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ii
Preface

Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) although is generally known to be a warm season

crop, it can be grown throughout the year in Zambia. There are a number of varieties of
tomato that are available on the Zambian market today that include among others; Khaki,
Roma VF, Heniz 1370, Beauty, Herald, Tengeru 97, Rodade, Floridade, Nemonate, Roforto
VFN, Rosso, Money Maker etc.
This wide range of tomato varieties provides a farmer a good opportunity to choose from
depending on the characteristics of a particular variety in relation to the season.
Tomato yields in Zambia average 25 – 50 ton per Lima (0.25ha). Therefore the crop
provides farmers a good alternative to annual cash crops such as maize, beans, ground
nuts whose national average yields are 2.73, 0.68 and 0.66 tones respectively (CSO
2010/2011 crop forecasting survey report) Farmers would therefore obtain higher income
from tomato on the same pierces of land as compared to the commonly grown annual cash
crops.
Although tomato is grown throughout the year in Kasama district, fungal diseases have
been a major challenge especially during the rainy season. Prevalence of fungal diseases
is high in the district due to the high rainfall experienced almost every rainy season. The
direct contact of plants to rain drops, coupled with other predisposing factors such as high
temperatures makes the micro environments around the tomato plants suitable for the
development and spreading of fungal diseases thereby limiting full yield potential.
Consequently farmers obtain low yields and poor quality tomato fruits which ultimately
result in low income.
This field guide book provides simple but practical means of minimizing the effect of
direct rain drops on tomato plants during the rainy season. The method has been
experimented and applied in Chilyaeka village of Kasama district where the Japan
Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (JOCV) has been working with the local community.
The method has so far produced good results.
The Japanese volunteers therefore found it necessary that the technique is transmitted
to other communities of the district so that the benefits can be shared with a wider farming
community.
The book also contains general tomato production information that is useful to both
agricultural extension officers at field and at district level as well as farmers.
I wish to thank the two Japanese volunteers (Yukari Kitada and Fumiko Kakehi) who
were based at Kasama district Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives (MACO) offices at
the time of production of the guide book for their wonderful effort in producing this booklet.
I would like encourage all extension officers to make use of the booklet to enhance
tomato production especially in the rainy season so that farmers can obtain high income
from tomato production throughout the year.

G.Phiri
District Agricultural Coordinator
MACO, Kasama district
Northern Province
Zambia
September 2011

iii
 Contents

Foreword………………………………………………………………ⅱ

Introduction……………………………………………………………ⅳ

STEP 1: Seed Selection ..………………………………………........1

STEP 2: Planting Schedule…………………………………………..1

STEP 3: Site Selection..…………………….………………………....2

STEP 4: Land Preparation…………………………………………...2,3

STEP 5: Fertilizer Application………………………………………...4

STEP 6: Sowing Seeds….....………………………………………..5,6

STEP 7: Weed Control and Rogue ………………………………….7

STEP 8: Controlling Insects ………………………………………….7

STEP 9: Making a Shelter………………………………………….8~10

STEP 10: Transplant...……………………...………………………10,11

STEP 11: Controlling Disease ..…………………...…………………12

STEP 12: Monitoring ..…………………..………………………..16~18

STEP 13: Harvest ..………………………………..………………...19

iv
 Introduction
In Zambia, a tomato is one of the most important crops for both
commercial and consumption. In addition, a tomato is very nutritious
crop, therefore it can support people’s health.
However during the rainy season especially, it is difficult for
farmers to grow tomatoes due to high infestation of some fungal
diseases such as Late bright and Early bright. Introduction of shelter
in order to produce the effect of rain has been introduced in this
guide book.
In this guide book, technical methods have being introduced to
grow tomatoes in the rainy season including a shelter. Every steps
are essential for a good harvest. You may be unfamiliar with some
ideas. However these ideas had already been demonstrated by
farmers in Kasama, and the guide is made based on their
experiences.
During the rainy season a whole sale price of tomatoes is higher
than the dry season. Therefore it can be a highly profitable crop.
Through growing tomatoes in the rainy season, farmers can expand
their opportunity to get cash income not only selling maize.
This guide book is an attempt to expand shelter tomatoes. It can
assist extension officers and farmers. It is hoped that this guide will
be found useful by them in their field.

