If I were restricted to only one garden plant (I was going to say vegetable but we all know what a kettle of fish the fruit-veg debate re tomatoes is) it would have to be the tomato.
As I’ve mentioned before, we have three beds of them this year, that’s three out of 10, so you can tell we love our tomatoes.
The tomatoes in the bed pictured above have had their share of challenges so far this season. The cats have done their best to bury them when they were first planted. The one in the center was uprooted entirely by a tiny person who will go unnamed. I found it lying in the grass several yards away.
They survived a record 10 inch rainfall with high winds and, if they live that long, they will likely face aphids, tomato hornworms, and early blight, to name a few.
To combat these hazards, I try a few things, including:
- regular organic fertilization, at planting and monthly thereafter–the dry stuff in a bag and foliar kelp
- rotation, not growing tomatoes where I grew them last year
- obsessive-compulsive checking for the devil hornworm
- rinsing off aphids with water (and hand-squishing)
- staking to keep them off the ground
- trimming the lower branches that touch the soil
- mulching to conserve water, suppress weeds, and prevent soil borne diseases from splashing up as bad
- regular watering at the soil level
- a mix of heirlooms because they are lovely, and disease-resistant hybrids because I gotta hedge my bets
The cats and the children receive warning looks and pointless lectures. If you’ve ever lectured a cat you know what I mean. (Why are you doing that? Dig someplace else. Don’t you understand how important tomatoes are to this family?)
Please tell me your favorite tomato tips. There can never be too much tomato advice or too much tomato talk.
Companion planting! Peppers are excellent planting partners with tomatoes. Basil enhances their flavor (and tomatoes enhance basil’s flavor). Borage planted nearby is supposed to help keep hornworms away (and the blossoms are pretty in salads).
I noticed you plant down the center of your beds, do you want anything else around then? Are the long sides of your beds east/west facing? I use tomato towers (extra tall square cages) for my tomatoes.
This is only me second year growing in this climate though, I drink in any advice I get more then give it. I always companion plant my tomatoes with basil & carrots though.
I always plant garlic under or around my tomatoes to keep pests away. It’s not such a problem here in the NW, but we do have a lack of sunny hot days, so I start those babies in the house in Feb. to give them a good head start.
we always get tomato seedling come up wherever we spread our compost, and we just let them grow wild, they seem to be quit hardy. They are all cherry tomatoes though and I need some bigger ones.
I plant mine with peppers, marigolds and borage. Like Corey said, the borage is suposed to keep other creepy crawlies away (though I never have too many issues with hornworms in my area) and are a really lovely herb! Flowers and leaves are edible!
for the aphids, try this: soak hot peppers in water for a couple of days. strain peppers. pour stinky water into a spray bottle. spray the leaves and or/aphids. will keep the squirrels from eating your tomatoes, too. you’ve got to remember to re-apply after it rains or you water and periodically to cover new growth.
definitely plant some marigolds around the edges of your tomotoe boxes. The oils and smell keeps all kinds of tomato-munching bugs away.
Well tomato is indeed a fruit…and the banana is a herb. Right now that one is cleared up ……
I plant my tomato plants in tubs. This gives me direct control of moisture levels and feeding etc.
I always pinch off the extra shoots that sprout between the others so as not to end up with too much weight on the plant and so much fruit that the plant can’t grow.
I have buried my tubs slightly into the soil to stop them toppling. My tubs are positioned near a 5ft fence. This gives them protection from the wind and acts a s a sun trap so they benefit from the heat all day.
Feed weekly once the flowers come out.
I guess that’s pretty much it….I haven’t had pest problems with my tomatoes yet and (touch wood) this year will be the same
Oh BOO-HOO!!!
I had started mine indoors in early April. Just a few weeks ago my Main Man found some Miricle Gro in the basement that had gotten damp and mixed it up to water my veggies. Alas, it was mixed too strong and burnt up all my hard work. Only a few super hardy plants survived. It looks like a trip to the greemhouse. 🙁
Back on subject I plant marigolds and radishs among my plants. And I know what you mean about the lectures to the four leggeds. Our pit bull puppy runs like the wind and just can’t seem to get the brakes on in time to stay out of the garden, all 68 lbs. of him!
“…and disease-resistant hybrids because I gotta hedge my bets” LOL! It’s funny because it’s true!
We surrounded our plot with 2 ft tall chicken wire fence. Barely visible from a distance, easy to step over, keeps out dogs, cats, bunnies,… Now if we could keep the birds from pecking.
I prevent blossom end rot by placing crushed egg shells in the planting hole, then place my seedlings on top. Blossom end rot is caused by calcium deficiency; since I have read that calcium doesn’t travel well through soil, I like to make sure there is plenty at the root zone. I toss some (used) coffee grounds in there, too. That, plus compost, is the only fertilizing I do.
Don’t have any handy tips. I just plant as many plants that I have room for….and wait for the yummy results! Nothing better that a vine ripened tomato, still warm from the sun, sliced on buttered toast. Can’t wait!
Oh how I love you all. Wonderful tips!
I feed birds. Bluejays are the only bird I know that will eat the devil hornworm. They bring their babies to the water and food. So far, so good.
Another way to control aphids is to buy praying mantis. You can buy them in egg sacks that hatch hundreds of the cute creatures. Not only do they eat aphids but also a whole plethora of bad insects. Plus kids love having them around. Ladybugs are also another aphid eating insect that can be purchased. One can also buy nematodes to spray on their veggies to prevent and control several different problems including onion maggot.