Grow Better Tomatoes

Grow Better Tomatoes

Nothing compares to the taste of a homegrown, freshly picked, red-ripe tomato. Grow your own this summer, and enjoy eating them right off the vine, by taking a few relatively easy steps.

Preparing the soil—Always start with soil rich in organic matter that drains well and is slightly acidic. Unless you grow organically, apply a 5-10-10 or 5-20-20 fertilizer two weeks before planting time and work it well into the soil.

Choosing plants—Tomatoes come in two types—determinate and indeterminate—so choose the kind that best suits your growing season. Determinates, for short season areas, produce all their fruit at once. Varieties include Celebrity, Patio Hybrid, Sunmaster, Bush Beefmaster, Roma, Rutgers Select, and Yellow Canary.

Indeterminates continue to grow and set fruit over the entire growing season and include Better Boy, Early Girl, Beef King, Big Boy, Big Girl, Sweet 100, and Sweet Chelsea Hybrid.

Always choose a transplant that has a sturdy, stocky stem and dark green leaves free of insects and blossoms. Look for disease-resistant varieties indicated on the label.

Planting—Plant seedlings after your area’s last frost-free date. Tomatoes develop roots along the entire stem, so plant them deeply, with the first set of leaves at the soil’s surface. Create a barrier between cutworms and the plant by slipping a 3-ounce bathroom cup (with its bottom removed) around the stem. Place a cage over the plant or place stakes around the plant to provide structural support.

Watering—Tomatoes require deep, even watering. Mulch to maintain moisture. Too much water all at once leads to cracked fruit, and too little water leads to blossom-end rot causing the fruit to turn black.

For a more-controlled method, cut off the bottoms of 2-liter bottles and bury one next to each plant, spout side down, leaving about 1 inch above ground. Fill them at least four times every time you water. Use more or less depending on weather conditions. Spread straw around each plant to help contain ground moisture.

Fertilizing—Use a fertilizer low in nitrogen. Too much causes vigorous vine growth and little fruit production. Apply 5-10-10 when the first flower clusters appear.

Insects—The tomato hornworm, a large green caterpillar named for its distinct red horn protruding from one end, is a primary pest. The best way to get rid of it is to simply pick them off. Insecticidal soap is effective against aphids and white fly and is an organic method of insect control.

Maintenance—Pick tomatoes as they ripen, to encourage more fruit production. Keep weeds pulled near the plants, because they can rob them of precious water and nutrients.

Georgiana Marshen is a master horticulturist and a freelance garden writer.

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