TERRIFIC
Tomatoes
and then stop. These types of
tomatoes set all their fruit at once,
require little pruning and will require
simple staking or a cage.
Indeterminate: These are tall tomatoes
and require sturdy staking or a trellis.
They keep on growing and will require
regular pruning for higher yields and
larger fruit.
Planting
By far the most popular plant in the
vegetable garden, tomatoes reward
the home gardener with flavourful fruit
that is much superior to those found
in the supermarket. Here are some tips
to ensure your tomatoes harvest is
terrific.
Choosing Tomatoes
Do you want handfuls of cherry
tomatoes for snacking, medium types
for salads or fresh eating or bushels of
meaty Roma types for canning and
preserving? There are a bounty of
varieties within each of those categories
and the staff at Greenland will be
happy to share their favourites. Knowing
your ‘type’ of tomato will also help you
choose.
Tomatoes are classified as:
Determinate: These are compact yet
fairly bushy, grow to a certain point
Tomatoes require a warm, sunny spot
as well as a rich, well-drained soil (add
in Sea Soil or Hop compost) and sprinkle
a slow release, granulated fertilizer
such as Off the Vine into the planting
hole. Tomatoes are heavy feeders and
this granular plant food ensures a slow
steady stream of
nutrients. When
planting, bury
tomato plants
slightly deeper
than they come
in the pot, about
2-4”. Tomatoes
are able to
develop roots all along their stems, so
planting deeper encourages strong
root growth. Water plants in well at
time of planting, and stake or cage
any that require it.
Water Regularly
Water deep and regularly while the
plants are developing. Irregular watering,
(allowing root zone to dry out
completely, then soaking plants) leads
to blossom end rot and fruit cracking.
If we are not receiving moisture via
rainfall, plants in beds will often require
water twice per week while container
plants can require moisture daily.