![]() ![]() ![]() The fruit is more likely to crack or rot if a dry spell is followed by excess moisture.Ī final mistake many people make is watering their plants from above. If tomato plants don’t consistently receive about 1 inch of water each week, the plants won’t be as healthy. It is also important to make sure that you water your plants consistently, especially during periods without rain. Instead, you should water tomato plants in the earlier morning hours or around dusk. If you water your plants during the heat of the day, too much water is likely to evaporate before it can be absorbed by the soil to actually make it to the plant. The first is watering them at the wrong time of the day. Over-irrigation wastes water and leaches nitrogen.īill Kerr is a vegetable specialist and grower.There are several watering-related mistakes you might make when tomato plants. The leaves will also show you when the plants are getting thirsty learn to read them. This is when heavier irrigation is required.ĭig into the soil with a garden trowel to monitor the moisture status of the land. It is only much later, when the total leaf area has grown substantially, that the plant will draw noticeably more water from the soil. Drip irrigation is the norm for tomatoes, so irrigate a small volume close to the plants on a more frequent basis until the roots have penetrated sufficiently. Newly planted seedlings also need very little water at this stage. Remember that the expanding root system will recover many nutrients as the roots grow, so supplement nutrients only as required. If there has been heavy leaching due to rain, consider applying nitrogen close to the plants. Nonetheless, given the high cost of chemicals, you need to do everything you can to minimise the use of these products while still controlling pests and diseases.įertiliser side dressings are usually not necessary for some time after transplanting, provided the initial basic fertiliser is applied according to a soil analysis. ![]() A motorised knapsack is preferable if you need to wet the underside of the leaves as well. When applying pest-control products at this stage (assuming this is necessary, of course), use a normal or motorised knapsack, as this makes it easier to wet the young plants rapidly and economically. If curly stunt virus is a problem in the area, you may have to apply a suitable systemic product to the soil or young plants to provide long-term control of the whitefly vector. All of this means that frequent inspections are a must. Even the ‘arrival time’ of a known pest species during the year may vary. In some years, for example, your farm might see an outbreak of African bollworm in others, you may get semi-loopers. Pest species can vary from one year to the next. Fungal and bacterial diseases usually become hazards only at a later stage and you can save considerable cost by monitoring the crop frequently and then spraying if any pest or disease starts. If there’s a problem, apply a suitable product. Get to know the diseases that pose a threat in your area and whether any of these are spread by an insect vector. I find this to be unnecessary and costly. You may be advised to carry out a complete precautionary spray programme to counter pests or diseases. ![]()
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