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Organic Tomato Production By Steve Diver, George Kuepper, and Holly Born NCAT Agriculture Specialists Published October 199 1995 5 Updated September 2012 By Tammy Hinman, Ann Baier, and Leah Riesselman NCAT Agriculture Specialists ©NCAT IP439
This publication addresses practical questions on organic tomato tomato production. It ocuses ocuses on the the specic production challenges, including site selection (soil and climate), variety selection, sources o organic seeds and organic annual transplants, organic gra ting, planting and training/staking arrangements, soil ertility and ertilization, crop rotation, and pest (insect, disease, and weed) management. Harvest and yield/productivity are closely related to marketing possibilities. While market conditions are extremely region-specic, this publication also addresses a ew general principles on marketing and economics o organic tomatoes.
Contents
Introduction ................... ......................1 ...1 Soils and Organic Fertility ...................... ................................1 ..........1 Irrigation ..................... ............................3 .......3 Processing Tomatoes .....5 Training ..............................6 ..............................6 Managing Weeds ............8 Managing Insects, Pests, and Diseases .....................8 .....................8 Harvesting and Handling ...................... ...........................1 .....11 1 Marketing and Economics....................... ....................... 13 Reerences ...................... ...................... 14 Further Resources ........15 Appendix 1: Recommended Varieties ........................... ........................... 16 Appendix 2: Insects that Attack Tomatoes and Their Controls............................ Controls...... ...................... 17 Appendix 3: Diseases and Disorders ......................... ......................... 18 Appendix 4: Nutrient Recommendations ...... ...... 20 The National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service, ATTRA (www.attra.ncat.org), was developed and is managed by the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT). The project is funded through a cooperative agreement with the United States Department of Agriculture’s Rural BusinessCooperative Service. Visit the NCAT website (www.ncat.org/ sarc_current.php) for more information on our other sustainable agriculture and energy projects.
Organic local tomatoes are always in high demand. Growers can receive price premiums earlier and later in the season. Photo: NCAT
Introduction
O
rganic tomatoes are always in high demand in both local and wholesale markets. With proper production techniques, they can yield y ield a high return on your investment. Returns are signicantly higher when you sell earlier and later in the season. aste is in the mouth o the beholder, but consumers are generally willing to pay a premium price or organic tomatoes, depending on their specic region o the country, specic marketing techniques, and seasonal uctuations. See Appendix 1 or inormation on tomato varieties and their characteristics. Tis publication will address organic production
and marketing marketi ng techniques or tomatoes. It It ocuses on soil, pest, and weed management as well as economic and marketing aspects aspect s that are specic to organic production. It also briey discusses hoop house tomato production, which enables growers to extend their season with w ith this crop. For more details on this t his topic, see AR A’s Organic Greenhouse omato Production.
Soils and Organic Fertility for Tomato Production A wide variet varietyy o soil texture t exturess ca n be used or tomato production. production. Ideal soil textures range rom sandy to ne-textured clays as long as the soil is well drained (tomato (tomato roots will not not tolerate tolerate being
Related ATTRA Publications www.attra.ncat.org Farmscaping to Enhance Biological Control Overview o Cover Crops and Green Manures Companion Planting: Basic Concepts and Resources Market Gardening: A Start-Up Guide Pressure-Treated Wood: Organic and Natural Alternatives
waterlogged), has good structu structure, re, and is well aer- nal ee. For inormation that is specic to organic ated. Planting dates can be determined by the type production, see the ARA AR A database on Organic o soil a grower has. For example, sandy soils a re Soil esting Laboratories . In general, tomato plants preerred or early plantings in Caliornia due to have a high hig h requirement or the macro elements adequate drainage during wet weat her and rapid potassium (K) and calcium (Ca) and the microincrease in soil temperature in the spring, which, nutrients iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), and zinc in turn, can lead to early growth (Strange et al., (Zn). Without a good supply o both K and Ca or 2000). However, However, loam and clay loam loa m soils are the plant uptake and utilization, the ruits will lack most productive soils or production. A mixture mixtu re the recommended rec ommended soluble soluble solids conten contentt (sugars) o one-quarter to one-hal sand, one-quarter to and will wil l be more susceptible to physiological physiological disone-hal silt, and no more than 27% clay gives orders such as blossom end rot. Smaller requireloam soils the best possible properties or plant ments o the elements nitrogen (N), magnesium growth. Tese mixtures supply adequate drain- (Mg), phosphorus (P), boron (B), and copper age and good soil structure. Conversely, heavier (Cu) also are needed or proper plant developclays can be a serious problem due to poor soil ment (Jones, 2008). drainage and excess soil moisture or extended 1, tomatoes tomatoes need moderate moderate to periods, making mak ing tomatoes more prone prone to disease. As shown in able 1, high levels o P and K. On decient soils, most One o the oundations o organic arming is needs can be met by applying rock powders such maintaining and a nd building a microbial-active soil as rock phosphate, colloidal phosphate, untreated enriched with organic matter and a balanced min- (mined) potassium sulate, and sulate sul ate o potashpotasheral diet. Humus-building practices and a nd addition magnesia in advance o planting. Supplementary o minerals not only supply plant nutrients but P and K may be added as indicated by the soil also increase tolerance to insects and diseases, help test results. Always conduct a soil test to detercontrol weeds, retain soil moisture, and ensure mine the proper amount o nutrients to apply. produce quality qualit y. See Appendix 4 or additional inormation on A typical organic ertility system revolves revolves around plant nutrient recommendations based on soil rom Rutgers University. a combination o practices such as using crop rota- tests rom tion, orage legumes, cover crops, green manures, Depending on the soil type, resh market tomacomposted livestock manures, and lime, rock toes also require about 75 to 100 pounds per phosphate, and other rock minerals, as well as acre o N. Most, i not all, can be supplied by supplemental organic ertilizers. Depending on legumes in rotation; composts or manures can the soil type, soils with wit h no history o organic manalso ll in the balance. I manure is chosen as agement will probably need additional ertilizathe supplemental ertilizer, the USDA National tion to be incorporated during eld preparation Organic Program (NOP) regulations require and bedding operations or banded to t he side o that the manure be incorporated into the soil at the row at planting. least 120 days prior to harvest [NOP standard Soil tests provide a baseline or your soil. Most 205.203 (c)1]. Some armers provide additional state Extension services serv ices provide tests or a nomi- supplemental N at transplanting; a mixture o Table 1: Desirable Soil Nutrient Levels or Tomatoes The amounts are in pounds per acre and are tested in Missouri.
Phosp Ph osphor horus us (P) (P) Excha Exchange ngeab able le potassium (K)
Exchangeable Exchangeable magnesium (Mg) calcium (Ca)
Sandy or gravelly loam
100 to 125
225 to 325
150 to 300
2,000 to 3,000
Medium silt loam
125 to 150
325 to 425
300 to 450
3,000 to 4,500
Heavy loam and clays
150 to 175
425 to 500
450 to 600
4,500 to 7,000
Source: Gaus et al. 1993. Page 2
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Organic Tomato Production
animal meal by-products, rock phosphate, and kelp meal is commonly used. I reliance is based primarily on supplemental ertilizers, about 50 pounds o actual N should be applied pre-plant and the remainder side-dressed when ruits are about nickel-size.
end rot is likely to occur. However, when soil tests are high in both P and pH levels, Zn will become insoluble, resulting in deciency symptoms such as cupped c upped leaves and splotchy chlorosis (Jones, 2008) 20 08)..
