Tomato
Crop Atlas · Vegetables
A complete field reference for tomato, covering the full crop cycle from planting to harvest. It sets out growth and soil requirements, nutrient demand stage by stage, the physiological disorders that cost quality, and the diseases, pests and nematodes that cost yield, each with symptoms, control, treatment and prevention.
Key takeaways
- Tomato is a heavy feeder with a long cropping cycle, and nutrient demand changes sharply between stages. A single standard programme applied all season leaves yield behind.
- Potassium is the dominant nutrient once fruit load is established, often exceeding nitrogen demand by 1.3 to 1.5 times by weight.
- Blossom end rot is a calcium delivery problem, not usually a soil calcium problem. Irregular watering and high salinity are the common triggers.
- On the calcareous, high-pH soils typical of the Nile Delta and newly reclaimed land, micronutrient availability, not micronutrient quantity, is frequently the limiting factor.
- Prevention costs less than cure for every disease and pest in this guide. Certified planting material, rotation, drip irrigation and spacing do most of the work.
Production: world and Egypt
Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is one of the most widely grown vegetable crops in the world, cultivated across virtually every climate zone, from open field production in temperate regions to intensive greenhouse systems in arid and subtropical areas.
Global tomato production exceeds 180 million tonnes per year, grown across more than 5 million hectares. China, India, Turkey, the United States and Egypt are consistently among the largest producers, together accounting for well over half of world output.
Egypt is one of the world’s top tomato producers and the largest in the Middle East and North Africa, with production spread across the Nile Delta, Upper Egypt, and newly reclaimed desert lands using modern irrigation. Rising demand for processed tomato products, combined with export opportunities to European and Gulf markets, continues to drive investment in improved varieties, protected cultivation, and crop nutrition and protection programmes.
Average yields vary enormously with production system. Open field rainfed production may yield 20 to 40 t/ha, modern drip-irrigated open field systems reach 60 to 90 t/ha, and high-tech greenhouse or hydroponic systems can exceed 300 to 500 t/ha under optimal nutrition and climate control.
Types and growing systems
Growth habit
- Determinate varieties grow to a fixed height, flower and set fruit over a short period, which suits mechanical harvest and processing.
- Indeterminate varieties continue vegetative growth and fruiting throughout the season, typical of staked and greenhouse fresh-market production with repeated harvests.
Market types
- Fresh market: round or beef, cluster (truss), cherry, plum and heirloom types, selected for appearance, firmness and shelf life.
- Processing: high-solids, thick-walled varieties with concentrated ripening, bred for paste and sauce yield.
Production systems
- Open field: rainfed or furrow and drip-irrigated. Lower input cost, more exposure to weather and pest pressure.
- Protected cultivation: net houses and plastic tunnels, giving moderate climate buffering and pest exclusion.
- Greenhouse and hydroponic: full climate and fertigation control, the highest yield potential and quality consistency, and the highest investment.
Propagation
Most commercial crops are established from nursery-raised transplants 30 to 35 days old rather than direct seeding, which ensures uniform stands and reduces early-season disease exposure. Grafting onto vigorous, disease-resistant rootstock is increasingly used in high-pressure soils, for example where bacterial wilt or nematodes are present.
Market requirements
Fresh market quality
- Uniform size and shape, with grading typically by diameter, for example 47 to 57 mm, 57 to 67 mm, 67 mm and above.
- Firm flesh able to withstand handling and transport without bruising.
- Even red or pink colour development without green shoulders or blotchy ripening.
- Smooth skin, free of cracking, cat-facing and sunscald.
- Brix (sugar content) of 4 to 6 degrees for fresh salad types, higher for cherry and specialty types.
Processing quality
- High soluble solids, 5 to 6 degrees Brix or higher, to maximise paste yield.
- Deep red colour and uniform ripening across the fruit.
- Thick pericarp and high viscosity for sauce consistency.
- Low microbial load and mould count at delivery.
- pH below 4.4 for safe processing and shelf stability.
Export standards
Export markets in the EU and the Gulf add requirements on pesticide Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs), traceability and cold-chain management, which makes registered crop protection products and documented spray records essential for market access.
Growth requirements
Temperature
Tomato is a warm-season crop. Optimum growth occurs between 21 and 27°C by day and 15 to 18°C at night. Fruit set is impaired below 12°C and above 32°C, and pollen viability drops sharply at sustained temperatures above 35°C. Night temperatures above 24°C encourage vegetative growth at the expense of fruit set.
