How to plant tomatoes on your balcony?

First step: sowing and seedling raising

You can either directly sow seeds in your planters or sow them after they’re soaked in the warm water whose temperature is 50 degrees to 55 degrees for 10 to 12 hours. Before sowing, you need to put the nutrient soil into the planter and keep it 3 to 4 centimeters away from the edge of the planter. Water the soil until it’s all wet, you can sow when the soil is a little dry. If you want to plant more than one tomato in a planter, you can sow 1 to 2 seeds every 10 to 15 centimeters. Use 0.5 centimeters of seeding matrix to cover the seeds evenly and a piece of plastic film should be applied, too. The plastic film should be removed after sprouting. After sowing, the temperature should be controlled, for the daytime, it’s 20 to 28 degrees while for the nighttime it should be above 10 degrees. Few days before transplant, you should control the watering appropriately. 

Second step:transplanting

When the young seedlings have 3 to 4 leaves, you can transplant them. Before transplanting, wash the planter and put tile or nylon yarn at the bottom of the planter. After that, you should put soil into the planter. Use a gardening shovel to dig young seedlings out from the original planter from 8 centimeters from the surface of the soil and it should be around 5 centimeters away from the root system . Put them into the new planter and keep them upright, shake the planter lightly. You should immediately water the seedlings until water oozes from the hole of the planter. 

Third step: Daily management

Water management: After transplanting, wet out the soil. Then, water every 3 to 5 days. Control the watering quantity before fruit setting and keep the soil wet in the fruit swelling period.

Fertilization management: Pour 200mg/kg efficient composite liquid fertilizer every 10 days or apply matured chicken manure before blossoming. 

Pruning: Which means to remove the axillary buds. Normally, remove them when they are around 5 to 6 centimeters.

Training: Single stem training and double stem training are frequently used. Single stem training: Remain the bough and remove all the lateral branches successively. It leads to less but larger fruit. This method is suitable for premature varieties dwarf and close planted and indeterminate varieties. Double stem training: Keep the bough and the first branch of the first inflorescence and make them grow and the same time. It leads to more fruit and increase individual yield. It is suitable for varieties with good soil fertility and strong growth vigor. 

Topping: Which means to remove apical growing point. When the plant is 80 centimeters high, leave 1 to 2 leaves and remove the growing point. 

Flower thinning and fruit thinning: When there are too many fruit, you need to do this in order to keep the quality and shape of the fruit.

Moreover, basal yellow old leaves and branches should be removed in time for better ventilation and light and reduce the consumption of nutrition. 

You may need:
stake&trellis http://www.agfabric.com/product.asp?classid=23
gardening tool http://www.agfabric.com/product.asp?classid=25&bigclassid=88

Row cover removal

Row covers are often applied three to four weeks before crops are normally planted to encourage growth enhancement or for frost prevention. Row covers must be removed at bloom for fruiting crops to encourage bee or wind pollination. Higher temperature later in the season may reduce quality for cool-season crops, necessitating the removal of the row covers. Extremely high temperatures that develop later in the season under row covers can also reduce production of crops like tomatoes and peppers.

Above words are cited from George W. Dickerson's essay in October 2004

Some pictures for reference:

 (Pictures are from gardeners.com)



Now, you know so much things about row cover, wanna try? It will certainly help with your cultivation. Just go for it!

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Row cover types

The three most popular row cover techniques are plastic-covered trenches, floating row covers and hoop-supported row covers or low tunnels. Row covers are generally made of polyethylene(poly), polyester or polypropylene. Polyethylene may be clear or pigmented and either stretched across a trench or supported by wire hoops. It may also be vented or unvented. Fabric-like polyester or polypropylene materials are generally spunbonded or nonwoven. Both may be left to float on the surface of soil or supported by wire hoops.

Plastic-covered trench:
Plastic-covered trenches permit early seeding, early plant growth and some frost protection. Polyethylene is generally strentched across a trench about 7 inches deep. A mechanical mulch layer can be used to apply the plastics, mounding soil along the edges of the bed to keep the plastic taut.The application of a pre-emergence herbicide is important to control weeds. Periodic holes can be made in the plastic as temperatures rise in the trench. The plastic should be removed when plants first come in contact with the bottom of the row cover.

Floating row covers:
Floating row covers are often used to protect both cool season and warm season crops. Made of spunbonded polyester or polypropylene, covers may range from 5 to 50ft and up to 800ft long. In the manufacturing process, the polyester or polypropylene is extruded or spun in a web onto a collection belt. The small-diameter filaments are then heated and pressure treated to form a thin, whitish sheet of porous fabric. Covers may range in weight from 0.3 to 2.0 oz/sq.yd. Row covers from 0.5 to 1.25 oz/sq.yd will give 2 degrees to 6 degrees F frost protection in the spring. More protection can be realized during the fall due to warmer soils. Row covers weighing 1.25 oz/sq.yd will generally transmit enough light(70 percent) for optimum plant growth with good frost protection. Lighter-weight materials, that provide minimal frost protection, are generally used to protect crops from insects and birds.
Floating row covers are generally applied loosely over the top of the crop and secured along the edges with fabric pins and/or soil. Insect control is more effective when the sides are completely sealed with soil. Covers should be applied when there is minimum wind. Allow the cover to drape over the crop, leaving room for crop expansion. Floating row covers should not be applied over one-stemmed crops like peppers, tomatoes, eggplant or even squash, since stems can be broken on windy days.
Spunbonded polyester and polypropylene have the advantage over polyethylene in that they don't usually have to be vented. Air and water will pass relatively freely through spunbonded covers.

