Table of Contents
Introduction
One of the most popular and widely cultivated vegetables around the world, tomatoes are cultivated from hectares of fields to small kitchen gardens and individual pots.
Tomatoes are very popular around the world as a result of their variety of uses, including raw, cooked, and preserved. Hence tomato farming is a very desirable commercially viable agribusiness.
Is tomato a fruit?
Yes. Tomato is a fruit. Despite the fact that it is actually a fruit, it is mistakenly regarded as a vegetable due to its numerous culinary uses.
It is believed that tomatoes originated in the Andes of South America in the area spanning from Ecuador to Chile where they were found in the wild, after which they were cultivated in Mexico by the Aztecs.
In the 16th century, explorers discovered it on American soil and introduced it to the early European world.
As a member of the nightshade family, it was once believed to be poisonous. Europe only recognized it as edible in the 1700’s, and it found its place in the culinary sphere only in the 18th century. These days, it is found in almost every type of cuisine.
The delectable fruit was originally called the golden apple, later the pomme d’amour in French, the Pomodoro in Italian, and the love apple in English.
The nutritional value of tomatoes makes them an integral part of modern diets in addition to their taste. Besides vitamins, fibre, minerals, and antioxidants, they contain an anti-carcinogenic red pigment called lycopene.
The fat-free and cholesterol-free content of tomatoes makes them an ideal choice for today’s food and diet-aware population.
Common names : Bilahi (Assamese), Bilati Baigana (Oriya), Khamen Asinba (Manipuri), Ruwangum (Kashmiri), Takkali Pazham (Tamil), Tamaatar (Hindi/ Punjabi/ Bhojpuri), Tameta (Gujarati), Thakkali (Malayalam), Thakkali Pandu/ Tamata (Telugu), Tomat (Konkani), Tomato/ Tamata (Marathi), Vartki (Sanskrit)
Scientific Name : Lycopersicon esculentum
Climate requirement for tomato farming
Tomatoes are a tender, warm-season crop that cannot withstand harsh conditions such as frost. Furthermore, high humidity and hot, dry winds also negatively affect the plant, causing an increase in foliage diseases and floral drooping.
Temperatures between 20° and 24°C are optimal for tomato cultivation. However, in cold climates or semiarid regions, tomatoes can be grown under the protection of a polyhouse or greenhouse with proper irrigation facilities.
Perennial tomatoes, which are grown as an annual crop in India, can grow with good irrigation facilities under light to medium rain in dry areas.
The seeds of the tomato crop can be sown in June or July in India for autumn-winter crops. Spring-summer tomato crops are best sown in November-December, while in hilly areas seeds can be sown in March-April.
The intensity of the light also plays a significant role in the quality of tomatoes as bright sunlight during the fruit-set phase results in perfect red or deep orange coloured tomatoes.
Tomatoes are self-pollinating plants, meaning they rely only on the wind for pollination.
Soil requirement for tomato farming
The recommended soil for tomato cultivation is sandy loam soil that is not excessively rich in organic matter and has a pH range of 6.0-7.0.
*A must Read: Types of soil
Varieties of tomato for farming
F1 Hybrids
Archana
Arka Abhijit
Arka Shresta
Bravo
Pusa Hybrid – 4
Pusa Hybrid -2
Rashmi
Round Pusa
Rupali
Sadabahar
Shivalik
Vaishali
Versha
Improved Varieties
Arka Abha
Arka Ahuti
Arka Alok
Arka Meghali
Arka Saurabh
Arka Vikas
HS 102
HS 110
HS101
Narendra Tomato 1
Narendra Tomato 2
Pant Bahar
Pusa Early Dwarf
Pusa Gaurav
Pusa Red Plum
Pusa Ruby
Solan Gola
Land preparation for tomato farming
For tomato cultivation, the land must have been subjected to enough tillage operations in order to become weed-free and achieve a fine-tilthed state. Two or three ploughings are sufficient to get the soil ready for growing tomatoes.
In order to achieve quality tomato production, adding organic matter in the form of manure at the end of the ploughing along with making sure of proper drainage of the soil in the chosen field is advisable.
Seed Treatment for tomato farming
To prevent seed-borne diseases during seed germination, seeds may be treated before sowing in a nursery. The following chemical treatments can be used to effectively treat tomato seeds:
Trichoderma (4g-10g/ kg of seed)
B. naphthoxyacetic acid (BNOA) at 25 ppm-50 ppm
Azospirillum (40g/400)
Carbendazim (2g/ kg seed)
Pseudomonas fluorescens (10g/kg seed)
Thiram (3g/kg seed)
Chemical treatment of seeds should be performed 24 hours prior to sowing.
Sowing of seeds for tomato farming
1. Sowing seed in nursery bed
Tomato seeds are used for propagation in tomato cultivation. The seed rate for tomato cultivation is 300-500 grams per hectare.