Light
Full sun exposure is required for strong vegetative growth and fruit development. Shading reduces yield and delays ripening. In greenhouse systems, supplemental lighting may be used in low-light seasons.
Growth stages
| Stage | Duration |
|---|---|
| Nursery and transplant | 25 to 35 days |
| Vegetative establishment | 2 to 3 weeks after transplanting |
| Flowering and fruit set | Begins 4 to 6 weeks after transplanting |
| Fruit development and ripening | 6 to 9 weeks from first set, depending on variety and season |
| Harvest window | Single pick for processing and determinate types, or repeated picks over 8 to 12 weeks for indeterminate types |
Pollination
Tomato flowers are self-pollinating, but fruit set benefits from airflow or mechanical and bee-assisted pollination in enclosed greenhouses.
Soil and irrigation
Soil requirements
- Deep, well-drained loamy soils are ideal. Heavy clay soils increase the risk of root and wilt diseases.
- Optimum soil pH is 6.0 to 6.8, with tolerance from 5.5 to 7.5.
- Good soil structure and organic matter support strong root development and nutrient availability.
- Avoid fields with a recent history of solanaceous crops, to reduce soil-borne disease carryover.
Planting density
Spacing depends on variety and system: 30 to 50 cm within rows and 90 to 150 cm between rows for staked and indeterminate types, and closer spacing of 25 to 40 cm for determinate processing types grown for mechanical harvest.
Irrigation
- Drip irrigation is strongly preferred. It delivers water and nutrients precisely while keeping foliage dry, which reduces disease pressure.
- Water requirement is approximately 400 to 600 mm per season, depending on climate and system.
- The critical periods for a consistent water supply are flowering, fruit set and fruit enlargement.
- Avoid alternating drought and over-watering, a leading cause of blossom end rot and fruit cracking.
Staking and pruning
Staking, trellising or caging indeterminate varieties improves airflow, light penetration, fruit quality and spray coverage, and significantly reduces foliar disease pressure.
What drives yield and quality
Genetic factors
- Variety choice, determinate against indeterminate, and the disease resistance package.
- Disease and nematode resistance genes, for example Fusarium “F”, nematode “N” and TYLCV “Ty” ratings.
Environmental factors
- Temperature extremes during flowering and fruit set.
- Light intensity and day length.
- Water availability and consistency.
Management factors
- A balanced, stage-matched fertilization programme.
- Timely pest and disease control, since prevention is more cost-effective than cure.
- Correct plant density, pruning and training.
- Pollination management in enclosed structures.
- Harvest timing and post-harvest handling.
Soil health
Healthy soil biology, adequate organic matter and good drainage underpin nutrient uptake efficiency and reduce the incidence of soil-borne disease, the foundation for consistent yield and quality season after season.
Nutrient demand
Tomato is a heavy feeder with a long cropping cycle, and nutrient demand changes significantly across growth stages. A typical high-yielding crop of 60 to 80 t/ha removes approximately:
| Nutrient | Removal |
|---|---|
| Nitrogen (N) | 180 to 250 kg/ha |
| Phosphorus (P₂O₅) | 60 to 90 kg/ha |
| Potassium (K₂O) | 250 to 350 kg/ha |
| Calcium (CaO) | 100 to 150 kg/ha |
| Magnesium (MgO) | 30 to 50 kg/ha |
| Sulfur (S) | 20 to 30 kg/ha |
Uptake is low during the nursery and early vegetative stage, rises sharply from flowering through fruit development, and peaks during fruit fill. Potassium demand in particular increases dramatically once fruit load is established, often exceeding nitrogen demand by 1.3 to 1.5 times by weight.
Micronutrients, while required in much smaller quantities, are frequently limiting in high-pH, calcareous or sandy growing regions, which makes routine monitoring and foliar correction an important part of the nutrition programme.
Macronutrients
Nitrogen (N)
Nitrogen drives vegetative growth, leaf area development and chlorophyll formation, directly influencing the plant’s photosynthetic capacity and overall growth rate. It is a core component of amino acids, proteins and enzymes.
Deficiency: uniform pale green to yellow older leaves, thin stems and stunted growth, reduced flowering and fruit set.
Excess: excessive vegetative growth, a lush canopy at the expense of flowering and fruiting, soft tissue more susceptible to disease and pest attack, delayed ripening and reduced fruit quality.
Management: apply nitrogen progressively, increasing from transplanting through early fruit set, then moderating during fruit fill to favour fruit development over vegetative growth. Split applications via fertigation improve efficiency over single large doses.
