Tomato Growing Tips (Part 1 of 2)
Terms:
- Determinate —This type of tomato stops growing at a set height of about 3-5’ and will bear most fruit within a 4-6 week period. These early ripening types may be best for containers.
- Indeterminate —This type continues to grow and set fruit all summer until killed by frost or disease. Many of the commonly grown larger fruited varieties are indeterminate.
- VF—resistant to Verticillium wilt and Fusiarium wilt (common fungal diseases)
- VFNT—same as above plus resistant to nematodes & tobaco mosaic virus
Tips:
Which Variety: Choose varieties that fit your microclimate and space requirements. Tomatoes generally need heat to develop well, but there are varieties that will grow in the cooler parts of Contra Costa County that experience strong marine influence. See http://ccmg.ucanr.edu/EdibleGardening/VegetablesforContraCosta for some suggested varieties.
When to Plant: Plant in late spring or early summer after nighttime and soil temperatures have warmed up.
LIGHT: Full Sun. Select a planting site that will provide a minimum of 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight per day.
SOIL: The annual addition of several inches of aged organic matter to your soil will greatly improve plant nutrition and foster appropriate moisture retention. Dig humus, well-composted manure into the top foot of soil and allow it to sit for at least a week before planting.
How to Plant: Roots will form along the buried portion of the stem giving better growth and less chance of injury from a stem that is too weak. Lanky young plants can be buried right up to the first leaves, or even horizontally in the ground. Allow several feet between plants for good air circulation. Only grow tomatoes in the same spot a maximum of 2 years in a row. Rotate with other crops from a different plant family to help prevent disease build up in the soil. Tomatoes, peppers, eggplant and potatoes are all in the same plant family—the Solanaceae.
Support: Tomatoes of all types need a strong support such as a trellis, cage or stakes to keep plants upright. This will save space and allow easy harvesting. Plants that touch the ground are more susceptible to diseases. You may prune out some side shoots to keep plants in bounds.
Water: Keep the soil moist around new plants for the first 3-4 weeks. Water established plants when the soil is dry to about 2-3”. Tomatoes need regular irrigation during the growing season. Avoid extreme fluctuations in moisture as they increase the incidence of fruit cracking and blossom end rot.
Fertilizer: Healthy, vigorous plants should not require extra fertilizer until they have set fruit. Excessive nitrogen fertilizer during the initial growth period will cause a flush of vegetation that may delay flowering and fruit set. After plants have set fruit you may want to fertilize with nitrogen every 4 to 6 weeks. Follow label directions and avoid over-fertilizing as excess flows into the ground water and eventually into the San Francisco Bay.
Information Sources:
- Free, downloadable publications from UC Agriculture & Natural Resources:
- Publication 8159: Growing Tomatoes in the Home Garden at https://anrcatalog.ucanr.edu/Details.aspx?itemNo=8159 [LINK ERROR!]
- Publication 8059: Vegetable Garden Basics at https://anrcatalog.ucanr.edu/Details.aspx?itemNo=8059 [LINK ERROR!]