-Water the beds. Transplant late in the evening or early in the morning on a cloudy day.

-Apply 20gms per hole (1 tablespoonful) of DAP/TSP/DSP and mix thoroughly with the planting medium to avoid direct contact with the seedlings.

5.4 Important Management Aspects

(a) Training/Trellising

-A strong wire 12-14 gauge is placed parallel to the row of plants from one end of the house to the other at the height of the posts (3 m) from the ground.

-Sisal twine is tied around the stem base of the plant, which is then trained to achieve 8 – 12 trusses of tomato.

(b) Disbudding/de-suckering:

-Done early to remove side suckers or branches to leave one stem only per plant

(c) Bud nipping:-

-To get healthy and uniform fruits remove apex or growing bud when plant achieves 8-12 trusses (to remove apical dominance)

(e) Leaf trimming

-This is cutting of leaves.

(f) Top dressing:

-Apply 20g of CAN per plant, 2 weeks after transplanting and 20g CN (Calcium Nitrate) 2 weeks later to encourage vigorous growth.

-Thereafter apply foliar feed at 2 weeks interval to provide micronutrients

(d) Defoliation.

-This is the removal of excess leaves in order to avoid bushy plants, which reduce fruit growth

(e) Leaf trimming

-This is cutting of leaves.

(f) Top dressing:

-Apply 20g of CAN per plant, 2 weeks after transplanting and 20g CN (Calcium Nitrate) 2 weeks later to encourage vigorous

-Thereafter apply foliar feed at 2 weeks interval to provide micronutrients

(g)Insect Pests Control

-Use systemic insecticides e.g. Dimethoate, Metasystox, etc in early stages and pyrethroids like Karate during harvesting period.

(h) Disease Control

-Use preventive fungicides alternated with curative ones.

6.0 HARVESTING

-Harvesting period starts 21/2 to 3 months after transplanting and can take 3 to 12 months, depending on variety and management.

7.0 YIELDS

-Yields of 5 – 25kgs per plant may be realized depending on management and variety.

-Up to 50kgs per plant have been reported under special condition

Also see our:

1.Great tomato production farm by Farm Management Consultancy

2.Watermelon production guide in Kenya by farm management consultancy

For more details contact:Farm Management Consultancy

Mobile no. +254726267424

farmmanagement2011@yahoo.com