Temperature and the Tomato
(Page 82-83)
Heat and temperature are not the only factors that
influence crop yields. The type of soil, the amount of water, and
the nutrients added in fertilizers are other considerations.
There are 2 types of tomatoes: 1) the non-staking tomatoes
(determinate), these are short, bushier plants that produce fruit
all at once and then stop. 2) Staking tomatoes (indeterminate),
have sprawling vines that must be staked to keep the fruit from
resting on the ground. Staking tomatoes produce fruit continually
until frost.
The germination period refers to the length of time a seed
takes to sprout. When the temperature is suitable, and there is
adequate supple of moisture, oxygen, and light. The seed absorbs
water and swells, rupturing the seed coat. The shorter the
germination period, the quicker the plant matures.
El Nino (Spanish for child) is a southern ocean current that
flows south along the coast of Peru and produces a weather
phenomenon that scientists know little about. El Nino occurs
every 2-7 years around the Christmas season and produces higher
than normal temperatures.
Questions:
1. What is the difference between staking and non-staking
tomatoes?
2. What is a germination period and how does it affect plants?
3. How does El Nino affect temperatures and when does it
occur?
4. In North America, why do tomato plants die in less than a
year?
5. What do we mean by growing season?
6. Outdoors, at what temperatures will a tomato seed
germinate?
7. What does Time of Maturity mean?
8. When can the tomato plant be placed in a garden?
9. How long is the growing season where we live?
10. Which parts of Canada have the longest growing season?
Answers:
1. Staking tomatoes have vines and must be staked so the
fruit do not lie on the ground, they produce tomatoes
continually until frost. Non-staking tomatoes are bushier
plants that only produce fruit once and then stop.
2. The germination period is the length of time a seed takes to
sprout. It affects how quickly a plant matures.
3. El Nino produces higher than normal temperatures and
occurs every 2-7 years around Christmas time.
4. Tomatoes plants die in less than a year because they can not
survive if the air temperature drops below 0 C.
5. The growing season is the number of days in a year with an
average temperature above 5 C.
6. Outdoors, a tomato plant will germinate when the soil is 10
C.
7. Time of maturity is the length of time from flowing until
fruit can be picked.
8. Tomato plants can be placed in the garden when it is 40
days old.
9. The growing season where we live is between 180-220 days.
10.The southern part of British Columbia has the longest
growing season in Canada.