The tomato is the edible, often red, berry of the nightshade Solanum lycopersicum. The tomato is consumed in diverse ways, raw or cooked, in many dishes, sauces, salads and drinks. While tomatoes are fruits — botanically classified as berries — they are commonly used as a vegetable ingredient or side dish.
The seeds are sown in well prepared nursery beds 500 gm to 600 gm seed is enough for planting one ha of land.
Tomato is a warm season crop, it requires warm and cool climate. The plants cannot withstand frost and high humidity. Also light intensity affects pigmentation, fruit color, fruit set. The plant is highly affected by adverse climatic conditions.
Before you start fertilising tomatoes, it is best to have your soil tested. If your soil is correctly balanced or high in nitrogen, you should use a fertiliser that is slightly lower in nitrogen and higher in phosphorus, such as 5-10-5 or 5-10-10 mixed fertiliser.
Sowing to be done in May-June for Kharif crop, August-September for Rabi crop and December-January for Summer crop.
