Guidelines for Tomato Cultivation in the Field for Optimal Results

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    Table of Contents
      how to grow tomato

      Tomato plants can grow well at various heights depending on the variety. Based on the altitude of the region, tomatoes can grow optimally in the highlands with an altitude of more than 700 meters above sea level, medium plains at an altitude of 200 to 700 meters above sea level, and lowlands below 200 meters above sea level.ย 

      The temperature factor greatly influences the color of tomatoes. At high temperatures, namely above 32ยฐC, tomatoes tend to turn yellow. Meanwhile, at fluctuating temperatures, the color of the fruit tends to be uneven. The ideal temperature to produce an even red color on tomatoes is between 24ยฐC to 28ยฐC. 

      Apart from that, to support optimal growth, tomato plants need loose soil with an acidity level (pH) of 5-6, a small amount of sand, a high humus content, and sufficient and regular irrigation from planting to harvest. This article will guide you in growing tomatoes, from selecting varieties to post-harvest handling!

      1. Selection of the Right Variety

      Choosing the right tomato seeds is the first step towards a successful harvest. Several superior varieties could be your choice! Opal tomatoes, for example, are renowned for their resistance to bacterial wilt and root rot, perfect for those of you who want safer results. There are also Prime Tomatoes with round fruit, hard texture, and high resistance to bacterial wilt as well Phytophthora. If you are looking for a sweet, slightly sour taste, Mirah Tomatoes with a bright red color could be your favorite. Choose seeds according to your needs and enjoy a quality harvest.

      2. Land Preparation

      soil tillage
      soil tillage

      The key to successful tomato cultivation starts with land preparation. Tomatoes need loose, fertile and well-draining soil. Soil like this ensures that plant roots can grow optimally, absorb nutrients, and are not waterlogged. Come on, take a look at the following practical methods for maximum harvest results!

      a. Clean the Land from Weeds

        • Remove weeds and other wild plants that can interfere with tomato growth.
        • Make sure the area is really clean so the tomatoes can grow well.

        b. Plow and loosen the soil

          • Use a hoe or tractor to plow the soil until it is loose.
          • Loose soil will make things easier rooting and maintain soil moisture.

          c. Make Beds

            • A bed is a mound of soil made as a place for planting.
            • The ideal bed size is 1โ€“1.2 meters wide, while the length depends on the size of the land.

            d. Adjust the height of the bed to the type of land

              • Dry land: The bed height is 20โ€“40 cm.
              • Paddy fields: The height of the beds should be 50โ€“60 cm to avoid waterlogging.

              e. Liming

              Generally, soil for growing tomatoes requires a pH of around 5-6. If the soil pH is less than that, liming with dolomite or agricultural lime (kaptan) can be done at least one month before planting. The following is the dose of lime needed if the soil pH is <6:

                original soil pHLime Requirement (ton/ha)
                5,505,80
                5,007,80
                4,5010,70
                4,0013,60

                f. Set the Planting Hole Distance

                • Make planting holes on the bed with the following distances Between rows: 60โ€“80 cm and Within rows: 40โ€“50 cm.
                • This distance is important so that plants do not compete with each other for nutrients and sunlight.

                With the steps above, the land is ready to plant tomato seeds. Don’t forget, keep caring for the soil with organic fertilizer or compost so that its fertility is maintained.

                3. Basic Fertilization

                Do you want tomatoes to grow well and have abundant harvests? Don’t forget basic fertilizer! Before planting, prepare a mixture of manure that is rich in nutrients, plus nitrogen fertilizer (such as urea, ZA, or NPK), phosphorus (TSP, SP-36, or NPK), and potassium (KCl, ZK, or NPK).

                Apply this fertilizer to each planting hole about 7 days before the seeds are planted. These nutrients help strengthen roots, speed growth, and improve the quality of your tomatoes!

                4. Seeding

                sowing tomato
                sowing tomato

                Good sowing is the key to success in getting healthy and productive tomato plants. So, in this article, we will discuss how to seed tomatoes with simple but effective steps.

                a. Initial Preparation: Seed Treatment

                Before sowing, tomato seeds need special treatment to prevent attacks by pest and disease.

