Abstract
A method of cultivating the tomato variety “Natsunokoma” on a small scale, in a suburban field, was tested from the viewpoint of longer period in harvest and saving labor. Early sowing and planting immediately after the last frost were required for a high yield. Multiple sowing will extend the harvest over several months, as the harvest period of each plant is short. The recommended planting spacing is 160×40cm (156 plants/a). The harvest period was not prolonged if the planting density was reduced. Harvesting once a week, and harvesting using hand-vibration, saved labor.
These results suggested the following policies were useful for producing cooking use tomato: ‘Natsunokoma’. (1) Multiple sowing was available from February until April. Planting and growth season should avoid the last frost and rainy season, respectively. (2) The recommended planting spacing is 160×40cm. Any training may be unnecessary. (3) Only red fruit should be harvested repeatedly by hand when the yield was little. A single harvest method by hand-shaking should be done in obedience to the marketing, labor intensity and the ripening.
