Agricultural Extension Service

The University of Tennessee

PB 737
Cultivars .......................................................................................................................................................... 3
Determinate or Indeterminate Type .......................................................................................................... 3
Plants .............................................................................................................................................................. 5
Homegrown Plants ................................................................................................................................... 5
Certified Plants ......................................................................................................................................... 5
Growing Plants................................................................................................................................................ 5
Using Commercial Growing Media ........................................................................................................... 5
Sterilization of Benches, Containers
and Other Structures ...............................................................................................................................5
Float Trays ................................................................................................................................................ 6
Seeding..................................................................................................................................................... 7
Controlling Seedling Diseases.................................................................................................................. 8
Transplanting From Seed Trays ............................................................................................................... 8
Size of Transplant Containers................................................................................................................... 8
Watering ................................................................................................................................................... 8
Growing Temperatures ............................................................................................................................. 8
Light ...........................................................................................................................................................9
Ventilation ..................................................................................................................................................9
Hardening Plants for Field Setting .............................................................................................................9
Minimum-Till Production...................................................................................................................................9
Field Production Practices .............................................................................................................................10
Soils and Site...........................................................................................................................................10
Fumigation ...............................................................................................................................................10
Fertilizer and Lime ...................................................................................................................................10
Lime .........................................................................................................................................................11
Fertilizer................................................................................................................................................... 11
Blossom End Rot ..................................................................................................................................... 11
Nitrogen ................................................................................................................................................... 11
Fertigation................................................................................................................................................11
Weed Control...........................................................................................................................................13
Setting In the Field...................................................................................................................................13
Black Plastic ............................................................................................................................................14
Frost Protection of Plants ........................................................................................................................15
Plant Spacings and Prunings...................................................................................................................15
Training Systems............................................................................................................................................16
Staking and Tying ....................................................................................................................................16
Irrigation .........................................................................................................................................................17
Sprayers.........................................................................................................................................................19
Applying Pesticides.................................................................................................................................21
Disease Control..............................................................................................................................................25
Cultural Practices ....................................................................................................................................25
Fungicides ..............................................................................................................................................25
Insect Control .................................................................................................................................................25
Harvesting ......................................................................................................................................................25
Parasitic Diseases..........................................................................................................................................26
Non-Parasitic Diseases..................................................................................................................................27
Post-Harvest Treatment .................................................................................................................................28
Costs and Returns .........................................................................................................................................30
Marketing .......................................................................................................................................................30
Summary........................................................................................................................................................31
 Alvin D. Rutledge, Professor, Plant and Soil Science
James B. Wills, Professor, Agricultural Engineering
Steve Bost, Professor, Entomology and Plant Pathology

ommercial tomato production requires a high Commercial growers who ship tomatoes long
level of management, large labor and capital distances prefer a firm variety such as Mountain
inputs and close attention to detail. Tomato Pride or Sunny. Firm cultivars have thick walls that
production is subject to the variations that occur in withstand long distance shipment without excessive
weather, which may result in severe crop damage deterioration. Growers who sell on local fresh
and losses. Labor requirements for production, markets may prefer either the firm or medium-firm
harvesting, grading, packaging and transporting are cultivars. Such cultivars will normally sell on local
very intense. Prices can change daily when growers markets, where the length of shelf life is not as
are dealing on the fresh market. Gross returns to important as in long distance shipment.
top level growers range from $1,500 to $10,000 per
acre. If you plan to enter the tomato business, be
sure to first study these aspects thoroughly.
Three distinct production areas exist in
Tennessee. In West Tennessee, tomatoes are
produced primarily for early market, with plants Determinate cultivars are self-topping, while
supported by stakes in rows 5 to 6 feet apart. indeterminate cultivars are not self-topping.
Producers in Rhea, Bledsoe and surrounding Determinate cultivars require shorter stakes and
counties produce primarily for mid-season and late less tying labor. Determinate cultivars are firmer than
markets using the “Florida Weave System” and indeterminate cultivars and are better adapted to
between-row spacings of 10 to 12 feet. East the handling and shipment requirements of packing
Tennessee growers produce for early, mid-season shed operations. Determinate cultivars usually
and late markets and practice many different ways concentrate their fruit so the length of harvesting is
of training and trellising. greatly reduced compared to indeterminate types.
The firmness of determinate fruits increases their
desirability for slicing characteristics necessary in
salad bar operations. Indeterminate fruits are
usually softer than determinate and tend to separate
when sliced. Therefore, indeterminate cultivars are
ome markets prefer a red tomato when ripe, better adapted to local, fresh market sales than to
while others prefer one that is slightly pink heavy handling or shipment. They will usually
on the blossom end when mature. However, mature over a longer time than determinate types
some growers are now harvesting mature green
and are better suited to home gardens.
tomatoes and treating them with ethylene to develop
Determinate types are now the most widely
color in the fruit. The cultivars Sunny and Mountain grown commercial cultivars. As a result,
Pride are considered the standard for the mature indeterminate types will not be included in this
green market. The characteristics of several
publication.
cultivars are summarized in Table 1.
 CULTIVAR COMMENTS AND CHARACTERISTICSa

Determinate Types Determinate types can be used for both shipping and local fresh market sales. Because of their
fruit firmness (flesh to gel ratio), they are primarily grown for shipping markets rather than direct,
local sales.

Carolina Gold Good-flavored, determinate, yellow-fruited tomato. Has grey wall resistance.

Celebrity Produces 7- to 8-oz. fruit that are deep and smooth. Generally does well in local sales. Soft for excessive
handling. Has V, F1,2 , N and TMV resistance.

Mountain Delight Firm-fruited shipper. Vigorous plant. V, F1,2 resistant. Smooth fruit that are resistant to cracking and
blossom-end-rot. Larger fruit than Mountain Pride.

Mountain Fresh Large, oblate fruit that consistently produce a high percentage of 4x5 or 5x5 size. Resistant to cracking,
blossom end rot and fruit puffiness. Very high yielder.

Mountain Pride Very vigorous plant. Late-maturing, firm shipper. VF1,2 resistance. Crack and grey wall resistant.

Mountain Spring Has been a good-yielding cultivar with firm-fleshed fruit. Appears to have a low susceptibilityto cracking
and blossom-end-rot. Has some tolerance to V,F.

Mountain Supreme Mountain Supreme is one of the latest releases out of the North Carolina tomato breeding program. Its
main feature is that it delays the onslaught of early blight. It is the only cultivar available which has
significant early blight resistance. However, the fruit size is usually smaller than Celebrity. Requires
suckering to increase fruit size.

Sunbeam Considered mid-season. Large fruit. Has resistance to ASC, Fusarium 1,2 , GLS, V1

Sunpride Has good packout of large fruit. Mid season. Has resistance to ASC. FW1,2 , GLS, V1

Greenhouse tomatoes Greenhouse tomato production is expanding in Tennessee. With careful control of greenhouse
construction cost, good site selection and ventilation capability, it is possible to profitably grow
greenhouse tomatoes in both spring and fall. This extends the market opportunity for a grower
over a longer season and maintains buyer interest when supplies are met. Soil production has
been the main system used, but production in plastic bags and artificial media combined with drip
irrigation is showing tremendous promise.

Cabernet Indeterminate. Large fruit, but may have green shoulders. Tolerant to V1, F1,2 , N, ASC, TMV, and GLS.

Celebrity Same as above. Has succeeded over the years for growers who use the soil.

Mountain Fresh Same as above. Soil producers like the size for local retail sales.

Trust Indeterminate. Good flavor. Slightly smaller fruit than Cabernet. Is presently producing 10-14 lbs./plant in
the spring and 7-10 in the fall. No green shoulders. Resistant to TMV, C5 , V, F2 , FR.

