9. Growing seedlings in a sunny window.


10. Commercial greenhouse production of tomato transplants.


11. Cultural Requirements - Plant varieties with good disease resistance. Look for VFN resistance after the name; this means the variety is resistant to Verticillium and Fusarium wilts and rootknot nematodes.Good soil and soil preparation are important. Use lots of organic matter, working the soil up into ridges or planting in raised beds. Use cages to support the plants and cover the cages with row cover for wind protection, insect exclusion and even for a little shading and slight frost protection. When the plants are set it is a good idea to put a slow release fertilizer tablet in the hole. Water the plants in with a starter solution of 1/3 strength soluble fertilizer. A good basic fertilizer rate for initial soil preparation is 2-4 lbs. of a complete fertilizer per 100 sq. feet.


12. Cultural requirements, continued - Cultural techniques can be used to minimize insect, disease and weed pests. Space the plants out for good air circulation and remove some of the bottom leaves as the plants grow up so that you get better air movement around the lower part of the plants. Spray only when necessary, but in the case of disease prevention, you almost have to spray to prevent diseases particularly early in the season when Early Blight and other fungal organisms cause problems. More slides illustrating these techniques to follow.

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