omato plants grow best when the soil pH is Irrigation resh-market tomatoes tomatoes are irribetween 6.0 and 6.5. Liming to this range All processing and resh-market improves plant growth and optimizes ertilizer gated. Water must be supplied uniormly rom the harves t. Uneven moisture moisture eciency. I the pH is less than 5.5, Mg avail- time o rst ruit set to harvest. di sorders such as blossom ability decreases decrease s signicantly. Consequently, Consequently, this periods will give rise to disorders increases the level o available Mn and alumi- end rot and ruit cracking. num (Al). Unless a deciency o magnesium is Drip, urrow, and sprinkler irrigation methods noted, application o high-calcium (nondolomitic are used or tomato production. Drip irrigation without magnesium) lime is advised. In addition, addition, is increasing in usage each year. As o 2008, when a low low pH is coupled coupled with low low Ca, blossom more than 20% o processing tomato acreage Research and Field Experience in Tomato Fertility In a Caliornia study, soils well prepared with cover crops (legumes or legume-grass mixtures, grown during the winter preceding all other cash crops) and composted poultry manure showed no yield response over our years o replication as compared to conventionally based two-year rotation (tomato and wheat) and our-year rotation (tomato, (tomat o, saower, corn, bean). Yields averaged 70 to 80 t/ ha across the treatments. However, greater inputs were needed in the organic treatments, such as higher levels o irri gation because o greater inltration rates, whereas the conventionally conventionally managed soils had poor p oor inltration rates. The total nitrogen inputs were also greater, applying twice the amount o nitrogen (N) to the organic as the convent conventional ional system in the last two years o treatment. High N input suggested N immobilization or insucient decay by the microbial community. Many studies have shown that providing N via cover crops and/or composts can provide adequate ertility; however, this study demonstrates that total N inputs cannot rely on cover crops and/or composts alone. (Clark et al., 1999 1999)) •
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In an Iowa study, two natural soil amendment/ertilizer products were used in an organic tomato production trial as a comparison to tomato plants that received no soil amendment. Chilean nitrate, also known as sodium nitrate, was applied at a rate o 40 pounds N/acre acre plus composted manure at 160 pounds N/acre. Cinagro™ Cinagro™ was used as the other treatment at the application rate o 200 pounds N/acre. Results o the amendments were much the same: the tomato plants treated with the ertilizers were taller and had more leaves than the unertilized soil. Flower,, ruit number, and yield Flower yie ld were numerically greater in the ertilized plots as compared to the untreated soil. No dierences were statistically shown between the two amendments. (Delate et al., 2008) In a two-year Ohio study, all-applied organic composted cannery waste (40% tomato processing byproducts, 20% duck manure, 20% municipal yard waste, and 20% reed canary grass straw) at a total o 26 t/ha in 1996 and 35 t/ha in 1997 produced 33% higher yields o ripe tomatoes than the nonamended conventional plots that were receiving supplemental nutrient ertilizers. In addition, the composted cannery canner y waste incorporated into organic tomato plots reduced the incidence o anthracnose root rot when disease was severe in the convent conventional ional plots. The organic plots also seemed to have better water retention than the convent conventional ional plots during two unusually dry months o the year when they received no supplemental irrigation. (Abbasi et al., 2002) In a long-term eld experiment set up in North Carolina, three tomato subplots were amended each May with synthetic ertilizers (or the convention conventional al method), cotton-gin trash, and animal manure (poultry and swine manure) at a rate o 67 kg N/ha. A ourth subplot consisted o r ye/vetch green manure at a rate o 45 kg N/ha. Results showed that microbial biomass and microbial activity were generally higher in organically, rather than conventionally, conventionally, managed soils with cotton-gin trash being the most eec tive, ollowed by animal manure, manure, rye/vetch, and the syn thetic soil. Likewise, the highest extractable carbon (C) and N levels occurred in plots amended with cotton-gin trash, ollowed by animal manure, rye/vetch, with the convent conventional ional plot showing the least amount o extractable C and N. Cotton-gin trash, animal manure, and rye/vetch treatments increased soil moisture by 25% to 58%, 11% to 13%, and 8% to 12%, respectively, compared to the synthetic ertilizer treatment. In addition, data showed that mulching the plots enhanced the soil s oil microbial biomass N and potential N supply by 45% compared to the amended organic plots not mulched. (Tu et al., 2005)
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was under drip irrigation. Generally, Generally, drip irriga- increased by solar radiation, wind, low relative tion enhances yield y ield and promotes promotes ecient irriga- humidity, and high temperatures. Te number tion methods even in situations situations with challenging cha llenging o inches measured is the amount o irrigation slopes and soil properties. water that needs to be delivered to the root zone zone In Caliornia, drip irrigation maintains produc- o the plant in the eld. o nd state-based E tivity by keeping the root zone relatively salt- data, see www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/GIS/ ree and limits excess water runof (Hartz et al., GIS_DAA/JAWF/. 2008). Drip irrigation also improves irrigation eciency and permits the grower to harvest at regular intervals by hand. A typical drip-irrigation system includes a single drip tape that is either buried two to 12 inches deep in the center o the bed or placed on top o the soil surace surac e and secured with pins. Using weather-based reerence evapotranspiration (E) data and crop growth stages, proper drip irrigation irrigat ion requirements requirements should be determined by the site-location requirements. E is a calculation o the water lost rom soil and plants and is measured in inches. Te efects o E are
Furrow irrigation is sometimes used in collaboration with drip irrigation. In urrow irrigation, rates vary by soil type and crop growth stage. In most instances, seven- to 14-day intervals are used. Sprinkle irrigation oten is used to establish newly transplanted seedlings up to the time o rst bloom. Drip irrigation, however, is used thereater. Continued sprinkler use ater establishment may increase susceptibility to bacterial diseases such as bacterial speck (Pseudomonas syringae ), campestris ), ), bacterial spot ( Xanthomonas campestris ), Alternaria solani and both early and late blight ( Alternaria Phytophthora inestans ), ), and molds (Pythium and Sclerotinia spp. spp.)) (Strange et al., 2000). Generally, tomatoes require one inch o water rom rain or irrigation once a week or optimal growth. omatoes have a deep root system and thereore thrive on deep, inrequent irrigation methods. Watering less requently decreases the susceptibility to root-rot diseases and increases ecient weed management. Compared with eld-grown tomatoes, hightunnel tomatoes have several advantages: Earlier harvests in summer •
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Later harvests in all Better ruit quality Less oliar disease
Most growers transplant tomatoes into tunnels nearly one month ahead o feld tomatoes. For zones 4 to 5 (see the USDA hardiness zones map at http://planthardiness.ars.usda. http://planthardiness.ars.usda. gov/PHZMWeb/), late April to early May transplanting would be appropriate, with adjustments or warmer conditions in the South and colder conditions in the North, at higher elevations, and in other cold pockets. Gallatin Valley Botanical hoop house tomatoes. Many growers have started growing tomatoes in hoop houses (also called high tunnels) to moderate temperatures and plant earlier for earlier harvests in the summer and later harvests in the fall. Photo: NCAT.
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To reduce risk o plant-killing rosts inside the tunnel, it’s good to have a backup heat source (Cornell University Department o Horticulture, 2012).
Organic Tomato Production
Processing Tomatoes Most, but not all, processing tomatoes are grown in Caliornia. O the 331,000 acres planted to processing tomatoes in the United States, 312,000 312,000 (94%) were in Caliornia (USDA/ERS, 2009). According to the Caliornia Department o Food Food and Agriculture Organic Program, organic processing tomato acreage in Caliornia was just under 7,400 acres in 2007, worth $10.6 million. Compare this number with resh market tomatoes, which were planted on only about 1,000 acres but worth $33.8 million. Te diference in value reects the act that processing tomatoes are mechanically harvested and, because these tomatoes are processed, cosmetic damage is much less important compared to resh market tomatoes. Other states with signicant processing tomato acreage (nonorganic) include Indiana with 9,800 acres in 2009, Ohio with 6,600 acres, and Michigan with 3,500 acres. Over the last several yea rs, acreage o processing tomatoes in the United States has been in the neighborhood o 300,000 acres. In the last decade or so, almost all processing tomatoes have been transplants. wenty years ago, most processing tomatoes were direct seeded. ransplanting gives the grower a one- to two-week head start against weed competition and reduces the likelihood li kelihood o major “skips” in the planting process. Tere is a second major change in the way processing tomatoes are being grown. Buried drip tape is increasingly common, compared to urrow ur row irrigation, and it’s it’s estimated that over 60% o processing tomatoes in Caliornia are grown g rown using buried bu ried drip (Johnson, ( Johnson, 2010). 2010). One o the major advantages o buried drip is that since the water and ertilizer are applied directly in the root zone, very ew weed seeds germinate on the surace, surac e, reducing competition rom weeds and also reducing the costs associated with weed management. Buried drip requires substantial investment, as well as substantial maintenance to prevent the drip emitters rom becoming plugged by bacteria. Conventional growers have reported yield increases ater a ter switching to buried drip, and water requirements generally are reduced. Good soil management is critical to supporting production productio n o organic processing tomatoes. Part o this comes rom using diverse d iverse rotations, which can include alala, wheat, corn, and dry beans, and can also a lso include winter cover crops o vetch or oat-vetch mixes. Cover crops o vetch can be planted in the all (October (October/November /November)) on beds www.attra.ncat.org
Nowadays, most processing tomatoes are planted as seedlings. Photo: Rex Dufour, NCAT
Vetch cover mowed in preparation for tomato transplants. Photo: Rex Dufour, NCAT
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require a stronger support system, such as -posts or heavy-duty wooden stake stakes, s, because they grow much taller and wider than their counterparts and they ruit until rost. Tey are oten avored by producers producers who sell at armers markets ( Joslin, 2004). Indeterminate varieties should be 5 to 6 eet apart between rows and 30 to 36 inches apa rt within the row row (Jones, 2008). See Appendix 1 or a list o determinate and indeterminate varieties. Several training systems can be used in tomato culture. Tese include unsupported, either on bare ground or grown on plastic or organic mulch; the t he basic stake approach that can also be supported by wire cages, trellis/tunnels on either bare or mulched ground; and stake-and-weave systems.
