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A homegrown tomato is a revelation . If you have a protagonist who says they detest tomatoes , try give them one still sun - warmed that has been mature in your garden . chance are , they ’ll alter their tune .
However , as tasty as they are , tomatoes often come with some problem . They can be fussy plant life that you have to treat right if you want a plentiful harvest .
The Francis Scott Key to a happy tomato garden is choosing the right varieties , giving them a solid founding , and knowing how to care for them . If trouble comes , this clause will also help oneself you enter out how to shell out with it .
Best Tomato Varieties
Picking the correct tomato can palpate downright overwhelming at times . There are so many smorgasbord to choose from .
There are seven main types , each with lashings of diversity . They include cerise , beefsteak , grape , cocktail , Roma , green , or heirloom . you may read more about the unlike type inour guideto get a better musical theme of each .
That is n’t even all of them . There are other less democratic varieties as well , including library paste , yellow , and pear tomato plant .
With all the options out there , how do you cull the correct one ? Here ’s what to look for :
Disease Resistance
The first thing to consider is the plant ’s resistance to disease . Check the label of the flora or semen mail boat . Right next to the name of the plant , you ’ll see a letter of the alphabet in parenthesis .
Diseases like verticillium will have a V in divagation , which means that the flora is resistant to verticillium wilting . Other uncouth disease you will see on the packaging are Fusarium wilting ( F ) ; Root - knot Nematode ( N ) ; Tobacco Mosaic Virus ( T ) ; and Alternaria ( A ) .
I recommend doing a little inquiry ` to see what soil - base disease are most rough-cut in your area and select varieties that are resistant to them . That way , you ’ll have fewer headaches this develop season .
Determinate vs. Indeterminate
There are two types of growth form in tomatoes . The first is determinate growth . Determinate means that the industrial plant grows to a set height and width , flowers , and then pass its time ripening the yield .
If you ’re plan on growing Lycopersicon esculentum in planters , then determinate varieties are a smart option .
An undetermined variety is one where the works continues to grow all season up until frost , at which pointedness it dies . Since these varieties never discontinue spreading taller and all-encompassing , they take staking and cages to avail support them .
Growing Time
The third matter you should take into report when picking a tomato miscellanea is the time it pick out for the fruit to mature . Some tomato plants – like Fourth of July – have growing seasons as short as 50 day .
If you live in the northward where summer can be a little previous and wintertime can sneak up early on , then you might need to prefer one of these varieties so you could get the maximum amount of fruit from your plant .
However , if you exist in the south ( like me ) , then you have a longer maturate season . you’re able to constitute a Lycopersicon esculentum that takes up to 90 days to jump producing , like beefsteak tomatoes .
Fruit Characteristics
ultimately , the last matter you require to take into thoughtfulness when choosing your tomato plant variety is the fruit characteristics . How big will the fruit get ? What will it taste like ?
If you ’re front to grow love apple for sandwiches , then you wo n’t desire cerise tomato . However , if you are looking to make a sauce or salsa , then a Roma or cherry red tomato might shape just fine for you .
For instance , I hump to grow persimmon tomatoes to make yellow tomato plant sauce . It not only savour honest but it take care gorgeous in a jar , too .
Planting Tomatoes
We have a magnanimous garden and usually grow about 2 - 3 flat of tomatoes . If you ’re looking to have a few tomatoes on hand for sandwich , then you should n’t demand more than 2 - 3 plants . But if you ’re looking to preserve Lycopersicon esculentum or make sauces , then you might want to maturate more .
Growing Zones
Lycopersicon esculentum originate in zones 2 - 10 .
Sun Requirements
Tomatoes require full Dominicus , with more than 6 hours per sidereal day in the northerly regions .
Soil Requirements
tomato like productive , well - draining , loamy soil with a pH between 6.0 and 6.8 .
Starting from Seed
startle seeds indoors 6 to 8 calendar week before the last frost date . you’re able to use this seed - startingcalculatorto have it away on the dot when you should start farm your seeds for your fix .
Seed starting containers make the occupation easy . you may expend source trays orfoil lasagna trayswith hole poked in the bottom . The seed starting trays make things a little wanton , but I also understand what it means to originate your intellectual nourishment on a soused budget , so the foil trays work too .
Place a solid tray under the apartment of seeded player because this is how you ’ll water them . If you purchase grow trays , they usually come as part of the readiness - up . If not , use a large transparency tray instead .
utilise a tomato - specific seed starting mixlike that from FoxFarmto satisfy your tray . Drop 1 - 2 seeds in each jail cell of the tray – or every few inch in a lasagna tray – and gently cover them up .
besprinkle cinnamon bark lightly over the soil . It helps dissuade fungus that likes to grow on top of the soil and can harm seedling .
Place the flat of seeds on a solid tray under grow lights . I prefershop lightsbecause they work the same but are much tawdry to buy and run .
Never water seeds from the top during the germination operation . append water supply to the tray and allow the seeds to soak it up from the bottom . Mist the seeds with a spray feeding bottle to keep them moist .