Hoop-supported row covers:
Unlike floating row covers, hoop-supported row covers or low tunnels are supported by wire hoops, eliminating abrasive damage to the crop associated with floating row covers. Hoops are generally made from 9- ro 10-gauge galvanized wire, 48 to 60in long, spaced 4 to 5ft apart in the row. Wires are generally shaped to form an arch. Wider tunnels will generally result in greater warming but are more vulnerable to wind damage. Crops are often irrigated with drip irrigation to help conserve moisture and reduce weed populations.
  California system:The California system of hoop-supported row covers involves two sheets of 36in wide, 1.5ml clear polyethylene supported by wire hoops spaced 5 to 7ft apart. Edges of the plastic are secured with soil. Wooden stakes approximately 30in long and one inch in diameter are spaced at 10- to 25-ft intervals in the bed. A 16- gauge wire is stapled to the top of the stakes and edges of the plastic are clipped together at the wire with clothespins. Covers are closed and opened manually. Hoops are generally attached to the wooden stakes and wire for greater stability under windy conditions. A second set of wire hoops may be placed over the top of the tunnel allowing the plastic to slide down between the hoops when venting.

  Perforated plastic tunnels:Solid plastic tunnels must be vented in some way to prevent heat damage to plants. Venting can be very time consuming and a major problem in windy weather. Perforated plastic allows for ventilation without removing the plastic and reduces damage from wind. Perforations are generally 3/8-inch in diameter but may vary with manufacturer. Slit row covers have the same effect. Very little water condensation occurs under perforated plastic covers.There is generally less frost protection under perforated and slitted row covers than under a solid cover.

  Spunbonded fabric tunnels:Spunbonded polyester and spunbonded polypropylene fabric tunnels are two of the more popular row cover tunnels since they don't have to be vented and don't tear as easily as polyethylene. Edges are secured with fabric pins and/or with soil.


Above words are cited from George W. Dickerson's essay in October 2004

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Row cover(2)

Disadvantage of row cover:
Cost:Cost associated with growing crops under row covers are dependent on the type of crop, row spacing and type of row cover. Crops requiring a supported row cover will incur greater costs associated with wire hoops required for support versus using a floating row cover. Rows with closer spacing will require more material for support tunnels. There is also a big difference in the cost of materials.Heavier materials tend to be more expensive. Additional labor costs can also be very siginificant. Costs can be reduced with the use of protective coatings and ultraviolet light inhibitors incorporated into the row cover so that such materials can be reused.

Pests:Although row covers are often used to exclude insects, any insects that do enter the covered area can multiply very quickly in such a favorable environment. Weeds can also flourish, especially if the area has not be treated with herbicide or covered with a plastic mulch. The row cover may also have to be pulled back during bloom(cucurbits, strawberries) to allow bees to pollinate the plants.

Labor:Use of row covers, especially the supported tunnels, require considerably more labor in put earlier in the season than traditional production techniques. This is particularly true if the row cover has to be occasionally removed to weed, apply insecticides or allow for pollination. Machines are available for establishing hoop-supported row covers.

Above words are cited from George W. Dickerson's essay in October 2004

Click here to choose your row cover:
www.agfabric.com
http://www.agfabric.com/product.asp?classid=20

Row cover (1)

Row cover is one of the most popular techniques used by commercial growers to extend the growing season. Row covers are generally made of flexible transparent to semitransparent materials. By increasing both air and soil temperatures, they enhance the growth and production of crops.

Advantages of row cover:

Early yield:The greenhouse effect of row covers will not only warm air surroun-ding the plants but will also result in warmer soil temperatures,enhancing seed germination, root growth and maturity. Early production generally result in higher prices at local markets.

Increased yield:Many cucurbits(squash,cucumbers,melons) respond well under row covers with increased yields of as much as 25 percent. Earlier production of cool season crops like spinach and leaf lettuce will also increase total yields. Other crops that have responded well to row covers include tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, cauliflower, strawberries, sweet corn, cole corps and peas.

Frost protection:Generally the heavier materials give greater frost protection but tend to exclude more light. Row covers can also be used with some crops in the fall for late frost protection.

Wind protection:Row covers supproted with hoops will protect crops from wind and blowing sand. This will result in less plant stress and reduce desiccation of delicate early growth. Row covers will also protect crops from hail and pounding rain. Unsupported floating row covers can, however rub on plants, damaging leaves, stems or flowers.

Pest protection:Lightweight floating row covers are often used to cover some crops in spring to protect them from insects. Edges of row covers must be covered with soil to ensure exclusion of insects. This will result in less use of insecticides and less frequency insect-borne diseases. Floating and supported row covers can also be used to protect plants from birds.

Water Conservation:Less irrigation may be required under row covers since water collects as condensation on the inside of the cover and returns to the soil. Less crusting occurs since wind movement and water evaporation is reduced. Overall water use, however, may increase since crop growth is greater, earlier and over a longer period of time.

Above words are cited from George W. Dickerson's essay in October 2004

Click here to choose your row cover:
www.agfabric.com
http://www.agfabric.com/product.asp?classid=20