Nowadays youth is not interested in basic farming but it is possible to attract them towards the latest farming techniques like a greenhouse. These days the demand for high-quality vegetables is increasing and to fulfill these demands it is necessary for our vegetable growers to adopt such protected vegetable production technology.
Through greenhouse technology, it is possible to produce vegetables by keeping them safe from unfavorable conditions like heavy rainfall, heat, pests, virus diseases, etc. In this article, we will tell you in detail how to cultivate off-season tomatoes in the greenhouse.
Type, cost, and irrigation system of greenhouse
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Naturally-air cooled zero-energy greenhouse is one of the main types of greenhouse.
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To build a greenhouse costs around Rs 700 to 1000 per square meter.
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The irrigation system required for a greenhouse system is a low-pressure irrigation system.
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You can place a 1000 liter water tank on a 1.5 to 2.0-meter high platform.
Suitable varieties
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The weight of the tomato which you are selecting for greenhouse cultivation should be between 100 to 120 grams.
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Some of the suitable varieties are DARL-303, Lakshmi, Pusa Divya, Abiman, Arka Saurabh, Pant Bahar, Arka Rakshak.
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Pusa Cherry Tomato- 1 is a prominent variety among different varieties of cherry tomatoes.
Climate requirements
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The main part of setting fruit of tomato is the night temperature.
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The optimum range of temperature should be between 16-22 degrees Celsius and the temperature should not be less than 12 degrees Celsius.
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Under greenhouse conditions, the tomato can be grown for a long duration of 10-12 months.
Plantation
First of all, ensure that the plant is completely virus-free and healthy and then the plant is grown in protected areas for tomato production in greenhouses. The seedlings are ready for transplanting within 25 to 30 days after sowing and transplanting are mainly done in the morning or kate evening.
You can plant about 2400 to 2600 plants in a 1000 square meter greenhouse and the beds are always made 15 to 20 cm raised from the ground. After 20 to 25 days of transplanting the plants are wrapped with ropes tied with overhead wires at a height of about 8 feet that are parallel to the length of the beds.
It is removed by the process of pruning (trimming by cutting dead or overgrown branches) and this process is done continuously at intervals of about 15 to 25 days.
Pollination required in greenhouse
In spite of the fact that the tomatoes are self-pollinated crops, it requires aided pollination in the greenhouse. The main reason why it requires pollination is the lack of airflow in the greenhouse.
The use of either vibrators or air blowers in the greenhouse helps in pollination. Whereas in some countries, greenhouse tomato crops use bumblebees, which are the most capable pollinators for greenhouse tomato production.
Irrigation & Fertilizers
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Irrigation & Fertilizers given to the crop depends on the type of land, the weather, and the stage of the crop.
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A solution is made of completely water-soluble fertilizers which are usually mixed with nitrogen, phosphorus, and potash in a 5: 3: 5 ratio is given in different quantities at different stages.
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From transplanting to flowering around 4.0 to 5.0 cubic meters of water per thousand square meter area is given.
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In summers irrigation is done three times a week and in winters it is done twice a week.
Harvesting
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Most of the tomatoes are ready to be harvested in 75-80 days after transplanting is done.
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Tomatoes which are larger sizes are usually broken with the hand or sickle.
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Tomatoes are stored at 8 to 10 centigrade temperature in summer and in winters they are kept at normal room temperature.
Fruit yield
You can yield up to 10-15 tonnes of tomato per 1000 square meters of greenhouse and it can be obtained from 9 to 10 months duration crop, while cherry tomato yield is 2 to 3 tons per 1000 square meters.
