Planting the Greenhouse Tomato
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Information provided by the Florida Greenhouse Vegetable Production Handbook, Vol 31
Horticultural Sciences Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Original publication
date December 1990. Revised June 2001. Reviewed February 2008. Visit the EDIS Web Site at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu. G.J. Hochmuth, professor of Horticultural
Sciences and Center Director, North Florida Research and Education Center, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. The Florida
Greenhouse Vegetable Production Handbook is edited by George Hochmuth, professor of Horticultural Sciences and Center Director, North Florida Research and
Education Center - Quincy and Bob Hochmuth, extension agent IV, North Florida Research and Education Center - Suwannee Valley, Cooperative Extension
Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611.
Horticultural Sciences Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Original publication
date December 1990. Revised June 2001. Reviewed February 2008. Visit the EDIS Web Site at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu. G.J. Hochmuth, professor of Horticultural
Sciences and Center Director, North Florida Research and Education Center, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. The Florida
Greenhouse Vegetable Production Handbook is edited by George Hochmuth, professor of Horticultural Sciences and Center Director, North Florida Research and
Education Center - Quincy and Bob Hochmuth, extension agent IV, North Florida Research and Education Center - Suwannee Valley, Cooperative Extension
Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611.
..."For the peat trough system, or other similar soilless systems (sawdust, rice hulls, etc.), transplants from the containerized trays can be planted directly into
the mix in the production house. An average of 3 to 3.5 square feet of production area is provided for each plant. Usually, the production system is set up so
that twin-rows of plants are grown with about 5 feet from center-to-center of 2 sets of twin-rows. If there are six sets of twin-rows in a 35 x 110-foot house (not
counting the end walkways), then plants placed every 15 inches in a row will result in approximately 3.5 square feet per plant.
Before setting the plants into the soilless mix, water or diluted nutrient solution is applied to thoroughly wet the mix. This operation might need to be done
several hours prior to planting. When setting the transplant, a hole is punched in the soil with a trowel or by hand, and the plant set in the hole with the mix
firmed around the plant. Applying a cup of dilute nutrient solution to the plant will help firm the soil and provide nutrients to the plant.
After planting, the plants should be observed for any individuals that did not become established properly. They will need to be replaced. Plants will need to
be irrigated with dilute nutrient solution as often as it is needed to maintain moisture in the mix. A good rule-of-thumb is to keep moisture at a level where the
soil can be squeezed into a clump with only a few drops of water squeezed out.
For the bag-culture system, bags are placed on the cleaned floor of the house in twin-rows"... "Dilute nutrient solution is applied to thoroughly wet the mix in
the bags. It is helpful to apply the solution to bags before drainage slits are cut. The irrigation emitters are inserted and water is applied for several hours to
soak the soil. Drainage slits are cut to remove excess water. Bags are then ready to plant.
Bags can be planted by inserting transplants from the containerized system directly into a crosscut made into the bag. The plant is set into a hole, and the
media is firmed around the plant. If potted plants are used, then a hole is excavated in the mix to accommodate the lower one-third of the bottomless pot.
The pot is set in and water applied to firm the mix around the pot. Roots will emerge from the bottom of the pot and grow into the bag mix. The pot method
allows larger plants to be set into the production house, thus reducing the time that the production house cooling or heating systems are needed. This
method has advantages in northern climates, but its merits are questionable in the southern climates. Transplanting directly from the seedling trays to the
bags is satisfactory.
Once the bags are planted, the irrigation emitters are placed and checked for flow. Dilute nutrient solution should be applied for 20 to 30 minutes to dampen
the mix near the plant. The plants should be checked to ensure that all have become established.
For NFT systems (true NFT and modified pipe NFT), transplants grown in rockwool or foam cubes are placed in the NFT channels. For true NFT, the plastic
channel film is then wrapped up around the plant. In pipe NFT, transplants are placed through the round holes in pipes. Like the previously discussed
systems, the NFT system should be arranged to provide 3 to 3.5 square feet per plant. Following planting, the plants should be observed to see that none
have fallen over.
Irrigation should start when plants are set. Timers for the pipe system should be set for 9 or 10 minutes on and 5 to 6 minutes off. As plants develop, the time
sequences will change.
Transplants for the perlite and rockwool systems should be about 4 to 6 inches tall. Before planting, the rockwool slabs and perlite bags should be
positioned in the greenhouse in twin-rows with the irrigation system readied and the media thoroughly wetted. For transplanting, a crossslash cut is made in
the perlite bag or rockwool slab cover where the plant will be placed. The flaps are pulled up to expose the rockwool slab on which the planting block is set.
The irrigation emitter is then positioned so that nutrient solution flows through the block then into the slab. Plants set on slabs will develop roots into the slab
in 7 to 10 days. Until plants are adequately anchored, spraying operations will require care not to knock over plants. For perlite, the transplant is placed in
the perlite media with the seedling growing cube or block buried below the surface of the perlite media. Set the irrigation emitter so that nutrient solution is
directed to the seedling media. Dry perlite media will wick moisture from the seedling cube and dessicate the seedling.
Early Season Care
Immediately following transplanting, efforts are directed at monitoring plant establishment and controlling the environment of the greenhouse to maximize
plant growth. Since tomatoes in Florida are usually transplanted in September, focus will be on cooling. Greenhouse shading is very important and fans
should be set to try to maintain 85 to 90F. After transplants have become established, the nutrient solution is changed to the first solution level for new
plants.
