When To Start Planting Tomatoes

Our own Dave has written anwith other people, it's considered good etiquette to ferment your seeds. I use the waxed surface of a metal cafe table. But there is a simpler way.in any seed-saving method is to choose an heirloom variety, one that produces...

If your plants are tall or leggy, you don't have to dig a hole to China. Some people swear by the flavor of heirloom varieties, while others think hybrids give them better yields. If you stake or cage your tomatoes, you can plant them 2 feet apart, which...

Blossom-end rot is a brown or black spot that develops on the bottom of the fruit and spreads, eventually causing the entire fruit to decay. If your plant seems to have an overabundance of leaves, but no fruit, suspect too much water or nitrogen.As a...

Determinate tomatoes are best suited to cages. Dwarf tomatoes will only need 12 inches between plants. Indeterminate tomatoes, including nearly all older and heirloom varieties, grow larger vines with a larger, more flavorful crop of late-maturing tomatoes.

Scratch it into the soil and water well. Place some in a spray bottle and use this to spray on the fruit and foliage. This is when the tomato blossom causes a large black spot on the very bottom of the fruit that gets bigger and bigger as the tomato grows.

Bush and dwarf vining varieties don't need pruning because they naturally grow into short bushes, but the plants benefit from a supporting cage. Prune suckers in the same way when they reach the desired length.

Craig continues to be active in the Seed Savers Exchange. Craig's passion for tomatoes exploded after joining the Seed Savers Exchange in 1986.The main focus is on open pollinated (non-hybrid) varieties, in a wide range of colors, sizes and flavors.

No need to add waterSince I grow mine in open containers, I water them frequently (nearly every day if the weather is hot and dry), which is labor intensive, but keeps the fungal threat low.Plus this keeps me actively observing for problems and feeling...

Place them in a cool, dark place, such as a basement, to ripen. Per 100 square feet of soil. If a frost threatens, pick the green tomatoes and lay them in a single layer in a box. According to Kansas State University, in southeastern Kansas, plant tomatoes...

Water the plants early in the morning rather than later in the day for the best results. Use either leaf mold, newspaper or straw for the best results. The presence of wilting leaves and very wet soil indicates the plants have been overwatered.Prune the...

Rings appear inside the spot, making it resemble a bull's eye. Black, wet-looking spots start at the leaf edge and spread inward. Pick off infected leaves, and discard them in the garbage.

High clay soils pack easily and are not ideal for deep root growth.Deep root growth requires some work on your part. Deep roots are also able to maximize water absorption. Water tomato plants regularly to keep the soil evenly moist throughout the growing...

Replace the pellets after each heavy rainfall.Set out rat traps throughout the tomato garden and along the edges of the garden. You can recognize the damage from rats by their tracks and droppings around the plants.

Don't use treated grass clippings as mulch around tomato plants. The most common herbicidal cause of leaf curl comes from 2,4-D, which is often used to treat lawns or crops for weeds.

Because either crop can develop mold problems under moist conditions and crowding, allow plenty of space for air to circulate between plants.When growing these two crops together, you must consider the potential for disease.

For areas that get frost, plan on planting out your tomato seedlings two to three weeks after your last frost, so you will start growing tomatoes from seed at four to six weeks before your last frost date., damp potting soil or in moistened peat pellets.

Eventually, I discovered both its real name, ‘Potato Top', and its proud history as a Pennsylvania heirloom, the legacy of Pittsburgher Fred Limbaugh.Fred Limbaugh's family has been growing these beautiful tomatoes in the Pittsburgh area for four generations.His...

Of Epsom salt.Sprinkle the correct amount of Epsom salt around the base of your tomato plant.Mix the Epsom salt crystals with the soil, working them into the ground carefully to avoid damaging the roots.

Many heirloom cultivars have been passed down through several generations of a family.The renewed interest in heirlooms started in the 1970s. We're all familiar with regular tomatoes, but what's an heirloom?

To control blight, fungicide sprays should be applied prior to a rain event. If splitting or cracking has occurred, remove the bad tomatoes and apply a calcium chloride spray to the new growth.A strong, heavy rain can help keep your tomato plants free...

Tomatoes are originally native to South America and even though they are grown practically everywhere in the world today, are still sensitive to extreme cold. This is why experts always warn against storing tomatoes in the refrigerator.To avoid mealy...

Even if you don't have the space for a large garden, tomato plants are suited to container gardening. Transfer them outside when they are about 4 to 6 inches tall and when it is at least 50 degrees Fahrenheit with no chance of frost.

If you live in Northern Georgia, you may have to wait until late February or early March.Plant seedlings from mid-March to early May in Georgia. You could also plant tomatoes in a container during this time.

On their way to a bumper crop and the envy of all who pass, your tomato plants have more than jealous neighbors as admirers. Measuring about 1/16 inch long, they feed in groups and lay eggs on the backs of the leaves.By transmitting the tomato infectious...

Tomatoes are the most popular vegetable grown in home gardens, according to the University of Tennessee. Tomatoes are highly sensitive to frost, so be sure to wait until the last freeze of the season is behind you before you plant them outdoors.

Wildlife readily dispersed tomato seeds throughout countries such as Bolivia, Chile and Peru.Tomato seeds can be dispersed by birds and foraging animals. Animals excrete the undigested seeds miles away from the original plant.

Tomato plants that are actively growing, flowering and setting fruit need more water than tomato plants that are still in the seedling stage (not having flowered yet). Allow the top 2 to 3 inches of soil to dry out before watering again.