Successful grafting of off-season tomatoes for high efficiency

The technical staff at Vinh Tuong Economic Department (Vinh Phuc province) in collaboration with the Central Vegetable Research Institute successfully applied the method of grafting tomatoes on off-season eggplant for high economic efficiency.

Preliminary results showed that grafted tomatoes on eggplant root developed well, the growth time was longer than that of non-grafted tomatoes. Yield of off-season grafted tomatoes reaches 35-40 tons / ha, the quality is not inferior to the main seasoned tomato.

The selling price of off-season tomatoes is higher than the main winter tomatoes from 10,000 VND to 15,000 VND / 1 kg, so each hectare is worth 150 - 250 million VND.

To achieve this result, the experts have combined the use of EG eggplant rootstock 203 grafted with tomato varieties VL 3500, VL 642, Savior in the off-season in July and August; at the same time, apply the technique of sowing eggplant and tomato seeds in pots.

When eggplant, tomato plants are 12 - 18 cm tall, there are 3-4 true leaves to transplant. Using a razor to cut eggplant and tomato plants above 2 cotyledons, use rubber tubes to hold the rootstock and the tops close to the beveled sides.

In order to grow the plant, put the grafted tree into the plastic cover to reduce the light intensity, moisten the grafted tree by spraying it every 2 hours if it is sunny.

Keep grafted plants in the house for a week. When the graft is closed, put the tree in the house with a lighted roof to allow plants to photosynthesize for 3-4 days, then plant it in the field.

With this method of cultivation, bacterial wilt is limited, or dead wilt is caused by tomato grafting on eggplant root.

In addition, eggplant rootstocks are also very resistant to flooding, especially off-season tomatoes, fruit quality of the variety remains unchanged.