Grow fresh, sun-ripened tomatoes right in your own backyard.
It’s the over-the-top flavor of these and other heirloom tomatoes that makes us want togrow them.
Heirlooms come in all sizes and colorsred, yellow, black, pink, orange, and green.
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Plant in the spring after all danger of frost has passed.
They are fast growers and take 60-80 days to produce fruit.
Cindy Martin and her husband, George, ownedThe Tasteful Garden, which specializes in kitchen garden plants.
Cindy died in 2020, but here are some of her best tips and advice for growing heirloom tomatoes.
What Is An Heirloom Tomato?
‘Green Zebra,’ a hybrid, is often considered an heirloom but is a result of recent breeding.
“I define an heirloom tomato a little differently,” Cindy said.
Cindy pointed out that heirloom types come from a time before disease resistance was crossbred into plants.
Some experts recommend eight hours.
There’s one caveat: Many gardeners start heirloom tomatoes by seed indoors.
If that’s the case, harden off your seedlings by gradually increasing their time outdoors.
Transplant your tomatoes once they are acclimated to full sun.
Soil
Tomato plants perform best in mildly acidic, fertile, moderately moist soil.
They can grow in average garden soil, even clay, as long as the soil is well-drained.
If your soil is poor in organic matter, mix in compost when you plant.
Besides providing nutrients, the compost will help conserve moisture.
Water tomatoes regularly, especially in sunny, hot weather.
Stick your finger in the dirt and water if the top inch of the soil feels dry.
Temperature And Humidity
Tomatoes are awarm-season vegetable, so plant after all danger of frost has passed.
Tomato plants grow best when it is 70F to 80F during the day.
The plants won’t grow much or set fruit if nighttime temperatures drop below 55F.
In the Tropical South, tomatoes are often grown as a fall and winter crop.
A dry climate can cause plants to dry out quickly and necessitate more frequent watering.
Very high humidity, on the other hand, interferes with pollination.
Fertilizer
Tomatoes are heavy feeders that benefit from fertilization.
The best approach is to have your soil tested so you could receive recommendations specific to your garden.
If you don’t get your soil tested, you canchoose a fertilizerformulated for tomatoes and other vegetables.
Commercial tomato fertilizers usually contain calcium as well, which helps prevent blossom-end rot.
When the first fruits appear, side-dress the plants with more fertilizer (usually 2-3 tbsp.
Determinate tomatoes do not need to be pruned, as it would reduce the amount of fruit produced.
Propagating Heirloom Tomatoes
Heirloom tomato plants are incredibly easy to propagate.
The same is true of sections of the stem.
Stick each stem in a pot filled with rich potting soil and water well.
Set the pot in indirect light and keep the soil moist.
Choose at least an 18-inch diameter pot for determinate or bush tomatoes.
you might grow indeterminate tomatoes in a pot that is 24 inches or larger.
Use high-quality potting soil for tomatoes and see to it the pot has adequate drainage.
Add support like a tomato cage, trellis, or stakes.
Potted tomato plants need more frequent watering to keep from drying out.
To conserve moisture, you’re able to add an inch of mulch around your tomato plants.
Placing a saucer under each pot will allow plants to continue absorbing moisture throughout the day.
Common Pests & Plant Diseases
Unfortunately, heirloom tomatoes can be harmed by all sorts of diseases.
Remove weeds from the area, as they can harbor both diseases and the pests that spread them.
Tomatoes at the grocery store have been bred to resist disease.
Because some heirloom tomatoes arent red, it may be hard to tellwhen they are ripe.
Watch their color carefully and pick just before the color hits its peak.
Heirloom tomatoes also soften as they ripen.
Hybrid tomatoes have been bred to resist diseases and pests, and flavor wasnt a big factor.
Often the best-tasting heirlooms were passed down through generations.
Heirloom tomatoes are known for their juicy, often sweet flavor, and each variety has a distinct taste.
North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox.Solanum lycopersicum.
American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.Tomato plant.
