It doesn't take an expert gardener to appreciate the virtues of a homegrown tomato. And now that spring is officially here, my mouth waters just thinking about that first bite. Here are some ideas you can apply this season to boost your tomato-growing prospects.
For greater diversity and a fast start, grow your own seeds indoors about six weeks before the last frost. You will find more selections with seed than you will with store-bought seedlings since only a few varieties are typically offered in garden centers.
Well-amended soil, full of rich compost and other organic material, can be your secret weapon to having the best tomatoes around. There is no manmade substitute for good old-fashioned compost and amazing results.
To illustrate this point, a few seasons ago, I grew tomatoes in a raised bed consisting of garden soil, composted manure and other natural amendments. Not far away, sat my compost bin, full of aged, rich dark compost. There I found a volunteer tomato plant happily growing from the heap. I decided to monitor its progress to see how it would do without any supplemental care.
Over the next two or three months, this undemanding tomato plant thrived within the compost. It never became diseased or hampered by pests. Its color remained beautifully dark green. As the season matured, so did this plant. It was heavy with abundant large red tomatoes and produced right up until the first frost. As you might expect, the taste was outstanding. Although my cultivated plant did well, my friend growing in pure compost did even better.
Which leads to my next point. A healthy plant is a happy plant, and a happy plant will taste best. By starting with disease-free plants, you have a better chance of keeping them that way. There are many hybrid varieties available today that have been developed to be more resistant to common diseases. However, I find that the hybrid varieties don't compare with heirloom tomatoes when it comes to taste. The downside of heirlooms is that they can be more susceptible to disease problems. However, there are ways to minimize the risks.
Pick a sunny spot and don't plant your tomatoes too close together. Tomato plants thrive in full sun and are healthier when provided with good air circulation.
Plant your seedlings deep, very deep. Tomato plants are one of the few vegetables that will root along the stem. I leave two sets of leaves above ground and bury the rest of the plant after removing the remaining lower leaves and stems. This step produces a larger root area and a more vigorous plant.
In the planting hole, I add a tablespoon or so of dolomitic limestone and mix it into the soil. This step can help ward off blossom-end rot in emerging fruit. Fill the hole and water it in thoroughly. To get the newly planted seedlings off to an even faster start, I pour a healthy dose of an organic blend of fish emulsion and sea kelp over the entire plant, making sure to soak the soil as well.
Manage the water. A soaker hose is best for this because it allows the water to soak deeply into the soil, without wetting the foliage above. Don't over-water, but do make sure the plants are getting enough. As the seedlings mature a bit and settle in to their new environment, add mulch. For tomatoes, one of the most important roles of mulch is to prevent soil-borne pathogens from splashing onto the foliage and spreading disease. Place the mulch to within 1 or 2 inches from the stem, in a layer 2 to 3 inches high. I place my mulch right over the soaker hose.
As the plants grow taller, make sure they are supported in some way. There are many options for this, but as the plants grow skyward, the weight of the fruit can easily bend and break the plant stems and branches.
These guidelines will get your tomato plants off to a great start.
(Information courtesy of Joe Lamp'l)