                • Soak Seeds: Use warm water or a solution of the fungicide propamocarb hydrochloride (1 ml/l water) and soak for 30 minutes to prevent diseases carried by seeds or soil.
                • Protect from Pests: Water 2 and 4 week old seedlings with a solution of thiamethoxam insecticide (0.5 ml/l water), 50 ml per plant, to prevent whitefly attacks.

                b. Sowing steps in the Seedling Tray

                The next step is to prepare the planting media and sow the seeds in the seedling tray.

                • Prepare the Seedling Media: Mix fine soil and manure in a 1:1 ratio.
                • Choose a Seedling Container: You can use a seedling tray, plastic bag, or banana leaf tube.
                • Seed Planting: Make holes 0.5 cm deep, then plant one seed in each hole. Cover the hole with fine soil or husk charcoal, then water lightly until moist.
                • Initial Treatment: Cover the seedling container with plastic or banana leaves for 2-3 days until the seeds germinate. After germination, water sufficiently every morning to keep the medium moist but not soggy.

                5. Transplanting

                transplanting tomato
                transplanting tomato

                Transplanting tomatoes should be done in the afternoon, around 3-4 in the afternoon. Why afternoon? Because the sun’s temperature is no longer too hot, the plants are not stressed and can adapt more easily to their new environment.

                a. Characteristics of Tomato Seeds Ready to Plant

                  • 2-4 healthy true leaves, bright green, with no spots or signs of disease.
                  • The height of the seedlings is around 15-20 cm. Seedlings that are too short are usually weak, while those that are too tall are susceptible to breaking or damage.

                  b. Planting Process

                    • Carefully remove the seeds from the seeding medium. Try not to damage the roots.
                    • Insert the seeds into the planting hole until the base of the stem approaches the soil surface.
                    • Fill the hole with soil, press gently so that the seedling stands firmly.
                    • Water just enough to keep the soil moist.

                    6. Regular Watering

                    watering tomato
                    watering tomato

                    Watering tomato plants needs to be done properly so that the plants grow healthily and produce optimal fruit. The best time to water is in the morning or evening.

                    This reduces water evaporation too quickly and prevents plants from being stressed due to hot temperatures during the day. Tomato plants generally need watering two to three times a week.

                    However, in the dry season or hot weather, watering can be done every day. On the other hand, during the rainy season, the frequency of watering can be reduced depending on soil moisture. With proper watering arrangements, tomato plants will grow well and be ready to harvest.

                    7. Weeding

                    Weeding is one of the important steps in caring for tomato plants, you know! Weeds that grow around plants can be a “nuisance” because they compete with tomatoes to absorb nutrients, water and sunlight.

                    The easiest way to weed is to pull the weeds manually by hand. However, if the weeds are stubborn and difficult to remove, you can use simple tools such as a small hoe or kored.

                    Don’t forget, while cleaning the weeds, also cover the soil around the tomato stems. This helps strengthen the plant’s roots and prevents the stem from collapsing. By weeding regularly, your tomato plants will grow healthier, more productive, and ready to produce fresh fruit!

                    8. Follow-up Fertilization

                    To ensure that tomato plants grow healthily and produce maximum fruit, additional fertilization is an important step. You can do this by sprinkling fertilizer around the base of the plant or watering it, especially if using plastic mulch.

                    Use NPK fertilizer 2-3 times during the growth period at a dose of 2 grams/plant. If you want a more environmentally friendly option, you can switch to organic fertilizers such as SP-36, ZA, and KCl. Mix the three in a ratio of 1:1:ยฝ for optimal results.

                    Proper fertilization will help meet the plant’s nutritional needs, support the growth of leaves, stems and fruit, so that your tomato harvest is of higher quality. Don’t forget, fertilization needs to be balanced with sufficient watering so that the nutrients absorb perfectly!