You bed the seeds are quick for water when the tray underneath them is ironic . That way , you never risk overwatering your seedlings .
Transplanting
Harden seedling off for at least two week before planting . you could do thisin a greenhouseor you could move them outside for longer menstruation of time each day .
Transplant them after the last hoar date , when the land is lovesome , and the seedling are 3 to 4 inches magniloquent .
Spacing
Give 2 feet between each plant and each rowing . Plant transplant 8 - 12 in mystifying .
Caring for Your Tomatoes
start out tomatoes is the easy part . After you ’ve plant them , the challenge begins .
First , keep dirt off of the stem of the tomatoes . By keep their stem sporting , you are decrease their chance at picking up diseases .
Watering
Water generously , at least 2 inches per week during the summertime .
Because tomatoes are disease - prone , it ’s vital to body of water from the flat coat and avoid overhead irrigation . you’re able to usesoaker hosesto water your plants effectively .
Fertilizing
Give tomatoes a weekly feed with a liquid tomato fertilizer .
Staking
If you ’re grow undetermined variety , you ’ll involve to stake or cage in your tomatoes to support them and keep the fruit off of the ground .
Staking is fundamental to avoiding disease and to maximizing your crop . Check out our template for a bunch ofunique tomato John Milton Cage Jr. and trellis ideasthat will add a slight character reference to your garden .
Extra Tips On Growing Tomatoes
Some gardener like to add a teaspoon of Epsom common salt to the cornerstone of each plant because they say it makes the tomatoes savor sweeter .
I personally prefer the sour of the love apple , so I do n’t need it to be super sweet , so I do n’t do this . But I know many mass that do , and they claim it bring . you’re able to always experiment in your garden and see what work for you .
Problems and Solutions to Growing Tomatoes
When raise tomato , the biggest event are the legion diseases and pests that bother them .
Do n’t be deterred . Most Lycopersicon esculentum issues are fixable by using earth irrigation , pass on proper nutrition , and keeping the fruit and parts of the plant life off of the ground .
To keep bugs away , weplanted marigoldsor onion starts next to each tomato industrial plant . I also use natural repellents , and Ikeep guineafowl .
I have to say , keeping guinea poultry has honestly been the best investment we have ever made in our garden . They be slight to conjure up and tote up such humor to our farm .
Aphids
Aphids sexual love Lycopersicon esculentum . you’re able to take on them with insecticides . If you prefer to dumbfound with a more natural route , you canmake your own organic bug repellant . We also have a wholeguide dedicated to dealing with these little pests .
Flea Beetles
Flea beetle are diminutive petty beetles that skip around like fleas , which is where they get their name . Not only can they jaw through leaves and stunt growth , but they broadcast disease as well .
Get rid of them using neem oil or insecticides . you could also sparge diatomaceous earth around your tomatoes and put gummy traps throughout the garden .
Prevent them using quarrel covering fire and by encouraging beneficial nematodes .
Tomato Hornworm
preferably or later , almost every tomato plant agriculturist deals with these light-green menaces . They ’re rapacious feeder and one hornworm moth can have multiple generations each year .
The cat are about 5 - inches recollective with a horn - same development on their rearward end .
set off by handpicking them off your works and feed them to your chickens or drown them in smarmy water . If that does n’t work , use the organic pesticide Bt .
Blossom End Rot
We have this every class in my garden , so I ’ve discover lots of tricks for dealing with it .
As it ripens , the fruit turn back on the bottom and start out to rot from the bottom up . It ’s difficult to hold open any yield that has blossom end rot .
The best way to fix this problem is to check that you fecundate about once a month . Strike the correct balance between N and calcium when feed .
Also , providing even soil wet seems to play a large theatrical role in thing as well . We ’ve switched to soaker hose and so far are seeing expectant outcome .
tot 1 tablespoon of fine-grained Milk River to the base of each plant during the early part of the time of year before this problem develops – kind of like inoculation for tomatoes .
Tobacco Mosaic Virus
You know you have this when your tomato become yellow and green spotted . They may develop dark-brown fleck on them as well . leafage will evolve a light-colored fleeceable mottled pattern . There ’s no cure , so prevention is best .
pick your hand and tools between plants when work in the garden . Keep your garden weed free and turn out your crops each year . Remove and discard any septic plant life .
If you ’re a smoking compartment , be sure to wash your mitt thoroughly before touching your tomato plants and do n’t carry tobacco products into the garden .
Also , be indisputable not to implant where any infected tomato or tobacco plants were plant previously . hemipterous insect can expect this disease , so keep them at bay . I recommend looking for a change of tomato that is resistant to this disease , as well .
Radial Cracking
This is another disease we combat with most years . You love you have it when the top of the love apple begins to crack and break .
Some of the Lycopersicon esculentum are still salvageable , but it ’s a pain in the ass nonetheless .
The proficient affair you may do is to select variety that do n’t suffer from this problem . The tough part about that is that some of the favorites are prone to this . I ’ve found it uncouth in most great varieties .
you’re able to also prevent this by avoiding large changes in moisture levels by using alky irrigation and furnish raft of mulch around plants .
