Tomato-growing tips
A Victory Garden 2.0 wouldn’t be complete without a few tomato plants.
If you have room for only one or two edibles in your home garden, choose tomatoes. They are easy to grow, and there’s little to compare with the flavour (and vitamins) of a freshly picked tomato.
The National Garden Bureau asked their members to answer some of the most often asked growing tomatoes questions they receive. I have customized some of the tips with local references and my own experience. The garden centres are open. Stay safe, practice physical distancing and be patient when you head out to the garden centre this weekend.
1. What’s the difference between indeterminate and determinate tomatoes?
An indeterminate tomato will continue to grow leaves and stems all season long, and they will also flower and produce fruit all season long. Indeterminate tomatoes typically perform best when grown in the ground, and can get quite tall. However, large half-barrel containers or nursery containers can handle the job. Determinate tomatoes tend to have a bush habit (shorter) and grow well in containers or in the ground.
2. Can tomatoes survive if you planted them too early in the season?
They might survive if you keep the young plants warm with a cloche or other protective cover. Tomatoes are not frost-hardy and will die if exposed to 0 C without protection. Typically, here in Niagara, you can plant tomatoes around the Victoria Day weekend, but given this year’s unpredictable weather, it’s a safe bet to hold off on planting for another week or two.
3. If I have started my tomatoes from seed indoors, do I need to gradually prepare them for outdoor temperatures?
It is important to harden off any tender plants by exposing them gradually to the harsh outdoor conditions. Put young plants outside where they will receive morning sun but be protected from wind, and move them inside at night. Continue this for about a week, and then begin to leave them outside on nights when the temperature does not drop below 10 C.
4. How do I plant my tomatoes properly?
Remove the lower leaves from the stem and bury the stem about twothirds deep. The portion of the stem that is buried will form roots, which will allow more water and nutrient uptake, making the plant stronger and sturdier. Tomatoes are one of the easiest garden plants to grow. They need as much direct sunlight as possible to produce the highest yield. Native to the tropics, tomatoes require warm temperatures for good growth — planting tomatoes too soon will only slow them down.
5. How often should I water my tomato plants?
Continue watering regularly for about two weeks until the plants are established. Throughout the growing season remember to water the plants deeply during dry periods for as long as they are setting fruit. Established tomato plants need at least 2.5 cm of precipitation per week.
7. I’d prefer not to cage my tomatoes, is there another way to support my plant?
There are lots of different ways to support your tomato. The first thing to check is whether the variety is determinate (more bushtype) or indeterminate (more of a vining, larger plant). If you get a thick stake and put it in the ground near the base of the tomato stem, you could tie up the plant along the stake as it continues to grow. Using fencing to support the plant is another option but there are also lots of attractive supports available from retailers.
8. Is there any way to prevent blossom end rot on the first tomatoes that produce? Is there one variety over another that is better preventing that?
Blossom end rot on tomatoes typically occurs when there is uneven watering, which can often be out of our control. Water evenly as best as you can. Roma tomatoes tend to show the most amount of blossom end rot and cherry tomatoes tend to show the least amount.
9. Should I fertilize during the growing season or just at the beginning?
Tomatoes need phosphorus, nitrogen, potash, and minor elements. Starting your plants off with an ample shovelful or two of compost will go a long way toward making sure the soil will provide for their needs. It will also aid the soil in holding onto moisture, which will prevent problems such as blossomend rot. Water-soluble granules or fish emulsion, can be applied when watering. No matter what kind of fertilizer you use always follow the directions on the label. Do not overfertilize because this will cause lush plants with little fruit set.
10. How do I grow a tomato plant in a container?
For smaller containers, select a tomato variety with a compact habit — cherry tomatoes are a good choice. The container needs to be deep, at least a foot, with drainage holes on the bottom. I plant indeterminate tomatoes in large nursery planters and let them climb up a wrought iron trellis set against a south-facing wall. They love the reflected heat, are handy to the kitchen and produce a good crop.
Container grown tomatoes need a sterile growing mix, even watering and plenty of sunshine., Feed plants regularly with a water-soluble fertilizer, keeping in mind that nutrients will leach out of the pots faster than from garden soil. During periods of hot weather, full-grown plants may need to be watered daily.
11. How do I know when to harvest my tomatoes?
For the best tomato flavour, allow the fruit to fully ripen on the plant. Wait until it is deep red, yellow, or whatever final colour the tomato is to be because once it is removed from the vine, the supply of sugars is cut off. Tomatoes are best kept at room temperature and will store on a kitchen counter for several days. 12. What are the benefits of growing tomatoes?
Tomatoes provide abundant vitamins and minerals. One cup of cherry tomatoes will provide 25 per cent of daily recommended vitamin A, 32 per cent of vitamin C, and a substantial amount of vitamin K and potassium. Tomatoes are also an excellent source of lycopene, a powerful antioxidant that has been linked to a reduced risk of cancers.
For the best tasting, most nutritious tomatoes, grow your own and eat them fresh from your own Victory Garden 2.0.