PREDICTING THE DATES OF HARVEST AND RELIABILITY OF CROPPING OF OUTDOOR BUSH TOMATOES IN THE UK

Data are presented relating two growth stages of bush tomatoes to accumulated day-degrees from planting.
Ontario units predicted the dates of first harvest and the dates when 37.5 t/ha of ripe fruit had accumulated more accurately than ‘Ag.-Met.’ day-degrees above 10°C or calendar days.
The number of Ontario units from planting to first harvest and from planting to a yield of 37.5 t/ha were 1352 ± 133 and 1937 ± 112, respectively.
Using these figures in conjunction with long-term meteorological records it was estimated that the first harvest at sites at latitudes 53°N, 52°N and 51°N would occur on 12 Aug ±6 days, 9 Aug ± 8 days and 4 Aug ± 4 days, respectively.
The corresponding figures for a yield of 37.5 t/ha were 20 Sep ± 11 days, 13 Sep ± 11 days and 4 Sep ± 4 days.
Data is also presented to show areas of the country where yields of 37.5 t/ha can be expected 9 years in 10.

Symposium on Timing of Field Production of Vegetables

D. Gray

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1981.122.15