Sour Rot
Sour hogwash causes your tomato to collapse and erupt with a white , low fungus . Yes , I ’ve deal with this one , too .
The best affair you could do is to not wet the airfoil of the tomatoes by watering at the base . Be sure to jeopardize your tomatoes in good order to keep the fruit off of the soil .
Verticillium Wilt
Verticillium causes older parting on the tomato plant to move around icteric and brown . They ’ll eventually droop . This happens chiefly during colder weather .
The only manner to preclude this from happen is buying a miscellanea of flora that is resistant to it .
Early Blight
If your tomatoes concentrate this disease , the yield will come along with morose and leathery lesion on the skin near the stem turn .
former blight can be prevented with fungicide spray and by rotate your crops .
Alternaria
Plants infect with Alternaria have grey deep-set spot on them .
Be deliberate not to damage your plant when crop . Also , body of water by priming coat irrigation instead of using sprinklers .
Root Knot
This disease is gruelling to stop because it starts underground . You ’ll know you have this if you ’re by rights feeding your plants , but they still seem sluggish . Then , when you go to pluck them up , you see that the root is literally tied in a knot and has multiple outgrowth on it .
The best ways to prevent this are by proper harvest rotation and also to implant tomatoes with a yap craw . A common trap craw is Elbon cereal grass Secale cereale . It helps fix nematode product .
The Best And Worst Companion Plants For Tomatoes
The honorable familiar crops for tomatoes include :
leafage lettuce is a great fellow plant for tomatoes because it serves as a live mulch . you may plant leaf lettuce all between the tomatoes , and it will help hold moisture for the plant .
The bad associate harvest for tomato plant are :
Planting pepper works and tomatoes together is a big negative . The reason iscross - pollenation . It will all break the taste of your tomatoes . So be sure you always put a few row between them if institute them in the same garden .
How To Properly Store Your Tomato Harvest
Knowing when to harvest and how to store your love apple is the final element to having a successful grow season .
I like to harvest tomato plant when they are ruby but not excessively ripe unless I ’m going to eat them forthwith . The reason I like them to be not too ripe is that they will turn to mush by the time I ’m quick to utilise them otherwise .
To harvest , draw them from the plant when you call up they ’re at the correct stage of ripeness for your want . If they are knotty to withdraw , it could mean that they ’re a small underripe . If they fall decently off in your hand , they ’re ready to corrode decently away .
Once you bring them into the house , wipe the stain off of them . Then store them in a cool , dry , and dark location so they wo n’t mature too dissipated or mold . I usually salt away mine on a corner kitchen shelf upside down .
I do this because a tomato is usually less ripe at the top than the bottom . Letting them lie where the stem used to be helps to block off the moulding process of the love apple .
you could store your tomatoes in the electric refrigerator if you bid . I personally do n’t like their preference after refrigeration , so I do n’t . If you need to store them for longer than a few days then infrigidation is a slap-up option .
If you ’d like to abbreviate up your tomatoes in advance , be indisputable only to cut down what you ’ll eat up in less than a week ’s sentence . Store them in airtight container in the refrigerator .
Tomato Recipes For Your Homegrown Tomatoes
After you ’ve put in all of the voiceless work of growing your tomatoes , it ’s clip to dig in . Here are some idea on how to enjoy your harvest home .
1. Tomato Sauce
Everyone knows fresh Lycopersicon esculentum sauce taste excellent on pasta . Here is a fantastictomato sauce recipethat will be sure to satisfy your appreciation buds .
2. Salsa
My folk and I are salsa people . We bang it ! It ’s great on orchis , to dip scrap in , on top of hamburger with melted high mallow , and so much more . Here is a recipe that will show you how tomake and can salsa .
3. Tomato Soup
My kids lovetomato soup . The only job is , I do n’t screw the sack taste from the store - corrupt kind – nor do I love the preservatives . After making and force out your own tomato soup , you ’ll never look back . You ca n’t drum that fresh Lycopersicon esculentum taste in the dead of winter .
4. Crushed Tomatoes
This is what I do with most of my tomato harvest time . Why ? Because I am a soup girl , especially in winter . I could live off of the stuff .
mash tomatoes go well inhomemade chili pepper , homemade veggie soup , black bonce soup , and my favorite , dull cooker chicken tortilla soup .
5. Tomato Juice
I am not a Brobdingnagian fan of tomato juice , but my husband is . He can open a jolt and tope it in one sitting . So if you are like him , then you ’ll get laid making your own homemade tomato succus .
For those that are like me , tomato juice is a decent summation to homemade soups , as well . This recipe will help you in themaking and canning process .
Now You’re Ready to Start Growing Tomatoes
Tomatoes may not be the well-to-do craw in the garden , but it certainly one of the most rewarding . Whether you nibble on them fresh from the vine or habituate them to make soup in the dead of winter , tomatoes are a must - have . Be sure to tell us your favorite recipe and lease us make out if you have any tips .
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