Weed Interference in Transplanted Tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum)

Transplanted tomatoes ( Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. ‘Springset’) kept weed free for 36 days after transplanting, or weeded from the 24th day after transplanting, gave yields equal to those that had been kept weed free throughout the growing season. Conversely, when weeds were allowed to remain in the crop for more than 24 days after transplanting, yields were progressively reduced. Therefore, the ‘critical period’ of weed interference in tomatoes was between 24 and 36 days after transplanting. The yield of tomatoes was reduced significantly when only 5% of the weeds were allowed to remain in the plots longer than 21 days after transplanting. Weed interference appeared to have little, if any, effect on tomato juice quality as measured by color, consistency, and flavor.