by Solarset (10.5%), Agriset (9.8%), and Bonita (7.8%). BHN 90, Olympia, Heatwave and

Colonial are used on most of the remaining acreage in production (FASS, 1993).



Table 4.2. Acres of tomatoes planted in Florida by production area for the 1991-92 season.

Production Area Acres

Dade County 5,100

East Coast 6,000

Palmetto/Ruskin 15,400

Southwest Florida 21,200

West, North and North-Central 3,600

Source: FASS, 1993.



Cultural Practices

 A field should be plowed and disked to turn under old crop residue in order to reduce

detrimental soil organisms. The soil should be analyzed for any additional additives required,

such as lime for pH adjustment. Then the bed is shaped, fumigated, and fertilized using a bed

disk. If plastic is to be applied, then a bed press is used to apply plastic following the bed disk.

Black plastic is normally used, however, during the early fall when temperatures can still be

relatively warm, growers may use black with a white band over the middle region, gray, or

white to reduce the temperature of the surface of the bed. Some advantages of plastic