Climate and soil:
Tomato is a warm season vegetable require a long season optimum temperature is 21 to 240 C.Temperature and light intensity effect the fruit set,pigmentation and nutritive value. Optimum temperature for seed germination is 300 C. Maximum fruit set occurs at a night temperature of 15 to 200 C. High temperature (380 C) accompanied by low humidity and dry winds adversely affect the fruit set. Tomato has a yellow pigment Carotene and red pigment (at ripened stage) called Lycopene and at very high temperature formation of Licopene is inhibited. Tomato can be grown in a wide range of soils from sandy to heavy soils. A well drained, fairly fertile loam with fair moisture holding capacity is ideal for growing a good crop of tomato. Tomato is highly susceptible to water logging. Well drained soils are highly necessary. The preferable pH range is 6 to 7. If the soil is acidic i.e pH 5.0 or lower liming is advocated.