Paste Types

Hybrid 882 Pear-shaped fruit weighing 2.2-2.5 ounces and about 1.4 times longer than diameter. Listed as having
resistance to V, F1,2 , ASC and BS.

Cherry Type, With good market contacts and labor, cherry tomatoes can be a good specialty vegetable.
for Salad Bars

Mountain Belle New North Carolina release that is more uniform and slightly smaller than Cherry Grande. A very
good-looking cherry type.
A = Subscript numbers (1,2) indicate the disease strain or race to which resistance ocurs.
ALS = Alternaria Leaf Spot
ASC = Alternaria Stem Canker
BS = Bacterial Speck
F = Fusarium Wilt
FR = Fusarium Crown and Root Rot
GLS = Grey Leaf Spot
N = Nematodes
TMV = Tomato Mosaic Virus
application of bleach and sufficient time is not seven weeks ahead of the expected transplanting
allowed before planting, injury to plants is likely to date and are transplanted to the float tray when the
occur. first true leaves are formed. The media available for
tobacco plants seem to be very suitable for
tomatoes. A water- soluble fertilizer such as 20-20-
20 is used to grow the plants. Mix four to six ounces
The advent of the “Float System” in the tobacco of the fertilizer per 100 gallons of water. Monitor the
industry offers a new method of growing tomato fertilizer concentration with a conductivity meter, and,
transplants, especially for late production. Basically, if necessary, replace it proportionately as water is
the “Float System” consists of placing growing trays added back to the bed as a result of evaporation.
that will float and have 72 to 200 cells per tray on a Allow plants to germinate at about 75F and grow
nutrient-fortified water solution and growing plants between temperatures of 60 to 70F, reducing the
there until they reach the desired transplanting temperature and moisture.
height. If plants are to be grown in the spring, the For each 10,000 plants produced, it requires 50
water is kept warm and the bed is covered to provide of the 200-cell trays or 139 of the 72- cell trays. To
protection against the weather and conserve heat prepare a bed with the required dimensions, figure
while the plants are growing. each tray at 14 inches wide and 27 inches long. Table
For each 50,000 plants, it could require three 2 provides guidelines for bed construction based on
water heaters to successfully maintain the required the number of plants desired when 200-cell trays
growing temperature of the water. One problem with are used. The 200-cell trays would be fine for a late
the trays is that they provide an insulation effect for crop of tomatoes, but it would be better to use a
the heated water. Late spring or summer plants can larger tray for early tomatoes because of the
be successfully grown without extra heat in the water influence that cell size has on fruit earliness. To
system, but seedlings and plants may need to have reduce algae growth during plant growth, be sure
some shading during germination and early growth. all of the growing area is filled with trays.
Plants to be grown in float trays are seeded about

Height 8"
Water Level

Float Tray

Width depends on need

 Number of Total Trays Number of Bed Width Bed Length
Plants Desired Required Trays Wide (ft) (ft)

10,000 50 4 5 29

5 6 23

6 7 19

25,000 125 4 5 71

5 6 57

6 7 47

50,000 250 4 5 141

5 6 113

6 7 94

75,000 375 4 5 211

5 6 169

6 7 141

100,000 500 4 5 282

5 6 225

6 7 188

Tomatoes are usually seeded either by (1) greenhouse or hot-bed. Seeds are sown in rows 2
vacuum seeding directly into growing containers or inches apart with six to eight seeds per inch of row.
(2) hand seeding into trays and transplanting into They are then transplanted into containers when
the growing containers. Vacuum seeding eliminates they are in the two-leaf stage. One ounce of seed
the labor required for transplanting into growing contains 5,000 to 8,000 seeds.
containers, but some seeds fail to emerge and a Allow seven to eight weeks, except for float trays,
certain percentage of seedling vigor is reduced. from seeding to setting in the field. Plants grown in
Compensation for these problems will need to be float trays will usually be ready for transplanting to
made by seeding about 15 to 20 percent more the field one to two weeks before those grown in
containers than needed. conventional trays. The approximate seeding dates
Tomatoes are sometimes seeded in trays in a for each area of the state are as follows:

