Tomatoes form adventitious roots on the lower part of the stem, so it is advisable to plant them as deeply as possible. Planting up to the first leaves has shown good results in terms of vegetative growth and yield.
The spacing of planting depends on the cultivar and the purpose of the production. For crop care and multiple harvests, the spacing between rows must allow for passage, so the inter-row spacing for indeterminate cultivars is set at 80 – 100 cm. In-row spacing varies: for early cultivation, it is 30 – 40 cm, and for main season cultivation, it is 50 – 70 cm. Determinate cultivars are planted with the same inter-row spacing, and the spacing between plants within rows is 30 – 40 cm.
For indeterminate cultivars, support is provided after planting. This can be done using a stake placed next to each plant, which is then tied to the stake, or by using wire as support.
There are two ways to tension the wire:
- Between stakes spaced about 3 m apart, 2 – 3 rows of wire are tensioned, and the tomatoes are tied to the wire.
- At the intended height of the tomatoes, one row of wire is tensioned. The tomatoes are tied at the base with a tie that is attached to the wire, and as the tomato plant grows, the tie is wrapped around it. Two rows of tomatoes can be guided on one wire.
When tying tomatoes, it is important to remember that the stem can grow up to 2.5 cm in width, so enough space should be left to prevent the tie from cutting into the stem, which could obstruct the normal flow of water and nutrients.
