Research Journal Entry
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Growing from Seed

There are two different methods of growing from a
seed.

Apply directly to ground:

Some will grow some might not grow.
or

Indoor Germination

Can physically see root cap for successful
plant.
Apply Directly in Ground
Assigned plot

Find center of plot

Use ruler or measuring tape to find the center


Measure length and divide by two
Measure width and divide by two

This will give you the center of the plot.

Make a hole in soil about one inch in depth

Put seed in hole

Bury seed

Slowly add water until soil is moist
Indoor Germination
Cheating Mother Nature

One seed germination

Moist paper towel NOT dripping wet

Apply seed to paper towel

Fold seed in paper towel carefully

Put moist paper towel and seed into a plastic
zip lock bag

Zip ¾ of the zip-lock bag and exhale into the
open end to blow up bag

Zip as bag fills with air

Adding Carbon dioxide (food)
Indoor Germination
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Indoor Germination




Put Plastic bag in a warm dark place.
Check bag in three days and very carefully unfold
paper towel.
If seed does not look like the root cap has emerged,
refold paper towel, put back in plastic bag, inflate
again with exhaled air, and put back in warm dark
place. Check again in two days.
If root cap emerged....
Indoor Germination

Take out and plant in center of plot with root cap
down in the one inch hole.
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Tomato Plant Parts
Bottom of Plant to Top


As the seed develops the root cap (Protective cap of
root tip) is the first to emerge.
Followed by the root tip (Pushes root cap vertically
down through the soil).


If germinating indoors you must be extremely
careful of the above two parts, if they break,
germinate again, you just killed the plant!
Root hairs (hair-like out growth above root tip)
absorb water, nutrients, and salt from soil.
Tomato Parts continued
Diagram at end of Plant Parts



Root hairs - two kinds:

Lateral root: grows horizontally and diagonally

Primary root: grows out from root cap and root
tip
Ground tissue then emerges from soil. This is
known to many people as the stem.
As the tomato plant grows vascular tissue is formed
inside the ground tissue that transports water,
nutrients, and sap: two large veins running up and
down the plant.
Plant Parts Continued

Node: Part of stem normally produces leaf growth

Inter-node: plant part between two nodes

Lateral bud: Producers of flowers

Epidermis: Outer protective layer of the plant.

Shoot tip (Sucker): takes energy away from the
production of fruit of plant. Produces more leaves
makes plant more dense increasing disease and
insect issues.

Removing suckers promotes more vigorous
energy and larger production of fruit!
Plant Parts Continued


Flower: contains reproductive organs to produce
fruit
Leaf: lateral outgrowth of a stem
Common Diseases of Tomato Plants

Remove infected leaves by cutting with scissors than
spraying plant with 50% skim milk and water,
spreads by wind and as it advances leaves turn
yellow.
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Diseases Of Tomato Plants

Infection will eventually kill plant, hot dry climates
will kill infection or propagate top of plant.
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Common Insects and Animals


Mutualism

Bees and wasps

Humming birds

Butterflies

Assassin beetle
Predation

Deer

Rabbits

Raccoon's

Frogs
Common Insects and animals


Parasitism

Scale- white skeleton looking creature

Aphids- tiny green/brown insects found under leaves

Leaf-footed- orange body with black legs (aggressive)

Horn worm-Huge green caterpillar viscous appetite

Whitefly- hard to identify as small as aphids
Commensalism

Black ant – carries aphids than eat aphids for sugar

Braconid wasp – lays eggs in Horn worm and larvae
eat horn worm from inside until death.