West Tennessee Middle Tennessee East Tennessee

February 25 to March 1 to 10 March 5 to 15

March 1
 Plant the seed to a depth of 1/4 to 1/2 inches, cover expanded, which occurs when plants are about 1.5
them lightly, press the soil with a flat board, moisten inches tall. When transplanting from the seed tray,
and cover the tray with glass or paper. Germinate at gently loosen the seedlings by lifting them with a
a temperature of 75 to 80F. When the young wooden label, broad knife or other similar tool. This
seedlings can be seen, remove the glass or paper. avoids breaking of the roots and enables an earlier
For further information on plant production refer recovery. Move the seedlings by holding onto the
to Extension PB 819 , VegetableTransplant leaves rather than the stems. Rough handling of the
Productio n, available through your county tender stems will result in bruise or breakage. Make
Agricultural Extension office. a hole in the soil mixture with a wooden dowel or
round peg about 3/4 inch in diameter and 3 to 4
inches long. Place the seedling 3/4 to 1 1/2 inches
deep into the soil. Gently firm the soil with the fingers
and place in partial shade for two or three days after
The following steps may be taken to reduce transplanting.
seedling diseases:
• Purchase fungicide-treated seed to reduce
infestation of seed-borne diseases.
• Use commercial growing media. It is better if
the media is sterile. Research in Tennessee has shown that plants
• Drench the media with a fungicide immedi- grown in 2 1/2-to 3-inch or larger containers produce
ately after seeding. a larger root system, bloom earlier and have higher
• Avoid over-watering when growing in sys- early marketable yields than plants grown in smaller
tems other than float trays. This creates containers. This should be a major consideration for
highly humid conditions conducive to the growers who wish to increase their potential for early
growth of seedling diseases, particularly market sales. Returns from higher early yields often
“damping-off.” offset the additional cost of larger containers. Total
• Maintain good air movement throughout the yields may not differ from plants grown in large
greenhouse or hotbed at all times. This containers versus those grown in smaller containers.
is very important in controlling rapid plant Container size is not as important for late season
growth, as well as keeping the growing tomatoes as for early markets.
media at a moisture level which does not
encourage “damping off.”
• Maintain temperatures in the 65 to 75F
range during growth. Overwatering of plants grown with conventional
For chemical treatment of seedling diseases, use methods results in soft, spindly plants. Keep the
a treatment outlined in Extension PB 1282, media moist, but not saturated. Wait until the media
Commercial Vegetable Disease, Insect and Weed begins to dry before adding water.
Control, available at your county Agricultural Apply water during the morning so foliage will
Extension office. dry during the day. This helps prevent diseases. Use
a fine nozzle sprinkler for watering. Do not apply
enough pressure to the nozzle to splash soil on
young seedlings or to knock them over. Water plants
near aisles or walkways more heavily than plants in
When seedlings started in seed trays have the center because they will dry more quickly than
reached the two true-leaf stage, they should be containers in the center aisles.
transplanted to the desired containers. The first two
leaves to appear are cotyledonary leaves and will
fall off after the seedling becomes established. They
have smooth leaf margins. The true-leaves appear Germinate tomatoes at 75-80F, but reduce the
after the cotyledonary leaves and have serrated leaf temperature for growing to 65-70F. This slows down
margins. Transplant when the true leaves have fully the rate of growth and encourages the production
of stocky, productive plants. This is a very important
practice which results in good plants. It will require
seven to eight weeks to grow the plants to field
transplanting size under these conditions. Avoid
allowing greenhouse temperatures to remain above
80F or greater during plant growth. Fruit set on the he university is not yet recommending
first clusters will be increased if the nighttime minimum-till production for tomatoes
temperature is maintained between 55 and 60F for although there have been some successful
two or three weeks after full expansion of the production demonstrations on late tomatoes with this
cotyledonary leaves. production system. When properly done, minimum-
till tomato production offers greater potential to
produce on erodible land without serious erosion
problems. To successfully complete minimum-till
Stocky, strong plants will develop when grown production requires that several practices be
in full light. Subdued or reduced light results in implemented. The vegetation must be killed prior to
elongated plants that have weak stems. These plants transplanting. Modifications to transplanters will need
do not respond well when transplanted to the field. to be done to satisfactorily open and close a furrow
for the transplant. This may include changing the
press wheels, adding appropriate coulters and
sufficient weight to the transplanter to produce a
For greenhouses, thermostatically controlled satisfactory furrow. If large root balls (greater than
fans and shutters, capable of changing the air once 1.75 inches diameter) are used, modifications in the
per minute is needed in one end of the house. For handling fingers and the furrow opening shoes on
air intake, an opening twice the size of the fan is the transplanter will be required.
needed in the other end of the greenhouse. Satisfactory transplanting requires that the soil
In float beds where a transparent cover is used be at a workable moisture level at the time of
for plant protection, the cover should be raised or transplanting. This enables good furrow opening and
removed when temperatures inside the structure closure to make firm contact around the root ball. It
reach 75F. Raise the cover on cloudy, cool days and may be necessary, depending on the soil condition
remove it on bright, warm days. and the time of year, to run a subsoil unit at about
half depth in the row prior to transplanting. This could
be the situation if the field to be used has been in
sod continuously for several years and transplanting
is being made in June for a late crop.
About a week before field setting, harden plants Placing phosphate and potash in the root zone
to withstand adverse weather by reducing the may be a problem. This is especially true where they
temperature 10 to 15 degrees, reducing water, are testing low. The addition of any recommended
increasing ventilation, providing full sunlight and lime and phosphate will be difficult to work into the
spreading the plants. Hardened plants show a root zone because they do not readily leach
purplish color in the veins. If plants have a purple downward with rainfall. If a cover crop is to be
color between the veins, they have been overly established in the fall prior to spring transplanting,
hardened and will be stunted for a short time after lime, phosphate and a portion of the recommended
setting. Hardening is of great importance for plants potash could then be applied and worked into the
set in the cooler spring temperatures. soil. This provides better assurance that these
nutrients will be available in the root zone. Another
option is to broadcast them prior to transplanting.
This option may work well in those fields where lime
and phosphorus are high. Another option is
modification of the transplanter to allow a band
injection at the time of transplanting. Nitrogen and
potassium can either be sidedressed or applied
through a trickle irrigation system if adapted to the Fall fumigations are preferred over spring
field. For information about this technique, refer to fumigations, but treatment at this time may not be
the section on “Fertigation” in this publication. practical because of the potential for erosion on
Weeds that escape through the existing mulch sloping land, or the potential reinfestation of weeds
layer left by the kill of existing vegetation may if the plastic is removed. When spring fumigations
require an application of a directed spray of are made, considerable aeration is needed after
materials such as metribuzin (Lexone, Sencor) fumigation to lessen early yield reduction. The
during the growing season. temperature conditions required for fumigation may
Growers who have tried minimum-till have delay planting when it is done in the spring. All plant
indicated that the mulch layer makes fungicide/ residue must be fully decayed before applying the
insecticide applications during wet weather much more fumigant. Usually, about six weeks are required for
practical. There is less tractor wheel slippage on slopes plant debris to decay after turning.
and traction is usually much better during normal Methyl bromide is the primary fumigant used
growing operations than is common with conventional for fumigation of land on which tomatoes are grown.
tillage. This enables better movement by both There is an effort being made to ban methyl
equipment and pickers during various operations. bromide for use as a fumigant in the next few years.
At the present time, Telone and Vapam are
materials available for alternate use. Methyl
bromide is the most widely used because of its
effectiveness. Efforts are underway to develop a
suitable substitute.
Plastic disposal involved with fumigation may be
a problem. Most of the plastic presently used is non-
biodegradable. This makes its disposal limited
Soils recommended for tomato production because it will not be allowed in a landfill. Some
contain good levels of organic matter, are well- states have considered the option of baling for
drained and are not subject to flooding. The site recycling purposes, but this has not yet received
should provide good air drainage to reduce damage wide adaptation. Biodegradable plastic is available
from late spring or early fall frosts and the spread of and is being evaluated in some areas.
fungus diseases during the growing season. Avoid
sites that are infested with nematodes, or sites on
which pepper, eggplant or Irish potatoes have been
With increasing use of black plastic and fertigation,
grown in the last three years. Avoid planting
there are three methods of applying fertilizer to
tomatoes behind crops which have long residual
tomatoes. One recommendation is for growers who
herbicides to which tomatoes are sensitive.
grow their crop on bare ground. Another is for
production on plastic without trickle irrigation, while
the last is for those growers who use both plastic and
Fumigation is being practiced in some areas of trickle irrigation.
Tennessee to control verticillium wilt, nematodes and For bare-ground and production on plastic
certain weeds. Fumigation consists of (1) tilling the without trickle irrigation, apply lime, phosphorus and
soil with a power rototiller, (2) injecting a methyl potassium according to soil test recommendations.
bromide-chloropicrin mixture 6 to 8 inches into the This may mean applying recommended levels of N,
soil, (3) sealing the soil with plastic, and (4) plastic P and K either as a broadcast application or in a
removal. The soil temperature should be 55F or band in the row area prior to transplanting in the
greater at the point of injection. Plastic should be case of bare-ground production. If plastic only is
left on the soil at least 48 hours after treatment. Once used, it may require application in a band the width
removed, the soil should be stirred lightly and of the plastic bed prior to plastic installation. For
allowed to aerate for a minimum of five days. those who use both plastic and trickle irrigation, all
Fumigation requires special equipment and safety of the recommended phosphate and one-half of the
precautions and is quite expensive. recommended nitrogen and potash should be
applied prior to laying the plastic. The remaining one- end-rot. Blossom-end-rot can be induced by
half of each can be applied through the trickle system excessive nitrogen (especially ammonium nitrate),
as suggested in the section of this publication that potassium or magnesium applications and a low ratio
discusses fertigation. Recommendations are of calcium to other fertilizers in soils. It is also
provided in the section on “Fertilizer.” increased when insufficient moisture is present to
move calcium into the plant. Thus, soils used for
tomatoes should be analyzed for calcium. Sufficient
levels should be present in the soil to reduce the
The soil pH should be 6.1 — 6.5 for maximum chances for this disorder. In addition, uniform soil
production. When needed, apply and mix into the moisture should be maintained through the growing
soil the recommended rates of finely ground season.
limestone six weeks to six months ahead of the
transplanting date. This gives sufficient time for the
lime to react and alter the pH. A finely ground lime
will raise the pH higher and faster than a coarsely Ammonium nitrate, urea, calcium nitrate and
ground product. sodium nitrate are nitrogen sources which are
Lime applications are based on the soil pH. To sometimes used for sidedressings. If growers have
reduce blossom-end-rot, the soil calcium levels the proper soil calcium levels, ammonium nitrate is
should be maintained above 500 pounds per acre. probably the best choice because it is less likely to
Therefore, growers should always ask for a calcium be lost to evaporation and is inexpensive per pound
analysis when requesting a soil test. of nitrogen. At a pH below 6.1, calcium nitrate will
If low calcium levels exist, an imbalance in reduce the occurrence of blossom-end-rot, but
fertilizer uptake will occur and alter the normal growth calcium can be provided through lime more
rate of tomatoes. economically. The amount and time of nitrogen
application is listed in Table 3.