Staked Systems Photo: Rex Dufour, NCAT
Te basic stake approach is best or both indeterminate and determinate determi nate tomatoes. It provides support to the seedling during development and willl prevent the tomato stem rom snapping wil during moderate winds. Using a naturally rotresistant wood stake such as cedar will help prevent the stakes rom rotting and toppling over. reated wood stakes are prohibited under the USDA organic regulations. For more inormation Training on alternatives to treated wood, see the ARA Healthier plants, more bountiul harvests, and publication Pressure-reated Wood: Organic and earlier harvests are three reasons why training Natural Alternatives. tomato plants is benecial. Since training allows oliage to dry quickly quick ly,, it limits several actors that encourage harmul ungal spores to reach ruits and leaves, such as wet leaves, poor air circulation, and soil splashed up by rain. raining raining also a lso allows or aster identication o a pest problem. It also is a preventative management tool used to keep pests such as burrowing insects, snails, or slugs away rom the ruit. Fruits can ripen aster as a result o more light penetration rom training, training , in turn lengthening the harvest season.
prepared or tomato production. Te vetch is mowed in March and allowed to dr y down, and it can be disked lightly with a Lilliston cultivator to incorporate, with transplanting being bein g done one to two weeks later. Good soil management will allow a llow or processing tomato yields in excess o 40 tons per acre.
Depending on the plant type— determinate or indeterminate—plant densities per acre may range rom rom 4,860 to 14,760 14,760 plants ( Jones, 2008). Determinate plant types are typically short and stout, stop growing at 3 eet, and set ruit all at once. Determinate tomatoes require less support and can be planted at greater densities, which is why they are avored by large commercial growgrowers (Evans, 2004). Determinate varieties can be spaced 24 inches apart in the row and 3.5 eet apart between rows. Indeterminate varieties Page 6
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Photo: NCAT
Organic Tomato Production
Wire cages are best or indeterminate plant types on smaller arms. Tis system is most common among home and market gardeners because the added support support assures optimal growth, but it is oten expensive and time consuming. consuming. Treading two stakes stake s through the wires assures optimal sturdiness. Staking on plastic mulch, used or both determinate and indeterminate type types, s, is typically accompanied by drip irrigation and tensiometers to monitor soil moisture. Floating row covers and tunnels are used in some instances to provide rost protection and to enhance ea rly production. Staking on organic mulch organic mulch is similar to using plastic mulch, but unlike plastic, organic straw mulch has soil-enhancing benets that are oten preerred by the organic grower. Tese mulches cool the soil, as compared to plastic mulches, which can be a disadvantage in the spring when plastic mulches are promoting more plant growth. However,, later in the season However seas on when temperatures are higher, organic mulches have an advantage over plastics.
A trellis system is best used to train indeterminate tomatoes. Plants usually produce ewer ruits with this thi s system as compared to others, but the ruits are larger and typically ripen earlier. Sunburned ruit may be a problem, however, due to the decreased lea canopy.
The weave staking system at Clover Leaf Farm. Photo: Courtesy of Cloverleaf Farm
A Comparison Comparison of Systems Systems to Train Tomatoes Researchers at Oklahoma State University examined the economics and perormance o tomato training systems. Tey compared our diferent training systems in able 2. Ultimately, the vulnerability o tomatoes to disease and the limited ecacy o organically certied materials to control them, especially in humid climates, weighs heavily in avor o supported culture systems sy stems or organic productio production. n.
Table 2: A Comparison o Tomato-Training Systems
Te stake-and-weave method can be used or both plant types. type s. Weaving the string in a nd out o o the plants ensures support when the plants are loaded with ruit. Tis method is easy to maintain, supports a large number o tomatoes in a small space, is inexpensive, and requires little storage space (Evans, 2004).
ransplanting tomatoes through plastic mulch and allowing them to sprawl out on the plastic is an alternative to ground culture. Plastic mulch reduces soil splashing onto the leaves and ruit, thus reducing disease. Either determinate or indeterminate types can be grown this way. way. Straw mulch can also be used in ground culture. www.attra.ncat.org
Ground1
Cage2
Stake & Weave3 Trellis4
Earliness
3rd
4th
2nd
Best
Fruit size
4th
3rd
2nd
Largest
Largest
2nd
3rd
Mark Ma rket etab able le yi yiel eld d 4th
Unsupported Systems Raising plants on bare soil and allowing them to sprawl—also known as ground culture —is —is still a commercial method in some regions. Low input costs are the chie advantage o this system. However, lower yields, lower ruit quality, and a higher incidence o ruit and oliage diseases may be expected when compared to supported systems.
Factor
Fruit cracking
3rd
4th
2nd
Worst
Fruit rotting
Worst
2nd
2nd
2nd
Fruit quality
Worst
2nd
2nd
2nd
Fruit sunburn
Worst
4th
3rd
2nd
Cost per acre
4th
2nd
Largest
3rd
Pest control
4th
3rd
2nd
Best
1
Ground – No support system. Cage – Two-oot-tall wire cage 14 inches in diameter made rom No. 10 mesh on 6-inch by 6-inch spacing. 3 Stake & Weave – Stake is driven between every other plant and twine woven between and around stakes our to six times. All suckers but one below the rst ruit cluster are removed. No other suckers are removed above the rst cluster. 4 Trellis – Post support No. 10 wire. Strings are dropped rom wire and tied to base o plant. Plants are twined t wined around string. The main stem and one sucker are allowed to develop and all other suckers are removed as they develop. 2
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Managing Weeds: Basic Concepts Organic armers use a wide variety o approaches to control weeds without the use o synthetic chemicals. Crop rotations in combination with cover crops have proven to be the oundation o organic arming. arm ing. Crop rotation not not only enhances the competitiveness o the crop plant, but it also inhibits weed growth and breaks the lie cycles o insects and diseases in the eld.
o prevent stimulation o weed growth, mulches should be maintained at a depth o six inches. With that depth, weed emergence is great ly decreased by the reductions o both light transmittance and soil temperatures.
In a two-year Iowa study, researchers compared three no-till cover cropping systems or organic tomatoes: control (no cover), hairy vetch/rye treatment, and winter pea/wheat treatment. Te results showed that cover crops such as a hairy Complementary to crop rotations is the use o vetch/rye treatment provided greater management mulching or adequate weed control. Both nat- o broadlea weeds earlier in the season, when manag ement is most critical, as compared ural mulches and synthetic mulches, including weed management polyethylene lm and polypropylene landscape to the pea/wheat treatment, because o the pea/ treatment’ss aster decompositio decomposition n rate. Grass Grass abrics, are used u sed in organic organ ic production. However, However, wheat treatment’ were also lower lower in the hairy vetch/rye vetch/rye treattreataccording to USDA organic organic regulations, regu lations, synthetic weeds were mulches must remain intact during the growing ment at the end o the season. Likewise, a trend o No. season and must be removed rom the eld at the greater ruit har vest and a greater number o No. end o the season. Still, synthetic mulches have 1 grade tomatoes were seen seen with the hairy ha iry vetch/ demonstrated their durability or multiple years rye treatment. Equal yields were ound in the in organic vegetable production systems. control and winter pea/wheat treatments (Delate 20 07). Natural mulches such aass lea matter, m atter, straw, hay, hay, or et al., 2007). switchgrasss have multiple benets switchgras benets or the organic armer. First, they are capable o regulating soil Managing Insects, Pests, and surace temperatures temperature s and moisture. Second, natunatuDiseases: Basic Concepts ral mulches improve overall soil quality by adding organic matter mat ter to the soil, increasing nutrient Cover crops play a vital role in the management disease s in an organic production sysavailability, soil porosity, cation exchange capac- o pests and diseases a ny crop grown to provide ity, water-holding water-holding capacity, capacit y, and microbial organ- tem. Cover crops are any isms while controlling the weed pressure (Delate soil cover. Generally speaking, cover crops are and Hartzler, Har tzler, 2003). used to prevent soil erosion on soils with a slope
From each o the drop down menus, select either a pest type or pest name, or both. You may then select an active ingredient or benefcial organism or pesticide trade name. Please note that not all o these felds need to be flled in to get results. Be sure to click on “submit search” when you have flled in the desired criteria. The ATTRA Ecological Pest Management Database lists organic organic pesticides pesticides with minimal minimal environmen environmental tal impact by disease, insect, and type typ e o pesticide. It is a useul tool or nding management methods i you know which pest you have. Find it online at: ww w.attra.ncat.org/a w.attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/biorationals/ ttra-pub/biorationals/..
