Tomato
Solanum lycopersicum
About Tomato
The tomato is the world's most widely grown vegetable crop, cultivated across every continent except Antarctica. A warm-season crop requiring 60-90 days to fruit maturity, tomatoes are grown commercially and by smallholder farmers throughout the tropics, subtropics, and temperate regions. They are rich in lycopene, vitamins A and C, and potassium. Tomatoes can be grown in open fields, greenhouses, or containers. They are classified as determinate (bush type, sets fruit all at once) or indeterminate (vining, continuous production). Major production regions include China, India, Turkey, the United States, and Egypt. In sub-Saharan Africa, tomato is the most important vegetable crop, providing income and nutrition to millions of smallholder farming families.
Growing Conditions
Full sun — minimum 6-8 hours direct sunlight daily
Regular, consistent watering — 25-50 mm per week. Avoid overhead irrigation to reduce foliar disease. Drip irrigation ideal.
Well-drained, fertile loam with pH 6.0-6.8. Rich in organic matter. Avoid waterlogged or compacted soils.
Optimal 21-27°C daytime, 15-20°C nighttime. Fruit set fails above 35°C or below 10°C.
Moderate (50-70%). High humidity promotes foliar diseases (late blight, bacterial spot).
Warm season — plant after last frost. In tropics, can be grown year-round with irrigation.
Step-by-Step Growing Tips
Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before transplanting
Harden off seedlings for 7-10 days before field planting
Stake or cage indeterminate varieties for better air circulation and fruit quality
Mulch around plants to conserve moisture and reduce soil splash diseases
Prune suckers on indeterminate types for larger fruit and earlier ripening
Rotate with non-solanaceous crops for at least 3 years
Disease Risks to Watch
All diseases →El tizón temprano del tomate es causado por el hongo Alternaria solani. Produce manchas marrón oscuro con anillos concéntricos en las hojas inferiores, extendiéndose hacia arriba. Maneje con rotación de cultivos, variedades resistentes, acolchado para prevenir salpicaduras del suelo y aplicaciones de fungicida con clorotalonil o productos a base de cobre cuando aparezcan los primeros síntomas.
El tizón tardío del tomate es causado por Phytophthora infestans. Crea lesiones empapadas de agua gris-verdosas que rápidamente se vuelven marrón oscuro, con moho blanco en el envés de las hojas en condiciones húmedas. Puede destruir cultivos en días. Aplique aspersiones preventivas de cobre o mancozeb, destruya plantas infectadas inmediatamente y use variedades resistentes como Mountain Magic o Defiant.
El virus del rizado amarillo de la hoja del tomate (TYLCV) es un begomovirus propagado por moscas blancas (Bemisia tabaci). Las plantas infectadas muestran enrollamiento ascendente de hojas, márgenes de hojas amarillentos, crecimiento atrofiado y caída de flores. No hay cura — el manejo depende de variedades resistentes, control de mosca blanca con neem o imidacloprid, acolchados reflectantes y mallas antiinsectos.
La marchitez por Fusarium del tomate (Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici) causa amarillamiento comenzando de un lado de la planta, marchitez y decoloración vascular marrón en tallos. El hongo persiste en el suelo por décadas. Maneje con variedades resistentes portando genes I, I-2, I-3, injerto sobre portainjerto resistente, rotación de cultivos y elevación del pH del suelo a 6,5-7,0.
Companion Planting
✅ Good Companions
❌ Avoid Nearby
Growing Zones
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the best time to plant Tomato?
Warm season — plant after last frost. In tropics, can be grown year-round with irrigation.
What soil does Tomato need?
Well-drained, fertile loam with pH 6.0-6.8. Rich in organic matter. Avoid waterlogged or compacted soils.
How much water does Tomato need?
Regular, consistent watering — 25-50 mm per week. Avoid overhead irrigation to reduce foliar disease. Drip irrigation ideal.
What are the most common diseases affecting Tomato?
The most common diseases are: tomato early blight, tomato late blight, tomato leaf curl virus, tomato fusarium wilt. Monitor regularly and practice crop rotation.
What plants grow well with Tomato?
Good companions include: basil, marigold, carrot, parsley. Avoid planting near fennel, brassicas, walnut.
Related Crops — Solanaceae
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