Recommended broadcast fertilizer levels are

listed in Table 3. Growers using rows that are 10 to Black plastic, in combination with trickle
12 feet apart need to apply fertilizer in a 2-or 3-foot irrigation, is becoming a widespread production
strip in the row area. This rate can be adjusted to technique in Tennessee. If black plastic is used,
the linear feet of row (See Table 4) for the desired sidedress nitrogen applications cannot effectively
band width of the fertilizer application. For example, be made to the root zone. Phosphorus is practically
the amount of fertilizer is spread the entire length of insoluble in water, which inhibits application through
row required at each band width to provide an acre a trickle system. All of the recommended phosphorus
will need to be applied and worked into the soil before
of land.
the plastic is laid. Potassium is soluble enough to
Fertilizer recommendations from the soil test lab
be applied through the trickle system.
are given on a fertilized-acre basis. Thus, the table
To effectively fertilize tomatoes grown on plastic,
can be used to determine the row length needed to
all of the phosphorus and about 50 percent of the
produce an acre.
recommended nitrogen and potassium should be
When soil P and K levels are high, Tennessee
applied before the plastic is laid. The remaining
research has shown no yield response when using
quantities of nitrogen and potassium should be split
more than 60 pounds of P or K. Therefore, growers
into weekly applications over the growing season.
should evaluate their soil nutrient levels and avoid
The weekly percentages should start at about 4
excessive applications when it is unlikely that they
percent of the total and increase to about 7 percent
can recover their costs.
during the peak of the season, then decrease back
to about 4 percent during the late harvest stage.

Tomato growers should be cautious about over

fertilizing, due to the possibility of inducing blossom-
 Phosphate (P2 O5 ) Potash (K2 O )
Nitrogen ++
Application 1
Soil Test Levels Soil Test Levels

At Planting Sidedressing L M H VH L M H VH

60 60 240 120 60 0 240 120 60 0

++ Apply when fruit on the first cluster are 1 inch in diameter and continue at three week intervals during
harvest. Due to drier weather and cooler temperature, late tomatoes will
not need as many total sidedressings as an early crop.

1
L — Low; M — Medium; H — High; VH — Very High

In addition, the following recomendations are made:

1. If tomatoes are being grown on plastic with fertigation, apply all of the recommended
phosphate and one-half of the recommended nitrogen and potash prior to installing
the plastic. Apply the remaining recommended level of nitrogen and potash in weekly
intervals over the remainder of the growing season (8-12 weeks).
2. Apply 500 pounds of calcium sulfate (gypsum) per acre when the water pH is 6.1 or above.
If the water pH is less than 6.1, apply lime as recommended and omit the calcium sulfate.
3. (This recommendation is made only when a soil test indicates a need for magnesium).
Apply 20 pounds of magnesium per acre using magnesium sulfate or potassium sulfate.
If lime is needed, dolomitic limestone is recommended as the magnesium source since
it can be used to correct both low magnesium and soil acidity.

Fertilizer Band Width Linear Feet

2 feet 21,780

3 feet 14,520

4 feet 10,890
 many weeds in the row, it will not eliminate nutgrass.
Weeds compete with tomatoes for water, Its use has now been adapted on about 40 percent
fertilizer and sunlight, as well as harboring insects of the tomato acreage grown in the state. Weed
and diseases. They greatly reduce harvesting control between the rows of plastic may require
efficiency, thereby increasing harvesting costs. directed applications of materials such as metribuzin
Fields that are infested with perennial weeds or gramoxone.
such as johnsongrass or bermudagrass should be
(1) treated with Roundup the year before planting,
(2) fumigated or (3) planted with crops that have
good perennial weed control programs. Roundup is A few hours before setting, water the plants so
very effective in killing the roots of these perennial their roots will not dry out during handling and to
weeds and does not result in residual carryover. prevent crumbling of the soil from the roots of
However, it will not control weeds from seed. container-grown plants.
In recent years, great advancement in obtaining Usually, transplanters are used to set plants.
total season weed control in tomatoes has occurred. Generally, mechanically transplanted plants have a
All chemicals should be applied at the times and higher survival rate than hand-set plants if water
rates given on the label. Some may be applied before application attachments are used.
planting, while others may be applied after planting. A high phosphate starter solution such as 10-
Certain herbicides applied before planting are 52-17 in the transplant water enables a rapid plant
usually effective in controlling grasses and a few start when the soil phosphate levels are low. This is
broadleaf weeds, but they do not give total season important to obtaining early yields. If soil phosphate
control of johnsongrass, bermudagrass, barnyard levels are high, starter solutions may not be
grass, ragweed, lambsquarters, nutsedge or necessary. Phosphate and potash levels can be
morningglories. With the advent of metribuzin determined by taking a soil test.
(Lexone, Sencor), a method now exists to provide Set plants deeply so that only three or four leaves
good control of many troublesome weeds. Metribuzin and the terminal buds are exposed. Planting deeply
will burn down morningglories in the four-leaf stage, encourages lateral root formation along the buried
but it will not kill seed. Certain members of the stem, which gives plants a greater capacity to absorb
nightshade family, such as hornsnettle and ground both water and nutrients. Set plants in the
cherry, however, are not killed by this material. Poast late afternoon to reduce
now has label clearance for grass control in heat damage.
tomatoes. Read the label before applying any
herbicide.
For current chemical weed control
recommendations, refer to the current Extension
publication PB 1282, Commercial Vegetable
Disease, Insect and Weed Control, available at your
county Agricultural Extension office.
Herbicides are not any more effective than the
techniques used to apply them. It is extremely
important that efforts be made to apply herbicides
at uniform rates over the entire area to be treated.
This includes using identical nozzle tips, adequate
agitation and a proper combination of pressure and
speed. Postemergence herbicides may require the
addition of a surfactant. Spray calibration is of prime
importance when applying materials at uniform rates.
If cultivation is used for weed control, cultivate
shallow to avoid root damage and cultivate just
ahead of a rain or irrigation.
Even though plastic provides good control of
 formed shoulders. The bed is sloped downward
about 1 inch from the center to the shoulders to
An increasing number of growers are using black enable good water drainage from the bed. The width
plastic for growing tomatoes. Fertilizer is applied of the plastic bed is approximately 36 inches and it
ahead of laying the plastic. Trickle irrigation systems is usually installed at a 5- or 6-foot distance from
may also be laid under the plastic if desired. Plastic bed center to center.
controls weeds and certain diseases, conserves Holes are normally punched through the plastic
moisture and increases both the quantity and quality by a rolling water-wheel with spikes on the outer
of early marketable fruit. circumference to provide plants at the desired in-
To effectively use plastic, the land must be in row spacing.
good condition with no sharp objects, stones or large The major disadvantages of plastic are the
clods to impede plastic installation or to punch expense to install, the labor required to remove and
unwanted holes through the plastic. Plastic is the disposal of the used material to satisfactorily
normally installed over a 6-to-10 inch high bed which meet the Environmental Protection Agency
has been shaped with a bed-shaper to enable well- regulations.

