A complete guide to tomato production in the greenhouse ( Part one)

General information about culture,Botanical description.
Currently, there is disagreement about the scientific name, which corresponds to the tomato. Beginning in 1881, Philip Millar defined it in the genus Lycopersicon and
called Lycopersicon Esculentum, it was the most widely used name
since. However, in 1753 Carl Linnaeus, the scientist, naturalist and
botanist who laid the foundations of modern taxonomy, is placed tomato
the genus Solanum, assigning a scientific name of Solanum Lycopersicum L. Today,
genetic evidence (e.g. Peralta & Spooner, 2001) show
that Linnaeus was right when he placed the tomato in the genus Solanum. This has led to growth
contradictions, and it is expected that for some time to determine the genome
tomato both names will be encountered in the literature. Thus, for the purposes
this publication we use the name Solanum Lycopersicum L. for
the designation of the tomato.

Tomato is a culture native to America, apparently, from the mountainous regions of Peru, Ecuador and Chile. It is a herbaceous plant, with a partially woody stem and root
system, which includes the main root, with numerous
branching of the secondary roots. At the top, at the level of the soil, developing adventitious roots, which help to improve anchoring plants in the substrate. Root
consists of epidermis and external absorptive hairs which absorb water and
nutrients. Inside cortex and the Central cylinder is formed by the xylem –
tissue responsible for transport of nutrients from roots to leaves and other
organs of the plant.
The stem, as in many higher plants, is a continuation of the root. As a rule, it
the diameter is from 2 to 4 cm from the base of the plant and less
the upper part, where the formation of new leaves and inflorescences. The stem also consists of the epidermis and contains glandular hairs, cortex, vascular cylinder (xylem) and medullary tissue.
The leaves of tomato unpaired, consisting of alternating odd and end leaflets
a separate sheet in the apical part. The number of leaves on the stem and their rate of occurrence
mainly determined by the type of plant growth and temperature. For example,
plants of determinant type of growth is formed 2.5 sheet per week with an average
a temperature of 23 ° C.
Flower in tomato a full, functional female and male organs. Each
the inflorescence or of the hand formed several colors, one plant indeterminate
type of growth can produce 20 or more consecutive inflorescences within
cycle cultivation under greenhouse conditions. The formation of inflorescences occurs
approximately every week and a half.
The tomato fruit is 94-95% water. The remaining 6.5 percent are a complex mixture, which is dominated by organic components, giving the fruit a distinctive flavor and texture. From anthesis (ovaries) to harvest is 60 to 70 days.
Types of growth of the tomato Plants start growing from the main stem, forming from 5 to 10 leaves before the first inflorescence. Next, they begin to differentiate two types of plant growth: indeterminate and determinate. In plants with indeterminate growth, in the axil of the youngest leaf (which is located immediately below the last flower with a brush) is formed of younger vegetative Bud that continues the growth and moves the sheet to a position located above the very last a floral brush and then continuing its growth, forms three or four sheets, and then a new flower brush. Thus, the process becomes repetitive, because along with new floral brush appears vegetative buds that develop again three or four leaf and a new flower brush and so on. This sequence is repeated until then, until the conditions are favorable. Thus, indeterminate plants can grow and sometimes reach a height of over 5 meters. As a rule, they require a support system or "instruction" to remain in a vertical position. The production of the fruits is carried out along the entire length of the plant and to prevent the development of new stems need to constantly remove the new axillary buds.
At determinant plants have a strong germination of axillary buds and produced less leaves (one or two) between the floral brushes. They reach
the maximum length of two meters and develop one inflorescence on sheet. When growing
such plants leave a few stems that develop at the same time.
Most varieties of tomatoes for the processing industry or are determinate, because their low height makes it easier mechanized harvesting.
As a rule, determinate varieties begin production for a few days before
indeterminate, but the duration of the harvest period is shorter. In the greenhouse
growing conditions in the Sabana de bogotá, indeterminate varieties begin
production of 3 - 3,5 months after planting, and the cycle of the harvest can last an average of four months.
The physiology of culture
To put it simply, physiology is how the tomato plant reacts in response to the factors
environment and management culture. For example, when tomato is grown in
the greenhouse, all the processes (growth, formation of buds, the development of the fetus, etc.) differ
from open ground due to the difference in temperature. In addition, control methods,
such as fertilizer or pruning affect the plants in one form or another.
A small notion about the physiology of tomato plants helps us to understand how
management practices effect on crop yield.
Physiology culture is different in each stage of development (phenological phase). The first stage of development, known as the autonomic, continues from germination and emergence
germination to appearance of first flower brushes. In General, the first flower brush
is formed after the formation of 5 to 10 leaves when the plant has a height of
more than 40 see
In the second phase of development at the same time vegetative and reproductive
the growth with the emergence of new leaves and inflorescences, of which gradually formed
fruit. This is followed by the stage production on which the first fruits begin to ripen,
and the harvest begins. At this stage, the time when the fruit is harvested, the plant
continues to develop new leaves and blossoms. Finally, we reach the stage
development, which is due to factors associated with the type of growth or practice
management, growth stops naturally, or forcibly, and develop
only the fruits that have already been formed.