Tomatoes for all purposes
’TIS THE SEASON: ALL VARIETIES HAVE THEIR OWN BEST USE IN TYPES OF COOKING
They’re very easy to grow from seed, but keep a watch out for white fly attacks.
With the last cold spell of September behind us, it is time to sow and plant summer’s most popular fruiting vegetable – tomatoes.
Tomatoes are the easiest to grow from seed. Tomatoes thrown onto the compost last season will pop up like weeds in this season’s beds.
For avid tomato eaters the best way to have a delicious variety for cooking, salads, sandwiches and sauces is to grow tomatoes from seed. It is only necessary to sow two or three seeds of each type and store the rest of the seed for succession sowing later in the season or for the following years.
According to Marlaen Straathof of Kirchhoffs Seeds, seed can last for up to four years if seed packets are sealed and stored in a cool, dark, dry place.
Tomatoes vary in size, shape, texture and taste. Some are better for cooking, others are ideal for salads, while others are good all-rounders, says Marlaen For salads and sandwiches use tomatoes that hold their shape when cut and are flavourful, like Floradade and Heinz 1370.
Heinz is a determinate variety. Determinate tomatoes are varieties that grow to a fixed mature size and are often referred to as “bush” tomatoes because they do not continue growing in length throughout the growing season. It produces large fruit and yields best when staked. It was one of the first Heinz-bred tomato seed varieties that was used to make Heinz tomato sauce.
Moneymaker, which is a vining tomato, is also suitable.
Cherry tomatoes, like Red Cherry Sweetie and Cherry Yellow Pear, are good in salads and for eating fresh. They also roast well because of their high sugar content. They are vining tomatoes that need support, like a trellis
The meaty Oxheart tomato is delicious for fresh eating as well as for cooking. This heritage variety from the 1920s has enormous fruit (280-340g), heart shaped and with pinkish-red flesh. It needs staking. The Tomato Roma Vf (jam tomato) is a firm plum tomato perfect for pastes, cooking and canning. It is meaty with few seeds. Although it is a bush type plant, its vigorous growth might require some support. A good allround tomato is the vine tomato, Moneymaker. It is an unfussy old English tomato that produces a good supply of medium sized fruit in hot climates. It needs staking. Seed sown directly into the ground will develop a tap root which produces a stronger plant that is more disease resistant. Choose a position that receives at least six hours of sunshine, preferably morning sun. Before planting enrich the soil with compost and potassium rich fertiliser (2:3:4.). Tomatoes like plenty of water and good drainage. This can be achieved by mounding up the soil and planting on top of the mound. Water deeply once a week in summer and avoid wetting the leaves. Spacing plants at least 30cm apart will ensure good air circulation and make them less susceptible to fungus disease. Leaves will also dry off quicker if they are not grown too close together. During the growing season sprinkle a teaspoon (or recommended amount) of potassium rich fertiliser, like Vigorosa 5:1:5 around the plant and water in well. Feeding is very important when the fruit it is forming.
If white fly becomes evident, spray weekly with Ludwig’s Insect Spray+, making sure to drench the underside of the leaves where the pests like to live and breed. To break the life cycle of the pest, spray every five days for the first two weeks, and then every seven to 10 days, for six weeks. For the best taste, let the fruit to ripen completely on the bush. This allows the starches to turn to sugar, which intensifies the flavour. Store tomatoes at room temperature; not in the refrigerator which affects the taste.
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