TheNaturePlanet

For us ordinary people growing horseshoe tomatoes, the first thing to figure out is the most suitable sowing time. The sowing time for this type of tomato is closely related to local climate and planting methods, so friends in different regions need to adjust it according to their own climate

If you plan to grow them outdoors, the timing varies by region. In North China, spring sowing can be done from mid-to-late February to early March, when the indoor temperature remains above 15°C, making it easier for seeds to germinate. For autumn sowing, late July to early August is ideal to avoid the hottest drought period. In South China, with its warm climate and long frost-free period, three seasons of planting are possible! Spring sowing is from January to February, autumn sowing from August to September, and winter sowing even from October to November. However, winter seedling raising requires a simple greenhouse for warmth. Friends in East China can sow in early-to-mid March in spring and from late July to mid-August in autumn, while being cautious about the high humidity during the plum rain season.

If you use greenhouses or greenhouses for planting, the sowing time is more flexible. Early spring crops can be sown from late December to early January, and overwintering crops from late September to early October. By controlling the temperature and keeping the seedling raising environment at 20-25°C, horseshoe tomatoes can be planted almost throughout the year.

Here are some small sowing tips for everyone. Before sowing, first soak the seeds in warm water at 55°C for 15 minutes to sterilize them, then dry them and mix them with fine sand so that they can be sown more evenly. The seedling soil is best loose and fertile humus soil. After sowing the seeds, cover them with 0.5-1 cm of fine soil and keep the soil moist. Seedlings will emerge in about 5-7 days.

After talking about sowing, let's discuss the seed saving issue that everyone cares about. Whether you can save seeds yourself depends on the variety you are growing. If it is a conventional variety, natural seed saving is possible. However, if it is a hybrid variety, the tomatoes grown from saved seeds are prone to problems such as uneven fruit size and reduced disease resistance, so seed saving is not recommended.

So how to save seeds for conventional varieties? In specific operations, first select robust, disease-free plants with concentrated fruiting in the middle and late growth stages, and retain fully mature, well-shaped fruits from the 3rd to 4th fruit clusters. Harvest the fruits when they are fully red and slightly soft to the touch.

Then cut the fruits open, scoop out the seeds and the jelly-like substances inside, put them into a ceramic or glass container, add a small amount of water, and ferment them at 25-30°C for 24-48 hours. Remember to stir them every day until the pectin layer rots and falls off. After fermentation, rinse the seeds repeatedly with water to remove impurities and empty grains, fish out the plump seeds, spread them out on a bamboo sieve, and dry them in a ventilated and cool place. Do not expose them to the sun, as this will affect the seed viability. Finally, put the dry seeds into kraft paper bags and store them in a low-temperature (5-10°C), dry, and dark place, where they can be preserved for 2-3 years.

There are also some precautions to keep in mind when saving seeds. The seed saving field should be at least 500 meters away from other tomato varieties to prevent cross-pollination by insects and variety mixing. Never use metal containers for fermentation, as this will affect seed activity. If you are engaged in large-scale commercial planting and using hybrid varieties, it is recommended to purchase formal seeds every year to ensure yield and quality.

In summary, when growing horseshoe tomatoes, the sowing time should be determined according to local climate and planting methods. Outdoor planting is mainly done in spring and autumn, while greenhouse planting allows for annual production. For seed saving, conventional varieties can have their seeds recycled as long as the plants and fruits are selected well, and the fermentation, cleaning, and storage are done properly. Friends who plant at home or do small-scale seedling raising should first understand the variety type and then follow the steps to ensure a good and abundant harvest of horseshoe tomatoes.