Tomatoes
Resources about growing tomatoes in Ontario, including management techniques, scouting, support during adverse weather and more.
Introduction
Tomatoes are a popular field crop in Ontario, with over 300 varieties produced commercially. In cold weather, the use of greenhouses allows producers to extend the growing season. There are 3 categories of tomatoes:
- round
- Roma or plum
- beefsteak
Management
Plug transplants
Good tomato management starts by choosing high-quality transplants and plug trays. Learn about starting transplants in plug trays and storage of plug transplants.
Irrigation scheduling and season extension techniques
Due to high water requirements, tomatoes tend to suffer if rainfall is irregular. Learn about the benefits of irrigating tomatoes and water requirements in the Irrigation scheduling for tomatoes fact sheet.
Plastic mulch and row covers are effective tools to extend the growing season for tomatoes. Learn about different season extension tools in the Season extension techniques for vegetable crops fact sheet.
Adverse weather
It is important for producers to have a plan in case plants come under frost or moisture stress in extreme cold or dry conditions. Learn about the effects of adverse weather and management techniques for tomato plants.
- Effects of dry conditions on the tomato plant
- The effect of extreme temperatures on the tomato and pepper crop
- Protecting tomatoes from the cold
Pests and disease management
Learn about techniques to manage pests and diseases known to impact tomato plants.
Insect pests
Learn about insect pests that can impact tomato plants.
- Managing cutworms in vegetable crops
- Managing wireworms in vegetable crops
- How weather conditions affect spray application
- Tarnished plant bug damage on vegetable crops
- Mite pests in greenhouse crops: description, biology and management
Diseases
Understanding the signs of disease can lead to earlier recognition and more effective treatment. Learn about diseases that can impact tomato plants.
- Bacterial diseases of tomato: bacterial spot, bacterial speck and bacterial canker
- Walnut toxicity
- Tomato pinworm: biology and control strategies for greenhouse tomato crops
- Greenhouse vegetable seedling: protocol for managing thrips and the tomato spotted wilt virus
- Management of pepino mosaic virus in greenhouse tomatoes
- Survival of bacteria that cause bacterial canker in greenhouse tomato
- Reducing the impact of Potato Virus Y in solanaceous crops
Nematodes
Pests can cause extensive damage to tomato plants if not managed properly. Learn about using soil fumigants as a tool against nematodes and other plant pathogens.
- Impacts of proper nematode sampling
- Soil fumigants and tomato production: Part 1
- Soil fumigants and tomato production: Part 2
- Soil fumigants and tomato production: Part 3
Scouting
Scouting provides a summary of crop conditions and the pest situation in a field. Discover resources on the Crop scouting: Resources for vegetable crop scouts page.