Tomato farming or cultivation can be an exciting venture in Cameroon. In Cameroon, there are a lot of farmers who grow tomatoes yearly. Some tomato farmers engage in tomato farming in some months because they consider the months favorable for growing tomatoes.
There are diverse reasons why tomato farmers in Cameroon choose some months of the year to grow tomatoes. The reasons for selecting some months of the year to grow tomatoes will be discussed in this article.
Why do farmers grow tomatoes in some months of the year?
The reasons why tomato farmers see some months as the best months to cultivate tomatoes in Cameroon are discussed below:
Season
Many tomato farmers in Cameroon see the dry season as the best month to plant tomatoes in Cameroon. Tomato farming in Cameroon during the wet season is a challenge because of the increased incidences of fungal diseases.
Some fungal diseases can wreck a tomato farm within a few days or weeks. Tomato blight disease can lead to almost zero yields if not well managed.
To enjoy reasonable pricing.
Tomato fruits are usually costly in some months of the year in Cameroon. The trend of tomato prices rising in May – July every year in Cameroon happens always. The movement has never been broken.
Farmers targeting to sell at this peak season will see January to March as the best months to plant tomatoes in Cameroon.
Soil Health
During the wet season, rains usually cause the leaching of nutrients in soils. Tomato is a heavy feeder; it needs fertile soil and nutrients.
Leached soil cannot support healthy tomato plants as tomato plants need a lot of nutrients.
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Other reasons why farmers grow tomatoes in some months of the year
- Non-availability of laborers in some months of the year
- Excessive rainfall leading to the washing away of applied pesticides on tomato plants
- High incidences of insects in the dry season etc.
What is the best month to plant tomatoes in Cameroon?
For some farmers, December, January, February, and March can be the best months to plant tomatoes in Cameroon. Farmers hoping to sell at high prices in May – July should cultivate their tomato crop between December and March.
Some farmers avoid the months of December – March because of the high incidences of white flies and other biting insects that transmit viral diseases to crops. This category of farmers may see the wet season as the best month to plant tomatoes in Cameroon.
However, farmers planting tomatoes in the wet season should have an excellent strategy to manage fungal diseases.
What month do you consider the best month to plant tomatoes in Cameroon? Please share your answers in the comment section.
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