Germination Determinate or Indeterminate Determinate tomato plants will

Germination

Determinate or Indeterminate • Determinate tomato plants – will grow to approximately a 3 foot bush and will stop growing and put all energy into fruit production. • Indeterminate tomato plants – will grow, produce, and continue to grow all throughout the season. In hydroponics they can grow to over 30 feet in length.

Resistant Varieties • Learn what diseases are present from pests and select seeds that are resistant. • In BYU-Idaho’s greenhouse we have had Alfalfa Mosaic Virus and Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus. • Aphids can carry Alfalfa Mosaic and Thrips can carry Spotted Wilt.

Resistant Varieties • When you know what pest and diseases you may have then you can gear your IPM to those pests! • Many different companies sell seeds that have resistant characteristics. • Currently we use Western Seed as our main seed supplier.

Hydroponic Seed Suppliers • http: //www. westernseed. nl/products_table. a sp? language=1&productgroup=1 • http: //www. hydrogardens. com/tomato_seeds. htm • http: //www. cropking. com/Hydroponic. Supplie s/index. php? main_page=index&c. Path=179_1 86_249&zenid=ij 7 mc 6 ejtjfuvuna 1 fqk 7 nb 2 l 6

Seeding and Germination

Germination • Once seeds are in place in the starting cubes, covered with vermiculite, and soaked with water, either a dome is placed over the seeds or they are placed in a germination chamber which is set to approximately 80° F. • Within days the seeds begin to germinate, take out of the chamber or take the dome off at the hook stage and begin to water as needed with plain water from a watering can.

Irrigate with plain water at this stage

Begin to irrigate with dilute nutrient solution when first true leaves are developing.

What is the dilute fertilizer for seedlings? • When the first true leaves are appearing on the seedlings it is time to begin watering your seedlings with a dilute nutrient solution. • At BYU-Idaho we take one gallon of our full strength solution and add one gallon of Reverse Osmosis water to it.

What is the dilute fertilizer for seedlings? • The seedlings will be in the starting cubes for 3 – 4 weeks. • During the first week of fertilizing the seedlings we will irrigate with a one gallon water to one gallon nutrient solution dilution, then during the second week, only dilute it with a half gallon of water to one gallon of nutrient solution, then during the third week, only a quarter gallon of water to one gallon of solution and so on till full strength. • By the time for transplanting the seedlings will be between 3 – 6 inches and should be at full strength solution. • Once they are transplanted then they will continue to receive the full strength solution from your main mixing tank.

Seedlings

Let’s Practice • Now we will go to the greenhouse and practice seeding tomatoes and show our germination practices. • Break for 15 minutes! • Then we will transplant some tomato plants we started a month ago and practice growing, trellising, pruning, and fruiting methods. • Cleanliness • Bumble Bees & pollination.