3 Early Season Tomato Tips
As you plan for this season's amazing crop of tomatoes here's a trio of tips to boost success regardless of your location,garden size or favorite type; salad, paste, cherry, grape, pear or beefsteak.
1. Determinate or Indeterminate (what's that?)
Determinate tomato types are ones with a pre-determined mature size. These "bush" varieties top out at two to four feet tall, making them suitable for patio containers and smaller garden spaces. Indeterminate or "vine" tomatoes are ones that keep growing and producing until cold weather cuts them down. These can develop into really big plants with head-high branches that require stretching up to harvest.
Determinate tomato plants produce for a short window, typically for just a few weeks in midseason. This type is ideal if you want lots of ripe tomatoes at the same time; gardeners who grow tomatoes for canning often choose these. Indeterminate plants produce starting mid-summer and continue for as long as the weather is hospitable. These types typically produce more fruit over the course of the season and at rates that are ideal for home gardeners who want a steady supply for daily use. Due to their substantial size, indeterminate tomato plants usually requires staking, caging or other sturdy supports.
Check the seed package or plant tag for this key piece of information, it will be there somewhere.
2. Resist the Urge to Plant Too Early
At this point in the winter, it's normal for gardeners to have the itch to get going. Hang on, timing is important. Tomato plants started indoors too early are often leggy and weak by the time it's warm enough to transplant them outside. And transplants put in the garden when the soil is still chilly will sit and sulk. They'll refuse to grow until the air and soil warm up, so early planting doesn't necessarily lead to the desired earlier harvests.
If it's just too early to plant where you live, get your tomato fix by spending an evening scouting for great tomato recipes online. The options are endless! Bookmark your favorites so you're ready this summer when your plants are in full production.
3. Tap a Free Local Resource
If you don't have a tried and true favorite tomato cultivar that you know produces well, ask an expert. Call your local Cooperative Extension office and request a list of varieties that grow well in your part of the country. This 10 minute activity can boost success by making sure you start out on the right foot. These helpful folks can also recommend ideal planting times for your region.
For organic gardening products, visit Spray-N-Grow's website ( http://www.spray-n-growgardening.com ). Their garden products are safe for people, plants and pets.
1. Determinate or Indeterminate (what's that?)
Determinate tomato types are ones with a pre-determined mature size. These "bush" varieties top out at two to four feet tall, making them suitable for patio containers and smaller garden spaces. Indeterminate or "vine" tomatoes are ones that keep growing and producing until cold weather cuts them down. These can develop into really big plants with head-high branches that require stretching up to harvest.
Determinate tomato plants produce for a short window, typically for just a few weeks in midseason. This type is ideal if you want lots of ripe tomatoes at the same time; gardeners who grow tomatoes for canning often choose these. Indeterminate plants produce starting mid-summer and continue for as long as the weather is hospitable. These types typically produce more fruit over the course of the season and at rates that are ideal for home gardeners who want a steady supply for daily use. Due to their substantial size, indeterminate tomato plants usually requires staking, caging or other sturdy supports.
Check the seed package or plant tag for this key piece of information, it will be there somewhere.
2. Resist the Urge to Plant Too Early
At this point in the winter, it's normal for gardeners to have the itch to get going. Hang on, timing is important. Tomato plants started indoors too early are often leggy and weak by the time it's warm enough to transplant them outside. And transplants put in the garden when the soil is still chilly will sit and sulk. They'll refuse to grow until the air and soil warm up, so early planting doesn't necessarily lead to the desired earlier harvests.
If it's just too early to plant where you live, get your tomato fix by spending an evening scouting for great tomato recipes online. The options are endless! Bookmark your favorites so you're ready this summer when your plants are in full production.
3. Tap a Free Local Resource
If you don't have a tried and true favorite tomato cultivar that you know produces well, ask an expert. Call your local Cooperative Extension office and request a list of varieties that grow well in your part of the country. This 10 minute activity can boost success by making sure you start out on the right foot. These helpful folks can also recommend ideal planting times for your region.
For organic gardening products, visit Spray-N-Grow's website ( http://www.spray-n-growgardening.com ). Their garden products are safe for people, plants and pets.
