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There are a wide range of training systems or support systems employed in the culture of tomatoes. For the most part, these include growing the tomatoes without support on the ground, growing them without support on the ground with plastic or mulch and growing them supported by cages, stakes, trellises or by weaving, either on the bare ground, with plastic or with mulch.
Each particular method of growing tomatoes has its own advantages, but every method may not be all things to every tomato grower.
Growing Tomatoes With The Sprawl System:
The Sprawl System of growing tomatoes, sometimes known as “Ground Culture", which refers to the idea of growing tomatoes without any form of physical support largely incorporates allowing the vines of the plant to crawl over the ground. Due to its lower costs (yet greater utilisation of available space) than other methods, various forms of the Sprawl System of growing tomatoes is still employed by commercial tomato growers in some areas.
There are three types of Sprawl Systems or methods of Tomato Ground Culture Sprawl Culture on Bare Ground, Sprawl Culture on Plastic and Sprawl Culture on Mulch.
Tomato Sprawl Culture on Bare Ground:
Tomato Sprawl Culture on Bare Ground involves allowing the plants to put out long vines with lie on the ground. This method of tomato growing typically gives lower yields of tomatoes on greater ground space than staking or caging does, tends to produce lower quality tomatoes and also runs a greater risk to tomato diseases which effect both the fruits and foliage of the plants. However, as this method involves lower setup and labour costs than other methods, it often gives satisfactory monetary returns to the grower.
Tomato Sprawl Culture on Plastic:
Tomato Sprawl Culture on Plastic is just like the above method, except that prior to transplanting, a layer of black plastic is set down and as the tomato plants grow, the vines stretch upon the plastic. Typically, drip irrigation is employed with this method. Though the setup costs are higher than the first system, the returns are substantially higher as not only is the soil temperature raised significantly by the plastic, but the plastic also reduces the splashing of mud on the foliage and fruit, which lowers the risk of disease.
Tomato Sprawl Culture on Mulch:
Tomato Sprawl Culture on Mulch is similar to the above on plastic, save the fact that organic mulches are employed instead of plastic (for some organic certification programs do NOT allow plasticulture). Typically, a very thick layer of organic matter is spread over the area by equipment prior to transplanting. Unlike plastic which raises the soil temperature, organic mulch lowers it, which results in slower growth during the early season. However, later in the year as the temperature begins to rise, organic mulch has a distinct advantage over plastic due to the heating process of the mulch during decomposition, not too mention the slow release of nutrients to the plants.
Growing Tomatoes With The Stake or Cage System:
The two most widely used tomato growing systems in the United States (both commercially and by home gardeners) are stake culture and growing the tomatoes in wooden or wire cages. A third system, which is the use of trellises, is occasionally employed by some market gardeners.
Tomato Stake or Cage Culture On Bare Ground:
Growing tomatoes by the culture of stakes or in cages on bare ground is probably the single most widely employed method of growing tomatoes worldwide. With the stake method, a long stake (19th century tomato authority A.W. Livingston suggested they be 6 feet long) is driven firmly into the ground and the main stems of the plant are carefully tied to the stake for support with a strip of cloth or garden twine. With the cage method, cages can be either purchased or made at home from garden lathe or fencing wire. If made at home, we suggest a diameter of approximately two and one half feet circular and a height of roughly three feet for the best results. Care should be taken to choose a fencing wire that provides a large enough space to allow for ease of harvesting, for if too small a wire mesh is employed, harvesting the tomatoes may prove from difficult to impossible without injuring the plant. The cages are placed over the top of the newly transplanted tomatoes in such a way that the seedlings are directly in the center of the cage.
Tomato Stake or Cage Culture on Plastic:
Growing tomatoes by the culture of stakes or cages on plastic is like the above, save the use of plastic sheeting which is placed over the ground prior to transplanting. Typically, this method also employs drip irrigation and equipment to measure the level of moisture in the soil. Often, row covers and plastic or fiberglass tunnels are used to enhance production or provide protection fro the elements. Costs to employ this method are extremely high, but the yield and quality of the tomatoes produced does more than pay for the set-up costs. It is necessary to mention that some organic certifiers do not allow for crops grown on plastic.
Tomato Stake or Cage Culture on Mulch:
Growing tomatoes with stakes or cages and mulch is much like the above, but instead of employing a covering of plastic, a thick layer of organic mulch is employed, which besides increasing the soil temperature also adds soil-enhancing benefits as the mulch breaks down.
A number of researchers have made comparative studies of the above methods, not only in regards to the performance, but also the economical aspect in recent years.
A study at Oklahoma State University weighed heavily in favor for the use of stakes and cages with organic mulch over all other systems, while a study at Rutgers University determined that plants grown on stakes were less subject to the outbreak.
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The author, K Spurling, is a seedsman and professional plant breeder by trade.
This article can be published in print or electronically, free of charge as long as it is substantially unaltered and contains the following active links:
http://www.tomatoseeds.net/
http://www.vegetableseed.net/
http://www.seedfest.co.uk/
http://www.eggplantseeds.com/
http://www.uk-seeds.net/
http://www.tomato-seeds.com/
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