10–25°C
Ideal temp
A Collaboration of
A Collaboration of
Kharif, Rabi and Zaid Crop · Solanaceae Family
Tomato is a fast-growing, warm to cool-season vegetable grown across India in all three seasons. It is the second most important vegetable crop in the world after potato. It is cultivated for fresh markets, processing, juice, puree, and ketchup production. The crop has a total field duration of 120–150 days with first harvest beginning at 70–75 days after transplanting.
First harvest: 70–75 days after transplanting
Three seasons: Kharif, Rabi and Zaid
Optimal temp: 10–25°C
175–325 qtl per acre
10–25°C
Ideal temp
Sandy loam to clay loam, high organic matter, pH 7.0–8.5
Best soil
70–75 days after transplant
First harvest
120–150 days
Total duration
175–325 qtl
Yield/acre
Nov–Dec nursery; Jan–Feb transplant
Rabi sowing
Jul–Aug nursery; Aug–Sept transplant
Kharif sowing
Tomato completes five growth stages from nursery sowing to the end of the harvest period. Total crop duration is 120 to 150 days.
Nursery and germination
Day 1–10
Seedling establishment
Day 10–30
Vegetative growth after transplant
Day 30–60
Flowering and fruit set
Day 60–75
Harvest period
Day 75–150
Basic agronomic and physical characteristics of the Tomato crop.
Plant type
Semi-erect to spreading vine; requires staking
Fruit colour
Green (immature), red or pink when ripe
Fruit shape / size
Round, oval or pear-shaped; 40–200 gm per fruit
Taste
Mildly acidic, sweet when ripe
Water need
Every 6–7 days in winter; 10–15 days in summer
Temperature
10–25°C optimal; fruit set fails outside 10–35°C
Variety selection depends on cropping season, soil type, and target market. Hybrid varieties generally produce higher and more uniform yields. Open pollinated varieties have lower seed cost.
Ready for first picking in 125 days from transplanting; suitable for processing; yield 225 qtl/acre
Ready to harvest in 90 days after transplanting; suitable for rainy season; resistant to leaf curl virus; yield 215 qtl/acre
Ready to harvest in 100 days after transplanting; resistant to leaf curl virus; yield 215 qtl/acre
Dwarf variety; medium sized juicy fruits; highly resistant to fusarium wilt and root knot nematodes; yield 175–180 qtl/acre
Recommended for Punjab, Uttarakhand, Jharkhand, Bihar and UP; resistant to bacterial wilt and early blight; suitable for Aug–Sept and Feb–May sowing; yield 400–420 qtl/acre
Recommended for Punjab, Uttarakhand, Jharkhand, Bihar and UP; good keeping quality; suitable for long distance transport and processing; yield 360–400 qtl/acre
Indicative figures for one acre under standard management conditions. Actual returns vary with season, variety, and market access.
Common pests, diseases, and management issues in tomato cultivation. Early identification and timely management help reduce crop loss.
Major pest causing 22–37% yield loss if uncontrolled; larvae bore circular holes in fruits and feed on flesh. Install 16 pheromone traps per acre at 20 days after transplanting; change lure every 20 days. Destroy infested fruits immediately. Spray Spinosad 80 ml per 200 litres of water or Coragen (Rynaxypyr) 60 ml per 200 litres of water when pest population is high.
Whitefly nymphs and adults suck sap from leaves; also transmit Tomato Leaf Curl Virus causing severe yield loss. Cover nursery beds with 400 mesh nylon net. Keep yellow sticky traps at 6–8 per acre. Spray Acetamiprid 20SP 80 gm per 200 litres of water; repeat after 15 days.
Small brown isolated spots on leaves with concentric rings; later spreads to stem and fruits; severe infection causes defoliation. Spray Mancozeb 400 gm or Tebuconazole 200 ml per 200 litres of water at first sign; repeat at 10–15 day intervals. Use Chlorothalonil 250 gm per 100 litres as preventive spray in cloudy weather.
Suck sap from foliage causing leaf curling upward into a cup shape; also cause flower drop. Keep blue sticky traps at 6–8 per acre. Spray Imidacloprid 17.8 SL 60 ml or Fipronil 200 ml per 200 litres of water; repeat if incidence is high.
Soil-borne disease causing water-soaking and shrivelling of stem; seedlings collapse before emergence; entire nursery lot can be destroyed. Treat seeds with Thiram 3 gm per kg before sowing. Drench nursery soil with Metalaxyl 2.5 gm per litre of water at first sign. Apply Trichoderma 2 kg per acre with cow dung near roots in main field.
Fruits crack and split reducing market quality and price by up to 20%; caused by irregular irrigation or heavy watering after dry spell. Irrigate at regular 6–7 day intervals in winter and 10–15 days in summer. Spray Chelated Boron 200 gm per 200 litres of water at fruit ripening stage as a preventive measure.
Tomato is grown commercially across a range of agro-climatic zones in India.
Hindi
05:06
Soil Preparation and Land Levelling
Hindi
05:28
Soil Preparation and Land Levelling
Hindi
04:52
Soil Preparation and Land Levelling
Hindi
06:10
Sowing Methods and Best Practices
Hindi
05:45
Sowing Methods and Best Practices
Hindi
07:20
Irrigation Scheduling for Wheat
Hindi08:00
Fertilizer Application
Hindi06:30
Fertilizer Application
Hindi05:45
Fertilizer Application
Hindi09:15
Harvesting and Threshing
Hindi07:40
Harvesting and Threshing
Hindi06:22
Harvesting and Threshing
Wheat is grown as a Rabi crop, sown from October to December and harvested from March to May.
Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar, and Madhya Pradesh are among the major wheat-producing states.
Wheat is grown as a Rabi crop, sown from October to December and harvested from March to May.
Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar, and Madhya Pradesh are among the major wheat-producing states.
