TOMATO PRODUCTION
A complete Guide
By Dahlia Shumba 0717816552
Promoting Farming Excellence
Tomato Production
Classification Family Solanaceae
Genus Lycopersicon
Species Esculentum
Soil requirements Soils Medium textured to heavy clay loams
pH 5.5-6.5
Climatic requirements Temperature 18-22ᵒC (not below 12ᵒC, not above 36ᵒC)
Time of planting All year round frost free period
Seed requirement Seeds/ha 100-150g
Spacing Interrow 150-200cm
Inrow 30-50cm
Plant population Minimum 10k
Maximum 25k
Varieties Determinates Chibli, Rodade, Rodade plus, Tejas, Star 9003,Star
9008, Star 9006, Star 9062, HTX14, Pietrarossa,
Floradade, Daisy, Rio grande, Heinz, Nash,
Semi-Determinates Star 9009, Star 9011, Fortuna, Tengeru, Sagatan, Zandra
Indeterminates Trinity, Newton, Thomas, Royale plus, Star 9030, Star
9037, Star 9065, Oasis, Candela, Tovistar, Simona
Fertilisation
Rate
Application Fertiliser Composition g/plant Remarks
Basal Manure N/A 3000 All at planting
Compound C 5:15:12 100 All at planting
Top dressing Ammonium Nitrate 34.5%N 8 Top dressing
Potassium Nitrate 13:0:46 16 Split top dressing
Fertility trench preparation
Fertility trenches will allow a longer growing period due to easy
root growth in loosened nutrient rich soil layer
Make trenches 40-50cm deep and 30-40cm wide
Divide your trench into 3 layers
In each layer apply recommended propotions of manure and
fertilisers as recommended by soil test results, then mix
thoroughly with the soil to ensure good distribution
Ammonium nitrate
Apply 8g (Cup 8) at week 3 after emergence
Potassium nitrate
Split apply equally (Cup 8) at week 6 and 9
Supplementary fertilisers
Winstart- spray at week 2 and 3 at 1% solution (10g/l of water)
Wingrow- spray at week 4 and 5 at 1% solution (10g/l of water)
Winbloom- spray from week 6 onwards at 1% solution (10g/l of water)
Calcium nitrate- spray from week 7 onwards at 2g/l of water every 2 weeks
NB: More supplementary fertilisers are available on the market
*Total fertiliser application = Rate/plant * Plant population (Divide by 1000 to convert to kgs)
PESTS, DISEASES, WEEDS CONTROL
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Herbicides
Pre-emergence Metolachlor
Post-emergence Propaquizafop, Fluazifop-p-Butyl
Pests
Nematodes Stink bug Aphids
Oxamyl, Fenamiphos, Velum Methomyl, Imidacloprid, Imidacloprid, Acetamiprid,
Acetamiprid, Malathion, Dichlorvos Malathion, Dichlorvos, Dimethoate
Deltamethrin
Whitefly American leafminer Redspider
Thiamethoxam, Methomyl, Acetamiprid, Abamectin, Amitraz, Dicofol, Abamectin,
Imidacloprid, Acetamiprid, Cyromazine, Novaluron, indoxacarb, Diazinon, Profenofos, Chlofernapyr,
Dichlorvos, Chess Deltamethrin, Emamectin benzoate Emamectin benzoate, Dimethoate
Tuta Pinworm Semi-looper
B. thrungiensis, Acephate, Cartap hydrochloride, Deltamethrin, Emamectin benzoate, Lufenuron, Indoxacarb,
Fipronil, Flubendiamide, Chlorantraniliprole, Mercaptothion, Abamectin, Malathion, Dichlorvos, Methomyl,
Diazinon, Chlorpyrifos
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African bollworm Thrips Cutworms
Deltamethrin, Emamectin benzoate,
Lufenuron, Indoxacarb, Abamectin, Imidacloprid, Chlorpyrifos, Lambda cyhalothrin,
Flubendiamide, Chlorantraniliprole Acetamiprid, Malathion, Dichlorvos, Carbaryl, Deltamethrin
Deltamethrin
Diseases
Damping off Downey mildew Late blight
Captan, Copper oxychloride, Mancozeb, Copper oxychloride, Mancozeb, Copper oxychloride,