Plants will need to be observed for tendency to become "bullish" where new growth is dark green, leathery, and rolls downward forming a tight ball of
leaves. Plants set under hot, sunny conditions and which are over fertilized with nitrogen are most likely to become bullish. Reducing nitrogen rate to 70 ppm
N usually reverses bullishness. Sometimes the tops of the plants curl up in the evening. However, this characteristic is not true bullishness, but is normal.
Plants should be checked frequently (daily) for insects and disease. Growers should learn how to identify the insect and diseases of importance to tomato
culture. It is extremely important to control problems early in development and proper identification is a key."
the mix in the production house. An average of 3 to 3.5 square feet of production area is provided for each plant. Usually, the production system is set up so
that twin-rows of plants are grown with about 5 feet from center-to-center of 2 sets of twin-rows. If there are six sets of twin-rows in a 35 x 110-foot house (not
counting the end walkways), then plants placed every 15 inches in a row will result in approximately 3.5 square feet per plant.
Before setting the plants into the soilless mix, water or diluted nutrient solution is applied to thoroughly wet the mix. This operation might need to be done
several hours prior to planting. When setting the transplant, a hole is punched in the soil with a trowel or by hand, and the plant set in the hole with the mix
firmed around the plant. Applying a cup of dilute nutrient solution to the plant will help firm the soil and provide nutrients to the plant.
After planting, the plants should be observed for any individuals that did not become established properly. They will need to be replaced. Plants will need to
be irrigated with dilute nutrient solution as often as it is needed to maintain moisture in the mix. A good rule-of-thumb is to keep moisture at a level where the
soil can be squeezed into a clump with only a few drops of water squeezed out.
For the bag-culture system, bags are placed on the cleaned floor of the house in twin-rows"... "Dilute nutrient solution is applied to thoroughly wet the mix in
the bags. It is helpful to apply the solution to bags before drainage slits are cut. The irrigation emitters are inserted and water is applied for several hours to
soak the soil. Drainage slits are cut to remove excess water. Bags are then ready to plant.
Bags can be planted by inserting transplants from the containerized system directly into a crosscut made into the bag. The plant is set into a hole, and the
media is firmed around the plant. If potted plants are used, then a hole is excavated in the mix to accommodate the lower one-third of the bottomless pot.
The pot is set in and water applied to firm the mix around the pot. Roots will emerge from the bottom of the pot and grow into the bag mix. The pot method
allows larger plants to be set into the production house, thus reducing the time that the production house cooling or heating systems are needed. This
method has advantages in northern climates, but its merits are questionable in the southern climates. Transplanting directly from the seedling trays to the
bags is satisfactory.
Once the bags are planted, the irrigation emitters are placed and checked for flow. Dilute nutrient solution should be applied for 20 to 30 minutes to dampen
the mix near the plant. The plants should be checked to ensure that all have become established.
For NFT systems (true NFT and modified pipe NFT), transplants grown in rockwool or foam cubes are placed in the NFT channels. For true NFT, the plastic
channel film is then wrapped up around the plant. In pipe NFT, transplants are placed through the round holes in pipes. Like the previously discussed
systems, the NFT system should be arranged to provide 3 to 3.5 square feet per plant. Following planting, the plants should be observed to see that none
have fallen over.
Irrigation should start when plants are set. Timers for the pipe system should be set for 9 or 10 minutes on and 5 to 6 minutes off. As plants develop, the time
sequences will change.
Transplants for the perlite and rockwool systems should be about 4 to 6 inches tall. Before planting, the rockwool slabs and perlite bags should be
positioned in the greenhouse in twin-rows with the irrigation system readied and the media thoroughly wetted. For transplanting, a crossslash cut is made in
the perlite bag or rockwool slab cover where the plant will be placed. The flaps are pulled up to expose the rockwool slab on which the planting block is set.
The irrigation emitter is then positioned so that nutrient solution flows through the block then into the slab. Plants set on slabs will develop roots into the slab
in 7 to 10 days. Until plants are adequately anchored, spraying operations will require care not to knock over plants. For perlite, the transplant is placed in
the perlite media with the seedling growing cube or block buried below the surface of the perlite media. Set the irrigation emitter so that nutrient solution is
directed to the seedling media. Dry perlite media will wick moisture from the seedling cube and dessicate the seedling.
Early Season Care
Immediately following transplanting, efforts are directed at monitoring plant establishment and controlling the environment of the greenhouse to maximize
plant growth. Since tomatoes in Florida are usually transplanted in September, focus will be on cooling. Greenhouse shading is very important and fans
should be set to try to maintain 85 to 90F. After transplants have become established, the nutrient solution is changed to the first solution level for new
plants.
Plants will need to be observed for tendency to become "bullish" where new growth is dark green, leathery, and rolls downward forming a tight ball of
leaves. Plants set under hot, sunny conditions and which are over fertilized with nitrogen are most likely to become bullish. Reducing nitrogen rate to 70 ppm
N usually reverses bullishness. Sometimes the tops of the plants curl up in the evening. However, this characteristic is not true bullishness, but is normal.
Plants should be checked frequently (daily) for insects and disease. Growers should learn how to identify the insect and diseases of importance to tomato
culture. It is extremely important to control problems early in development and proper identification is a key."