The first step in tomato cultivation is to plant the tomato seeds in well-prepared nursery beds. The size of the nursery bed can be 60 cm to 100 cm wide and length can be adjusted depending on the size of the available nursery area.
The seeds should be sown at a spacing of 10 cm apart and at a depth of 12 cm and covered by topsoil or sand.
It is crucial to use good quality seeds that are well-formed, and you should not use diseased or broken seeds.
For low or poorly drained areas, preparing a raised nursery bed is advisable.
Making sure that there is the presence of good irrigation system and irrigation practices, especially in hot and dry weather conditions is highly recommended.
The nursery bed should be mulched with leaves or plastic and irrigated with a “rose-can” every morning until the tomato seeds germinate. After the seeds germinate, the mulch should be removed.
A nursery can be set up inside a poly house or greenhouse in adverse weather conditions, to facilitate early tomato seed germination.
It is not recommended to plant tomato seeds directly into the main field, because of the following reasons:
- The control of weeds is more challenging in direct-sown tomato plants than in transplanted ones.
- Sowing seeds in the right depth and spacing the rows between the plants requires specialized equipment.
- It is not possible to provide the specific conditions for seed germination in large open fields.
- Hybrid seeds are expensive, hence, direct sowing introduces additional monetary and time risk.
- Only high-quality, well-formed seeds can yield good results when sown directly.
- The field needs to be especially designed and properly constructed to prevent surface run-off of seeds while irrigating or embedding of seeds at the right depth in the soil.
2. Transplanting the tomato seedlings
Transplant the tomato plants with a strong, erect stem, either on the main field or in individual pots, after 3-6 weeks.
Plants that have not produced flowers, fruits, or buds before being transplanted are perfect for transplanting.
Purchasing tomato plants for transplant from a commercial nursery is typically a wise choice for farmers. However, a thorough inspection of variety, size, and quality should be conducted.
If you are purchasing tomato transplants, keep in mind that container-grown tomato plants should be preferred over plants with no soil or bare roots.
Due to the presence of soil and transplant-growing medium attached to their roots, young plants in trays and containers are more suited to growing in the field. Upon transplantation, they resume growth more rapidly, and rapid growth is a sign of high yield.
In order to prepare a young plant for transplantation, one method is to harden off the plant, which involves decreasing the amount of available water in the nursery beds. As a result of this process, the plant will grow slower before it is transplanted, which will make it easier for the plant to adapt to the less-favourable conditions of the outside field.
Immediately after removing the plastic from containers or after lifting them from nursery beds, plants must be transplanted to the main field area.
It is important not to allow the roots of the plant to dry out before transplanting, and if the transplant must be delayed for some time, then the plants must be kept in a cool area.
You should set the plant 3 – 4 inches deep into the soil with its roots completely covered by soil.
Plants may be grown in leveled lands or in shallow trenches, depending on the irrigation facilities available.
As stakes for transplanted plants, bamboo sticks should be driven about 10-12 inches into the ground.
To lessen the dependence on bamboos for large scale cultivation, some parts of India are gradually replacing bamboo use with rope staking.
3. Spacing
Plant spacing is one of the major factors affecting the fruit yield of transplanted tomato plants, as appropriate space is needed for each plant to grow properly.
Most fields in India require a plant spacing of 60 – 70 cm.
However, the plant characteristics of that particular variety should be considered when determining the spacing distance for transplanting tomato seedlings, since the maturity size, growth pattern, and nutrition requirements varies from variety to variety.
Inter-cropping in tomato farming
Other crops like pulses, grains, oilseeds, and cereals can be intercropped with tomato crops.
Most farmers in India find that intercropping tomatoes with radish or tomatoes with spinach or tomatoes with daikon provides good results.
If crop rotation is being considered for tomato, it is essential to use non-solanaceae crops to gain the most benefit.
Water requirement and management in tomato farming
Plants need sufficient water for growth, and maintaining an even moisture level is important.
Tomato plants require water during the stages of transplanting, flower formation, and fruit formation.
Water the seedbed twice a day with a Rose-can or Zari until seed germination, and then water again soon after the seedlings are transplanted at intervals of 4-7 days in summer.
If the crops are being irrigated in winter, they should be watered every 8-12 days.
Providing heavy irrigation following a long period of drought causes the fruit to crack. You should therefore avoid this practice.
While irrigating the crop, it is important to consider the soil moisture content, soil type, and climatic conditions. Hence the irrigation pattern might differ accordingly.
The best irrigation method for tomato growers is drip irrigation because it conserves a lot of water and also prevents the situation of soil from holding excess water.
Fertilization and Nutrient Management for tomato farming
During the preparation of land, farmyard manure (FYM) of 25 tons/ha should be applied, with a N: P: K dose of 75: 100: 100 kg/ha.
The basal dose preparation can also contain borax (10 kg/ha) and zinc sulphate (50 kg/ha).
After 30 days of planting, 75 kg of Nitrogen can be applied as top dressing.