v
STEP 1: Seed Selection
Selection of appropriate varaieties can lead to high yield. You should choose
the suitable variety depending on a season. During the rainy season, Roma VF,
Herald, Monoprecos, Tengeru97 and Rodade are recommended.
Tengeru97 is highly recommended variety for the rainy season particularly.
Tengeru97 is not only yielded more than the other varieties, but
also due to firmer outer membranes it is less vulnerable to
pests and diseases as well as to damage during transportation.
When you choose a seed pack, you should pay attention to
see expire date.

STEP 2: Planting Schedule

It is the rainy season from the end of October up to the end of April in Zambia.
During the rainy season a whole price of tomato is different depend on a month,
therefore farmers have a chance to get an income constantly due to change a
sowing date. However, they will be faced with various difficulties of cultivating
tomatoes depend on planting time. If they settle a date of sowing on a season of
the heaviest rainfall, seeds will be washed away because of heavy rain. Be sure
to make a shelter even for nursery when they sowing on from the end of
November to the end of the rainy season.
The calendar shows an example of planting date. You might be easy to
understand about date of a sowing, a transplanting and a harvest.

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STEP 3: Site Selection
The site should be well-drained place in the rainy season. It’s better to avoid
growing tomatoes near by the place where farmers have already grown tomatoes,
potatoes or any other clops which is in same family with tomato. The reason is, if
the disease came out on other plants, it can be easily transmitted to them. If it is
the first time to grow tomatoes in the rainy season, it is recommended to make a
bed next / close to the house for easy and frequent monitoring.

Crop Rotation
Crop rotation is an easy way to control diseases and insects, and helps to
maintain soil fertility at no cost. Tomatoes must not be grown on the same land
that had potatoes, eggplant, peppers and tomatoes in the last 2 years. The
reason is that if farmers plant tomatoes (or any crop which is in same family) in
the same location each year, it will bring certain disease in the soil. By rotating
crops, they can remove the host plant and prevent the spread of diseases.

*EXAMPLE*
The following charts show the good and bad examples. Farmers don’t need to
stick to the order of left chart, because it is an example. They can even start
growing tomatoes (or any other vegetable in the same family), then root
vegetable (like carrots), then legumes, then green vegetable (like cabbages or
lettuces). This rotation is also a good example. But they have to avoid absolutely
the right chart. Even if they change the order, some of them are in the same
family. So it is not accepted.

✓ ✕
ROOT
CABBAGE LEGUMES VEGETABLE TOMATO CABBAGE PEPPERS POTATOES TOMATO

STEP 4: Land Preparation

Seedbed Preparation
A fine seedbed is indispensable to produce strong
seedlings. You should choose a well-drained and
un-shaded area. Dig soil deeply and break large
clods. Weeds should be removed so that seeds are
planted in a clean field. Seedbed should be raised to
20~25cm high.
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 After sterilization, apply 3-5kg of well decomposed
manure per m2 and mix it with soil thoroughly.

Sterilization of bed
There are 3 methods of sterilization of a bed.
1. Burning
Burning the straw on the seedbed can help sterilize the
soil. Before burning, put water to the soil in order to
penetrate the heat into the ground deeply through water.
After that, put enough straws on the bed and burning
them.

2. Mixing ash
It’s a simple way. Put ashes to the soil and mix together. After that, sprinkle water
to the soil. Make sure to get ashes made from firewood.

3. Solarization
Solarization is the use of a plastic to cover the seedbed. The plastic should not
allow air going in or coming out. It will raise the temperature which will kill weed
seeds and other livening organisms in the soil.

Main bed Preparation

Main bed should be raised to a height of
35cm in the rainy season as well. Raised beds
are used to facilitate basin irrigation and to
improve drainage. When you make a main bed,
you should be considerate that a bed fits a
plastic sheet because the size of plastic sheet is limited. Mostly, a plastic sheet
which is sold at your market is about 1m wide.
Avoid establishing a bed near tomato or pepper production fields in order to
prevent of diseases. Damping off occurs when the soil has too high of a nitrogen
content, or when the soil is too moist around tomato plants. Be sure to make a
bed in well-drained areas.

