Stage Planting Of My Tomatoes Garden, From Seedlings To Fruiting

Tomatoes reproduce sexually meaning that the their seeds are used in cultivation. Unlike crops like pineapple or plantain that they grow vegetatively with the use of the suckers, tomatoes seeds are very small and delicate to even grow at stake. So we first search the quality seeds from the good foundation stock( from growers who have quality and resistance seeds). Depending on the season and the take of consumers at market, one can choose a variety of tomatoes from a lot available at tomatoes growers like: Heinz, Shasta, Op-B149, Op-B155 and CRI-P00. The common one we often grow in Ghana is Solanum lycopersicum L. Also there are hybrid improved varieties developed by Crop Research Institute of Ghana (CRI) which have been tested to give higher yield. Some of these are Ante Dede', 'Legon Tomato', and 'Tomato Queen'. During the lean season, we import another good variety from Burkina Faso, the epicarp is very hard to withstand immediate perishing. Ghanaians have greatly been patronizing. But for my gardening, I opted for growing Roma VF which is resistance to adverse whether conditions and disease infestation. It's also preferred for canning and consumption by many people.

I bought the seeds of Roma VF from a friend who has been growing tomatoes for quite long years. The quality seeds from the farmers hands are just less than $3.00 now. The use empty milk tin to measure. I then nursed the seeds on the raised bed since we are in the raining season and irrigation isn't an issue now. But the place for preparing the bed is first cleared and burn to get rid of pest which could harbour the seedlings when they sprout. Ideally, we can also choose to apply pesticides to kill these living organisms. But, the problem is that some of the harmless organisms lives are also endangered when you apply Non-selective pesticides. The raised bed was prepared using a hoe and Mattock and all stumps being removed. The lumps of particles were broken to fine particles. If the area is already rich in humus there isn't need to add organic matter from outside.

Mostly seedlings after nursing the seeds on the nursery bed would take more than seven days. My tomatoes seeds took 7 days to sprout on the nursery bed. I irrigated the seedlings for every 3 days when there was no natural rain. The seedlings were overcrowded and I had to remove most of the thin seedlings to allow large stands of seedlings. The soil was fertile but I decided to apply few NPK Fertilizer to initiate vegetative growth. There are small pest that tried to cut the stems but I used pesticides to control them. At least when they smell the scent the chemical it would drive them away. I monitored the growth at least every 3 days till the 3 weeks that they were ready for transplanting on the permanent field. I just removed the shade from it for about 3 days to expose then to the natural conditions- that's hardening off.

When I was raising the seedlings, at the same time I was preparing the field for transplanting. This involves clearing the field, burning, removing the stumps, ploughing and harrowing. I then prepared the ridges on the field. This is very tedious work which need intensive labourer work. So, I had to hire a labourer for this work. I began to transplant the seedlings from the nursery bed to the field. Why I was planting the seedlings, I was at the same time irrigating the seedlings to withstand the pressure of high temperature. Folia application of fertilizing was done to promote vegetative growth of the tomato plants.

It is good to know how to treat tomato seedlings on the field. There are a lot cultural practices that are to be carried out. After I planted the seedlings on the field, I began to applying Fertilizer dissolved in water gradually under the base of the tomato plants. Watering was done every 3 days while waiting for the natural rain.

Recommended chemical are sprayed on the tomato plants to prevent the invasion of pests and diseases. This done for at least every week. If the farm is humid, it does invites flying insect pests in the farm. So, conscious effort is taken for regular visits in the farm. Earthing up is carried out on the ridges to encourage healthy growth and bigger stands of stems. It also initiate nice flowering of the tomato plants. In some tomato varieties, staking has to be done for the plants to climb to prevent the creeping of the plants. But this variety of tomatoes isn't like that.

While waiting for the flowering of the tomato plants, I kept on applying all the cultural practices that the tomatoes would need. Great caution is taken to make sure that abundant fruiting is acquired. Closely to 2 months, the tomatoes began flowering and fertilization. I could see a lot of good flowering. By this time the natural rainfall is experiencing so I pause supplying irrigation while depending on the natural rain. If the rainfall become to much most of the flowers fall from the ground.

Today I'm very excited 😊 to see most of my tomato plants fruiting bountifully. This time is good for fruiting since the rain has subside now. When the rainfall is too much it let the emergence fruits to fall onto the ground. Sometimes it also causes most fruits to rot. But, the rainfall pattern is good to the sense that it rains at regular times while experiencing sunshine too.

I am now waiting for the ripening of the first barge of my tomatoes I planted. The fruits are very healthy and I haven't seen any visible spots on the fruits. I anticipate more fruits to appear so that I can have more sales.I am monitoring every stage and I wouldn't hesitate to bring you all updates of the next stage of my tomato fruits. Thanks for your attention.