Phosphorus (P)
Phosphorus is essential for root establishment, energy transfer (ATP) and flower and fruit initiation. Demand is highest early in the crop cycle to support strong root and transplant establishment.
Deficiency: stunted growth, dark green to purplish leaves, delayed flowering and poor root development.
Potassium (K)
Potassium is the dominant nutrient during fruit development. It regulates water movement, sugar transport to fruit, and fruit colour and firmness. Potassium demand rises sharply once fruit load is established.
Deficiency: marginal leaf scorch (necrosis) on older leaves, uneven ripening, blotchy colour and soft fruit, and increased susceptibility to physiological disorders.
Calcium (Ca)
Calcium builds strong cell walls and membranes, and is essential for fruit firmness and shelf life. Unlike other nutrients, calcium moves only with water flow (transpiration) and does not redistribute within the plant, which makes a consistent water supply critical.
Deficiency: blossom end rot, the most common symptom in tomato, weak stems and distorted new growth. It is often triggered by irregular watering rather than by low soil calcium.
Magnesium (Mg)
Magnesium is the central component of the chlorophyll molecule, so it is directly required for photosynthesis. Demand increases during fruit fill as the plant sustains high photosynthetic output.
Deficiency: interveinal yellowing on older leaves with the veins remaining green, premature leaf senescence under heavy fruit load. It is more common on sandy, acidic or high-potassium soils, through K and Mg antagonism.
Sulfur (S)
Sulfur is required for amino acid and protein synthesis and supports chlorophyll formation and disease resilience. Deficiency shows as general yellowing, similar to nitrogen deficiency, but typically starting at the top of the plant on younger leaves.
Micronutrients
Although needed in milligram quantities, micronutrients are frequently the limiting factor in tomato production on calcareous, high-pH or sandy soils, which are common across many growing regions, including much of the Nile Delta and newly reclaimed desert land.
BBoron
Essential for pollen viability, flower retention and fruit set. Deficiency causes poor fruit set, hollow or cracked fruit, and brittle new growth.
ZnZinc
Involved in enzyme activity and hormone regulation. Deficiency causes small, narrow leaves (little-leaf) and shortened internodes, more common in high-pH soils.
FeIron
Required for chlorophyll synthesis. Deficiency shows as interveinal yellowing on young leaves with the veins staying green, common in calcareous and high-pH soils.
MnManganese
Supports photosynthesis and enzyme activation. Deficiency causes interveinal chlorosis with fine necrotic spots, similar to but distinguishable from iron deficiency.
CuCopper
Involved in enzyme systems and lignin formation for structural strength. Deficiency is uncommon but can cause wilting and stunted new growth in very sandy or peat soils.
MoMolybdenum
Required for nitrogen metabolism. Deficiency is rare but can resemble nitrogen deficiency, with pale, cupped young leaves, typically on acidic soils.
Common risk factors
- High soil pH reduces the availability of Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu.
- Calcareous soils commonly trigger iron chlorosis.
- Sandy soils with low organic matter are often boron and zinc deficient.
- Cold, wet soil early in the season limits root uptake of micronutrients regardless of soil content.
Correction approach
Soil and foliar testing should guide correction. Foliar sprays give the fastest correction for acute deficiency, while chelated soil and fertigation applications provide more sustained supply over the season.
Fertilization by growth stage
- Nursery and transplant establishmentLight, balanced feeding with emphasis on phosphorus to promote root development. Avoid excess nitrogen, which produces soft, leggy transplants.
- Vegetative growthBuild nitrogen progressively alongside potassium and calcium to support canopy development, while keeping growth compact and productive, not excessively soft.
- Flowering and fruit setIncrease boron and calcium availability to support pollen viability and flower retention. Moderate nitrogen to avoid excess vegetative competition with flowering.
- Fruit development and fillPotassium becomes the dominant nutrient requirement. Maintain steady calcium and magnesium supply via fertigation to support fruit firmness and prevent blossom end rot and leaf chlorosis under heavy fruit load.
- Ripening and harvestReduce nitrogen further. Sustain potassium to support colour development, sugar content and fruit firmness through to harvest.
Physiological disorders
Unlike diseases or pests, physiological disorders are caused by environmental or nutritional imbalances rather than pathogens, but they can cause equally significant yield and quality losses.
Blossom end rot
A dark, sunken, leathery patch at the fruit’s blossom end, caused by localized calcium deficiency in the fruit, usually triggered by irregular watering or high soil salinity rather than by low soil calcium itself.