36" — 40"

6" — 10"
 and who have an acre or less, provisions should be
made to cover the plants if frost is expected. Plants
Growers who produce their own plants can use should be uncovered soon after the sun rises to
large diameter containers and hold them without prevent burning.
early yield sacrifice until frost danger is past. This
is a better alternative than trying to provide frost
protection in the field. It reduces the potential
for producing a high percentage of cat-faced fruit Between-row spacings range from 4 to 6 feet in
due to cool temperatures that sometimes occurs most areas of the state. However, spacings of 10 to
when fruit are transplanted early in the field. 12 feet are used in the Walden’s Ridge area of Rhea,
Plants set in the field early can be protected from Bledsoe and Grundy counties and in Lauderdale
late spring frosts by using sprinkler irrigation, but a County.
higher percentage of rough fruit may develop. If frost Spacings within the row vary from 18 to 24
is expected, set up the irrigation system and check inches. When spacing is 18 to 24 inches within the
it to be sure it is operating properly. Set a row, pruning is generally done to two stems on the
thermometer at the lowest place in the field. When indeterminate cultivars. Determinate cultivars such
the temperature drops to 34F, turn on the irrigation as Mt. Pride or Sunny are pruned, at the most, only
system and leave it on until the ice has melted. Apply once or twice. If spacing is less than 18 inches, plants
1/10 to 1/15 inch of water per acre per hour using are pruned to one stem. Pruning will produce higher
single-nozzle sprinklers, which operate at a pressure early yields and larger fruit than non-pruning, but
of about 15 pounds per square inch higher than total yields are often highest on non-pruned plants.
nozzles normally used with irrigation. Plants per acre required at different spacings are
For growers who are not equipped for irrigation listed in Table 5.

In Row Between Row Plants Per Linear Feet of

(Inches) (Feet) Acre of Land Row Required

18 5 5,808 8,712
6 4,840 7,260
8 3,630 5,445
10 2,904 4,356
12 2,420 3,630

24 5 4,356 8,712
6 3,630 7,260
8 2,722 5,445
10 2,178 4,356
12 1,815 3,630

30 5 3,485 8,712
6 2,904 7,260
8 2,178 5,445
10 1,742 4,356
12 1,452 3,630
 compared to individual staking. Twine is used for
tying. Nylon will not stretch as much as binder-twine.
The first string is stretched parallel to and about 10
inches above the soil surface on one side of the
stakes and repeated on the other side at the same
height. With this training method, plants grow
omatoes should be grown on supports. About
between and are supported by the two strings. The
50 percent of ground-grown tomatoes will be
strings are wrapped around each stake and
lost to decay, sunscald and insects. Staked or
tightened to provide good support. Stringing is
trellised plants produce high-quality fruits, which are
repeated about every 8 inches in height.
more easily sprayed and harvested.
Indeterminate varieties will require five to six
stringings, while determinate varieties will require
three to five. The “Weave” is most commonly used
Staked tomatoes of the determinate type are with determinate varieties.
trained using the “Florida Weave System,” while With individual staking, stakes are driven

Capped Driving Cylinder

indeterminate types are trained using individual at each plant. Plants are then tied loosely about
stakes. Determinate cultivars require shorter stakes. every 8 inches up the stake. Pruning, if practiced,
Stakes are driven 10 to 12 inches in the ground. An is normally done at the same time. Individual
effective method to drive stakes is to use a heavily staking will provide better support and earlier
capped, metal cylinder that is 3 or 4 inches in yields of larger fruit than the Florida Weave, but it
diameter and 18 to 24 inches long. requires more stakes, labor and time and is now
In the “Florida Weave System,” two plants are only used on less than 1 percent of 5,500 acres
spaced between each stake. This reduces stake being grown.
driving and cost of stakes by 50 percent when
 irrigation by adding enough water per week to hold
the effective root zone at about 50 percent field
capacity. The approximate amount of water to apply
and the frequency of application to maintain this
moisture level are given in Figures 2 and 3
rrigation aids in the uptake and utilization of respectively. Tomatoes have an effective rooting
nutrients present in the soil. It is most effective in depth of about 20 inches.
developing sturdy plants with heavy root systems, To determine the amount of water needed to wet
in reducing “blossom-end-rot,” in activating a soil to the effective rooting depth, use the chart in
herbicides and improving the size and shape of Figure 4. If you wish to wet a loam (medium-textured)
tomato fruit. soil to the 12-inch depth, move left to right across
As growers move more into growing late summer the chart at the 12-inch depth line. Stop at the
tomatoes, irrigation is more important than for an diagonal line marked “loamy” (medium). Move
early crop, due to the reduced rainfall of the late upward to the scale at the top. You will see that about
summer. 3/4 inch of water is required. Notice the difference
The proper use of an irrigation system is as in the amount of water required to wet different-
important to good yields as the system. Growers textured soils to the same depth.
must learn to use a system to apply uniform moisture Assume that tomatoes have an effective rooting
levels throughout the growing season. Ample soil depth of 18 inches in a loam. You want to wet the
moisture is necessary during the vegetative, soil to this depth when half the available water in
that zone has been depleted (Figure 5). Move down
the left scale of the chart to the 18-inch line. Follow
it to the right to the diagonal line marked loamy
(medium). Move upward to the scale at the top. You
will notice that you will need to apply water about
every seven to eight days to a loamy or medium-
Inches of water required to wet different soil textures
to various depths textured soil, depending on the wind speed and air
0 1 2 3 4 5 temperature.
Irrigation can be supplied either through the use
6 of trickle systems (Figure 6) or through over-the-top
sprinkler systems. The trickle system is so designed
12 that it slowly releases water at the base of the plant
in the root zone. It places water directly where it is
18
needed and reduces the potential for diseases, since
it does not wet the foliage. With this system, water
flows through a pipe or tube under very low pressure
24
and is emitted at the desired location. Trickle
30
irrigation will utilize less water than over-the-top
sprinkler systems. However, the water source must
36
be very clean and the lines must be equipped with
sufficient filtration to remove all soil or mineral
42 deposits in the water supply. If not, line blockage
will occur and result in a non-uniform water
application. Growers who use plastic are rapidly
adopting the trickle irrigation system combined with
a fertigation system.
flowering and fruit set, fruit enlargement and fruit Over-the-top sprinkler systems have been used
ripening stage. If a deficiency of moisture occurs in the form of traveling guns or stationary units with
during these stages, a yield reduction of circulating sprinkler heads. These systems are useful
approximately 25, 52, 43 and 25 percent respectively when plastic is not used. They are an effective way
may result. If rainfall does not supply moisture at to provide the necessary moisture requirements
the above times, it should be provided through when there is an adequate source available. The
 Number of days between irrigations with various soil textures
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35

12

18

24

30

36

42

disadvantages to such systems are the water loss by evaporation, soil crusting problems which occur
when water is applied to a clayey soil under high temperatures, and the potential to increase disease by
increased wetting of the foliage.

