1997 FRESH MARKET TOMATO CULTIVAR EVALUATION

Brad R. Bergefurd, Extension Agent, Horticulture

Thom C. Harker, Research Assistant, Horticulture

Ohio State University Extension Enterprise Center

1864 Shyville Road , Piketon, Ohio 45661-9749

(614)289-3727, bergefurd.1@osu.edu

This Fresh Market Tomato trial compared 20 cultivars using 4 replicates of each cultivar. Objectives were to evaluate potential fresh market tomato cultivars for firmness, total yield, average fruit size, color, % soluble solids, grade and quality attributes and for their overall suitability in a southern Ohio growing season.

METHODS:

Planting: Seeded April 10, into 98-cell Pro Trays using a peat-vermiculite soilless mix. Cells were thinned as needed to 1 plant / cell. Plants were field planted on May 23, 1997 at Hillsboro, Ohio using a Water Wheel Planter.

Spacing: Rows were 5 feet apart, with plants set onto raised beds at 16" spacing between plants. The beds were covered with black plastic mulch with trickle irrigation under the mulch prior to planting. 15 plants per plot

(5' x 20') provided a plant density of approximately 6,534 plants per acre.

Soil Type: Haubstadt Silt Loam

Fertilizer: Applied 120 lbs N., 120 lbs. P2O5 and 120 lbs. K2O per acre prior to planting according to soil test recommendations. 20-20-20 (1 lb. / 100 gal. 8 oz. Per plant) with transplanting water.

Weed Control: 1.75 pt / A Treflan 4 E tank mixed with .33 lb./ A Sencor 75 DF pre plant incorporated on 5/21/97.

Hand hoed and cultivated as necessary.

Pest Management.: 2 lb. / A Bravo Ultrex on 6/12, 7/2, 7/16

3 pt. / A Echo 720 on 7/30, 8/11, 8/29, 9/10

2 qt. / A Sevin XLR on 9/10

Irrigation: Trickle Irrigated 7/29, 8/13 and 8/27.

Harvests (3): August 20, September 2 and September 23.

RESULTS:

Total marketable, U.S. No. 1 and U.S. No. 2 , yields for the replicated cultivars ranged from 32.4 tons per acre (Flavor More 223) to 9.8 tons per acre (Flavor More TM 215) . Flavor More 223 was very firm and had smooth, thick fleshed fruit with an average fruit size similar to Mountain Spring. Other firmer varieties, Sunbeam and Sungem had early marketable and total yields above average for this trial and similar to Mountain Spring, with an average fruit size larger than Mountain Spring. SRT 6611 and T-1011 had the greatest overall % soluble solids.

Flavor More 210 was among the varieties with lowest total marketable yield however overall fruit size was very similar to Mountain Spring. Flavor More TM 215 had the lowest total marketable yield and had the lowest average fruit size.

Sungem had the lowest cull tons per acre whereas Flavor More TM 215 had the highest number of cull tons per acre. Flavor More TM 215 also had a very rough finish.

The long range goal is to utilize the existing agricultural infrastructure of southern Ohio to introduce these Fresh Market tomato varieties as an alternative crop for Ohio producers.

Table 1. Yields from replicated Fresh Market Tomato cultivar trials: Ohio State University Extension Enterprise Center, Hillsboro, Ohio 1997

** A Special thanks to Rupp Seeds for supplying seed for this trial **

Table 2: Weather data from the 1997 growing season.

back to Enterprise Horticulture Results Page