Tomatoes

Nitrogen

Table XX. Non-Fertigated Tomato Nitrogen Recommendations
Actual N
kg/ha
Fresh-Market
   Preplant 35–50
   Side-dress (applied after the first fruit are set) 35–50
   Total 70–100
Processing – Hybrid
Coarse sand and sandy loams: <2% organic matter 160–180
Loams, silt loams and sandy loams: >2% organic matter 90–120
Processing – Open-Pollinated
Coarse sand and sandy loams: <2% organic matter 100–120
Loams, silt loams and sandy loams: >2% organic matter 70–90

 

Table XX. Fertigated Tomato Nitrogen Recommendations
Timing Actual N
kg/ha
Fresh Market Tomatoes – on all soils

Processing Tomatoes – on all soils (except coarse-textured soils containing less than 3.2% organic matter)
Preplant (broadcast) 35–50
Transplanting to fruit set 2.5/week
Fruit sizing to harvest 5/week
Harvest 2.5/week
Processing Tomatoes – on coarse-textured soils containing less than 3.2% organic matter only
Preplant (broadcast) 85–120
Week 1–3 (transplant to first bloom) no fertigation
Week 4 (beginning of fruit set) 20–25/week
Week 5–7 (beginning of fruit sizing) 25–35/week
Week 8–9 20–25/week
Week 10 continue irrigation,
no fertigation
Week 11 to harvest no irrigation/fertigation
Do not exceed 300 kg/ha total nitrogen applied during the season.

 

Phosphorus and Potassium

Test the soil to determine phosphorus and potassium requirements.

Table X, Phosphorus and Potassium Requirements for Tomatoes on Mineral Soils
Legend: HR = High Response  MR = Medium Response  LR = Low Response  RR = Rare Response  NR = No Response
Phosphorus Potassium
Sodium Bicarbonate Phosphorus Soil Test (ppm) Rating Phosphate (P205) Required kg/ha Ammonium Acetate Potassium Soil Test (ppm) Rating Potash (K2O) Required (kg/ha)
0-3 HR 230 0-15 HR 230
4-5 HR 230 16-30 HR 220
6-7 HR  220 31-45 HR 200
8-9 HR 220 46-60 HR 180
10-12 HR 210 61-80 HR 140
13-15 HR 190 81-100 HR 100
16-20 HR  170 101-120 MR 70
21-25 MR  140 121-150 MR 50
26-30 MR 110 151-180 MR 40
31-40 MR 80 181-210 LR 0
41-50 MR 50 211-250 RR 0
51-60 LR 30 >250 NR 0
61-80 RR 0  
80+ NR 0  
For transplanted tomatoes, peppers and eggplants, apply a starter solution, such as 1 L of 10-34-0 per 100 L of water, or 1 L of 6-24-6 per 75 L at planting.

For rutabagas and tomatoes on soils with magnesium tests less than 100, the required amount of potash is adjusted downward from the amounts shown in this table to a minimum of 50% at 50 ppm Mg.

 

Table X, Phosphorus and Potassium Requirements for Tomatoes (Whole Pack) on Mineral Soils
Legend: HR = High Response  MR = Medium Response  LR = Low Response  RR = Rare Response  NR = No Response
Phosphorus Potassium
Sodium Bicarbonate Phosphorus Soil Test (ppm) Rating Phosphate (P205) Required kg/ha Ammonium Acetate Potassium Soil Test (ppm) Rating Potash (K2O) Required (kg/ha)
0-3 HR 230 0-15 HR 660
4-5 HR 230 16-30 HR 640
6-7 HR  220 31-45 HR 600
8-9 HR 220 46-60 HR 560
10-12 HR 210 61-80 HR 480
13-15 HR 190 81-100 HR 400
16-20 HR  170 101-120 MR 340
21-25 MR  140 121-150 MR 300
26-30 MR 110 151-180 MR 280
31-40 MR 80 181-210 MR 140
41-50 MR 50 211-250 MR 70
51-60 LR 30 >250 LR 0
61-80 RR 0  
80+ NR 0  
For transplanted tomatoes, peppers and eggplants, apply a starter solution, such as 1 L of 10-34-0 per 100 L of water, or 1 L of 6-24-6 per 75 L at planting.

For rutabagas and tomatoes on soils with magnesium tests less than 100, the required amount of potash is adjusted downward from the amounts shown in this table to a minimum of 50% at 50 ppm Mg.