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Tomato cultivation techniques
The ideal soil for growing small tomatoes should be deep, fertile, well-drained, and capable of retaining moisture. The optimal pH range is between 5.6% and 6.7%, with a texture ranging from sandy loam to clay loam. To prevent soil depletion and reduce the risk of diseases caused by continuous cropping, it's recommended to practice crop rotation with rice, legumes, or corn.
**1. Variety Selection**
- **Shengyun**: This mid-early maturing variety is known for its high heat tolerance, strong disease resistance, and excellent storage and transportability. It has non-stop fruiting, medium green leaves, and produces 2–24 fruits per cluster, each weighing around 20 grams. The fruit is firm, resistant to cracking, and has a balanced sweet and sour flavor with a sugar content of over 8.5%.
- **Love**: This variety is semi-determinate, highly heat-resistant, and resistant to wilt and moisture stress. Its fruit is long and elliptical, weighing about 13 grams, with a bright red color and a sugar content of 8.5%. It offers good taste and is ideal for both fresh consumption and transportation.
- **Mary**: A high-yielding variety with dark green foliage and strong resistance to late blight and leaf spot. Each plant can produce up to 30 fruits per cluster, and with proper pruning, yields can reach 350 fruits per node. The fruit is long and oval, bright red, and weighs around 30 grams. It has a sugar content of about 8.5%, is hard, and resists cracking, making it ideal for long-term storage and transport.
- **Yasu No. 6**: This semi-determinate variety grows to about 170 cm tall, with bright red, long-oval fruits weighing 13–15 grams. It is highly resistant to heat, wilt, and mosaic virus, and has a sugar content of 10–11%. The fruit is firm, does not crack easily, and is suitable for commercial production due to its high yield and durability.
**2. Sowing and Cultivation**
Small tomatoes are adaptable to different sowing times and can be grown year-round using various cultivation methods. Field planting can begin as early as August and continue until February, depending on the region and climate.
**3. Seed Treatment and Seedling Preparation**
To prevent early blight, seeds should be soaked in warm water for 3–4 hours, then immersed in a 40% formalin solution diluted 100 times for 20 minutes. Afterward, they should be sealed for 2–3 hours before being rinsed thoroughly. For virus prevention, soak seeds in clean water for 3–4 hours, then transfer them to a 10% trisodium phosphate or 2% sodium hydroxide solution for 20 minutes. Rinse until the pH becomes neutral.
When preparing seedbeds, water the area first, mix seeds with fine sand or crushed soil, spread evenly, and cover with a 0.5 cm layer of loose soil. Transplant seedlings when they have 2–3 true leaves, and move them to the field when they have 5–6 true leaves.
**4. Soil Preparation, Planting, and Transplanting**
Choose fields that were not previously used for solanaceous crops and ensure good irrigation and drainage. After tilling, set up rows with a spacing of 45–55 cm between plants, and a total width of 1.4–1.7 meters (including ditches). Apply base fertilizer, such as sorghum, and follow a north-south orientation. Plant 1,600–2,000 plants per acre. Select healthy, vigorous seedlings for planting.
**5. Field Management**
- **Fertilization and Irrigation**: Small tomatoes benefit from organic fertilizers combined with compound and potassium fertilizers. Ensure regular but moderate watering to avoid waterlogging.
- **Staking and Pruning**: As soon as seedlings are planted, provide support with sturdy stakes to prevent lodging. Tie vines from the top of the first fruit cluster upward, and repeat every 2–3 leaves. Adjust the tightness based on plant growth—tighten for vigorous plants, loosen for weak ones.
- **Pruning Techniques**: There are two main pruning methods: single-stem and double-pruning. Single-stem involves removing all lateral buds, while double-pruning allows one lateral branch below the first inflorescence. Always prune during sunny weather, keep wounds dry, and spray if it rains after pruning to prevent disease.
**6. Harvesting**
Harvest tomatoes when they reach full maturity, depending on the variety. Over-harvesting can damage the fruit and reduce its shelf life, so timing is crucial for quality and transportability.