Seed requirements: Depends on the variety, among other factors. Generally, require about 150 grams per hectare to achieve a plant population of 20 000 plants.
Time of Planting: Tomatoes can be grown anytime throughout the year in frost free areas.
Spacing: 1.5 – 2.0 m between rows and 0.3 – 0.5m within rows.
Expected yield ranges from 40 – 100 tones/Ha with Good Agronomic Practices (GAPS).
| Fertilizer Requirements | |||
| Fertilizer Type | Product | Rate/ha | Critical Remarks |
| Basal dressing:
Top dressing:
Soil Conditioning: Magnesium Sulphate: | Compound C (5:15:12) High C (6:28:23) AN 34.5% N Calcium Nitrate Potassium Nitrate Gypsum Magnesium Sulphate | 600kgs 500kgs 200kgs 140kgs 200kgs 300kgs 50-100kg | Generally recommended to apply all at or before transplanting your crop Generally recommended to apply all at or before transplanting your crop Split apply at 2-3 & at 5-6 WAP your crop using cup 5 per each application Split apply from early/medium fruiting stage onwards Split apply at flowering and at early fruiting stage Generally recommended to apply all at or before transplanting your crop Seek your Agronomist guidance |
The tomato species Lycopersicon esculentum belongs to the Solanaceae family. Tomato is a herbaceous, plant of the nightshade family typically cultivated for its edible fruit. Tomato is a warm season crop. A very high level of soil fertility is required for the profitable production of a successful tomato crop. The quality and quantity of tomato fruits are of crucial importance and are greatly influenced by the fertility and nutrient levels of the soil. Tomatoes will grow moderately well over a wide range of soil types. However certain criteria have to be satisfied in terms of the soil structure and content to make it commercially viable. These factors include: Nutrient composition, compaction, effective soil depth, pH, crop rotation, herbicide residues and water holding capacity. All these factors can have major influences on the resulting yield. The soil must permit adequate root growth to support the plant and supply water, oxygen and mineral nutrients and must be free of toxic elements.
| Herbicides, Fungicides, Insecticides | ||||
| Problem | Product | Application rate | Application / comments | Product for 1 Ha |
| Broad leaf weeds | Metribuzin/Sencor | 1.0 – 1.5lt/ha | Apply as a post directed spray 14 days after transplanting | 1.0 – 1.5lt |
| Mainly Grasses | Metolachlor 960EC Trifluralin Agil Gallant Super | 1.3 – 1.5lt per ha 1.1 – 1.6lt per ha 0.5 – 2.0 lt per ha 0.6 – 2.4lt/ha | Apply over the top of new plant trays within 7 days AT Apply as a Pre-plant incorporated herbicide Post emergent for annual and perennial grasses Post emergent for annual and perennial grasses | 1.3 – 1.5lt 1.1 – 1.6lt 0.5 – 2lt 0.6 – 2.4lt |
| Nematodes | Oxamyl Velum Prime Solvigo Fernamiphos / Nemacure | 3.2lt/ha 0.4lt/ha 0.6lt/ha 12.5lt/ha | Split apply at 2 and 3 – 4 weeks after transplanting Apply cup 30 of the mixture/planting station at planting Dilute in 200 litres of water, apply cup 30 of mixture per plant Dilute in 200 – 300 litres of water and apply cup no.30/plant | 3.2lt 0.4lt 0.6lt 12.5lt |
| White grubs False Wireworms Termites, Ants | Imidacloprid 200SL Chlorpyrifos 48EC Fipronil | 0.6lt/ha 0.8lt/ha 0.2lt/ha | Apply cup 30 of mixture/plant at planting Dilute in 200 litres of water. Apply cup no. 30 of mixture/plant Dilute in 200 litres of water. Apply cup no.30 of mixture/plant | 0.6lt 0.8lt 0.2lt |
| Cutworms | Lambda cyhalothrin Chlopyrifos 48EC | 100mls/100 litres of water 400mls/100 litres of water | Drench immediately at the base of plant with cup 30/plant Apply cup 30/plant immediately after planting | 0.2lt 0.8lt |