Sunscald
Pale, papery patches on fruit exposed directly to intense sunlight, often following excessive defoliation or pruning.
Fruit cracking
Radial or concentric cracks from rapid fruit expansion after a dry spell followed by heavy watering or rain. It is more common on exposed, fast-ripening fruit.
Cat-facing
Fruit deformity with puckering and scarring near the blossom end, associated with cool temperatures during flowering or with herbicide drift.
Blotchy ripening and yellow shoulder
Uneven, patchy ripening, often linked to potassium deficiency, low light, or high temperatures during fruit maturation.
Fruit puffiness (hollow fruit)
Poor fruit fill with internal cavities, caused by incomplete pollination or fertilization, often under cool, cloudy or very hot conditions.
Fungal diseases
Early blight Alternaria solani
- Dark concentric target-like spots on older, lower leaves
- Yellowing and premature leaf drop
- Dark sunken lesions on stems and fruit
- Crop rotation, avoiding solanaceous crops for 2 to 3 years
- Wide plant spacing for airflow
- Remove and destroy infected debris
- Protectant fungicides (chlorothalonil, mancozeb)
- Systemic fungicides (azoxystrobin, difenoconazole) at first symptoms
- Repeat per label interval during humid periods
- Use resistant or tolerant varieties where available
- Drip irrigation instead of overhead watering, to avoid leaf wetness
- Balanced nitrogen fertilization, avoiding excess vegetative growth
Late blight Phytophthora infestans
- Water-soaked pale green to brown lesions on leaves
- White fungal growth on the underside of leaves in humid weather
- Rapid collapse of foliage, and firm brown fruit rot
- Avoid planting near infected potato fields
- Improve field drainage and spacing
- Monitor closely during cool, wet weather
- Preventive sprays with mancozeb or copper-based fungicides
- Curative systemic fungicides (cymoxanil, metalaxyl combinations)
- Remove and destroy infected plants immediately
- Plant certified disease-free seedlings
- Apply preventive fungicide programmes ahead of forecasted wet weather
- Destroy volunteer tomato and potato plants between seasons
Fusarium wilt Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici
- Yellowing starting on one side of the plant or leaf
- Wilting that does not recover after watering
- Brown discoloration inside the stem (vascular tissue)
- Soil solarization before planting
- Avoid fields with a history of wilt
- Sanitize tools between plants and fields
- No curative chemical treatment once wilt appears
- Remove and destroy infected plants to reduce spread
- Biological soil drenches (Trichoderma spp.) may slow progression
- Use resistant varieties, looking for the “F” rating on seed labels
- Graft onto resistant rootstock in high-risk areas
- Long rotation cycles, 4 years or more out of solanaceous crops
Powdery mildew Leveillula taurica / Oidium spp.
- White powdery coating on leaf surfaces
- Yellow blotches on the upper leaf side
- Leaf curling and early senescence
- Improve ventilation in greenhouses and tunnels
- Avoid excess nitrogen
- Scout regularly, especially in dry, warm conditions
- Sulfur-based fungicides at early stage
- Systemic fungicides (triazoles, strobilurins) for established infection
- Rotate modes of action to avoid resistance
- Select tolerant varieties where available
- Maintain optimal plant spacing and pruning for airflow
Gray mold Botrytis cinerea
- Gray fuzzy mold on stems, leaves, flowers and fruit
- Soft, watery rot, especially in cool, humid conditions
- Lower humidity through ventilation
- Remove dead flowers and senescent leaves promptly
- Fungicides containing iprodione, fenhexamid or boscalid
- Biological agents (Bacillus and Trichoderma-based products)
- Avoid plant wounds during pruning and harvest
- Maintain good field and greenhouse sanitation
Bacterial diseases
Bacterial wilt Ralstonia solanacearum
- Rapid wilting of the whole plant without yellowing
- Brown, slimy vascular tissue when the stem is cut
- Milky bacterial ooze from a cut stem in a water test
- Avoid waterlogged, poorly drained soils
- Disinfect tools and irrigation equipment
- Rotate out of host crops for several seasons
- No effective chemical cure. Remove infected plants immediately
- Soil treatment with approved bactericides may reduce spread
- Use certified pathogen-free seedlings and resistant rootstock
- Avoid moving soil and water between infected and clean fields
Bacterial spot and speck Xanthomonas spp. / Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato
- Small, dark, water-soaked spots on leaves and fruit
- Spots may have a yellow halo