1,600'
400' 400' 400' 400'

1,000'

Laterals Laterals

Gauge Layflat sub-main Layflat sub-main

To
water
source

Valves Mainline
Fertilizer Sand filter
injector
 pressure are used to spray both sides of a row at
one time. Remember that no chemical can provide
control if it is not delivered to the target area. A low-
volume, low-pressure system that does not roll the
ood disease and insect control is as much leaves will not provide the necessary foliage
a function of the spray equipment used as coverage. Be sure that all nozzles are of the same
it is the choice of control chemicals. size, have the same spray pattern and the same
Sprayers which provide sufficient pressure and size orifice.
movement of spray materials to cover both sides of Many types of sprayers are available. Back-pack
the leaves and all of the stem and the fruit should mist blowers and sprayers mounted on two-wheel
be used. A low-volume, low-pressure sprayer garden tractors are available for the smaller acreage
equipped with flat-fan nozzles that are used to apply growers. Some smaller growers have built their own
herbicides will not be sufficient to apply fungicides drop-nozzle sprayers which are driven with gasoline
and insecticides. Use it to continue herbicide motors pulled behind riding lawn mowers. Large-
applications, but arrange for a sprayer which has a scale growers use large-drop nozzle types mounted
pump capable of a pressure of 200-300 pounds per on reworked tobacco harvesters, high-boy sprayers
square inch, equipped with cone tip nozzles to apply or on three-point hitch tractors. All of these types
the necessary fungicides and insecticides. Usually, use nozzle tips which break the spray material into
a piston or diaphragm pump will provide this type of a fine mist for thorough foliage coverage from the
pressure and withstand the rigors of continuous use bottom to the top of the plant.
with wettable powder chemicals. More thorough A drop nozzle sprayer is illustrated in Figure 7.
coverage is obtained when drop nozzles under high
 3. Nozzles in operation = From 2 to 6 D3-25
and 2 to 4 D3-23 or other comparable
nozzles per row. This depends on the plant
height. (Remember, nozzles are located on
sing the sprayer described previously, let’s both sides of the row).
look at a practical approach to the correct 4. Nozzle discharge rate = one D3-23 nozzle
procedure for applying pesticides to discharges 11.9 gallons per acre (gpa) and
tomatoes. To follow label directions in applying the one D3-25 nozzle discharges 19.1 gpa at 3
recommended quantity of pesticides, it is necessary mph (264 ft./min.) and 100 psi in a 2.5 foot
to have an understanding of how row width, tomato row*. This discharge rate is converted to 4,
plant height and number of operating nozzles per 5, 6, 10 and 12-foot row widths and
row influence the volume of solution and the amount adapted to the number of nozzles that
of materials applied. operate as the tomato plant height
The following information provides some insight increases. This information is
into these conditions and illustrates how to determine tabulated in tables 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10.
the amount of materials to mix. First, however, some
standard conditions must be established. They are: * This refers to the width of the row area.
1. Sprayer speed = 3 mph
2. Pressure = 100 psi
 Nozzle Type

Approximate D3-25 D3-23

Total
Tomato
GPA
Height (feet) Number Number
Operating Operating
Per Row GPA Per Row GPA

1 2 38.2 0 0 38.2

2 4 76.4 0 0 76.4

3 6 114.6 0 0 114.6

4 6 114.6 2 23.8 138.4

5 6 114.6 4 47.6 162.2

Converting the discharge rate of 11.9 and 19.1 gpa at 100 PSI and 3 mph in a 2.5 ft.-row to
row widths of 4, 5, 6, 10 and 12-foot wide rows, one nozzle will now have the application rates
shown in Table 7.

Nozzle Type
Row Width GPA
(feet)
D3-25 D3-23

4 11.9 7.4

5 9.6 6.0

6 8.0 5.0

10 4.8 2.9

12 3.9 2.5

t should be pointed out that the total volume applied per plant will be the same regardless of the
distance between rows. However, the percentage of an acre sprayed decreases as row width
increases (Table 8).
 Row Linear Percent Area
Width Feet Sprayed/Acre
(feet) Per Acre of Land

2.5 17,424 100

4 10,890 62.5

5 8,712 50

6 7,260 42

10 4,356 25

12 3,630 21

When the tomato plant height and the number 7) times the number of nozzles being operated at
of nozzles being operated at that height are the desired row width. Thus, the total output in gpa
considered, then the total gpa can be determined is summarized in Table 9.
by multiplying the discharge rate of the nozzle (Table

Number of Nozzles Total gpa* per acre at the following

Approximate Operating Per Row row width (feet)
Tomato
Height (feet)
D3-25 D3-23 4 5 6 10 12

1 2 0 23.8 19.2 16.0 9.6 7.8

2 4 0 47.6 38.4 31.6 19.2 15.6

3 6 0 71.4 57.6 47.4 28.8 23.9

4 6 2 86.2 69.4 57.2 34.6 28.4

5 6 4 101.0 81.2 67.6 40.4 33.8

 Operating a sprayer by increasing the number of nozzles enables an increasing spray volume per
plant as the plant increases in foliage area.

If a material is to be applied at 2 pounds per acre, the sprayer is operated under the given conditions
above, the row width is 6 feet, and the plant height is 3 feet, then 2 pounds should be mixed with each 47.4
gallons of water (Table 9). By the same token, if there is only one-half acre to spray, dividing any of the
figures in Table 9 by 2 gives the gallons required to spray the one-half acre.
If a 100-gallon tank is used, the total acres that it will cover at the above conditions are given in
Table 10.

Total acres of land the can be covered

Number of Nozzles
Approximate with 100 gallons at varying row
Operating Per Row
Tomato widths and operating nozzles
Height (feet)
D3-25 D3-23 4 5 6 10 12

1 2 0 4.2 5.2 6.3 10.4 12.5

2 4 0 2.1 2.6 3.1 5.2 6.3

3 6 0 1.4 1.7 2.1 3.4 4.2

4 6 2 1.2 1.4 1.7 2.8 3.5

5 6 4 1.0 1.2 1.5 2.4 3.0

To determine this, the maximum volume per acre must be considered; recirculation for agitation and
(Table 9) to be applied and the time required to spray pump wear. Three percent of the tank volume should
each acre must be known. If 10 feet between rows be allowed for agitation. Thus, 3 gpm should be
is used and the speed is 3 mph, then the time added to the above 2.44 gpm to take care of
required is 4,356 linear feet/a (Table 8) ÷ 264 ft./ agitation. To account for pump wear, utilize 80
min. = 16.5 min./a, excluding turn time. If plants are percent of the pump capacity. This is done by dividing
5 feet high, then the maximum volume required is 5.44 by .80 = 6.8 gpm minimum pump capacity to
40.4 gpa. Thus, the pump capacity is 40.4 gpa ÷ handle this sprayer.
16.5 min./a = 2.44 gpm. However, two other factors
 Extension PB 1282, Commercial Vegetable Disease,
Insect and Weed Control, available from your county
In that case, multiply the pump capacity required Agricultural Extension office. Application rates and
for one row by the total number of rows to be frequencies of recommended fungicides are
sprayed. If three rows are to be sprayed with the included in that publication.
above system, then the required pump capacity is
20.4 gpm (6.8 x 3 = 20.4).

A diaphragm or piston type is preferred because

the rollers inside a roller pump will not last with
constant use of wettable powders. nsect control involves cultural practices
and chemical control at the time
of seeding, in the plant-bed, in the field before
setting and during all phases of field growth.
If insecticides are mixed with other chemicals,
care should be taken to avoid incompatibility and
phytotoxicity. Apply insecticides using Integrated
omato diseases are classified as parasitic and Pest Management practices as needed at any stage
non-parasitic. Parasitic diseases are those of plant growth. When applied to plant foliage, thor-
caused by living organisms, such as bacteria, ough coverage of plant parts is necessary for good
fungi, nematodes and viruses. Non-parasitic control.
diseases are caused by unfavorable environmental When handling insecticides, growers should pay
and nutritional conditions. particular attention to safety precautions required
for their use.
Current recommended
chemicals are listed
Losses caused by tomato diseases may be
in Extension PB
reduced or prevented by the following cultural
1282, Commer-
practices:
cial Vegetable
• Planting resistant cultivars.
Disease, Insect
• Use seed that have been both tested for
and Weed Con-
diseases and treated with a fungicide.
tro l, available at
• Fumigation or sterilization of seeding and
your Agricultural
transplant media.
Extension
• Rotating crops to reduce disease buildup.
office.
• Using stakes to provide support for plants.
• Following a rigid fungicide and insecticide
spray program.
• Maintaining proper soil pH and fertility.
• Mulching.
• Applying nematicides when nematode
populations are high. ature green tomatoes are usually harvested
when a white star appears on the blossom
end of the fruit. The white star signifies
that the seeds are mature and the fruit will develop
Fungicides are available for the control of tomato
normal color when exposed to ethylene gas. Usually,
diseases. Weekly applications are usually required.
three or four harvests are all that is made of mature
If the label allows, more frequent applications may
green tomatoes. Mature green tomatoes are
be necessary during certain weather conditions. The
harvested into large bulk bins and then hauled to a
fungicide should thoroughly cover all portions of the
packing shed where they are run across a grading
plant. Specific chemical controls are listed in
machine and separated according to size, color and
A brief description of common parasitic diseases and non-parasitic diseases are as follows:

Diseases of Seedling Tomatoes

Brown ring girdles the stem at the soil line causing the seedling to
Damping Off
shrivel and collapse.

