Greenhouse farming is a type of farming where plants are grown in a covered structure with pvc on the roof for ventilation.
It has gained popularity in Kenya due to it‘s reputation as a money minting investment and are opted for because they allow for easier implementation of agronomic practices. The food crops grown in green houses include; cucumbers, kales, tomatoes, capsicum, spinach and strawberries with the major crop being tomatoes as they do well in green houses hence opted for.
Tomato growing
Tomato plants grow well in raised beds and appreciate soil conditions which provide moisture without water logging. Fertile soils which are full of nutrients are important as they help them grow tall and healthy and can grow up to two metres tall.
They also require space for walk ways of about 30 cm between beds.
Bed preparation
Digging of beds is first done and soil is then mixed with manure after which one waits for two weeks in order for manure to be ready and mixed with the soil as well as water. After two weeks are over, holes for planting the seedlings are dug and fertilizer is put in them and mixed well in the soil.
Watering is usually done in the morning hours as the planted seeds are expected to start sprouting after eight days and watering should continue for a week or two before transplanting is done.
Better care
Transplanting is usually done a week or two after the seeds have sprouted so as to avoid losing seedling due to broken stems since it hardens the stem as it grows for a while longer before transplanting.
It‘s important to make sure the greenhouse does not have any leakage. Pipes are then laid on the beds with holes on each plant to act as a drip for watering the tomato plant. The pipes are used in order to avoid the splashing effect during watering.
