By Carl John Esslinger
When it comes to vegetable gardens, tomatoes are king. We love our tomatoes...
Tomato plants are vigorous and resilient. The fruit is highly prized and very versatile. Here are a few practices that will help ensure you have a good harvest.
- Start with healthy plants that are free of disease, have a thick stem, and good green color.
- Ensure that your soil has been limed, has good fertility, and lots of organic matter.
- The best time historically to plant tomatoes in our area is between May 20th and May 25th.
- Leave about 24” between plants to ensure good airflow.
- Use mulch to conserve moisture and suppress weeds.
- If planting an indeterminate variety be ready to stake it up and remove the lower suckers.
- Keep the soil moist. If the plant starts to wilt, significant yield has been lost. Keep in mind that over-watering close to harvest will result in cracked fruit.
- If you are applying fungicides, they need to be applied before wet weather allows an infection to occur.
- Keep the weeds out all season. Weeds steal water, light, and nutrients.
- Watch your tomato plants closely. Check for insects and disease.
Tomato diseases can be an ongoing problem. Most diseases can survive in the leaves and stems from last year’s tomato plants. The disease can even survive from year to year on the tomato stakes. Tomato plants should not be planted in the same spot each year. Old tomato stakes should be soaked in a 10% bleach solution for 10 minutes before using or replaced each year. Late blight is different. It does not survive over the winter here. It is brought in from the south each year. Will late blight be a problem this summer? No one knows, yet. If we have a cool and wet summer, late blight will likely be a problem.