- Defoliation in severe cases
- Use pathogen-free seed and transplants
- Avoid overhead irrigation and working in wet fields
- Copper-based bactericides combined with mancozeb
- Apply preventively before rainy periods
- Rotate crops, avoiding planting after peppers or other solanaceous hosts
- Sanitize stakes, cages and equipment between seasons
Viral diseases
Tomato Yellow Leaf Curl Virus (TYLCV)
Transmitted by whitefly (Bemisia tabaci)
- Upward curling and yellowing of leaflet margins
- Severe stunting, with reduced flowering and fruit set
- Control whitefly populations, the vector, early
- Use insect-proof nets and screens in nurseries
- Install yellow sticky traps for monitoring
- No curative treatment for infected plants. Remove and destroy
- Manage the whitefly vector to stop further spread
- Plant TYLCV-resistant or tolerant varieties
- Remove weed hosts and volunteer plants near fields
- Time planting to avoid peak whitefly activity where possible
Tobacco Mosaic Virus (TMV)
Mechanically transmitted, and highly stable
- Light and dark green mosaic pattern on leaves
- Leaf distortion and reduced fruit size
- Disinfect hands and tools between plants, using soap or bleach solution
- Avoid tobacco product use near crop handling
- No chemical cure. Remove and destroy infected plants
- Use certified virus-free seed
- Practise strict field sanitation and hygiene
Insect pests
Whiteflies Bemisia tabaci / Trialeurodes vaporariorum
- Tiny white insects on leaf undersides
- Sticky honeydew and sooty mold on leaves
- Vector for TYLCV and other viruses
- Yellow sticky traps for monitoring and mass trapping
- Insect-proof screens on greenhouse vents
- Encourage natural predators (Encarsia, ladybirds)
- Insecticidal soap or neem oil for light infestations
- Systemic insecticides (neonicotinoids, spiromesifen) for heavy pressure
- Rotate insecticide classes to prevent resistance
- Remove weeds and crop debris that host whiteflies
- Inspect transplants before planting into clean fields
Aphids Myzus persicae / Aphis gossypii
- Clusters of small insects on young leaves and shoots
- Curling leaves, sticky honeydew, and virus transmission
- Encourage beneficial insects (lacewings, ladybirds)
- Reflective mulches to deter aphid landing
- Insecticidal soap or neem oil for moderate infestations
- Selective aphicides (pymetrozine, flonicamid) when thresholds are exceeded
- Avoid excess nitrogen, which promotes soft, attractive growth
- Scout new growth regularly, especially shoot tips
Tomato leafminer Tuta absoluta
- Irregular mines and galleries inside leaves
- Larvae boring into stems and fruit
- Significant yield loss if uncontrolled
- Pheromone traps for monitoring and mass trapping
- Remove and destroy infested leaves and fruit
- Release natural enemies (Trichogramma, Nesidiocoris)
- Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) for larvae at early stage
- Selective insecticides (spinetoram, chlorantraniliprole) per label
- Use insect nets in nurseries and greenhouse vents
- Destroy crop residues immediately after harvest
Spider mites Tetranychus urticae
- Fine stippling and speckling on leaves
- Fine webbing on leaf undersides in heavy infestation
- Maintain adequate humidity, since mites thrive in hot, dry conditions
- Encourage predatory mites (Phytoseiulus persimilis)
- Miticides (abamectin, spiromesifen) at first signs
- Rotate miticide classes to avoid resistance build-up
- Avoid water stress, since mites favour dry, dusty conditions
Cutworms Agrotis spp.
- Young seedlings cut at or near the soil line
- Larvae active at night, hiding in soil by day
- Deep tillage before planting to expose larvae
- Physical collars around young seedlings
- Soil-applied insecticide at transplanting if pressure is high
- Bait formulations placed near the seedling base
- Remove weeds before planting to reduce egg-laying sites
Root-knot nematodes
Root-knot nematode Meloidogyne spp.
- Swollen galls and knots on roots
- Stunted growth and wilting under heat stress
- Reduced yield despite adequate watering and fertilization
- Soil solarization before planting
- Rotate with non-host crops such as cereals and onions
- Add organic matter to improve soil biological activity
- Nematicides applied at planting per registered label
- Biological nematicides (Purpureocillium, Bacillus firmus-based products)
- Use resistant varieties or rootstock, the “N” rating, in infested fields
- Sanitize equipment to avoid moving infested soil between fields
Prevention and IPM
Cultural practices
- Crop rotation with non-solanaceous crops, 3 to 4 years where possible.
