Season
May–June and November–December. Avoid sowing or planting if it coincides with heavy rainfall or high temperatures during flowering and fruit development.
Seed treatment
Treat seeds with Trichoderma viride (4g/kg of seed) or Pseudomonas fluorescens (10g /kg of seed ) or Carbendazim (2g / kg of seed) to prevent seed-borne and damping-off fungal diseases before sowing.
Nursery practices
Raised Beds: Prepare raised nursery beds (about 10–15 cm high, 1 meter wide, and of convenient length) to ensure proper drainage and prevent water stagnation. Soil Mixture: Mix well-decomposed Farmyard Manure (FYM) with fine sand to provide a loose, nutrient-rich medium to the nursery. Sowing Method: Sow seeds in lines spaced 5 cm apart at a depth of 0.5 to 1 cm, and cover lightly with fine soil or cocopeat. Protection & Hardening: Provide light overhead shade to protect seedlings from heavy sun and rain. Gradually expose seedlings to direct sunlight 4–5 days before transplanting to harden them. Pro Tray Nursery: Use plastic pro trays with 98 or 104 cells (cavities). Trays with inverted cone-shaped cells are ideal because they guide root growth downward and prevent root coiling. Growing Medium (Soilless Mix): Never use raw garden soil in pro trays as it compacts and carries pathogens. Use a sterile, lightweight, and well-aerated media mix consisting of CocoPeat, Perlite, and Vermiculite in a 3:1:1 ratio. Ensure the cocopeat is thoroughly washed/leached to remove excess salts and maintain an optimal pH range of 5.5 to 6.5. Filling the Trays: Moisten the cocopeat mix slightly so it holds shape without being soggy (target around 50–60% moisture).Fill the cells evenly, tapping the tray lightly to settle the medium. Do not pack it down too tightly, as roots need air space. Make a small depression (about 0.5 cm deep) in the center of each cell. Sowing: Place one treated seed per cell to avoid overcrowding and reduce the need for thinning.Cover the seeds with a fine layer of dry cocopeat or vermiculite, and press gently to ensure good seed-to-medium contact. Germination Phase (Dark/Humid Chamber): Stack the sown trays 5 to 6 high in a shaded area or cover them with a dark plastic sheet for 2 to 3 days to retain moisture and accelerate germination. Inspect daily. As soon as the first tiny green loops (cotyledons) begin to emerge (usually by day 3 or 4), immediately spread out the trays in a single layer under a net house or protected shed. Irrigation & Fertigation: Water gently using a fine-rose watering can or a mist sprayer twice a day (depending on weather) to keep the medium moist without waterlogging. Around 10–12 days after sowing, apply a light nutrient solution (e.g., a balanced water-soluble fertilizer like 19:19:19 at 2–3 g/L or a specialized nursery booster) to ensure sturdy seedling growth. Hardening Off: Gradually reduce watering and increase sunlight exposure during the last 4–5 days before transplanting to toughen up the seedlings.
Mainfield practices
Plough the main field using cultivator/disc plough and finally with rotavator to a fine tilth. Incorporate 10 to 15 tonnes per acre well-decomposed FYM during final ploughing. Spacing: Bush/Determinate varieties: 60 cm x 45 cm or 75 cm x 60cm. Indeterminate/Staking varieties: 90 cm x 45cm 0r 90 cm x 60 cm. Transplanting Time: Perform transplanting preferably in the late afternoon or on a cloudy day to minimize transplant shock and reduce moisture loss. Give light irrigation immediately after planting. Weed management: Pre-Emergence: Apply Pendimethalin as a pre-emergence herbicide within 1 to 3 days of transplanting on well-moistened soil to form an effective weed-suppression barrier. Early Post-Emergence: Use Metribuzin alone or in combination with Quizalofop-ethyl (specifically targeting grassy weeds) at 15 to 20 days after planting. Spraying when weeds are at the 2–3 leaf stage yields the most effective control. ⚠️ Safety Note: Although these herbicides are recommended for tomatoes, avoid spraying directly over the crop. Always use directed or shielded sprays targeting the weeds between rows while protecting the tomato plants from chemical drift. If the crop is under moisture stress or cloudy/rainy weather, Metribuzin can occasionally cause temporary yellowing Irrigation: Maintain uniform soil moisture, especially during flowering and fruit development, to prevent fruit splitting and blossom drop. (Drip irrigation is ideal).