How to Cultivate Earth Tomatoes
Do you know these? Let's explore the experience of cultivating and maintaining earth tomatoes, and detailed methods of their care. Here we go.
When cultivating earth tomatoes, it is essential to select good seeds and treat them with medication before sowing. Manure can be applied to the seedbed to increase soil fertility. Temperature control is crucial during all growth stages, with more nitrogen fertilizer applied in the early stage and potassium fertilizer in the later stage. Appropriate water control is needed before planting and during the flowering period, while ample water should be provided during other periods. Let's delve into播种育苗, field management, and pest and disease control in detail.
I. Seed Selection
For open-field cultivation of tomatoes, choose varieties with many and large leaves, strong resistance to viral diseases, and high yield of red hard fruits. Next, choose varieties with thick skin, durable for transport, and long shelf life.
II. Seedling Raising
1. Seed Soaking and Sowing
Before planting, disinfect the air, seeds, and soil to reduce later pest problems. Soak the seeds in a 500-fold formalin solution for one hour, then rinse clean with water to remove surface impurities and disinfect. Place the seeds in a 25-30℃ environment to germinate. Once most seeds have sprouted, they can be sown. Use nutrient-rich soil and decomposed pigpen manure for the seedbed, adding 1 kilogram of superphosphate per cubic meter of seedbed soil.
2. Transplanting Seedlings
Transplanting is usually done one month after planting, when the seedlings have 2-3 true leaves. Transplant the seedlings into a prepared seedbed with nutrient-rich soil, with a row spacing of about 15 cm and a plant spacing of 12 cm.
3. Temperature Control
A daytime temperature of 25-28℃ is suitable for tomato growth, while the nighttime temperature should be controlled at 16-18℃, with the seedbed temperature at 20-25℃ and the ground temperature above 20℃. Light is not required during germination and seedling emergence, only air temperature and humidity need to be controlled. A week before transplanting, ventilate the greenhouse to lower the seedbed temperature and harden the seedlings.
4. Disease Prevention during Seedling Stage
Immediately remove diseased or weak seedlings during the seedling stage. Spray with Primextra 400-600 times or Multi-Bacillin 500 times for fungicide disinfection to prevent diseases.
III. Planting
1. Land Preparation and Bed Making
The land should be tilled to a depth of 30 cm and should not have been previously planted with solanaceous crops. Apply base fertilizer to the beds, choosing decomposed manure, and mix the soil and fertilizer evenly.
2. Planting Time
In spring, start planting when the ground temperature stabilizes at 12 degrees Celsius. If there is drought or windy/rainy weather, delay planting.
3. Planting Method
For early maturing varieties, plant 5,000 plants per mu, with a bed width of 1.5 meters and 3 rows of plants spaced 30 cm apart. For mid-late maturing varieties, plant about 3,500 plants per mu, suitable for high-stake cultivation. Planting should be done on sunny days. Water the seedbed one day before planting to make it easier to lift the seedlings the next day. After planting, water the soil to make it adhere to the roots. Use plastic mulch after planting to increase ground temperature, retain heat and moisture, inhibit weed growth, and keep the soil loose and breathable.
IV. Field Management
1. Water and Fertilizer Management
Before planting, apply 0.4-0.5 jin of well-fermented cake fertilizer per hole and 20-30 jin of diammonium phosphate per mu. Mainly supplement with nitrogen fertilizer in the early growth stage and more potassium fertilizer in the later stage, with phosphorus fertilizer used throughout.
2. Light Time
Tomatoes enjoy sunlight. Sufficient light can make the plants grow stronger.
3. Tying and Pruning Vines
Before flowering, tie the vines and insert stakes to prevent lodging. Place the fruit clusters inside the stakes and the stems and leaves outside to increase light penetration and enhance ventilation. Retain the main stem of the plant, remove all branches, and properly thin flowers and fruits, removing old and diseased leaves.
V. Pest and Disease Control
Common tomato diseases include early blight and gray mold, which can be controlled by spraying the entire plant with a 50% iprodione suspension mixed with water at a ratio of 1:1000. For common pests like whiteflies, spray a mixture of 70% imidacloprid dispersant and water at a ratio of 1:15.
VI. Harvesting
The harvest time is about two months after planting. It's best to harvest during the white maturity stage for long-term storage or transport. Timely harvesting can bring the crop to market earlier, increase early yield, and benefit the growth of the upper fruits of the seed. When harvesting, remove the fruit stems and grade and package the tomatoes according to size, color, and damage.
The above is a detailed explanation of how to cultivate earth tomatoes and the methods of their care, for your reference and suggestions!