-3-
STEP 5: Fertilizer Application
Tomato plants should be fertilized with organic (green/animal manure) and/or
chemical fertilizers for high yield.

For the nursery: For the main bed:

3-5kg well decomposed manure/m2 Basal dressing: 60g D compound/m2
or Top dressing: 10g AN or Urea/ m2
60g D compound/ m2

Top dressing can be applied as split applications. That is to say at 2 weeks after
transplanting and 4 weeks after flowering. Applying too much Urea makes leaves
and stems grow, but also inhibit fruiting.

Tithonia as a Green manure

“TITHONIA” can be applied as a green manure. Tithonia
accumulates a large amount of nitrogen and phosphorous from the
soil, therefore it can be used as a very good organic fertilizer. The
stems and leaves are soft and rot easily.

How to use Tithonia as a green manure

Cut leaves and soft twigs before they flower, chop them into small
pieces. If you miss to cut into small pieces, they can germinate
easily and grow in the garden.

 As basal dressing
Chopping
Place two double handfuls (400g) of fresh chopped leaves and
soft twigs in each planting holes 2 weeks before transplanting.

 As top dressing
Continue apply the same amount of it throughout the active
period of the crop. Applying interval is about 2weeks.
Two handfuls

It should be buried just under the soil surface. It is recommended

to use a combination of Tithonia with animal manure.

-4-
STEP 6: Sowing Seeds
In the rainy season, growing strong seedlings is the most important point to
achieve the good harvest. To grow strong seedlings, the one-by-one sowing
method is highly recommended, instead of drilling. At first, it seems that there is
no difference between the seedlings which was sown by one by one method and
drilling method. But by the time of transplanting, you will find big difference. Thick
sowing makes seedlings spindly and it is not economic. They can’t expect
enough harvest from spindly seedlings.

✓ ✕

After using one by one method After using drilling method

One by one sowing method

1. Make furrows by using the piece of timber. The spaces between rows should
be 10 to 15cm.

2. Sow the seeds one by one. The space should be 1cm between the seeds.

3. Cover with fine soil. Be careful not to sprinkle too much soil on the seed. The
amount of the soil should be 3 times as thick as the size of the seeds.

-5-
4. After making the roof on the seed bed, tenderly watering should be done. The
roof is important to avoid strong sunshine/heat and washing the seed away
after watering. The roof will be removed gradually after the germination.

How to make the roof

Preparations
Y twigs, branches, grasses

Procedure
① stand Y twigs around the nursery
② set the branches on the Y twigs
③ cover the branches with grasses

In the heavy rainy season

If farmers want to start sowing after November (when the rain is very heavy), we
recommend them to construct small shelters on the nursery. Find flexible and
enough long branches, and coil the end of plastic sheet on the branches. (Please
refer to STEP: 9 Making a shelter.) After that tie the brunches on the Y twigs. In
case of strong wind, it’s better to hold plastic sheet by fibers or branches.

Watering for the nursery

Since it is the rainy season, farmers don’t need to do watering every day.
Watering about once in two days is okay. After checking the moisture of the soil
and if it’s not enough wet, they can sprinkle the water.

-6-
STEP 7: Weed Control and Rogueing
Weeding should be done to prevent weeds from competing with tomatoes for
moisture, light and nutrients. Sometimes weeds cause tomato diseases, such as
tomato yellow leaf curl virus. Remove weeds from a bed by pulling or hoeing.
Mulches suppress weed growth on the beds.

