What are the Different Types of Hoop House?
Hoop houses come in various types and sizes, each designed to meet different gardening or farming needs.
Tomato Skin
Tomato skin is the thin, protective outer layer of the tomato fruit. It plays an important role in preserving the fruit’s structure and protecting it from environmental factors, such as pests, diseases, and moisture loss.
How Many Genes in a Tomato?
Tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) have approximately 35,000 genes. Whereas humans have around 20,000-25,000 genes.
What is the Kratky Method for Growing Tomatoes?
The Kratky Method is a passive hydroponic system that allows you to grow plants, including tomatoes, without pumps or continuous water circulation.
When to Strip Out Old Tomato Plants
You should strip out old tomato plants when the growing season ends, or when they stop producing viable fruit, typically after they show signs of disease, pest infestation, or when the cold season approaches.
Natural Fungicides for Tomato Plants
Natural fungicides can be highly effective in managing fungal diseases on tomatoes while being safer for the environment and human health. Common fungal diseases affecting tomatoes include blight, powdery mildew, and anthracnose.
How Genetically Stable are Heirloom Tomatoes?
Heirloom / heritage tomatoes are considered generally genetically stable as long as they are grown in isolation from other varieties and allowed to pollinate within their own type. This stability supports them to produce seeds that grow true to the parent plant, making them more reliable for seed saving. Minor natural variations may occur, but overall, they are typically dependable in maintaining their unique characteristics across generations.
What is the Difference Between Perlite and Vermiculite?
Perlite and vermiculite are both lightweight, natural materials commonly used to improve soil aeration and drainage in gardening, but they have distinct properties and serve different purposes in plant care.
Can Tomatoes be Vertically Farmed?
While tomatoes can be successfully vertically farmed, the setup and maintenance are more complex than for crops like lettuce or herbs, but the benefits in terms of yield and resource efficiency can be substantial.
How to Make a Hybrid Tomato Stable?
Stabilizing a hybrid tomato involves growing successive generations from the original hybrid and selecting for the desired traits over time. With patience and careful selection, you can create a new, stable tomato variety that consistently produces plants with the traits you want.
Hoop House Innovations
Hoop house innovations involve various improvements in the design, materials, and techniques used in traditional hoop houses to make them more efficient, durable,
How to Collect Tomato Seeds?
Collecting tomato seeds is a straightforward process that allows you to save seeds from your favourite tomato plants for future planting such as heirloom / heritage tomatoes.
Paradigm Shift in Tomato Growing
A paradigm shift in tomato growing refers to a significant transformation in the methods, technologies, and philosophies used to cultivate tomatoes.
What is an F1 Tomato?
An F1 tomato is a hybrid that combines specific desirable traits from two different parent plants, resulting in a plant with enhanced vigor, uniformity, and disease resistance. However, the seeds from an F1 hybrid cannot be saved for consistent future crops, making them a popular but less sustainable option compared to open-pollinated varieties like heirlooms / heritage.
Beginners Guide to Growing Tomato Plants
Growing tomato plants can be a rewarding experience, whether you're a beginner or an experienced gardener. Here's a beginner's guide to help you grow healthy and productive tomato plants from start to finish, including heirloom / heritage tomatoes, hybrid tomatoes, determinate tomatoes and indeterminate tomatoes.
Kaizen - Continuous Improvement
Kaizen is a Japanese philosophy and practice of continuous improvement, widely known in business and manufacturing but applicable to personal development, agriculture, education, and daily life.
What is the Difference Between Heirloom Tomatoes and Heritage Tomatoes?
The terms heirloom and heritage tomatoes are often used interchangeably, but they have slightly different connotations, particularly in how they're commonly used.
Plants: Solanaceae Family
The Solanaceae family, commonly known as the nightshade family, is a diverse and economically significant family of flowering plants. It includes a wide range of species, many of which are important in agriculture, medicine, and horticulture.
How to Measure Moisture Content of Tomato Seeds
Measuring the moisture content of tomato seeds is an important step for determining their viability and ensuring proper storage conditions. If seeds are stored with too much moisture, they are prone to mould, fungal growth, and premature germination, which can reduce their shelf life and viability. Conversely, seeds that are too dry may have reduced vigor.
The History of Solanum Lycopersicum
The history of solanum lycopersicum (tomato) is a story of transformation from a small wild fruit in the Andes to a global culinary staple. Its journey through time reflects the interconnectedness of cultures, the evolution of agriculture, and the ongoing quest to improve and enjoy one of the world's most beloved fruits.