Applications

The application of row cover in the early stage of tomato cultivation

In the early stage of tomato crop cultivation, using row covers has many benefits. The following are its specific usage methods, functions and precautions:

Usage method

Mulching time: Mulching is generally carried out shortly after sowing or transplanting tomatoes. If it is live streaming, it can be covered immediately after sowing. If transplanting is carried out, after the transplanting is completed, water the roots thoroughly and then cover them.

cover method: Lay the non-woven fabric row cover flat on the tomato planting rows to ensure that the cover completely covers the planting rows. Both sides can be compacted with soil blocks or other heavy objects to prevent being blown up by the wind. For some relatively wide planting rows, simple arched supports can be built using bamboo strips or iron wires, etc. cover the row covers on the supports to form the form of small arched greenhouses. This can provide a more spacious growth space for tomato seedlings, and at the same time facilitate ventilation and management.

Function

Heat preservation and cold protection: During the early stage of tomato cultivation, the temperature may be unstable, especially in early spring when the night temperature is relatively low. Non-woven row cover can play a good role in heat preservation, reduce heat loss, protect tomato seedlings from low-temperature frost damage, and be beneficial to the growth and development of seedling roots.

Moisture retention and drought prevention: It can effectively reduce soil water evaporation, keep the soil moist, and provide a suitable humidity environment for the germination of tomato seeds and the growth of seedlings. This helps to increase the germination rate of seeds, promote the absorption of water by the root system of seedlings, and reduce the situation of poor growth of seedlings caused by drought.

Pest and disease prevention: As a physical barrier, it can prevent some pests such as aphids and whiteflies from approaching tomato seedlings, reducing the probability of pest and disease occurrence. At the same time, it can also prevent the bacteria in the soil from splashing onto the seedlings, reduce the risk of disease transmission, and help cultivate healthy seedlings.

Promoting growth: It creates a relatively stable micro-environment for tomato seedlings, with suitable temperature and humidity and less interference from pests and diseases, which is conducive to the rapid growth of seedlings, enhances their robustness, and lays a good foundation for later flowering and fruiting.

Precautions

Ventilation management: As the tomato seedlings grow, ventilation should be carried out in a timely manner according to the weather conditions and the growth status of the seedlings. At noon on a sunny day when the temperature is relatively high, a part of the row cover can be uncovered for ventilation and heat dissipation to prevent the seedlings from growing too tall or getting scalded due to excessive temperature inside the greenhouse. The size of the ventilation openings and the ventilation time should be flexibly adjusted according to the actual situation.

Observe humidity: Although row cover has a moisture-retaining effect, it is also necessary to pay attention to avoiding overly wet soil. It is necessary to regularly check the soil moisture. If the soil is found to be too wet, the covering material can be appropriately lifted to dry in the sun to prevent root diseases caused by excessive humidity.

Timely removal: When tomato seedlings grow to a certain height or the external environmental conditions are stable and no longer require the protection of row covers, they should be removed in a timely manner. Generally, before tomato plants start to flower and set fruit, or when the temperature rises steadily and there is no low-temperature damage, the row cover can be removed to avoid affecting the growth of the plants and field management operations.