Wilt, Nematode, and Virus Diseases of Tomato

Lewis W. Jett, Division of Plant Sciences Successful production of tomatoes within a high tunnel hinges on proper watering and fertilization. High tunnels exclude natural rainfall, so timely irrigation is important. Because tomato fruits are more than 90 percent water, yield and quality suffer when plants are under drought stress. When tomatoes are not adequately…

I. What is a high tunnel? A high tunnel is a solar heated, manually vented, plastic-covered cold frame that is used to lengthen the traditional growing season for many horticulture crops. High tunnels, often called hoophouses can significantly increase the average daily temperature and protect the crop from wind, rain, snow, hail, insects and diseases….

Introduction: High tunnels are unheated, plastic-covered greenhouses which provide many benefits to vegetable producers: High tunnels lengthen the growing season of many high value vegetable crops such as melons and tomatoes. High tunnels protect the growing crop from extremes in temperature, strong winds, driving rain and destructive hail. High tunnels protect the growing crop from…

1. What are some warm season vegetables that can be produced within a high tunnel? 2. What are some examples of cropping patterns for a high tunnel? 3. How are tomatoes grown within a high tunnel? 4. How many tomato plants can I plant in a 20’ x 96’ high tunnel? 5. Is pollination of…