- Use certified, disease-free seed and transplants.
- Select resistant or tolerant varieties suited to local pest pressure.
- Drip irrigation instead of overhead watering, to limit leaf wetness.
- Balanced fertilization, avoiding excess nitrogen.
- Proper plant spacing and pruning for airflow.
- Remove and destroy crop residues immediately after harvest.
Monitoring and biological control
- Regular field scouting, at least weekly, for early detection.
- Sticky traps and pheromone traps for key pests.
- Encourage natural enemies: predatory mites, parasitic wasps, ladybirds.
- Use biological and biorational products as a first line of defence.
Chemical control
- Apply only registered products at recommended rates.
- Rotate modes of action to prevent resistance development.
- Respect pre-harvest intervals (PHI) strictly.
Questions growers ask
Why do my tomatoes get blossom end rot even though the soil has enough calcium?
Because blossom end rot is a calcium delivery problem rather than a soil calcium problem. Calcium moves only with water flow through transpiration and does not redistribute within the plant, so irregular watering or high soil salinity can starve the fruit of calcium while the soil test still reads normal. Steady irrigation and a consistent calcium supply through fertigation during fruit fill are the practical fix.
How much nitrogen and potassium does a tomato crop actually need?
A high-yielding crop of 60 to 80 t/ha removes roughly 180 to 250 kg/ha of N and 250 to 350 kg/ha of K₂O, alongside 60 to 90 kg/ha of P₂O₅, 100 to 150 kg/ha of CaO, 30 to 50 kg/ha of MgO and 20 to 30 kg/ha of S. Potassium demand rises sharply once fruit load is established and commonly exceeds nitrogen demand by 1.3 to 1.5 times by weight.
What soil pH does tomato prefer?
Optimum soil pH is 6.0 to 6.8, with tolerance from 5.5 to 7.5. On calcareous, high-pH soils the practical issue is micronutrient availability, especially iron, manganese, zinc and copper, rather than the pH figure itself.
Why is drip irrigation recommended over furrow or overhead watering?
Drip delivers water and nutrients precisely to the root zone while keeping foliage dry, which lowers the pressure from early blight, late blight, bacterial spot and other foliar diseases. It also avoids the alternating drought and over-watering that cause blossom end rot and fruit cracking, and it allows fertigation to match the crop’s changing demand curve.
What temperatures stop tomato fruit from setting?
Fruit set is impaired below 12°C and above 32°C, and pollen viability drops sharply at sustained temperatures above 35°C. Night temperatures above 24°C push the plant towards vegetative growth at the expense of fruit set.
When should I use grafted tomato plants?
Grafting onto vigorous, disease-resistant rootstock is worth the cost in high-pressure soils, for example where bacterial wilt, Fusarium wilt or root-knot nematodes are present, because none of those has a reliable curative chemical treatment once the crop is infected.
How do I tell iron deficiency from manganese deficiency?
Both show interveinal yellowing on young leaves with the veins staying green. Manganese deficiency additionally produces fine necrotic spots within the chlorotic tissue, which iron deficiency does not. Iron chlorosis is the more common of the two on calcareous soils.
Glossary and units
Brix (°Bx)
A measure of soluble solids (sugar) content in fruit juice.
Chelate
A nutrient compound bound to an organic molecule, for example EDTA or EDDHA, to improve uptake.
Determinate / Indeterminate
Growth habit describing fixed against continuous vine growth.
Fertigation
Applying dissolved fertilizer through an irrigation system.
IPM
Integrated Pest Management, a combined cultural, biological and chemical control strategy.
MRL
Maximum Residue Limit, the legal pesticide residue threshold on produce.
PHI
Pre-Harvest Interval, the minimum time between last pesticide application and harvest.
Units used here
t/ha tonnes per hectare (yield) · kg/ha kilograms per hectare (nutrient rate) · ppm parts per million · mm millimetres of water · °C degrees Celsius · EC electrical conductivity, an indicator of salinity or nutrient concentration.
This guide provides general agronomic reference information and does not replace local extension advice or officially registered product labels. Always verify recommendations against your specific variety, soil, climate and regulatory requirements.
Build a tomato nutrition programme around your soil, not a standard table
The Gate Group agronomy team works with growers and distributors across Egypt, the Middle East and Africa to translate soil and tissue analysis into a practical fertilizer plan.
