Tomato Culture & Notes

TOMATO                Solanaceae             Lycopersicon esculentum

HABITAT: 

Native to the Andes region of South America.  Zones 3-10.

HABIT: 

Annual, shrubby and vining plant to 6' or more, bearing round, oblong, or pear-shaped edible fruits in pink, white, yellow, and red.  Size, shape, and color dependent upon varieties.  Matures 55-85 days, depending upon varieties. 

Tomatoes classed in three main types:

1. Determinate:  Small, compact plants with 12-18" stems which stop bearing when they reach full size.
2. Semi-Determinate:  Slightly larger with 18-24" stems which also cease production at full size.
3. Indeterminate:  Vine type plant growing and bearing indefinitely unless killed by frost or disease. Most suited for staking.  Growth can be controlled by pinching out top growth and removing side shoots (laterals).
    

SEED GERMINATION AND CULTURE: 

     Tomatoes prefer soil with a pH of 5.5-7.5.  For best results, sow seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before last spring frost on moistened Park's Grow Mix, covering lightly and keeping moist but not wet and maintaining 70° within the soil medium during germination, which requires 8-10 days. Transplant when large enough to handle to peat pots or sow direct to peat pots or pellets and shift to the garden when weather permits and roots emerge from pot walls.  Seed may also be sown outdoors when soil warms and night temperatures remain above 65°.  Incorporate 3 pounds of balanced garden fertilizer such as 8-8-8 per 100 sq. ft. into the soil prior to planting.

     Set out plants when weather permits and plants are well established (preferably 6-10" tall), 18-24" apart, in rows 2' apart in full sun and a good garden soil with excellent drainage. Set potted plants with the pots approximately 2" below the soil surface.  Plants will root along the stem.  Tall plants may actually be set by placing the pot and plant on its side, covering all but 4-5" of the top of the plant.  Resulting crop will be improved.  Stake indeterminate varieties, although if room is not a problem, they may be grown on the ground.  Keep plants cultivated and watered but be very careful practicing shallow cultivation as the root system is shallow and easily damaged.  For best results, mulch plants with black plastic, straw, hay, etc. to conserve moisture, eliminate cultivation and weeds and improve the soil.

      To help prevent blossom-end rot, incorporate lime at the rate of 5 lbs. per 100 sq. ft. at least 6 weeks prior to planting and mulch after planting. One stem (indeterminate) plants are produced by removing all suckers or side shoots that appear at the leaf joints (axils).  Determinate varieties(shorter plants) are more compact and need no staking or pinching.  Do not thin the foliage as it gives vital protection to the fruit. Keep the plants well supplied with water until just before harvest, then reduce water slightly.  Too much water at this time may cause fruit cracking.  Repeat furtilization at the rate of a handful per plant, worked into the soil in a band around the plant when the plants are 6-8 weeks old and again 4 weeks later.  In areas where night temperatures are below 55° in the spring, blossoms may drop, thus reducing the fruit set. To prevent this, spray blossom clusters when most flowers have fully opened with a fruit set hormone such as Blossom Set. When day time temperatures average 75°, allow fruit to fully ripen for best quality; however, when temperatures are higher, harvest when fruits are pinkish and allow fruits to ripen in the house.

     Determinate plants yield about 8 pounds each; semi-determinate plants about 10 pounds each; indeterminate plants about 8 pounds each when staked or 15 pounds each when unstaked.

Common Insects: 

• Cutworms:  Place paper collars around stems of plants when first setting them in the garden.
• Hornworms, Flea Beetles:  For best results, use an approved insecticide such as Sevin for control.
• White Fly, Aphids:  For best results, use an approved insecticide such as Malathion, Rotenone, or insecticidal soap for control.
• Red Spider Mites:  For best results, use an approved insecticide such as Kelthane or insecticidal soap for control.
• Nematodes:  Plant Nemagold Marigolds.
• Slugs:  For best results, use a bait or trap.

Common Diseases: 

• Early Blight (Alternaria):  Browning and dropping of the lower foliage in late summer.  Apply every 7-10 days an approved fungicide such as Ferbam, Zineb, Maneb for control.
• Late Blight:  Caused by high humidity, cool nights, and warm days.  Quickly rots green and ripe fruit and kills vines.  Apply every 7-10 days an approved fungicide such as Ferbam, Zineb, or Maneb for control.
• Curly Top:  Twisting and upward curling or cupping of the new leaves.  Malformed flowers.  Control leaf hoppers with Malathion.  Generally spread by insects.
• Botrytis Fruit Rot:  Avoid syringing foliage.  Apply a Bordeaux Mixture or Captan for control.
• Fruit Cracking:  Usually occurs after heavy rains and high humidity.  Use resistant varieties.  Lime soil as above and mulch with hay, straw, etc.
• Hard Cores and Center Spots:  Due to changes in temperatures, especially low night temperatures.  No control, although some varieties are more resistant than others.
• Anthracnose (Ripe Rot):  Improve soil drainage. Pick all ripe fruits as they mature and use promptly.  Dust with an approved fungicide such as Zineb, Ferbam, or Maneb for control.
• Fusarium Wilt, Verticillium Wilt:  Rotate crops but do not rotate with eggplants, peppers, or potato crops.  Plant resistant varieties.
• Blossom End Rot:  Caused generally by sudden changes in soil moisture and lack of calcium.  Lime soil as above. Mulch plants with hay, straw, etc.  Keep watered and fertilized and do not cultivate in dry weather.  Use resistant varieties.
• Sun Scald:  Worse in hot weather.  Do not prune plants heavily nor thin foliage.  Use heavily foliaged varieties.
• Poor Fruit Set:  Avoid setting out when night temperatures are below 55°.  Use early varieties.  High day time temperatures and hot, dry winds will also cause blossom drop. Rain and high humidity hamper fruit set.  Shaking plants will increase pollination.  Do this in mid day when it is warm and humidity is low.  Maintain soil moisture.  Avoid growing plants in shade.  Use Blossom Set hormone as stated above. All Vine/No Fruit:  Too much water, too little water, or too much fertilizer.  Keep the nitrogen percentage low on the fertilizer.  Avoid shade.  Remove terminal shoots. Hold back on water somewhat and root prune to help plant to set fruit.

PROPAGATION:  Seed.

Notes:  Try growing the smaller varieties in 10-12" pots or hanging baskets to utilize limited space.