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that would otherwise otherwi se be eroded by wind or water in any production system. However, However, in an organic orga nic system, cover crops also provide nitrogen. I the cover crop is a legume, it will suppress weeds, prevent nutrient nutrient leaching, and a nd reduce insect pests and diseases. Te AR A publication publication Overview o Cover Crops and Green Manures provides extensive inormation on the types ty pes o cover crops used today. Cover crops also attract benecial insects, a method known as armscaping . Benecial insects such as lacewings, parasitic wasps, and ladybird beetles need shelter, pollen, nectar, and ood prey to survive. Plants that act as a host or these benecial predators include sweet clover c lover,, buck wheat, ava beans, vetch, red clover c lover,, white clover, mustards, mustards, cowpeas, cowpe as, and species in the carrot (Umbellierae ), ), sunower (Compositae ), ), and mint (Lamiaceae ) amilies. amil ies. Te ARA publication Farmscaping to Enhance Biological Control provides extensive resources or establishing benecial insect habitats.
Insects Tere are numerous insect pests that afect tomato crops. Control o pests requires continual monitoring and integration o biological and cultural practices. Reer to Appendix 2 or more detailed inormation about the major insect pests o tomatoes and their control methods.
Te best pest-management system is based on prevention preventio n rather than t han control. c ontrol. Consistent monitoring o your tomatoes along with determining ast and correct prognosis is the key to managing managin g pests beore they get out o hand. Doing so will also help save time and money in the uture. As the grower, you have a number o control options. One option is to use natural repellants. Garlic, onions, zinnia, marigolds, and nasturtium are used as natural repellants to repel insects such as aphids or whitey, whitey, a method known k nown as companion planting. For more inormation on companion planting, reer to the AR A publication Companion Compan ion Planting: Basic Concepts and Resources.
Another control procedure available ava ilable to organic Prevention and sanitation procedures are also producers is using insecticidal soaps or sprays. important. Practices such as removal o dead or Neem oil is an insecticidal insect icidal soap that is advertised diseased disease d plants, requent cleaning cleaning o tools, using to control a wide range o insects that are comdisease-ree stock, planting resistant varieties, and monly ound in the greenhouse, such as aphids, post-season cleanup o o vines via tillage, burning, burni ng, mealybugs, whiteies, and mites. For it to be or composting are some preventative measures efective, plants need to be completely saturated repea ted applicaa pplicao contamination o pests and diseases between with the soap and may need repeated tions to control an inestation. o avoid repeated elds. applications, inspect your eld daily to prevent Other cultural practices include giving the plants an inestation rom occurring. adequate spacing to allow air circulation through a s biopesticides biopesticides and the rows, in order to help the oliage dry dr y rapidly. rapidly. Other natural pesticides such as extr acts, which are generally made rom rom Watering Wa tering at the base o plants via vi a drip or trickle botanical extracts, irrigation reduces the amount o moisture on plants, are also available as a means o gaining control contr ol o an inestation inestation.. Pyrethrum, a botanical the leaves, thus minimizing oliar disease occurextract rom chrysanthemums, is one example rence. Watering in the morning, rather than the that is efective efec tive in controlling aphids. Most botanevening, minimizes the length o time that the ical insecticides tend to degrade quickly in the leaves are wet. A llow oliage to dry beore be ore workworkenvironment but are generally toxic to humans, ing with it again to avoid spreading disease-caus disea se-caus-- bees, and benecial insects. insec ts. Tese should be used ing microorganisms such as Septoria lycopersici , when the insect pest population is reaching ecotomato lea spot, and other oliar diseases disease s (Glea- nomically damaging levels. son and Edmunds, 2006). Microbial insecticides, derived rom insect-pathoinsec t-pathoPerhaps the most important method o cultural genic microorganisms, tend to be more specic control or tomatoes is rotating the crops between bet ween and are sae to most nontarget organisms (Capsoils every three or our years to reduce popula- inera, 2001). 2001). Te most common microbial microbia l insections o the ungus Fusarium oxysporum . sp. lyco- ticide used today is Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt); it persici in the soil. Tis T is includes rotation o crops controls a variety o crop pests, mainly caterpillars caterpil lars within the tomato amily am ily (Solanacae ), ), including and some beetles, depending on the strand used. pepper, potato, potato, eggplant, egg plant, and husk tomatoes. However,, no matter what strand However st rand it is, Bt must be www.attra.ncat.org
P
erhaps the most important method
of cultural control for tomatoes is rotating the crops between soils every three or four years.
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used on the pests when they are immature, thus causing disease to the immature insect and eventually tual ly death. Bt is not efective when the pests are in the adult stage. Biological control—using Biological c ontrol—using predator insects to control various insect pests—is another option option to control pest populations. For example, Aphelinus abdominalis , a parasitic wasp, and Chrysoperla ruflabris , a lacewing species, can be introduced to the area to control aphids (Jones, 2008). Keep in mind that using the benecial insects when pest populations are exceedingly e xceedingly high probably won’ won’tt provide enough control to eradicate the problem. Careul monitoring o the predators and maintaining optimum humidity and temperature levels are also important actors that can inuence the efectiveness on both the target insect and the predators. Reer to the ARA publication Farmscaping to Enhance Biological Control , or things to keep in mind when using biological control procedures.
Most recommended tomato cultivars and varieties in the market today have a wide range o
resistance to diseases, including some resistance to nematodes. Tereore, choosing resistant cultivars and varieties variet ies could help prevent the damage o root knot, stubby root, and sting nematodes to your tomato roots. Organically approved pesticides are also available to keep pests below damaging levels. Reer to Appendix 2 or more details on approved, nonsynthetic pesticides. As with any pest problem, using a combination o controls is essential or success in keeping insect populations rom reaching detrimental levels.
Diseases omatoes are injured by pathogenic diseases caused by ungi, bacteria, and viruses, as well as abiotic diseases, such as catacing and blossom end rot, which are caused by environmental and physiological disorders. Pathogenic diseases develop through soil-borne and above-ground inections and, in some instances, are transmitted through insect eeding.
Grating is a new, innovative way that tomato growers growers are managing tomato diseases. Since grating is a time-intensive pro cess, it is typically used or higher value tomatoes in hoop houses or greenhouses. Grating tomatoes is similar to grating trees—the desirable ruit trait is use d as the top portion por tion (scion), and the disease resistance and hardiness is used or the bottom portion, or root stock. See Table 3 or a list o common rootstocks and their disease resistance.
