How to Reduce Defective Fruits in Tomato Cultivation

During the process of tomato cultivation, factors such as variety or poor management may lead to the occurrence of defective fruits, which can affect the value and damage the planting benefits of farmers. So, how can we reduce defective fruits in tomato cultivation? Let's find out together.

How to Reduce Defective Fruits in Tomato Cultivation

1. Thin out the flowers to preserve the fruits: Remove the earliest first or second flowers or fruits on the tomato truss to reduce nutrient consumption. This allows for sufficient nutrients to be concentrated and supplied to other flowers and fruits above, resulting in fewer deformed fruits and more uniform ripening.

2. More flowers, fewer fruits: Aim to have more flowers on each truss. Typically, when keeping 4-5 high-quality fruits on a truss, it's necessary to have 8-9 flowers. When the young fruits reach a diameter of 1 centimeter, select and retain 4-5 fruits of similar size and appearance, removing larger fruits, defective fruits, deformed fruits, and those affected by pests or diseases. This ensures uniform appearance and size of the fruits at maturity.

3. Promote coloring before ripening: When tomato fruits are 80-90% ripe, apply 40% Ethrel solution at a concentration of 100-200 times above the peduncle of the fruit truss branch (5-8 millimeters long) to promote fruit coloring and early ripening, thereby increasing yield. However, caution must be exercised not to apply Ethrel solution at the joint (junction of the peduncle and branch) to avoid severe fruit drop. Avoid spraying Ethrel solution directly on the fruits as it may affect their marketability and post-ripening transportation, and also lead to premature aging of the plants. Apply Ethrel solution neither too early nor at too high a concentration to prevent early ripening and reduced yield.

4. Additional potassium fertilization: Tomato plants deficient in potassium show color disparity and are more prone to blossom end rot, leading to lower yields. Therefore, after flowering, when the fruit diameter exceeds 3 centimeters and enters the enlargement period, apply 10-20 kilograms of potassium sulfate per mu of land with each watering to reduce hollow fruits, increase fruit weight, and improve color and taste.

   

Prevention and Treatment of Deformed Tomato Fruits

1. Effective management of fertilizer and water: Control nitrogen fertilizer application before tomato growth, and balance the application of nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus during flowering and fruit setting periods. Increase the application of calcium and boron fertilizers. Start spraying Fruit-Strengthening Solution (consisting of Fruity Vigor and New High-Fat Film at a ratio of 600-800 times) from the young fruit stage three times (every 7-10 days) to effectively prevent fruit cracking and blossom-end rot. Proper irrigation should be carried out to prevent soil from becoming too dry or too moist in the greenhouse.

2. Temperature maintenance, light supplementation, and frost protection: When cold waves occur, low tunnels should be set up inside the greenhouse or straw curtains should be promptly added for insulation, or New High-Fat Film should be sprayed on the plants to prevent frost damage. When the weather is sunny, open the straw curtains as much as possible to increase the illuminated area, enhance photosynthetic efficiency, and improve plant growth. Adjust covers frequently based on weather conditions.

3. Scientific regulation of growth: Tomato growth and plant type can be controlled artificially. When seedlings grow too vigorously, spray Promalin No. 3 to convert plant nutritional growth into reproductive nutrition, suppress excessive growth of main shoots, improve pollen fertilization quality, promote flower bud differentiation, increase flowering, and fruit setting. Prune and thin flowers reasonably, and timely remove deformed young fruits. When topping, retain 2 young leaves at the apex to protect the fruits and prevent fruit scorching.

Above are the methods for reducing defective fruits in tomato cultivation. In tomato cultivation, reducing defective fruits is crucial as it directly affects economic benefits.