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 →A pinta-preta do tomateiro é causada pelo fungo Alternaria solani. Produz manchas marrom-escuras com anéis concêntricos nas folhas inferiores, espalhando-se para cima. Controle com rotação de culturas, variedades resistentes, cobertura morta para evitar respingos do solo e aplicações de fungicidas à base de clorotalonil ou cobre ao primeiro sinal de sintomas.
A requeima do tomateiro é causada por Phytophthora infestans. Cria lesões encharcadas cinza-esverdeadas que rapidamente se tornam marrom-escuras, com mofo branco na parte inferior das folhas em condições úmidas. Pode destruir lavouras em dias. Aplique pulverizações preventivas de cobre ou mancozebe, destrua plantas infectadas imediatamente e use variedades resistentes.
O vírus do enrolamento amarelo das folhas do tomateiro (TYLCV) é um begomovírus transmitido por moscas-brancas (Bemisia tabaci). Plantas infectadas mostram enrolamento das folhas para cima, amarelecimento das margens foliares, crescimento atrofiado e queda de flores. Não há cura — o manejo depende de variedades resistentes, controle de moscas-brancas com nim ou imidacloprido, mulches reflexivos e telas à prova de insetos.
A murcha de Fusarium do tomateiro é causada por Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici. Causa amarelecimento unilateral, murcha diurna que não se recupera e escurecimento vascular marrom. O fungo sobrevive no solo por décadas. Controle com variedades resistentes (genes I-1, I-2, I-3), enxertia em porta-enxertos resistentes, calagem e solarização do solo.
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
Growing Tomato? Protect It.
CuraPlant scans your crops for diseases and pests in seconds — and gives you a treatment plan tailored to your region and season.