Table 3: Disease Resistance and Vigor o Commercial Tomato Rootstock Cultivars Seed Supplier Root stock variety
Disease Tomato Corky Mosaic Root
Fusarium (Both races)
Verticillium Bacterial wilt wilt
Nema Ne mato tod des Vi Vig gor
Maxiort
High
High
Mod
high
high
Susceptible
high
5
Beuort
High
High
Mod
high
high
Susceptible
high
3
Anchor- T
High
Susc
High
High
High
Moderate
High
5
Survivor
High
Susc
High
High
High
Moderate
High
5
Aegis
High
Mod
High
High
High
Moderate
High
4
Body
High
High
Susc
High
High
Susc
High
5
Robusta
High
High
Susc
High
High
Susc
Susc
3
Deruyter Seeds
Takii T akii Seeds
Bruinsma Seeds
Ratings are based on seed supplier inormation. Vigor is measured on a scale o 1 to 5, where 1 represents poor and 5 represents excellent. This table is used with permission rom the North Carolina State University publication Grafting for Disease Resistance in Heirloom Tomatoes. Rivard and Louws. North Carolina State University Department o Plant Pathology. www4.ncsu.edu/~clrivard/TubeGratingTechnique.pd
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Organic Tomato Production
Major tomato diseases include those that attack the root system (usarium wilt, verticillium wilt, bacterial wilt, nematodes, rhizoctonia), aboveground stems and oliage (early blight, late blight, septoria lea spot, bacterial canker) can ker),, and ruit ru it (bacterial spot, bacterial speck, anthracnose). Tus, a disease-control program is important at each stage o growth. Verticillium wilt, one o the most damaging soilborne diseases o tomatoes, also attacks more than 200 other plant species, including potato, pepper, eggplant, strawberry, watermelon,, and radish (Gleason watermelon (Gleason and Edmonds, 2006). A considera considerable ble amount o progress has been made in breeding disease resistance or tolerance to naturally occurring tomato plant diseases and viruses. Such resistance resista nce is ound in cultivars such as Venus, Saturn, Kewato, and Rosita or bacterial wilt disease; the Mountain series (Mountain Pride, Mountain Supreme, Mountain Gold, Mountain Fresh, and Mountain Belle) or resistance o early blight; and verticillium wilt, root knot, tobacco mosaic virus, gray lea spot, and Alternaria stem canker resistance resi stance ound in common tomato hybrids (Jones, 2008). See Appendix 1 or tomato variety disease resista nce. An organic grower cannot base his or her success on variety selection alone, a lone, however—site however—site selection, cultural control, c ontrol, the use o biological biological control c ontrol agents, and nonsynthetic ungicides are other actors to consider. While the use o pesticides is generally restricted in certied systems, the NOP permits various products under its organic regulations. Johnny’s Selected Seeds has developed a useul video on grating. It is available online at www.johnnyseeds.com/t-video_tomato_ grating.aspx
Copper-based products have been widely used in organic vegetable and ruit production. Used to control control anthracnose, bacterial speck, bacteria l spot, early and late blight, gray lea mold, powdery mildew, and septoria lea spot, copper has been used as a routine disea se control practice in organic tomato production. Copper is, however however,, classied classi ed as a “restricted” substance substa nce by the NOP. NOP. A certied certi ed organic arm must document application time and rates and show a documented history o the disease organism. Most ormulations o copper ungicides such as Bordeaux, basic sulates, hydroxides, oxychlorides, and oxides are allowable, with restrictions, in organic certicawww.attra.ncat.org
tion systems. However, they pose a problem with potential soil toxicity, contamination o water run-of, and toxicity to nontarget organisms, particularly earthworms and some soil microbes. microbes. Te use o copper ungicides also increases the potential risk o injuring the leaves and ruit o most crops. Using excessive amounts o copper coupled with slow drying conditions ater a rain ra in and hot weather conditions (above 85 degrees Fahrenheit) may be the cause o injury. Tus, organic growers oten monito monitorr soil copper applications and do not rely on copper alone or disease management. Integrated control methods might include choosing disease-resistant disease-resista nt varieties, disinecting seeds with heat treatments, rotating crops, applying compost, managing weeds, and, when necessary, necessary, using other efective, efect ive, approved approved products or disease management. Garlic and neem oils, Bacillus subtilis, and seaweed extract signicantly reduced oliar disease on tomatoes compared to the control in one study (Wszelaki and Miller, 2005).
A
Elemental sulur has been used in the t he organic vegetable industry as a preventative ungicide against powdery mildew and as an insecticide or mite control. Te key to its ungicide success is that it prevents spore germination and, or this reason, is only efective when applied prior to disease development. However, like copper, sulur has also shown phytotoxic efects. efect s. Avoid Avoid applications in hot temperatures to reduce injury to plants.
Bicarbonate salts, essential oils, plant and soil extracts, and biological control organisms are other materials allowed under the NOP regulations or disease control. Essential oils such as garlic and neem oils (Bacillus subtilis ), ), and sea weed extract were shown to signicantly reduce oliar disease injury in one study by Ohio State University in 2002 and 2003. Te results, however, were variable in other years.
n organic grower cannot base
his or her success on variety selection alone, however— site selection, cultural control, the use of biological control agents, and nonsynthetic fungicides are other factors to consider.
Potassium bicarbonate, more commonly known as baking soda, has been ound to posses ungicidal properties as well. It is used as a s prevention or as treatment at the rst signs o inection caused by anthracnose, early blight, lea blight, lea spot, and powdery mildew.
Harvesting and Handling Production practices have a tremendous efect on the quality o ruit at harvest, postharvest, and during shel lie. For example, some cultivars a re ATTRA ATTR A
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Research and Field Experience in Tomato Diseases A two-year study in Nor th Carolina ound that organic soil ertility amendments (composted cotton-gin trash, swine manure, or a rye-vetch green manure) applied to bare ground resulted in limited southern blight disease incidence as compared to greater disease incidence in bare soil that received synthetic ertilizers. The composted cotton-gin trash r anked rst on reducing the incidence o southern blight on processing tomatoes and also best enhanced the populations o benecial soil microbes (Bulluck and Ristaino, 2002). •
•
In Florida, interplanting with Chinese chive ( Allium tuberosum tuberosum) in tomato production has been shown to drop the population o the organism responsible or bacterial wilt ( Pseduomonas solanacearum ) in the soil (Berkelaar, 2002).
o the season along with continuous discarding o culled ruit rom the eld to prevent the spread o diseases and pests. Harvesting is done either by hand or with a harvesting aid; only processing tomatoes are harvested by machine due to increased bruising o the produce. Produce should should be graded, separating the marketable tomatoes rom the cull tomatoes that show signs o bruises, cracking, spots, rots, or decay. Damage such as this can be prevented i tomatoes are handled with care at the time o harvest, harvested at proper maturity, harvested during dry weather weat her,, and handled minimally. omatoes should be harvested with no more than two to three stacked deep into strong cardboard or stackable at boxes. Growers have used bread racks in the past with great success. Check with a local bakery to see i they would be willing to sell some to you.
known to have a longer shel lie and to ship better be tter than others. Because Bec ause o this, you should consider your market beore considering which varieties to plant. In addition, environmental actors such as omatoes are very susceptible to chilling injury; soil type, temperature, rost, and rainy weather thereore, maintaining precise storage temperaalso have unavorable un avorable efects on the crop’s crop’s harvest har vest quality. For example, some tomato varieties have ture is critical or postharvest storage quality. a tendency to crack ater a rain. Tereore, choos- Storage temperatures difer with the maturity ing varieties such as a s Sapho and Mountain Mountain Fresh, o the ruit. omatoes picked with a slight pink which are resistant to cracking, may help help alleviate color all the way up to a mature red color should bet ween 48ºF to 50ºF. the problem o poor ruit quality at the time o be stored at temperatures between max imum shel lie o two harvest. Management practices such as too little Tese ruits will have a maximum omatoes that are a re picked green are best or too much water, mechanical injury, or high weeks. omatoes ertilizer rates can also afect a fect postharvest quality. quality. stored at temperatures between 58ºF to 60ºF and have a three- to our-week shel lie. omatoes should be harvested har vested during the coolest time o the day, which is typically typica lly in the morning, Proper sanitation is o great importance in preand produce should be kept shaded in the eld. venting postharvest diseases and the spread o Harvesting tomatoes requires extensive labor; oodborn oodbornee illnesses. ill nesses. Tus, strict regulations o harvesting harvest ing may be done done every day during the peak sanitary acilities and the use o disinectants in wash water are used to help prevent both the spread o postharvest diseases dise ases and oodborne illnesses. Disinectants such as chlorine, ch lorine, at a residual o 4 ppm, or hydrogen peroxide, at a concentration o 0.5%, 0.5%, have been efective disinectants disinec tants in organic programs. Always check with your certiying yi ng agent to see what concentrations are allowed under the regulations.
Cherry tomatoes make a bright display at the farmers market. Photo: NCAT
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Te publication Wholesale Success: A Farmers Guide to Selling, Post Harvest Handling, and Packing Produce ofers useul inormation on cleaning and grading specics as well as harvest maturity indicators. See the Further Resources Res ources section or more inormation. Te ARA publication Postharvest Handling of Fruits and Vegetables is also an excellent source or additional inormation on postharvest and storage considerations. Organic Tomato Production
Marketing and Economics ARA has various resources available or beginning market armers. Reer to the ARA publication Marketing Gardening: A Start-Up Guide or more inormation. Te outlook or organic tomatoes is strong. According to the USDA USDA Economic Research Service, the top three organic vegetables grown in How to Assess Your Markets Market research is one o the most important parts o developing a marketing plan. This may sound intimidating, but market research is really just gathering inormation rom the sources that you would like to sell to. To fnd f nd out who your potential custome customers rs might be, and what they want, talk to people in the markets that you are most interested in selling to. These include restaurant ches, grocery store managers, local produce distributors, and armers market managers.