Mancozeb, Thiram, Metalaxyl Chemlaxyl, Chlorothalonil Chlorothalonil, Propineb,
Chemlaxyl, Cymoxanil
Early blight Powdery mildew Fusarium wilt
Mancozeb, Copper oxychloride, Tebuconazole, Triadimenole, Drench Benomyl, Copper based
Tebuconazole, Chlorothalonil, Benomyl, Sulphur fungicides. But the best way to
Difenoconazole, Trifloxystrobin, control the disease is crop rotation
Azoxystrobin
Anthracnose Bacterial complex
Fungicides are not effective in controlling bacterial diseases
Always plant certified seed resistant to diseases
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Application of Acibenzolar-S-Methyl will activate the plant against
bacterial diseases
Mancozeb, Copper oxychloride,
Chemlaxyl, Chlorothalonil
**Always read the labels on chemicals for rates and post-harvest intervals
**Chemicals listed in active ingredients, trade names may differ
**Chemical colour codes do not illustrate the effectiveness in pest control, but the toxicity to the operator
Physiological Disorders
Blossom endrot Macro fruit cracking Cat’s face
Caused by Calcium deficiency Caused by irregular water supply Caused by sudden change in
Calcium supplement will help Regular watering and calcium temperature during flowering
together with regular watering to supplement will help especially from summer to
increase calcium absorption from winter
the soil
Sunscald Leaf roll Failure to set fruits
Caused by exposure of fruits to Caused by copper deficiency but Caused by lack of pollination,
direct sunlight. Normally most commonly by too much or little nitrogen,
common when pruning has been environmental stress, thus very moisture stress, extreme
done lately and fruits have low or high temperatures. This temperatures and humidity,
suddenly been exposed to however has no significant effect heavy fruit set and application of
sunlight on growth and yield MOP at fruit set stage
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Fruit hollowness Blotch ripening Chimera
Caused by excessive fertilisation Caused by extreme temperatures, Caused by spontaneous mutation
with nitrogen, low potassium very high nitrogen, low
levels and poor absorption of potassium
calcium and boron, poor pruning
management, and high relative
humidity
Growth stages
Tomato Program
Planting date Variety
Plant pop Area Spacing
Week after Age Date Herbicides/ 16l Fertilisers/plant Pesticides/ 16l Fungicides/ 16l Foliar sprays/
emergence knapsack knapsack 16l knapsack
Planting Metolachlor Compound C 100g
120ml Rotten manure 3kg
0 0 Lambda 16ml Copper 80g
1 7 Dichlorvos 16ml Bravo 32ml
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2 14 AN(NH₄NO₃) 8g Abamectin 16ml Antracol 32g Winstart 160g
3 21 Malathion 24ml Acomil 50g Winstart 160g
4 28 Fluazifop 120ml PN(KNO₃) 8g Aceta + Ema 16ml Orius 16ml Wingrow 160g
5 35 Belt 4ml Copper 80g Wingrow 160g
6 42 PN(KNO₃) 8g Dichlorvos 16ml Bravo 32ml Calcibor 160ml
7 49 Abamectin 16ml Antracol 32g Winbloom 160g
8 56 Calcium nitrate 2g Malathion 24ml Acomil 50g Calcibor 160ml
9 63 Aceta + Ema 16ml Orius 16ml Winbloom 160g
10 70 Belt 4ml Copper 80g Calcibor 160ml
11 77 Dichlorvos 16ml Bravo 32ml Winbloom 160g
12 84 Abamectin 16ml Antracol 32g Calcibor 160ml
13 91 Malathion 24ml Acomil 50g
14 98 Aceta + Ema 16ml Orius 16ml
15 105 Belt 4ml
16 112
17 119
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