Growing tomatoes for home use

Department of Horticultural Science Horticulture Information Leaflet 8107 Revised 12/91 - Author Reviewed 3/99 GROWING TOMATOES FOR HOME USE Larry Bass, Exteas ion Horticultural Specialist I Much success in growing tomatoes can be attributed to use of a few proven techniques. Choosing a variety that has proven to be a true performer should be at the top of every gardener’s list. Better Boy, Whopper, Celebrity, and Mountain Pride are among some of the best selections. Better Boy, Celebrity, and Whopper are VFN, which means they carry resistance to verticillium wilt, fusarium wilt, and root-knot nematodes. It is best to experiment with several varieties in order to fi nd the ideal tomato for your taste buds. If the transplant is tall and leggy at time of planting, the trench planting method should be used. To trench plant a tomato plant, dig a horizontal trench rather than a hole for each plant. Next, remove all of the leaves from the plant except the top leaf cluster <4 to 5 leaves ). Then lay the plant on its side in the trench and cover the root system and bare stem up to the top leaf cluster with 2 to 3 inches of soil. Finn the soil over the plant. Be sure not to press the soil too firmly around the stem where it comes out of the soil, as the stem may break. Use the best soil available to grow the tomato crop. Clay and sandy soils can be improved by working in 2 to 3 inches of compost, peatmoss, or other forms of organic matter in the top 6 to 9 inches of soil. Lime and fertilizer should be added according to soil test recommendations. If no soil testhas been taken, apply 3/4 cup of lime and 4i cup of 8-8-8 fertilizer for each plant. Lime will help reduce nutrient imbalances, particularly with calcium and help control the blossom end rot problem that occurs so frequently on tomatoes. Distributed in furtherance of the Acts of Congress of May 8 and June 30, 1914. Employment and program opportunities are offered to all people regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. North Carolina State University, North Carolina A&T State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and local governments cooperating. Tomato plants should be spaced 1 4i to 2 ft apart in the row and 3 to 4 ft between rows. The planting hole should be deep enough to allow the top of a peat pot to be covered with one inch of soil. If peat pot is exposed to the air, it will act like a wick and rapidly dry out the root ball, causing stunting or death of the plant. A starter solution should be used at planting time to insure proper fertilization during the early growth stages of young plants. Starter solutioas can be purchased from local garden centers or made at home. To make a starter solution, mix one poundofacomplete fertilizer such as 8-8-8 in 10 gal of water. If small quantities are desired, 3 to4Tbsp. of fertilizer can be mixed per gal of water. The high phosphorus content in commercial starter solutions make them the preferred choice over home mixes. Never use more than one cup of fertilizer solution per traasplant. Large quantities of starter solution will bum the root system. Tomato plants should be staked or caged shortly after planting. Generally, staking produces larger tomatoes but less quantity than caging. A common 6-ft tomato stake may be purchased from many garden centers. The stake should be driven in the soil about STATE UNIVERSITY A&T STATE UNIVERSITY COOPERATIVE EXTENSION Helping People Put Knowledge to Work