                    9. Pruning

                    pruning tomato
                    pruning tomato

                    Pruning tomato plants is an important step to ensure optimal growth and quality harvests. This process is carried out by cutting branches or water shoots that grow inappropriately, including those infected with disease.

                    Each plant ideally only has two main branches and each branch is allowed to grow up to three fruit bunches. For maximum yields, only five fruits per bunch are maintained so that they grow large. So that nutrition can be focused and produce healthy and quality tomatoes.

                    10. Pest and Disease Control

                    Tomato plants are susceptible to pest and disease attacks that can disrupt crop yields. Some pests that often attack include thrips aphids, fruit caterpillars, green aphis aphids, earthworms, fruit flies and armyworms.

                    Meanwhile, diseases that can attack include anthracnose, leaf blight, leaf rot, leaf spot and bacterial spot. To control this problem, farmers can choose between using plant-based pesticides that are more environmentally friendly or chemical pesticides according to the conditions and needs of the plants. With proper control, tomato plants can grow healthily and produce quality fruit.

                    11. Harvest

                    harvesting tomato
                    harvesting tomato

                    Tomato plants are usually ready to be harvested after they are around 60-100 days old or after the seeds are approximately 3 months old. One important thing to remember is picking time. It is best to harvest in the morning or evening, not during the day. Why? Because hot weather can make tomatoes wilt quickly and their shelf life becomes shorter.

                    The harvesting process is carried out in stages, namely every 3-5 days, until all the tomatoes have been picked. To find out whether tomatoes are ready to be harvested, pay attention to their characteristics: ripe fruit will be evenly red, the leaves around the plant are starting to dry, and the stem of the plant is starting to dry. Here are the simple steps you need to take when harvesting tomatoes:

                    • Right time: Choose morning or evening time to harvest.
                    • Check Fruit Ripeness: Make sure the tomatoes are red and the plant stems are starting to dry out.
                    • Picking Carefully: Use your hands to pick tomatoes, making sure the fruit stalk is gently cut off.
                    • Use a Knife: If you want to be more careful, use a knife to cut the stem so as not to injure the fruit.

                    By following these steps, you can get a fresh and quality tomato harvest. Don’t forget, proper harvesting will also affect the durability of tomatoes after being picked, you know!

                    12. Post-Harvest

                    post harvest tomato
                    post harvest tomato

                    After harvest, there are several important steps that need to be carried out to ensure the tomatoes remain fresh, healthy and ready to be consumed or sold. This process not only affects the quality of tomatoes, but also determines selling prices and consumer satisfaction. The following are post-harvest steps that need to be considered:

                    a. Sorting

                    The first step is sorting, which aims to separate the good tomatoes from the damaged ones. Tomatoes that are rotten, have holes caused by insects, or are of low quality should be separated. This sorting is also adjusted to market needs, whether the tomatoes will be sold fresh or used for other processed products.

                    b. Washing

                    After sorting, the tomatoes need to be washed to remove any dirt, such as soil, dust or pesticide residue. Washing can be done by soaking the tomatoes in a basin containing a food-safe cleaning fluid. Make sure the water is clean and does not contain dangerous chemicals. Proper washing will keep tomatoes hygienic and safe to consume.

                    c. Grading

                    A step to classify tomatoes based on their size and quality. This process is very important for determining prices and distribution to the market. The following are the tomato grading standards:

                    • Grade A: Tomatoes with an average diameter of 69.68 cm, have the best quality with a large size and smooth skin.
                    • Grade B: Tomatoes with an average diameter of 61.58 cm, slightly smaller but still of good quality.
                    • Grade C: Tomatoes with an average diameter of 53.11 cm, are smaller in size and may have slight defects.

                    By following these steps, harvested tomatoes can be served in the best condition to consumers. Make sure each stage is done carefully to maintain quality and freshness.

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                    Erly Indriani
                    I am a writer committed to providing clear and practical insights on sustainable farming practices, advancements in agricultural technology, and food security. I write to educate farmers and the public, aiming to raise awareness about the critical role of sustainable agriculture in building a better future. Know more about her on Linkedin

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