STEP 8: Insects Control

Several insects attack tomato plants. Chemical insecticides are commonly used
to control them. These include:
Fruit borers:
Tomato fruit borer is one of the most destructive
pests of tomatoes. Tomato fruit worm and beet
armyworm such as American bolt worm bore inside
fruits.
Insecticide: 1ml/litre of Fastac, Karate or Cyrux

Redspider mites:
This mite is just visible to the naked eye as small
red granules on the underside of the leaves. It can
cause severe damage and early death of the plants.
It is appeared mostly in the dry season
Insecticide: Abamectin, Tedion, Morocide, Omite or
Tic tok

Cutworm：
Cutworms are the most likely garden pests to attack young tomato plants. Early
in the season cutworms may cause stand loss by
cutting off seedling or recently transplanted tomato
plants at the soil line. Later in the season these pests
can also injure tomatoes by eating irregular holes in
the surface of fruits, and tomatoes on the ground are
generally the most seriously injured.
Insecticide: Karate, Cyrux,

White fry:
These insects, like the aphids, quickly infest the plant and weaken it by sucking
the sap out of the parenchyma cells below the cuticle. The tomato plant features
wilting, new growth and chlorotic leaves. Deformed fruits and discoloration of the
tomatoes are also conduced by this infestation.
Insecticide: Polo, Confidor, etc.
-7-
Tephrosia Vogelii as an insecticide
aTephrosia vogelii can be grown to improve soil fertility, for firewood, as an
insecticide against storage pests and mites on plants. It can also be used as a
medicine for skin diseases and internal worms. Extract of Tephrosia leaves can
be used for the control of pests such as termites, ants, beetles, aphids, cutworms,
various bugs and weevils, stalk borers, flies and so on in the field, in storage or
on domestic animals. It leaves no residue on crops because Rotenone which is a
poisonous substance breaks down within 3 - 5 days after application.

How to make an insecticide from Tephrosia

1. Crush leaves. It does not need to be done perfectly.

2. Soak approximately 1 kilogram of crushed leaves in 5 liters of water.

3. After soaking the leaves in water for two hours or boiling them for 30 minutes,
filter the juice through a cloth and use directly in a sprayer.
4. Add a bit of soap to help the spray stick to the plant.

WARNING: Tephrosia is dangerous to fish, humans, animals and wild life!!

 Wash hands with soap as soon as you have finished using it.
 Do not use Tephrosia to poison fish.

STEP 9: Making a Shelter

By making a plastic shelter, plants can avoid contact with heavy rain and
splashed the soil as well. These problems cause fungal diseases and a shelter
can be helped to reduce these diseases.
It can be made easily using local material except for a plastic sheet.

Preparations for 1bed(1×3m)

1. 10 Bamboos or Strong woods for a pillar (length :1.5m)
2. 5 Split bamboos or Slender woods for a roof (length: 1.5m)
3. Clear plastic sheet (length: 4m) *Don’t choose Black one
4. Fibers from local woods for tying

-8-
Procedure
1. Set up poles around a main bed.

2. Set up frames of a roof using slender woods or split bamboos. Make sure to
place a frame start from middle one to keep a level.

3. Coil a plastic sheet around the slender wood or split bamboo and fixed them.

4. Put slender woods or split bamboos or ulushishi on a roof of a plastic sheet in

order to hold a sheet against the wind.

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5. Tie pole and frame. Strengthen a shelter.

6. DONE!!

I couldn’t find a plastic at the market.

What can I use instead of a plastic sheet?

In Luwingu district, a CEO has promoted to use a

plastic of fertilizer which are sow them together.
You will be found local useful resources around
your garden.

STEP 10: Transplanting

After 4 weeks of sowing, transplanting should be done. Enough watering before
12 hours of transplanting is necessary. Transplanting in the late afternoon or on a
cloudy day minimize the shock of transplanting. It is important to transplant with
soil. If the roots are damaged, the plants get weak or die after the transplanting.

✓ ✕

Non-damaged Damaged
- 10 -
Spacing
The planting space should be more than 60cm between the row and 40cm
between the plants. Space can
be wider than these for better
ventilation and prevention of
disease from affected plants.

Staking
As tomato plants grow staking is needed. Staking tomato
plants with bamboo or wood stakes
protect plants from being contact with
the ground.
When you tie the plant to the stake,
the knot should be loose to leave
enough space for the stem to grow.

