How to grow tomatoes

الطماطم

Tomatoes are a plant or fruit that has a smooth, round shape, and has a mild acidic taste. Tomatoes, as reported by botanists, are classified as a type of fruit, while many people consider them a type of vegetable. As it has many uses similar to the use of many vegetables, such as: lettuce, cauliflower, and onions, it is also widely used in making salads, and tomatoes are eaten either fresh or by cooking them, and they are included in many dishes, and tomatoes have many types and varieties; There are about 4000 varieties around the world.

Tomatoes originated in South America, and it is said that the Spaniards, specifically the priests, brought them to Europe from Mexico, in the middle of the sixteenth century AD, and then they began to be cultivated in both Spain and Italy, and they were used for nutrition, and because the tomato plant resembles many plants. Toxic, some people avoided using it and eating it, and this was common until the beginning of the nineteenth century. It has become an acceptable and common food item, and some myths have spread stating that whoever eats a lot of tomatoes falls in love, and thus they called it the fruit of love.

Tomato cultivation

The process of growing tomatoes requires specific climatic conditions, as it needs a temperature ranging between 20 and 30 degrees Celsius to germinate seeds, and it needs a temperature equivalent to 17 degrees Celsius at night and 23 degrees Celsius during the day for seedlings to grow, and it also needs more than 13 degrees Celsius for flowering, and for pollination it needs a temperature between 15 and 20 degrees Celsius at night. The temperature is between 22 and 24°C during the day. For the fruits to grow well, they need a temperature of less than 37°C as a maximum. As for humidity, they need a humidity percentage ranging between 50-60% during the period of seedling growth, and between 60-70% during the period of flower growth in homes. Plastic.

Soil preparation

To plant tomatoes, it is necessary to prepare the soil for the planting process, and to prepare it, you must follow the following:

Remove any agricultural waste resulting from the previous crop.
Wash the soil well; This is to get rid of salts, if the cultivation is done in a greenhouse.
Completely get rid of harmful weeds using a special herbicide.
Conduct laboratory tests; To know the percentage of organic materials in the soil, and to know the readiness of the soil for agriculture.
Conducting soil tests; To ensure that it is free of any bacterial or fungal diseases.
Plow the land to a depth of 40 cm.
Fertilize the land in the fall, using fermented organic fertilizers, at a rate of 1-2 tons.
Apply phosphorus and potassium fertilizers 7-10 days before planting.
Plowing the land to a depth of 20-25 cm; This is to bury the fertilizer, and then soften it.
Preparing drip irrigation networks, or according to the opinion of specialists.

Sterilize the floor

If serious diseases are found in the soil or in the previous crop after conducting laboratory tests, the land must be sterilized, and this is done using solar energy, during the months from June to August, and the sterilization process before planting using chemical pesticides is to complete it, If diseases persist, or if a severe infection appears in the ground, it is worth noting that there is a safety period in the case of using chemical pesticides, ranging from 2-4 weeks. According to the type of pesticide that was used.

Preparing the greenhouse

The greenhouse must be prepared by taking several measures before planting it, including:

Sterilize the greenhouse immediately after the end of the season.
Sterilization of agricultural equipment; So that diseases do not spread.
Placing protective nets at the entrances to homes; To prevent insects from entering.
Take into account the presence of ventilation holes; To reduce humidity.
Placing shade nets; To prevent a dry climate inside the house.
Take into account the presence of a special basin for sterilization; To prevent the transmission of diseases through humans.
Intensive trapping; To hunt aphids and insects that infect tomatoes.

If using greenhouses, it is recommended to use black plastic cover, which prevents the growth of harmful weeds, and also helps avoid water tuberculosis, gray mold, and other diseases that may affect tomato fruits.

How to grow tomatoes

The land must be planned, and planting distances must be taken into account. As the planting distances vary; According to the difference in soil fertility, the method of cultivation, in addition to the varieties that are to be grown, and the nature of their growth, for example, the distance between the seedlings is about 20 cm, and the distance between the lines is about 80-100 cm, while the planting place is the field, and growth in this case is limited, while If the place of planting is a greenhouse, and the distance between the seedlings is about 40-50 cm, then the distance between the lines ranges from 80 to 100 cm, and growth occurs in single and double lines.

Seedlings should not be planted at a great depth, as the height of the cotyledon leaves should be about 2.5 cm above ground level, and the roots should be completely covered with soil. To avoid drought, tomatoes can be grown in almost all types of lands, but they grow more in fertile, warm, and well-drained lands. The seeds need about 75-85 days to fully mature, and they are planted in the field in areas where there is a growing season. Long, while its cultivation in greenhouses takes place during very short growing seasons, where the young plants produced from seeds are transplanted in the open field.

When the seedlings reach 4-6 weeks of age, the transplanting process is completed about two weeks after the frost ends. This is because the tomato plant is negatively affected by low temperatures, and the tomato plant, whether it is grown in homes or in gardens, is supported using supports or wooden cubes, to prevent the spread of the plant on the ground, and to bring the plants closer together, and then increase the yield. These supports improve the characteristics of the fruits and prevent many diseases, including fruit rot, by keeping the fruits away from moisture in the ground.

Tomato harvest

Regarding harvesting tomatoes, it is worth mentioning that the tomatoes that are grown to be eaten fresh are harvested manually and are picked immediately after they are ripe, and there are large numbers of farmers who use machines for harvesting. As for the fruits that are grown for manufacturing purposes, they are harvested using machines and are shipped to warehouses. ; To be manufactured and marketed later, they are usually picked before they are completely ripe. To ripen in stores; As immature fruits withstand transportation, and are less susceptible to damage during shipping.

Tips when growing tomatoes

Here are some tips that should be followed when growing tomatoes:

It is recommended to plant plants in a place that receives a sufficient amount of sunlight. As tomatoes need a strong source of light, especially when grown indoors, it is recommended to place the plant next to windows. In order for sunlight to reach it, and if there is no suitable place for sunlight to enter, artificial lighting can be used for a period ranging between 14-18 hours on a daily basis.
It is usually recommended to leave an appropriate distance between each seedling; This is to allow the leaves and stems to grow well. Therefore, seedlings should not be planted in a crowded manner.
Leaves growing near the root are removed if the tomato plant reaches 91.44 cm tall; As these leaves may cause fungal growth.
Plants are watered regularly, and care must be taken not to over-water; As it is usually recommended to immerse plants in water to a height of only one inch once a week, and in periods of drought they may need a larger amount of water, and the plants must be monitored, and they must be provided with a larger amount of water if they see them wilting.