The recommended fertigation dose for tomato crops is 200: 250: 250 kg/ha of N, P and K.
Increasing the yield can be achieved by spraying growth regulators like Triacontanol 1.25 ppm (625 ml in 500 litres of water) 15 days after transplantation when the plants are in full bloom.
*A must Read: Guide to type of fertilizers
Weed Management in tomato farming
Approximately 30 days after transplanting, hand-weeding is recommended.
Hoeing also aids in controlling weed growth as well as loosening up hard or too dry soil.
Using pendimethalin 1.0 kg a.i/ha or fluchloralin 1.0 kg a.i/ha as a pre-emergence herbicide can effectively control weeds.
Utilizing black polythene or straw as mulch also reduces weed growth.
Make sure to mix and rotate herbicides to prevent weeds from developing herbicide resistance.
*A must Read: Guide to bio fertilizers
Pest in tomato farming
- Serpentine leaf miner
To kill larvae, spray Neem Seed Kernel Extract 5%.
- Helicoverpa armigera
Tomato crops are severely affected by this pest. It makes the fruit unfit for human consumption.
After 15 days of fruit set, NPV (Helicide) can be applied at a rate of 0.5 ml/litre. For further infestation reduction, fruit that is infected and any visible caterpillars can be collected and destroyed.
- Aphids
10ml of dimethoate (30 E.C.) per 10 litres of water should be sprayed.
- White fly
Carbofuran 3% G (40 kg/ha) or insecticides like Dimethoate 30 % EC or Malathion 50 % EC may be sprayed.
- Nematodes
1. A soil application of Bacillus subtilis (BbV 57)
2. The treatment of seeds with Pseudomonas fluorescens (10g/kg of seeds). For soil treatment, the application of 2.5 kg/ha of Pseudomonas fluorescens.
3. Through drip irrigation, liquid formulations of Bacillus subtilis (BbV 57) or Pseudomonas fluorescens (1000 ml/ha) may also be used to manage root knot nematodes in tomato plants.
Diseases in tomato farming
- Tomato spotted wilt disease
Application of carbofuran 3G (33 kg/ha) in the nursery during seed sowing and a second application 10 days after seedling transplantation into the main field (40 kg/ha).
Spray phosalone 35 EC (1.5 ml/lit) 25 days, 40 days, and 55 days after transplanting.
- Leaf curl
Sprays such as dimethoate (2 ml/litre) or methyl demeton can kill the insect vector, whiteflies.
- Early blight
A 1% Bordeaux mixture can be sprayed. You may also spray Mancozeb (0.2%).
- Fusarial wilt
One of the most effective ways to prevent its onset is by ensuring adequate soil solarization before a nursery bed is prepared.
This disease is controlled by treating seeds with Pseudomonas fluorescens (10g/kg of seeds).
- Grey mould
After flower and fruit development, gray mould usually develops, and in the later stages, rotting may occur.
Use of Bordeaux mixture or Dinocap (0.1%) spray. Wet Sulphur (0.2%) spray can also be used.
Harvesting and Yield in tomato farming
The harvesting time should be fixed taking into account the distance of the marketplace or mandi (Hindi word for local wholesale market) to where the tomatoes are to be transported.
After transplanting, generally tomatoes are ready for picking after 60-70 days.
Also, the intent of where the tomatoes are being sold for example local market or export, plays a very crucial part in deciding the stage at which the tomatoes will be harvested from the plant.
For export purposes, tomatoes when they are not fully ripe (greenish colour stage) are chosen and for local sale purposes, comparatively more ripe tomatoes are chosen.
Green tomatoes with a slight pinkish hue in some parts of their surface is also a very good stage of harvesting tomatoes.
The best tomatoes for making ketchup, sauces, or preserving are those which are fully ripe and have a deep red colour.
Mostly the tomato harvesting is done by hands. This ensures plucking of the right tomato and ensures good qulaity control. The harvested tomatoes can be placed in baskets (sometimes bamboo baskets in many places in India).
Make sure to not expose the harvest to prolonged exposure to sunlight.
When it comes to tomato harvesting, size is not a very important factor since it is dependent on the variety of the plant.
Nevertheless, appearance can be a significant factor to consider in harvesting the tomato.
A good tomato should have the following characteristics:
- A waxy, smooth and glossy finish.
- The ripeness or maturity level should be uniform across the board.
- Similar in colour and size to other tomatoes from the same variety.
- Scars at the end of the stem and at the end of the blossom are smooth.
- There are no growth cracks, sunlight burns, mechanical injuries, hail damage, catfacings, or surface bruises.
In India, tomato crops yield about 20-24 MT/ha depending on variety and season.
There are several factors that determine the yield of the tomato crop, including the soil type, irrigation and the variety of the plant.
Generally, local varieties can yield 30-40 MT/ha and hybrid varieties can yield 70-80 MT/ha. These numbers are subject to change and will be greatly affected by the farming practice, irrigation system and farmers skill used for tomato cultivation.