Botrytis Gray, fuzzy growth on lower stem.

Early Blight Small, brown circular target-like spots on the leaves and stem.

Bacterial Diseases
Tiny, pin-head-like dark brown to black spots on the leaves.
(canker, spot, speck)

Diseases of Field Tomatoes

Small, raised spots on the fruit. Water soaked-like spots on the

Bacterial Spots
foliage.

Small, brown-to-black spots which develop into target-like spots.

Early Blight Spots appear on lower leaves first. Appears as a dark, leathery
spot on stem end of fruit.

Septoria Leaf Spot Small, gray circular leaf spots with dark borders.

Circular, zonate bands within large spots on the fruit. Worse on

Buckeye Fruit Rot
lower clusters.

Yellowing and wilting of foliage. Stem tissue may show brownish

Fusarium Wilt
internal color.

Leaves turn brown beginning at the tip and progressing backward.

Gray Mold (botrytis)
Gray mold on the stem and foliage during humid weather.

Greenish-black water soaked appearing spots on older leaves,

increasing rapidly in size and killing much foliage. Disease
Late Blight
on fruit appears as a brown, very firm spot. Can result in non-
marketable fruit in a week.

Yellow spots on upper surface of leaves. Olive to gray mold on

Leaf Mold
the underside of leaves. Found primarily in greenhouses.

Plants wilt rapidly during periods of moisture stress. Leaves turn

Nematode Injury
yellow and may appear to have nutrient deficiency. Plants are
(root knot)
stunted. Galls or knots develop on roots.

Sunken brown spots 3/4 of 11/4 inches in diameter on fruits.

Soil Rot (on fruit)
Center of spot usually breaks open.
 Plants wilt and die very rapidly without a distinctive yellowing of the
Southern Blight foliage. Stem at the ground line will usually be decayed and
covered with a white mold and small light-brown fruiting bodies.

Foliage will turn yellow and wilt. V-shaped lesions will usually
Verticillium Wilt form on leaves. Internal tissue near the base of the plant will
usually show brown discoloration.

Tissues at blossom end of fruit become dark, flattened or sunken

with a leathery appearing spot. Controlled by supplying adequate
amounts of calcium, either by proper liming or foliage sprays and
supplying even amounts of moisture. Calcium chloride may be
Blossom-end-rot
used as a foliage spray at the rate of 4 pounds per 100 gallons
of water (4 level tablespoons per gallon) but it is only a temporary
correction. Make no more than three applications. Irrigate to
maintain uniform soil moisture. Avoid excessive rates of fertilizer.
Fruits deformed by swellings. Masses of scar tissue between
swelling. Cavities sometimes extend into fruits. Most common on
Catface
large fruited cultivars. It is associated with pruning, cold
(or rough fruit)
temperatures and wet or dry conditions existing when the flower
pistil is developing.
Gray to grayish-brown blotches develop on surface of green fruit
Graywall
with an internal browning of outer wall tissues. Common during
(or botchy ripening)
wet, cool, cloudy conditions.

Cracking of fruits at stem ends, extending either around or down

the sides of the fruit. Caused by abundant rain and conditions
Growth Cracks
favorable for rapid growth after an unfavorable growth period,
such as dry weather. Certain cultivars are more susceptible.
Leaflet rolling upward and inward at margins. No yellowing or
dwarfing of leaves. Little or no stunting of plants. Fruits of
normal size and color. Caused by excessive pruning or conditions
Leaf roll
of low soil moisture favorable for plant growth. There is no
apparent reduction in yield. Certain cultivars are likely to show a
greater incidence than others.
Fruits flattened at sides, soft and light in weight. Large cavity
Pockets — between outer wall and center of fruit. Caused by environmental
(no puffiness) and nutritional factors that interfere with normal pollination and
affect the development of seed-bearing tissues.
Large yellow or whitish patches on parts of fruits exposed to sun.
Most common on immature, green fruits. Caused by plants
Sunscald
defoliated by leaf spot disease or severe pruning, exposing fruits
to sunlight.
Tops of plants wilt and die when plants are about two-thirds
Walnut wilt grown. Plant may show discoloration similar to fusarium. Caused
by toxin released by walnut tree roots.
defects. They are then placed into 25—pound boxes
according to size, placed in the ripening room and
then transported to market. Vine-ripe tomatoes are
normally harvested about twice per week during the
growing season. They are normally packed arvested tomatoes are subject to decay by
individually into appropriate containers according to
such diseases as alternaria, buckeye rot,
the market demand.
gray mold, soft rot, sour rot and bacterial soft
Single and multiple-row harvesting aids are
rot. When tomatoes are to be boxed, shipped long
available. A rig built around a small garden tractor
distances and left on the shelf for extended periods
is the most common type being produced. Such
of time, they should be treated to reduce the potential
rigs can be modified (1) to carry two people in one
for decay during these handling procedures.
middle with each person "picking" one-half of each
To reduce the potential for decay, treat the wash
row, or (2) to pull a "high-boy" type trailer with riders
water with recommended levels of chlorine. Keep
in three middles. However, large-acreage growers
the water clean to reduce effectiveness of chlorine
have arranged to have imported laborers harvest
and eliminate the buildup of decay organisms in the
by hand.
water. There are three sources of chlorine that are
Small growers have built their own trailers which
used. They are chlorine gas, calcium hypochlorite
will seat two pickers and is pulled with a riding lawn
andsodium hypochlorite. The pH of the wash water
mower. This will allow movement down one row
should be held in the 6.5 to 7.0 range for best effects.
and each picker will harvest one-half of a row at a
The water temperature should be held at about 75F
time, placing the fruit in the desired containers. The
to increase effectiveness. At these pH and
containers are dropped at each end for pickup.

Small, soft-bodied, pear-shaped insects with a pair of cornicles

(tailpipe-like projections) protruding from the rear end. They may be
Aphids red, black or green. They may be winged or wingless and feed in
colonies on terminals and leaves. Infested leaves often curl and
become distorted. Aphids transmit certain viruses.

An oval beetle that is yellowish-brown with five black stripes on each

wing cover. The larvae is a yellowish-red or orange, soft grub with
Colorado Potato Beetles
black head and legs. Adults and larvae feed on leaves and terminals
thus, affecting yield.

The larvae are dark gray to brown and may be solid, striped or
spotted with yellow dots. When disturbed, they curl up tightly.
Cutworms Depending on the species, they may reach a length of 2 inches.
Cutworms injure seedlings and newly set plants in the field by
severing them near the soil surface.

Small (1/16 — 1/8 inch) black or striped beetles that jump like fleas.
They attack the foliage leaving small, round shot-holes. Damage is
Fleabeetles
most serious early in the season. Potato flea beetles may transmit
early blight.

