Today’s about what I’ve been up to in a few weeks and this feels more practical than ever as I’d take you through both theoretical and practical aspects of Tomato farm as well as its production with a few images as a guideline.
So let's get started…
Everyone has to deal with this part of agriculture whether directly or not. Well, someone just whispered he doesn't consume tomato - Yuck!!! Even in minute quantity, we can't do without it. "Pepper go pepper your mouth of you try am"- just a saying in my neighborhood. So, let's skip the history part (who discovered tomato, how it was first consumed and many more) it's boring anyway but a bit familiarization has to be done, don't you think?
Tomato is one of man's favourite vegetable or fruit, it is eco-friendly and health replenishing. Its scientific name is Solanum lycopersicum and I'm sure we all know the common name - Tomato. They are usually green and hard when unripe but turns red and soft when they are ripe and edible. They also have a family called SOLANACEAE and can either be classified as a vegetable or fruit. They can be grown all year round if the growing conditions are met.
Quick question: How do you love your tomatoes?
Is it as an ingredient or side dish… your choice #smiles.
Let's proceed...
WHY YOU NEED TO CONSUME TOMATO
For those who despise this blessed fruit, I have some good news and for smokers (Science students) this is also for you. To my fellow consumers, I'm sure you're ready to know what it has always done in your system.
Tomato detoxifies the carcinogens and nitrosamine in Cigarettes (either you smoke or inhale) because it contains some essential vitamins that helps in protection against cancer. It also helps in improving vision and helps to combat free radicals. Lastly, it prevents other health-related diseases like cancer, diabetes, hypertension, skin disease and urinary infection.
I hope you are convinced?
PRODUCTION OF ORGANIC TOMATOES
We shouldn't just consume all these market supplies too much after all when we can harvest our own Garden of Eden in 3 months. Before we dive deep, we need to get some things ready.
This includes a good loamy soil, ready source of water and a healthy variety of tomato. This is to ensure high yield and disease free production.
So visit a reputable greenhouse or a farmers market or vendor. The processes involve:
Selection of your site: I'm sure you wonder why this operation leads the chart always. Well, it's like the foundation of every task or production on the field. The site has to be a loamy dark soil with adequate sunlight. This could also be carried out in a nursery to ensure the safety of the plant. Then it'd be transplanted before it develops tap roots.
Application of manure comes next and this is also an essential factor. We apply manure not fertilizer because the soil might be deficient in one or two nutrients, so when manure like cow dung, poultry droppings, and other waste on the farmland is added then the plant grows healthily. We are organic, remember?
Attach a stake at each spot of growth. Stakes are important to help the plant stand upright because tomatoes have weak stems and as the fruit becomes heavy, the stems begin to bend. However, it can be left to crawl but ensure there is adequate spacing between them. Crawling tomatoes has to be carefully treated so as to avoid stepping on the fruits or damaging the stems.
For faster growth, it's advisable to slice the tomato (fruit) into three equal parts with their seeds within. Most people separate the seed from the fleshy part but to boost the growth of seedling, the fleshy part of the fruit serves as manure.
Plant either in the morning or evening i.e. when the weather is cool to avoid temperature shock.
Sprinkle enough water daily. The seedling requires adequate watering to ensure they don't dry out and to assist their roots. So as much as possible, it is essential to have enough water available to support its production. Water is one of the essential factors in fast and disease free production. An Irrigation system can also be adopted as much as you can afford or based on the size of production.
TRANSPLANTING TOMATOES
This is essential especially if a nursery was involved. It's like promoting the plant from a nursery school to a primary or secondary school. In this pretext, the root of the plant gets more chance to finally go deep down the soil. Transplanting is carried out when the plant is at about 15cm and you remove the tomato with ease including the soil around the plant to prevent environmental shock. Finally, ensure that the root does not cut off while transplanting into the soil. This allows the root to explore deeper part of the soil.
HARVESTING AND STORAGE
It is important to harvest at the right time to prevent spoilage or loss in flavour. Leaving tomatoes on the stand till they are red is advisable if there is no pest attack or theft. The unripe ones are green, so it is easily distinguishable. You can also pluck the ones turning red and keep them in a dark and dense room. Ripe, healthy and well-nourished tomatoes are usually red and soft and finally, do not keep fresh tomatoes in the refrigerator.
REASONS WHY YOU NEED TO GROW YOUR TOMATOES
Don’t insist on buying always because if you are someone with a great taste then you might probably notice that they vary in tastes and flavour. This is simple, those grown under special treatments like fertilizer or ripened through unjust means look enticing but they suffer a loss in taste. So if you want smacking lips meal or savoring dishes then you’d consider originally and organically growing your own tomato without stress with additional saves to your expenditure. Growing your own tomatoes allow more embedded flavor, healthier species and amazing characteristics to suit your home need.
CONCLUSION
I have seen different scale of preferences and the cost of living daily. I made up my mind to grow little things I need and that have helped me a lot. Tomato production isn’t stressful and it won’t cost you a thing but bring about the joy of being a farmer. For healthy reason, you need to consume more of tomatoes as it improves a lot as listed above. I’m sure you’d come by someday to say “Thank you”. Save your pocket and health, start growing your own garden.
Am a Proud farmer, Are you?
Thank you for reading and as usual, I appreciate your feedbacks via comments, upvote, resteem and chats… Let’s keep this friendship going!
REFERENCES
Tomato production
Tomato variety
How to grow tomatoes
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