Some questions to ask these businesses and important things to observe are: What products are missing that they would like to stock, sell, serve, or buy? •
•
•
What new products do they think are emerging trends?
tions to ask yoursel or 13 diferent marketing channels. Te tip sheets are available online at https://attra.ncat.org/marketing.html
Organic Tomato Costs of Production According to a recent recent organic organic tomato publication by the University o Kentucky Extension, production costs or drip irrigated, staked tomatoes are estimated at $2,630 per acre, with harvest and marketing costs or 1,200 boxes at $6,705 per acre. otal costs are estimated at approximately $10,200 to $12,000 per acre. A Northeast Organic Network study on organic costs and returns per acre estimated the revenue or tomatoes at New Lea Farm in Durham, Maine. able able 4 shows the t he results.
Table 4: Organic Tomato Costs and Income per Acre Year
Amount sold (lbs per acre)
Average Re Reve venu nue e Tot otal al cos costs ts o Prot price per production per pound per acre acre
2002 24,900
$2.57
$63,900
$18,900
$45,000
2003 22,600
$2.20
$49,700
$22,100
$27,700
NEON. Focal Farm Case Study. New Lea Farm data. 2003. Cornell University.
Are they interested in getting more local products?
the United States are tomatoes, lettuce, and carrots (Economic Research Service, 2008). Direct markets or organic tomatoes include armers markets, roadside stands, subscription marketing arrangements (CSAs), (CSAs), and restaurants. Local wholesale markets, such as grocery stores and restaurants, can also etch price premiums. Wholesale markets will require packing and grade standards. Te perishibility o organic tomatoes is an important consideration in wholesale markets. I you anticipate growing tomatoes or market, it is always a good idea to nd markets and develop a marketing plan beore you even plant the tomatoes in the ground. Organically grown tomatoes can command premium prices, especially or early- and late-season sales. Growing tomatoes in hoop houses is the best way to assure ea rly and late season tomatoes. ARA has ha s a series o marketing tip sheets that outline advantages, considerations, tips, and queswww.attra.ncat.org
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Reerences Abbasi, P., P., Al-Dahmani, Al-Dahman i, J. Sahin, F. Hoitink, Hoitink, H. and S. Miller. 2002. Efect o Compost Amendments A mendments on Disease Severity and a nd Yield o omato omato in Conventional Conventional and a nd Organic Production Productio n Systems. Te Ohio State University Press. Vol. 86, No. 2. p. 156-161. Berkelaar, E. 2002. Partial Control o Bacterial Wilt o omato with wi th Chin Chinese ese Chi Chives ves.. ECH ECHO O Deve Develo lopm pmen entt Not Notes. es. Vol ol.. 77 77. p. p. 8. 8. Bulluck, L., and J. Ristaino. 2002. Efect o Synthetic and Organic Soil Fertility Amendments on Southern Blight, Soil Microbial Communities, and a nd Yield o Processing omatoes. North Carolina State University. Vol. 92, No. 2. p.181-189. Capinera, J. L . 2001. Handbook o Vegetable Pests. University o Florida. Clark, M., W. Horwath, C. Shennan, K. Scow, W. Lantni, H. Ferris. 1999. Nitrogen, weeds and water as yield-limiting actors in conventional, low-input, and organic tomato systems. University o Caliornia Cal iornia Davis. Davis . Vol. 73. p. 257-27 257-270. 0.
Hartz, ., G. Miyao, J. Mickler, M. Lestra nge, S. Stoddard, J. Nunez, and B. Aegerter. 2008. Processing omato omato Production in Caliornia. University o Caliornia Cali ornia Division o Agriculture and a nd Natural Resources. 7228. Huang, C.L. C.L . and B. H. Lin. Li n. 2007. 2007. A Hedonic Analysis o Fresh omato omato Prices among Regional Markets. Review o Agriculture Economics. Vol. Vol. 29, 4. p. p. 783-800. Johnson, B. 201 2010. 0. Drip is the method o choice choice or processing tomato irrigation. Ag Alert, August 18. Jones, J. 2008. omato omato Plant Culture in the Field, Field, Greenhouse, and Home Garden. Ed. 2. Joslin, K. R. 2004. Control C ontrol o o the oliar disease, disea se, Septoria lycopersici, in organic tomato production. production. Iowa State University: Graduate Tesis.
Coolong, im. 201 2010. 0. omatoes. omatoes. University o Kentucky Kentuck y Cooperative Extension Service.
Marr, C., isserat, N., Bauerneind, B. and K . Gast. 1998. Commercial Vegetable Production: Production: omatoes. omatoes. Kansas K ansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service. Serv ice. MF- 1124.
Cornell University Department o Horticulture. 2012. Cornell High Hig h unnels: omato omato Production. www.ho ww w.hort.cornell. rt.cornell. edu/hightunnel/crops/vegetables/tomatoes.htm
National Organic Program. Soil Ferti lity and Crop Nutrient Management Practice Standard. 205 Subpart C. 205.203(c)1. USDA.
Delate, K. and R. Hartzler. 2003. Weed Management or Organic Farmers. Far mers. Iowa State University Extension. PM 1883. 1883.
Padgham, J. and H. Behar. Beha r. 2008. Guidebook or Organic Certication. Midwest Organic & Sustainable Education Service. Ed. 2.
Delate, K., A. McKern, and B. Burcham. 2007. Evaluation Evaluation o an Organic Orga nic No-ill No-ill System or Organic Orga nic Corn, Soybean, and omato omato Production. Iowa State University Annual Progress Reports – 2007. Vol. 12. Delate, K. et al. 2008. Evaluation o Soil Amendments in Organically Organical ly Managed Peppers and omatoes omatoes – Armstrong Arm strong rial, 2008. Iowa State University. Vol. 13.
Porter, W. Porter, W. 2007. Facing Scientic Realities, Debunking the “Dose Makes the Poison” Myth. Myth. Te Big Picture: Linking Link ing pesticide science and hea lth efects. Pesticides and You. Vol. Vol. 27,, No. 4, 200727 20 07-2008. 2008. Rawson, J.M. 2007. Organic Agriculture in the U.S: Program and Policy Issues. Organic Agriculture in the U.S. p. 1-53.
Economic Research Service. 2008. Certied organic vegetables. Acres o tomatoes, lettuce, carrots, mixed vegetables, and unclassied vegetables by State, 1997 and 2000-08. USDA.
Strange, M., W. Schrader, and . Hartz. 2000. Fresh-Market omato omato Production in Caliornia. Cali ornia. University o Ca liornia, Division o Agriculture Ag riculture and Natural Natura l Resources. 801 8017 7.
Economic Research Service, U.S. omato Statistics. ables 002 and 007. 007. USDA. USDA. http:// http://usda.ma usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/Mannnlib.cornell.edu/MannUsda/viewDocumentIno.do?documentID=1210
Sustainable Agriculture Agr iculture Network. 2003. ransitioning to Organic Production. Sustainable Agriculture Network Publications. 408.
Evans, W. 2004. Bringing Up omatoes. Organic Gardening Magazine. Magazi ne. June/July. p. 34-37 3 4-37..
u, C., J. Rista Ristaino, ino, and S. Hu. 2005. 20 05. Soil microbial biomass and activity in organic tomato arming systems: Efects o organic inputs and straw mulching. North Carolina State University. Vol. 38. p. 247-255.