Adult moths are yellowish-olive. Larvae vary in color from

greenish-yellow and reddish-brown or even black with paler
Fruitworms
stripes running lengthwise along the body. Fruitworms feed
on the leaves and fruit and may bore into the stalk.
 The mature larvae are about 3 1/2 inches long, green with seven
diagonal stripes or eight V-shaped markings on each side. They
Hornworms possess a prominent horn on the tail section. Larvae strip leaves
from the plants and if populations are heavy, they may feed on the
fruit.

The larvae are yellow and about 1/8 inch in length. They tunnel
Leaf miners the leaves between the upper and lower surfaces. This damage
results in long, white, winding tunnels on the leaves.

The larvae are green with several white stripes that run the length
Loopers of the body. It moves in a characteristic "looping" motion. They
feed on the leaves, producing ragged holes.

The adult moth is gray and has a wingspan of 1/2 inch. The mature
larvae may be yellow, green or ash gray and covered with dark
Tomato Pinworm
purple spots. Pinworms can cause blotchlike leaf mines, folded and
tied leaves, pinholes in stems and fruit and fruit blotches.

Small, yellowish to dark green spiderlike pests that are the size of a
pepper flake. They may be detected by dislodging them from the
Spider Mites plant onto a piece of white paper and viewed with a 10X magnifying
lens. Webbing may be seen over the infested plants. Mites suck the
sap from the foliage. Leaves take on a yellowish or bronze cast.

Adult stinkbugs are shield-shaped and green or brown. Immature

stinkbugs are smaller and may be black or green with orange and
black markings, or a solid light color. Adults and nymphs feed with
Stinkbugs
their needle-like mouthparts late in the season. Infested immature
fruits or pods may later become deformed. Mature fruit has white
areas under the skin.

The larvae are cream to yellowish gray with a reddish-orange head.

They are slender, hard and resemble a jointed wire. Wireworms
Wireworms chew ragged holes in the roots. Stems of transplants are most
frequently attacked. They are frequent problems when tomatoes are
grown after pasture or forage crops.

There are several species of white flies. They may vary in certain
aspects of body shape such as their wing shape. However, they are
all small insects with broad wings covered with fine, snow-white waxy
powder. Both adults and nymphs may feed on foliage by sucking
White Flies
juices from the underside of the leaf. They produce a honey dew
which may result in a blackening of the leaf. Some species are also
very capable of transmitting certain viruses which greatly damage
the plant.
temperature ranges, it will require 0.8 and 1.6 pints production and marketing details are worked out,
of 5.25 percent sodium hypochlorite per 100 gallons acreage can be expanded as the need arises.
of water to provide 50 and 100 ppm of chlorine Growers should be aware of price changes and
respectively. If 65 percent calcium hypochlorite is adapt their production to obtain the highest
used, it will require 1.0 and 2.0 ounces of material possible prices.
respectively added to 100 gallons of water to
produce 50 and 100 ppm of chlorine.
Dip the tomatoes in these solutions for four to
five minutes to provide control of the decay
organisms.
Chlorinated wash water should be drained a n areas of large-volume production, packing
minimum of once per day. Some circumstances will houses are operated to grade and market the
dictate that drainage should occur more frequently. product. A fee is charged for this service.
However, if chlorination is planned and dumping is Growers wishing to market through packing sheds
expected, it would be wise to check with the local should contact packing shed managers to determine
health department to determine if a permit to dump the cultivar required, stage of maturity for harvesting,
is required. Discharge of such waste water into packing charge, packages required and other helpful
municipal wastewater treatment plants or into information. Some sheds are now equipped to “gas”
surface water sources may require a permit. Land green tomatoes before shipment. Gassing is
discharge may also require a permit. becoming more popular in Tennessee as the
Good practices to follow when using chlorinated demand for firm tomatoes used in salad bars
water include: (1) monitoring the chlorine increases. Several growers are now operating their
concentration and condition of the water, (2) own private packing sheds.
changing the water frequently, (3) avoiding Fresh market growers may sell to local grocery
overexposure to chlorine, (4) practicing good stores, farmers markets, independent buyers and
sanitation around the water tank and in handling roadside markets. These contacts should be made
tomatoes, (5) protecting workers exposed to the well in advance of the harvest date. The expected
chlorine and (6) not expecting chlorine to solve all volume, cultivar, size and grade should be specified
post-harvest decay problems. with the buyer. A high quality product is the key to
such outlets. Use high standards when grading and
packing the product.
Customer harvesting, or pick-your-own, is an old
method of marketing, especially when prices are low.
Customers are invited through newspaper ads or
roduction costs vary from area to area radio spots to pick at a given price per pound.
depending on spacing, staking, methods of Customers usually bring their own containers. Plans
trellising and cultivars. From 200 to 400 labor for this type of marketing should be made well in
hours are required per acre of tomatoes. Labor costs advance to provide for parking, check-out stations
range from $1,000 to $2,000 per acre if other than and other considerations.
family labor is used. The break-even point is about One important part of marketing is providing a
a 15-ton yield, grossing about $3,000 per acre at 10 product when the total supply is low. Usually, when
cents per pound if 75 percent of harvested tomatoes the supply is low, the price will be higher and the
make market grade. You may evaluate budgets for potential for making a profit is greater. Figure 8 points
tomatoes by contacting your Agricultural Extension out how the total monthly U.S. supply of tomatoes
office and requesting a copy of EC 890, Planning varies. Notice that the supply is low in September
Budgets for Fruits and Vegetables. compared to that in June and July. Thus, it appears
Costs are reduced as growers become more that Tennessee growers who have the correct
efficient in methods of production. For this reason, resources should evaluate the potential for
it is recommended that growers start with one-half September harvest. Information in this graph was
acre or less and become efficient at this scale rather supplied by the United Fresh Fruit and Vegetable
than starting production on a large scale. Once Association.
 15

13

11

0
J F M A M J J A S O N D

Months

1. Establish a suitable market. This is the first 7. Apply nitrogen according to your length of
priority. Keep the market informed of delivery harvest period and available moisture. Late
times and amounts. Use packages suitable to summer tomatoes will not require as heavy
the market’s needs. nitrogen applications as early tomatoes.
2. Select a cultivar that meets the demands of 8. Take necessary precautions to avoid frost
your particular market. Determinate cultivars 9. Space, stake, prune and train according to the
are suitable for shipping, while indeterminate cultivar and market.
types are better adapted to local, fresh market 10. Irrigate if moisture is not supplied by
sales. rainfall. One to 1 1/4 inches per week is neces-
3. Select plants that have been grown in 2 1/4 sary. Irrigation for late tomatoes is a necessity.
inch or larger containers, especially if early 11. Control insects, diseases and weeds by using
yields are important. proven chemical and cultural methods, equip-
4. Take necessary steps to assure that disease-free ment and time of pesticide application.
plants are produced, planted and grown. 12. Harvest at the stage of ripeness that your
5. Select medium-textured soils which provide market requires. A green market does not want
good root penetration and moisture-holding pink fruit delivered to the packing shed.
capacity. 13. Take necessary steps to improve production
6. Apply lime, phosphate and potassium according efficiency and reduce expenses.
to soil test recommendations. Avoid excessive 14. Constantly study the market to evaluate
applications to reduce production costs and seasonal trends in prices, supply and changes
reduce potential blossom-end-rot problems. in consumer demand.
 PB737-4.5M-4/99(Rev) E12-2015-00-242-99
The Agricultural Extension Service offers its programs to all eligible persons regardless of race,
color, national origin, sex, age, disability or veteran status and is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
COOPERATIVE EXTENSION WORK IN AGRICULTURE AND HOME ECONOMICS
The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture,
and county governments cooperating in furtherance of Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914.
Agricultural Extension Service
Billy G. Hicks, Dean