| Leaf miners White flies Aphids, Hoppers Sap suckers White grubs Thrips | Thunder Imidacloprid 200SL Dimethoate 40EC Acetamiprid/Acetamark Thiamethoxam/Actara DDVP/Dichlorvos | 220 ml/100 litre water As above 0.5 – 0.8lt/ha 15 grams/100 litres of water 280grams/100 litres of water 100-500mls/100 litres of water | Dilute in 200 litres of water. Repeat as necessary As above Dilute in 200 litres of water, repeat as necessary Apply in 200 litres of water at 10 -14-day intervals as necessary Mix in 200 litres of bulk planting water apply up 30/plant Dilute in 200 litres of water, repeat as necessary | 0.33lts 0.6 – 0.8lt 0.5 – 0.8lt 30grms 0.56kgs 0.1 – 0.5lts |
| Semi loopers | DDVP/Dichlorvos | 100-500mls/100 litres of water | Dilute in 200 litres of water, repeat as necessary | 0.1 – 0.5lt |
| Boll worms, Beetles | Thunder Carbaryl | 220mls/100 litres water 650grams/100 litres of water | Apply in 200 litres of water and repeat as necessary Apply in 200 litres of water and repeat as necessary | 0.33lts 1kg |
| Insecticides and Fungicides | ||||
| Problem | Product | Application rate | Application / comments | Product for 1Ha |
| Leaf Miners (Tuta absoluta) Heliothis Bollworm Semi loopers Leaf eaters | Spear/Indoxacarb Lannate/Methomyl Indoxacarb+Acetamiprid (Horizon) Belt Acephate Volt Star Cartap hydrochloride | 125mls/100 litres of water 150grams/100 litres of water 250ml /100 litres of water
38m 650grms/ha 100ml/100 litres of water 400grms/100 litres of water | Apply in 200 litres of water and repeat as necessary Apply in 250 litres of water & repeat as necessary Dilute in 200 litres of water, repeat as necessary
Apply in 200 litres of water and repeat as necessary Dilute in 200 litres of water, repeat as necessary Dilute in 200 litres of water, repeat as necessary Dilute in 200 litres of water, repeat as necessary | 0.25 litres 0.3 kgs 1 litre
38 ml 0.65 kgs 0.50 litres 2 kgs |
| Preventative Measures: Early and Late Blight, Leaf spots, Leaf molds
Curative Measures: | Copper Oxychloride Bravo/Chlorothalonil
Dithane M45/Mancozeb
Metalaxyl + Mancozeb Super Top Tebuconazole | 500grms/100 litres of water 1 litres/100 litres of water
350grms/100 litres of water
250mls/100 litres of water 75mls/100litres of water | Repeat as necessary at 7-day intervals as a FCS Apply as a FCS at 7-10 day interval when plants are 100mm tall Apply as a FCS at weekly intervals, repeat as necessary
Apply as a FCS before disease symptoms appear Apply as a FCS as a preventative measure, repeat as necessary Apply as a preventative treatment in 500 l/Ha water. Repeat applications every 7-10 days. Do not exceed 5 sprays per season | 1-1.5 kgs 2 litres
1.5-2 kgs
2-3 kgs 0.5 litres 0.60-0.8 litres |
| Powdery Mildew | Wettable Sulphur | 200grms/100 litres of water | FCS at first sign of disease, repeat as necessary every 7 days | 0.4 kgs |
| Red Spider Mites Will also controls Thrips & Hoppers | Mitac/Amitraz Abamectin 1.8EC Diazinon 30EC
Malathion 25WP/50EC | 750mls/100 litres of water 280mls/100 litres of water 120mls/100 litres of water
200grms/100 litres of water | F.C.S Repeat as necessary at 7-day interval Apply at first signs of infestation, repeat every 7 days if necessary F.C.S Spray at first signs of infestation. Larvicide & Ovicide Apply as a F.C.S Repeat as necessary
F.C.S Repeat, if necessary, at 7-day interval | 1.5 litres 0.56 litres 0.24 litres
0.4 kgs
|
| Soil borne fungi | Thiram 80WP | 75grms per 50kgs of seed | Seed dressing treatment |
Approximately 12.5 x 16 litre knapsacks will cover 1 hectare and apply 200 litres of water.
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