Gaus, A., H. DiCarlo, and C. DeCourley. 1993. Fresh Market omatoes. University o Missouri Extension Service. http://muextension.missouri.edu/explore/agguides/hort/ g06370.htm Gleason, M. and F. Edmunds. 2006. omato Diseases and Disorders. Iowa State University Extension. PM 1266. Page 14
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Wszelaki, A. L. L . and Miller, S. A. 2005. Determining the ecacy o disease management products in organically-produced tomatoes. Plant Health Progress doi: 10.1094/PHP2005-0713-01-RS. Organic Tomato Production
Further Resources Extension Fact Sheets on Producti Production on and Handling
Sustainable Practices for Growing Tomatoes and Vegetables
Fresh Market omatoes. 1993. By Arthur E. E . Gaus, Henry F. DiCarlo, and Chuck DeCourley.. Fact Sheet G6370. DeCourley G6370. University o Missouri Extension. http:/ http://extensio /extension.missouri.edu/xplor/ n.missouri.edu/xplor/agg agguides/ uides/ hort/g06370.htm
Organic omato omato Production in North Ca rolina. 2010. By Dilip Panthee and Randolph Gardner. Mountain Horticultural Crops Research & Extension Center, Mills River, NC. ww www. w.ces.ncsu.edu/etcher/ ces.ncsu.edu/etcher/programs/tomato programs/tomato// production/index.html
raining Systems and Pruning Pru ning in Organic omato omato Production. 2011. 201 1. By Bonnie Cox. Oregon ilth, Organic Agriculture eOrganic Extension. eOrganic 2620. www.extension.org/ article/18647
What’s At Stake: Selecting a raining System. No date. By By Bonnie Cox. Oregon ilth. www.extension. org/article/18647
Processing omato omato Production in Caliornia Cal iornia Cooperative Extension Service. No date. By im Hartz, Gene Miyao, Jan Mickler, Michelle Lestrange, Scott Stoddard, Joe Nunez, Brenna Aegerter. Publication 7228. University o Caliornia. Cali ornia. http://anrcatahttp://anrcatalog.ucdavis.edu/pd/7228.pd Postharvest Cooling and Handling o Field- and Greenhouse-Grown omatoes. No date. By M.D. Boyette, D.C. D.C. Sanders, and a nd E.A. E.A . Estes. North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service. www. ww w.bae.ncsu.edu/p bae.ncsu.edu/programs/extension/p rograms/extension/publicat/postharv/ ublicat/postharv/ tomatoes/tomat.html
IPM for Tomatoes Crop Knowledge Master: omato IPM. University o Hawaii—College o ropical ropical Agriculture A griculture and a nd Human Resources. www.extento.hawaii.edu/kbase/crop/ crops/tomato.htm UC Pest Management Manag ement Guidelines: Pests o omatoes. University o Caliornia Agriculture & Natural Resources. www. ww w.ipm.ucdavis.edu/P ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/ MG/selectnewpes selectnewpest.tomatoes.html t.tomatoes.html Control o the Foliar Disease, Septoria lycopersici, in Organic omato omato Production. Production. 2004. By Karen R. R . M. Joslin and Henry Henr y G. aber. aber. Department Depar tment o Horticulture, Iowa State University, University, Ames, A mes, IA. I A. ww www. w.public.iastate.edu/ public.iastate.edu/~taber/ ~taber/ Extension/Progress%20Rpt%2003/Orgom.pd Grating or Disease Resistance Resist ance in Heirloom omatoes. omatoes. 2006. By Cary Rivard and Frank Louws. North Carolina State University Department o Plant Pathology. ww w4. ncsu.edu/~clrivard/ubeGratingechnique.pd Managing Diseases o Organic omatoes in Greenhouses and High unnels. 2009. By Sally A. Miller. Mil ler. Ohio Cooperative Extension, Ohio State Universit University. y. www.exte w ww.extension.org nsion.org/article /article/1 /18337 8337 www.attra.ncat.org
Cover Crop Residues Enhance Growth, Improve Yield, and Delay Lea Lea Senescence in Greenhouse-grown omatoes. omatoes. 2005. By Vinod Kumar, Are Abdul-Baki, James D. AnderAnderson, and Autar K. Mattoo. HORSCIENCE 40(5):13071311 13 11.. http://naldc.na http://naldc.nal.usda l.usda.gov/download/19403/PDF .gov/download/19403/PDF
Hoop House Tomato Production Cornell High unnels: omatoes www.h ww w.hort.cornell.edu/hightunnel/cro ort.cornell.edu/hightunnel/crops/vegetables/ ps/vegetables/ tomatoes.htm Production o omatoes within a High unnel. By Lewis Jett. University o Missouri, Columbia, MO. MO. www.hightunnels.org/images/Assets/Production ww w.hightunnels.org/images/Assets/Production%20o%20 %20o%20 omatoes%20within%20a%20High%20unnel.pd
Markets, Economics, and Crop Budgets for Tomatoes Identiying Factors Afecting Consumer Purchases at Direct Market Operations. C.E. Carpio1 Carpio1,, C.D. Saey, M.K. Wohlgenant, and R . Williams. North Carolina University Extension, Raleigh, NC. www.ag-econ. ww w.ag-econ.ncsu.edu/aculty/ ncsu.edu/aculty/saey/Direct_Ma saey/Direct_Marketing.pd rketing.pd Sample Costs to Produce Fresh Market omatoes. 2007.. University o Ca liornia Cooperative Extension Ser2007 vice, Davis, CA. M-SJ-07 http://coststudies.ucdavis.edu/les/ http:/ /coststudies.ucdavis.edu/les/tomatormktsj07 tomatormktsj07.pd .pd National Organic Program, United States Department o Agriculture. www.ams.usda.gov/ ww w.ams.usda.gov/nop nop omato Food rends Prole Agriculturall Marketing Resource Center. Agricultura www.agmrc.org/ ww w.agmrc.org/commodities__ commodities__products/vegetables/ products/vegetables/ tomatoes.cm Organic Productio Production n U.S. Department o Agriculture Economic Research Service. www. ww w.ers.usda.gov/Data/Organic ers.usda.gov/Data/Organic ATTRA ATT RA
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Organic Premiums o US Fresh Produce Renewable Agriculture and a nd Food Systems http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayFulltext?type=6 &d=2003604&jid=&volumeId=&issueId=03&aid=20036 00&bodyId=&membershipNumber=&societyEOCSession =&ulltextype=RA&leId=S1742170508002238 United States Standards or Grades o Fresh omatoes omatoes USDA-Agricultural Marketing Service www.ams.usda.gov/ ww w.ams.usda.gov/standards/tomatrh.pd standards/tomatrh.pd
Wholesale Success: A Farmers Guide to Selling , Post Harvest Handling, and Packing Produce. Tis useul manual includes harvesting, cooling, storing, and packing inormation or 103 diferent ruits ru its and vegetables. Request a copy rom: Family Farmed Phone 708-763-9920 www.amilyarmed.org/wholesale-success ww w.amilyarmed.org/wholesale-success
Appendix 1: 1: Recommended Tomato Tomato Varieties Varieties Variety
Season
Plant Type
Resistance/tolerance
Comments
Sapho
Early-Mid
Indeterminate
Cracking at harvest, crown rot, root rot
Tangy and sweet, cherry, Tangy cherry, meaty, meaty, best or containe containers rs
Celebrity
Early
Determinate
Blight tolerance, verticil- One o the more favorul hybrids lium and usarium wilts
Sweet Ba Baby Gi Girl
Early-Mid
Indeterminate
Tobacco mo mosaic vi virus
Cherry, ju juicy, r rm, pr prone to to sp splitting
Venus
Mid
Semi-determinate
Bacterial wilt, usarium wilt
Used or resh or canned
Saturn
Mid
Determinate
Bacterial wilt, usarium wilt
Used or resh or canned
Mountain Fr Fresh
Early-Mid
Determinate
Verticillium wi wilt, u usarium wilt, nematodes, cracking
Firm, large heirloom
Sunbeam
Early-Mid
Determinate
Verticillium and usarium wilt
Firm
Carnival
Mid
Determinate
Verticillium and usarium wilt
Firm
Better Boy
Early-Mid
Indeterminate
Fusarium and verticillium wilt, nematodes
Firm
Jet Star
Early-Mid
Indeterminate
Verticillium and usarium wilt, cracking
Somewhat rm
Mountain Sp Spring Early-Mid
Determinate
Early bl blight, ve verticillium Firm wilt, usarium wilt, nematodes, cracking
Daybreak
Very Early
Determinate
Early blight, verticillium Firm wilt, usarium wilt, nematodes, cracking
Tango T ango
Mid-Late
Lg. Determinate Determinate
Early blight, verticillium verticillium Firm wilt, usarium wilt, nematodes, cracking
Mountain Gold
Mid
Determinate
Early blight, verticillium Yellow, rm ruit wilt, usarium wilt, nematodes, cracking
Sun Leaper
Early-Mid
Determinate
Early blight, verticillium Heat tolerant, rm wilt, usarium wilt, nematodes, cracking
Source: Commercial Vegetable Production. Production. Kansas Ka nsas State University Page 16
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Appendix 2: Major Insects that Attack Tomatoes and Their Control Common Name
Damage
Control/Management
Sucks sap; vectors disease; creates honeydew,, which attracts sooty mold honeydew
