INFLUENCE OF PLANT POPULATION ON TRANSPLANTED PROCESSING TOMATOES IN THE LOWER SACRAMENTO VALLEY

Use of transplants in processing tomatoes is increasing within California, while targeted plant populations vary widely. The purpose of the field trial was to determine optimum plant populations. The trial design was a randomized complete block with 6 replications in a commercial field. An evaluation of processing tomato transplant populations of in-row spacing of 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 and 70 cm indicated marketable yields increased with lower plant populations. Marketable yield increased from 74 to 86 tons per hectare, correlated to a positive linear response to wider spacing. Fruit color and °Brix were negatively impacted, especially as distances exceeded 50 cm.