COMMERCIAL TOMATO GROWING

Press, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 26726, 9 May 1952, Page 10

COMMERCIAL TOMATO GROWING

COMPARISONS BETWEEN N.Z. AND BRITAIN Glasshouse farming in Britain was compared with New Zealand practice by Professor T. W. Walker in an address to members of the United Tomato Growers' Association in Christchurch last evening. Professor Walker is head of the department of soils and fertilisers at Canterbury Agricultural College Lincoln. Some tomato farmers in Britain were experimenting with moveable glasshouses,, he said. These avoided growing tomatoes in one place year after year. There were still some farmers who practised poor cultural methods, and many did not know how to regulate winter cropping. Some introduced disease-free plants into diseased ground, and wondered why they did not get a crop. “Drainage is a serious problem, too, and some glasshouses have been put on very poor soils,” Professor Walker continued “One always looks for a gopd soil on which to put a glasshouse. It is essential that the soil be open and friable, and a good deep loam.” In Britain. 15 to 20 tons of horse manure was applied to each acre of tomato land, or alternatively about six tons of straw. Compost was not extensively used. Peat was handy and not too expensive. The normal sample of peat was acid, and did not hurt tomatoes to any great extent, but Professor Walker said that he had seen crops of lettuces become a complete failure because lime was not applied.