Insecticidial soaps; Benecial insects Insecticidial (ladybugs, lacewings, etc.); Beauvaria bassiana; Pyrethrum
Distorted yellow leaves; creates honeydew, which attracts sooty mold
Insecticidal soap; yellow sticky traps; Insecticidal garlic oil; biological control; Pyrethrum; Beauvaria bassiana
Toxin that disrupts plant growth
Insecticidal soaps; avoid early planting; sanitation
Piercing o cells and removal o cell contents; transmits tomato spotted wilt virus
Insecticidal soaps; biological control with predatory mites; aluminum-suraced mulches; sanitation; companion planting
Extensive lea mining; premature lea drop; damage allows entry o diseases
Placement o row covers; parasitoids; Neem; Bt
Yellowing speckled leaves; wilting; lea deormity; stunting o growth
Biological control (dusty-wings, lady beetles, some plant bugs, thrips); insecticidal soaps and oils
Tomato T omato pinworm pinworm
Mining o ruit ruit and leaves; leaves; eeding o ruit ruit
Biological control control (parasitic (parasitic wasps); wasps); sanitation; till at the end o season
Tomato T omato ruitworm ruitworm
Feeds on oliage, oliage, fower, fower, and ruit
Sanitation;; Bt; row covers; Sanitation covers; Neem; Neem; Ryania
Tomato T omato hornworm hornworm
Deoliates leaves; leaves; attack green green ruit
Biological control control (Phytoseilus persimilis, lacewing, parasitic wasps); Bt.; tillage, kill adults beore they lay eggs
Aphids
Green Peach aphid Potato aphid Whitey
Silverlea whitefy Greenhouse whitefy Tomato psyllid
Paratrioza cockerelli Thrips
Western Flower thrips Tobacco T obacco thrips thrips Onion thrips Leaminers
Vegetable leaminer Serpentine leaminer Spider mites
Two-spotted spider mite Two-spotted mite Tomato T omato russet russet mites Large caterpillars
Source: J.L. Capinera. Handbook o Vegetable Pests. 2001
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Appendix 3: Guide to Common Tomato Diseases and Disorders Tomato Diseases Name
Damage
Control
Early Bligh Blightt (Alterna (Alternaria ria blight blight))
Prematu Pre mature re loss loss o lower lower leaves; leaves; leave leavess have brown to black spots with concentric rings and yellow “halos”; large sunken areas with concentric rings appears on ruit occasionally; incidence incidence increases in warm, humid weather
Choose resistant cultivars; rotation; sanitation at season end; mulching; air circulation; avoid water on leaves; rotation; copper
Late Blight
Leaves have greenish black blotches Choose resistant cultivars; sanitation; that appear to be rost damaged; under- avoid water on leaves; adequate spacsides o leaves have a downy white ing; grow in poly hoop houses; copper growth; ruits have dark brown, corky spots; ruits become become oul smelling; smelling; incidence increases with wet weather, warm days and cool nights
Lea Le a spot spot (Sep (Septo tori ria a lea lea spot) spot)
Numerou Numer ouss small small brown brown spot spotss with with grayish white or black centers; leaves turn yellow and drop; lower leaves are inected rst
Sanitation; rotation; avoid water on leaves; adequate spacing; anti-transpiration; copper, potassium bicarbonate
Anthracnose
Fruit has small, slightly sunken circular spots that spread and crack open; spots develop dark centers that can appear cream to salmon pink when spores exude in moist conditions
Resistant cultivars; cultivars; sanitation at season end; rotation; cover crop; harvest requently; physical support o plant; copper; potassium bicarbonate
Tobacco T obacco Mosaic Mosaic Virus (TMV) (TMV)
Distorted, small leaves leaves and plants plants
Don’t grow grow around tobacco; tobacco; don’t don’t handle i tobacco is on hands; destroy inested plants
Bacterial Bacte rial spot; spot; Bacter Bacterial ial speck speck Small, Small, dark dark spots on on leaves leaves and stems stems;; spots oten become surrounded by yellow halo; small brown to black, raised spots on ruits; as lesions enlarge, they become sunken
Copper; remove and destroy inested plants i severe severe;; disease-ree transplants transplants;; weeding
Bacterial canker
Leaves have brown edges; sudden Remove and destroy inested plants; wilted leaves; ruit has very small, raised, copper sprays have minor impact dark brown spots with white edges
Powdery Mildew
White patches on the upper surace o leaves; deoliation as spots develop into brown lesions
Copper; potassium bicarbonate; air circulation; avoid water on leaves; Actinvoate® AG
For verticillium, usarium, and nematode resistance, cultivars labeled VFN should be used. Rotating away rom all crops in the tomato amily (Solanaceae) or at least our years also will be a preventative to the above diseases. Source: NCA
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Physiological Disorders o Tomatoes Name
Cause
Efect
Control
Blossom end rot
Lack o calcium
Sunken brown spot on blossom end o ruit; admittance o secondary organisms to ruit
Supply consistent and ample moisture to help maintain steady fow o calcium; add Ca to soil; choose resistant cultivars; mulch; spray with seaweed extract
Fru ruiit crac acki king ng
Rapid Rapi d r ru uit de dev vel elo opm pme ent; dry weather ollowed by warm, rainy weather
Radial and concentric ruit cracking
Choose resistant cultivars; mulch to keep moisture levels constant; avoid heavy N applications
Catt- Ca -a aced r ru uit
Cold weath ther er at the time o blossom set
Misshapen ruit with irregular bulges at blossom ends
Row covers; poly hoop houses
Sunscald
Overexposure to sun caused by deoliatio deoliation n
Whitish, shiny area that Control oliar diseases; avoid appears blistered; yellow and heavy pruning or shoot removal wrinkled ruit
Fail ailure ure to set set rui ruitt
High day High day and and nigh nightt temtemperatures; night temps above 70ºF and below 55ºF; drought conditions
Blossom drops beore pollination occurs
Choose resistant varieties
N deciency
Lack o nitrogen
Yellowing o oldest leaves; stunted growth
Compost/manure; soybean meal; legume cover crop; dried blood; sh emulsion
P deciency
Lack o phosphorus
Reddish-purple leaves
Compost; lea mold; bonemeal; rock phosphate
K deciency
Lack o potassium
Bronze spots between veins o leaves; underdeveloped roots
Compost; kelp meal; granite dust; greensand; wood ashes
Source: NCA
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Appendix 4: Plant Nutrient Recommendations Based on Soil Tests Plant Nutrient Recommendations or Tomatoes Based on Soil Tests Crop and Application Method
N Pound Poundss per per Acre Acre Soil Soil P Lev Level el Pounds o P2O2 per Acre
Soil K Level Pounds o K2O2 per Acre
Fresh Market Tomatoes
Low
Medium
High
Low
Medium
High
Sandy loams and loamy sand soils
Total T otal recommended recommended
80-90
200
150
100
300
200
100
Broadcast and plow down
40-45
200
150
100
300
200
100
Sidedress when rst ruits are set
40-45
0
0
0
0
0
0
Total T otal recommended recommended
50-80
200
150
100
250
150
100
Broadcast and plow down
50
200
150
100
250
150
100
Sidedress when rst ruits are set
25-30
0
0
0
0
0
0
Loam and silt loam soils
Processing Tomatoes-T Tomatoes-Transplants or Multiple Harvests H arvests Sandy loams and loamy sand soils
Total T otal recommended recommended
130
250
150
100
300
200
100
Broadcast and plow down
50
250
150
100
300
200
100
Sidedress at rst cultivation
50
0
0
0
0
0
0
Sidedress when rst ruits are 1” in diameter
30
0
0
0
0
0
0
Total T otal recommended recommended
100-1 100125
250
150
100
300
200
100
Broadcast and plow down
50-75
250
150
100
300
200
100
Sidedress when rst ruits are 1” in diameter
25-50
0
0
0
0
0
0
Loam and silt loam soils
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Notes
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Notes
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Notes
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Organic Tomato Production By Steve Diver, George Keupper, and Holly Born, NCAT Agriculture Specialists
Published April 1995 Updated April 2012© NCAT By Tammy Tammy Hinman, Ann Baier, and Leah Riesselman NCAT Agriculture Specialists Cathy Svejkovsky, Editor Kayla Lester, Production This publication is available available on the Web Web at: www.attra.ncat.org IP439 Slot 149 Version 031113
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