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Staking and Pruning Tomatoes in the Home Garden

Staking and pruning tomatoes are essential practices for maintaining healthy tomato plants in the home garden. By selecting the right tomato varieties, preparing the garden properly, and employing the correct staking and pruning techniques, gardeners can ensure a bountiful harvest of delicious tomatoes. This article will provide key insights into staking and pruning tomatoes to help you achieve successful growth in your garden. Key Takeaways Select disease-resistant tomato varieties to prevent common plant diseases. Amend the soil with organic matter for optimal tomato growth and fruit production. Properly stake tomato plants to support their growth and prevent damage from heavy fruit loads. Regularly prune tomato plants to remove suckers and maintain airflow, which can improve fruit quality. Avoid over-pruning tomato plants as it can reduce yield and stress the plants. Selecting the Right Tomato Varieties Determining Your Growing Conditions
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Tomato farming: biology and origin of Tuta absoluta

Tomato damaged by Tuta absoluta Tuta absoluta’s threat to Solanaceous crops originated from South America before spreading to other parts of the world. The common name for Tuta absoluta is the tomato leaf miner , named so because of the pest’s preference for tomato. This dangerous pest favours tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) and sometimes potato (S. tuberosum). Tomato leaf moth has a life cycle of 29 to 38 days depending on the temperature. The pest prefers higher temperatures meaning the higher the temperature, the faster it will reproduce and the more damage it will inflict on the plants. This is not to imply that it is not there during the cold season, in my experience, this is an ever present enemy of progress. Female leaf moths can lay up to 260 eggs for their entire lifetime, a hell lot of eggs right? The life cycle is such that when fertilized eggs are laid, they hatch into Larva (caterpillar form) which transforms into a pupa which later becomes an adult insect (moth).

Chinese Cabbage Production

General Requirements Chinese does well in warm seasons of the year. Optimum temperatures for growing are 20ºC to 25ºC, with minimum temperatures of 18ºC and maximum 30ºC. A well-managed chinese crop should yield 5 tons per Lima with a leaf cutting period of 40 to 50 days. First leaves can be harvested 21 days after transplanting. Land Preparation/Soil Type Deep well-drained loamy soils with a pH range from 5.5 to 6.5 is ideal for Chinese cabbage. Effective rooting depth is 60cm. Plough and disc to a 60cm fine tilth seedbed. Avoid planting Chinese cabbage on land previously planted to other brassicas for at least one season. Planting and Transplanting Sow directly by drilling in the farrows 1 to 2cm deep or raise seedlings in nursery beds and transplant 4 to 5 weeks later. Transplant during the cool part of the day (early morning or late afternoon) to avoid wilting of the plants. Space the plants at 20cm between plants and 60cm between rows to give a plant population

How to Keep Your Trees Healthy This Winter

Winter is upon us! What can you do then, to keep your trees safe this year? You probably take great pride in your lawn and trees, just like the majority of homeowners. They improve the aesthetics and monetary worth of your house. However, it can be difficult to keep tree nutrition up and make them look their best during the winter. For trees, winter can be a difficult season. Between the colder temperatures and the drying winds, the majority of trees begin to exhibit stress signs. Additionally, the growth of new leaves and flowers is slowed down by the cold. To prepare trees for spring blooms and warmer weather, pruning can still be done during the winter. Additionally, you can be proactive about safeguarding your investment this season because the cold air slows down some fungal diseases that can establish themselves in wet conditions during other seasons. Before the season starts hampering tree nutrition, take a look at these best winter tree care tips. Tree Nutrition Tips to