Mulching
After transplanting, mulching should be done immediately. The mulch prevents
soil splashing to the plants. Mulching is
one of the most important points to
prevent diseases. It demonstrates more
effects when it’s placed with the shelter.
The straws can be used as the mulch.
Plastic mulch is also available.

Pruning

When tomato plant grows, “suckers” will be found between the main stem and
the brunches. Those suckers will grow big and turn into a major stem themselves.
They will produce fruits, but they will also cause the plant to sprawl on the ground
because the main stem can no longer bear
the weight of the fruits. Of course, the size
of the fruits becomes smaller. Tomato plants
should be pruned to not only produce larger
fruit earlier in the season, but also to protect
the plants against pest and disease
problems. So it is encouraged to maintain a
strong main stem by removing all suckers
when they are still small (less than 5cm).

- 11 -
STEP 11: Controlling Disease

Tomatoes suffer from many fungal, bacterial and viral diseases.

Fungal disease
Late Bright
Late Bright is the most common and serious disease in the rainy season.
Symptoms:
 Small, irregular-shaped, brown patches appear on the upper leaf surface.
 Lesions on the stem and the petioles appear dark brown
 On fruits, the lesions have an olive-brown appearance with a rough leathery
surface. The lesions may expand until the entire fruit is affected.

Control of Late Bright:

 Sowing resistant varieties seeds.
 Crop rotation
 Make a shelter
 Reduce leaf wetness by staking tomatoes and spacing plants
 Avoid over fertilization of nitrogen
 Spray fungicides for prevention every 2 to 3 weeks. Apply fungicide as soon
as possible at the first sign of the disease or ideally before symptoms
develop.
Fungicide:
Dithane M 45 and Copper oxychloride are available for prevention.
Dithane M 45 and Bravo are available for cure

Early Bright
Symptoms:
 Small dark spots enlarge into circular lesions on leaves and the tissue
surrounding the lesions become yellow
 The lesions turn brown and eventually drop from
the plant.
 Stems and petioles have elliptical concentric
lesions.
 Fruit wounds or cracks may also have large, dark,
leathery, sunken areas with concentric rings
- 12 -
Control of Early Bright:
 Sowing resistant varieties seeds.
 Crop rotation.
 Make a shelter
 Reduce leaf wetness by staking tomatoes and
spacing plants
 Minimize plant injury in transplants by
controlling insects and by avoiding sandy soils.
 Spray fungicides for prevention every 2 to 3 weeks. Apply fungicide as soon
as possible at the first sign of the disease or ideally before symptoms
develop.

Fungicide:
Dithane M 45 and Copper oxychloride are available for prevention.
Dithane M 45 and Bravo are available for cure

Black leaf mold

Symptoms:
 Black sooty patches develop on both
upper and lower surfaces on leaves
 The soot-covered leaves wilt, dry and
usually remain hanging on the vein.

Control of Black leaf mold

 Sowing resist variety seeds
 Crop rotation
 Make a shelter
 Apply protective fungicides (Dithane M 45 or Cooper oxychloride)
 Reduce leaf wetness by staking tomato plants and spacing plants

Gray leaf spot

Symptoms:
 Brown to black specks appears on both the young and older leaves.
 The lesions expand slowly into 1- to 2-mm-diameter round spots that remain
brown or develop a gray center surrounded by a yellow area.
 A lot of lesions causing entire leaves to turn yellow, then brown and drop.
Control of Gray leaf spot
 Sowing resistant variety seeds.
 Crop rotation.
 Make a shelter
 Apply protective fungicides (Dithane M 45 or Cooper oxychloride)
- 13 -
Bacterial disease
Bacterial Spot
This is a seed and wind borne disease.
Symptoms:
 Tiny, circular and dark lesions on leaves
 Lesions may coalesce, causing blighted areas on leaves
 Immature fruit show brown, slightly sunken scabby spots.
 Lesions on stems are elliptical in shape.

Control of Bacterial spot

 Sowing resistant varieties seeds.
 Crop rotation
 Make a shelter
 Apply protective fungicide (Cooper
oxychloride) at weekly intervals

Wilt disease
Fusarium and Verticillium Wilt
Fusarium wilt is a common vascular wilt fungal disease, exhibiting symptoms
similar to Verticillium wilt. The pathogen that causes Fusarium wilt is Fusarium
oxysporum.

