Plant tomatoes in your backyard for a tasty slice of summer.
Tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum) are divided into two types: determinate and indeterminate.
Most grow to three or four feet tall, although some patio varieties top out at 12 inches.
Credit:erin1979/500px/Getty Images
The stems and compound leaves of tomato plants are very hairy and have a distinctive musky scent.
Provide consistent moisture and a side dressing of tomato fertilizer for thebest-looking fruit.
The more compact determinate varieties can be planted two feet apart.
Credit: Annabelle Breakey / Getty Images
Tomatoes should be planted deep in fertile, well-drained soil.
The stem will sprout new roots that result in a stronger plant.
Without adequate sunlight, you’ll have fewer, smaller, and slower-to-ripen tomatoes.
Credit: Catherine Falls Commercial/Getty Images
Soil
Tomato plants perform best in mildly acidic, rich, and moderately moist soil.
Have your soil tested before the growing season begins andadd the recommended amendmentsto improve your soil’s fertility.
It is especially important to add lime if your soil is too acidic.
Credit: Andrey Maximenko / Getty Images
Stick your finger in the dirt, and water if the top inch of the soil feels dry.
Tomato plants are susceptible to fungal diseases, so be careful not to get the foliage wet when watering.
The plants thrive when it is 70oF to 80oF during the day.
Cover the soil around your plants with clear plastic so that the sun warms the soil.
Remove the plastic and replace it with mulch once temperatures rise.
In the Tropical South, like in Miami, tomatoes are often grown as a fall and winter crop.
Fertilizer
Tomatoes are heavy feeders that require lots of nutrients and benefit from fertilization.
The best approach is to have your soil tested for recommendations specific to your garden.
If you don’t get your soil tested, choose a fertilizer formulated for tomatoes and other vegetables.
For classic reds, try ‘Big Boy’, ‘Better Boy’, and ‘Celebrity’.
For pinks, pick ‘Arkansas Traveler’, ‘Pink Girl’, and ‘Watermelon Beefsteak’.
Black selections offer some of the most flavorful tomatoes.
Try ‘Black Krim’ or ‘Cherokee Purple’.
Grafting offers improved yields and disease resistance.
It can be a good choice if space is limited and you need maximum production for each plant.
It is important to prune only indeterminate varieties of tomato plants.
Smallpatio varietiesshould not be pruned except to remove diseased or damaged stems.
Most importantly, stake or remove low-hanging stems trailing on or near the ground.
Pinching these suckers will prevent the growth of more side branches while speeding up the development of fruit.
This is best done earlier in the growing season, as tomato plants need time to mature and develop.
Remove weeds, which can harbor diseases and the pests that spread them.
Get your soil tested, andadd limeif it is too acidic to help reduce the spread of disease.
Keep your plants well-watered, and fertilize at the appropriate time.
Small caterpillars can be sprayed with Bt or insecticidal soap.
If you see long, thin beetles eating the foliage, you might have blister beetles.
There are plenty of insects that attack the fruit as well.
Stink bugs are recognizable by a shield-shaped body.
Bright orange leaf-footed bugs will cluster together on tomato plants.
Here are some other problems you may see and how to solve them.
While often seen in tomatoes, this issue can also afflictpeppers,eggplants, and different kinds ofsquashes.
Discard the affected fruits, water regularly, and apply tomato fertilizer that contains calcium.
Water regularly during dry spells to discourage cracking.
Very cold or hot weather may also cause cracking.
This usually occurs after extreme swings in temperature that affect flower formation and pollination.
Though the fruit may be ugly, you’re free to still eat it.
Whitish or Tan Spots on Fruit
This phenomenon is referred to assunscald.
Light tan or grayish spots develop on exposed sides of the fruit during hot, sunny weather.
This is most common on plants that have lost a significant amount of foliage.
Encouraging new leafy growth and using shade cloth over exposed tomatoes can help prevent this problem.
Water if needed, and know that this symptom doesn’t necessarily harm your plant.
Herbicides can also be present in straw.
Don’t use herbicides around your plants, and take a stab at protect them from drift from spraying.
Remove any straw you suspect may have been treated or exposed to herbicides.
Again, don’t use herbicides anywhere near your plants.
Also avoid planting them near other nightshade plants that carry the same diseases, such as potatoes and eggplants.
Marigolds make a goodcompanion plantfor many vegetables, as they deter pests, like root-knot nematodes and whiteflies.
They should pick off the vine easily.
If you harvest too early, thats alright.
you might encourage theripening processin a variety of ways.
American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.Tomato plant.
North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox.Solanum lycopersicum.
University of Minnesota Extension.Coffee grounds, eggshells and Epsom salts in the home garden.
