TOMATOES
The
tomato is native to Central & South America. While its culture is ancient, tomatoes have only reached their present
prominence since the mid-1800's.
Medium sized tomatoes can be grown in a 5 gallon bucket if you have poor soil or only a small space with 6 hours of sunshine a day. |
There
are two types of tomato plants, 'Determinate' or 'Indeterminate'. Their growing habits, flowering and harvest is the major
difference between them.
Determinate tomatoes are low growing plants that require less staking, but they flower only once and are all ready to harvest all at the same time. If you plan to preserve them you have a limited window of opportunity.
Indeterminate
tomatoes grow taller so they require staking, pruning and care during the
season. The advantages of indeterminate plants make them worth the effort to true
tomato lovers. Most important, the flavor is better in these tomatoes. Secondly they have a long harvest season,
constantly flowering throughout the season and insuring a good harvest from
early summer until the frost.
Proper pruning of suckers which are unproductive leaves, forces growth into more valuable areas of the plant such as the roots and fruit. |
Indeterminate
tomatoes need constant pruning, removing the stems which do not produce fruit
but absorb energy from the plant. These stems are called 'suckers' .
Staking your
plants makes it easier to detect problems, to harvest your crop, and will keep
fruit from touching the ground where it can rot. Staking also improves air
circulation which helps control disease and fungus problems.
Unfortunately
tomatoes can host many diseases that can devastate your harvest just when you are
looking forward to it. There are a few things you can do at planting time to
help limit the chances that will happen to you.
Rotate
your crops. Plants your tomatoes in a
different spot than you planted them last year.
This practice prevents diseases that can remain in the soil, which can
contaminate it for years into the future.
If last
year you had a tomato problem don't replant tomatoes, eggplants or peppers in the same area.
Take
a soil test from your county cooperative extension every three years for nutrient requirements.
You can add
ground egg shells to the soil to prevent 'blossom end rot'.
Disease resistant varieties are available. These are marked on the label and your local greenhouse personnel will be able to help you locate them.
Disease resistant varieties are available. These are marked on the label and your local greenhouse personnel will be able to help you locate them.
Plant several different varieties. Not only will this help prevent disease from infecting all of your plants, it will also give you more flavor and most likely a longer and more bountiful harvest.
Proper
and consistent watering will greatly improve your harvest. Tomatoes require less
water than you might think, just one
inch a week. Over-watered tomatoes lack flavor and meatiness.
This water logged tomato could have been saved by proper watering or harvesting before a heavy rainfall. Still edible, it will lack firmness & flavor. |
Although we
cannot control rainfall, we must take it into consideration when hand watering. A rain meter, either bought or home-made, can be very helpful. It can be as
simple as dipping a ruler into a bucket.
Mulching
with black or red plastic, or chopped leaves will control weeds and maintain moisture.
This will help keep the soil cool during the heat of summer.
Although we know tomatoes like it hot and
sunny, they stop producing fruit when temperatures reach above 90 degrees. This
can diminish your late harvest.
Heirloom tomatoes have regained popularity in recent years. They add flavor and interest to your harvest but they have not been hybridized for disease resistance. |
Container
gardening is a good choice if you have had disease problems in the past. A simple five gallon bucket with holes drilled
in the bottom can be a good choice for this. This system works best with medium
size or cherry tomatoes.
For
more information on growing tomatoes contact your
Local County Cooperative Extension Service.
Local County Cooperative Extension Service.