Garden Hints

Growing Tomatoes

Growing tomatoes, while most popular among gardeners , requires more planning and careful work than any other crop.

Tips:

• Plant in a sunny location (at least 6 hours sun daily)
• Tomatoes need deep fertile loam or sandy loam, but soil can be modified with organic matter, lime and fertilizer.
• Select varieties listed as resistant to Verticillium wilt, Fusarium wilt and root-knot nematodes fertilizer (“V,F and N”).
• Add 4 to 6 inches of mulch
• Prune and support tomato plants. Remove suckers from ground level up to below the first flower cluster. Use cages, trellises or stakes to support plants.
• Tomatoes are susceptible to fungus and should be sprayed with 8 to 10 inches tall and every 7 to 10 days thereafter.
• Insecticides may be added to fungicide as needed.
• Drought-stressed plants may cause fruit to crack. Pick mature green, pink or ripe fruit from drought-stressed plants