Symptoms:
 Yellowing and death of leaves on one side of the stem
 Dark brown vascular discoloration in tomato caused by
Fusarium wilt
 A lighter tan discoloration of the vascular tissue by
Verticillium wilt
 Typical V-shaped lesions on tomato leaves associated
with Verticillium wilt

Control of Fusarium and Verticillium Wilts:

 A long crop rotation (4 to 6 years) Because Fusarium and
Verticillium fungi are widespread and persist several years
in soil
 Avoid using any solanaceous crop (potato, tomato, pepper,
eggplant) in the rotation
 Keep rotational crops weed-free (there are many weeds
hosts of Verticillium)
 Whenever practical, remove and destroy infested plant material after harvest

- 14 -
Bacterial Wilt
Bacterial wilt is a soil-borne disease that is especially damaging under hot, wet
conditions.

Symptoms:
 Leaf chlorosis
 Stem cankers
 “bird’s eye” spots on fruits

Control of Bacterial Wilt

 Avoid contaminated land
 Raised and well-drained beds
 Rotations of several years duration with maize,
cotton, soybeans, grasses, and rice are used in
various areas
 Eradicate weed hosts. Remove wilted plants, root
debris and volunteer hosts, and burn them to
reduce spread of the disease from plant to plant
 Use disease-free transplants, pasteurized soil medium, or fumigated plant
beds
 Control root-knot nematodes and root-feeding insects since they may help the
disease to establish and spread.
 Wash your hands after handling infected plants

Abnormalities
Cracking
Cracking tomato suffer due to erratic irrigation. It
should be maintained even moisture by watering
regularly and mulching.

Blossom end rot

Blossom end rot outbreak due to calcium deficiency
and heavy applications of Nitrogen. It should be
maintained moisture by watering regularly and
mulching.

- 15 -
STEP 12: Monitoring
Interaction of tomato growing and
Monitoring is essential for good yields. Farmer should
detect problems of plants or a shelter as soon as they
emerge. It can reduce the risk. It is recommended to
make a calendar to check a field. Farmers can
manage their activities using a calendar.

Example

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday

1 2 3

Meeting
4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Sowing Watering Weeding

Fertilizer
11 12 13 14 15 16 17

Germination Watering Watering

18 19 20 21 22 23 24

Monitoring Tithonia Weeding

Workshop
25 26 27 28 29 30

Monitoring Watering Shelter

Workshop

- 16 -
Monitoring Sheet
This is “Monitoring Sheet” for farmer’s daily monitoring.
If they check “Yes”, they should take proper measures to deal with problems
immediately. You go to farmer’s garden with this sheet and supplement farmer’s
activity.

Monitoring Contents Yes Solution No

1 A shelter is damaged Reconstruct/Repair a shelter
2 There are water piddles on the Remove water from the plastic
plastic sheet
3 No mulching Mulching the soil with straws
immediately
4 Straws for mulch are not Add more straws
enough
5 No staking Staking plants with wooden
stakes immediately
6 Tie plants to wooden stake The plants to stake with enough
tightly space
7 Plants have reached to the top Curve the lower part of stem to
of the roof leave a room between top of roof
and plants
8 The soil is dry Watering
9 There are insects Spray insecticide
10 There are weeds Pull out weeds
11 There are affected leaves Remove leaves and throw away
far place from your garden.
Spray fungicide for cure
12 There are affected stems Spray fungicide for cure
13 There are affected fruits Remove leaves and throw away
far place from your garden.
Spray fungicide for cure
14 Fruits are crack or rotten Provide drainage and watering
appropriately

- 17 -
STEP 13: Harvesting
Harvest fruits during cool periods, such as early
morning or late afternoon. After the harvesting,
don’t mix damaged fruits with undamaged fruits.
Poor care of fruit after harvesting will lead to
poor fruit quality.

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 We don’t like to be soaked under the rain,
Tomatoes don’t like to be soaked under the rain.

- 19 -