Tomato Production Guide for 1 Hectare

Planting dates

·         All year round in frost free areas or greenhouse.

Days to Harvest

·         80 to 120 days depends on cultivar.

Harvesting duration

·         60 Days

Yield

·         20 000 - 60 000kg.

Soil requirements

·         pH 5.0 to 5.5,

·         Sandy loam soils,

·         Soil testing is key.

Seed

·         120 - 160g in a nursery seed bed of about 60m².

·         7 - 10 days emergence.

·         Floating seed trays can also be used.

·         Ensure free drainage to avoid damping off.

Transplanting

·         6 - 8 weeks after emergence.

·         Harden seedlings when they have 3 - 5 true leaves.

Spacing

·         In-row: 300 - 500mm.

·         Inter-row: 1000 - 1500mm.

Fertilizer requirements

Soil testing is key.

·         Basal Dressing: Compound S,

·         Top-dressing: Ammonium Nitrate and Potassium Sulphate 100kg/ha split into 2 or 3 applications.

Weed management

·         Annual and perennial grasses - Fusilade super - Apply post emergence to young and actively growing weeds.

·         Broad leaves and annual grasses - Sencor 480 SC - Apply as directed. Spray at least 14 days after transplanting.

Pests

·         Cut worm – use Carbaryl, Dursban, Pyrinex, Karate.

·         Aphids – use Dimethoate, Metasystox 25/ EC, Malathion 50%.

·         African Bollworm – use Thionex 35 EC, Dedevap, Tamaron 600 SL, Carbaryl, Dipterex 95 SP.

·         Red spider mite – use Malathion, Dimethoate 40 EC, Mitac, Armitraz 20 EC, Kelthane 18 EC, Dicofol.

·         Leaf miners – use Tamaron, Trigard.

·         Whitefly – use Confidor, Naturell, DDVP.

Diseases

·         Bacterial canker - it is controlled by using healthy seeds, planting on ridges and the use of crop rotation.

·         Bacterial wilt - use crop rotation and avoid use of areas prone to water logging.

·         Bacterial spot - healthy seed, crop rotation and Copper oxychloride, Mancozeb, Captan and Metiram.

·         Bacterial speck - use certified disease free seed Copper oxychloride and Mancozeb.

·         Early blight – use Copper oxychloride and Mancozeb, Ridomil, Maneb, Bravo.

·         Late blight – use Copper oxychloride and Mancozeb, Ridomil, Maneb, Bravo, Captan.

·         Tomato mosaic virus, spotted wilt virus, yellow leaf curl virus - use resistant cultivars, Control vectors, Practice good hygiene, Rogue out and destroy infected.