Caring for My Tomato Plants
My tomatoes are growing so beautifully this season.
Every year, I love to grow a large and interesting assortment of tomatoes. I purchase many of the seeds from reputable seed companies, but I also make a point of collecting seeds during my travels. In addition, I like to use seeds that have been passed on to me from other gardeners and friends. This year, as part of our tomato plant maintenance plan, my crew added more support to the bamboo teepee structures to keep all the tomatoes off the ground. I am happy to report all the fast-growing plants are thriving and looking excellent. I cannot wait to harvest all the juicy, sweet tomatoes!
Enjoy these photos and tips.
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- Everything in the vegetable garden is growing so wonderfully this season, especially the tomatoes. I thought it was a good time to check on their progress.
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- All the tomato plants are well-supported under bamboo teepee-like structures and now laden with fruits.
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- We staked all the tomatoes with bamboo teepees last month and wrapped jute twine around each one to support the vines and provide direction as they cling and climb.
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- Because the vines also get very heavy as the fruits grow and develop, we added bamboo crossbars along the entire length of each row to add even more support.
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- These bamboo poles are each about six to eight feet long and are secured down the middle of each row and through each bamboo cage.
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- They are tied to the existing teepees with jute twine – everything is kept uniform and as natural as possible.
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- Securing the tomato plants is a time-consuming process, but very crucial to good plant growth and performance.
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- And then, using more jute twine, the vines are carefully secured to the bamboo.
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- There is one crossbar about two feet off the ground and then another about two feet higher than the first. These supports really help to keep all these beautiful fruits off the ground and free of rot.
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- ‘Japanese Black Trifele’ tomatoes have pear-shaped fruit and green-streaked shoulders, deepening to a burnished mahogany and finally to a darkened, nearly black base. The meaty interior has similar shades and rich flavor.
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- Most tomato plants need between 50 and 90 days to mature. Planting can also be staggered to produce early, mid and late-season tomato harvests.
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- It’s always a good idea to grow a range of varieties, including at least one or two disease-resistant types, since, of all veggies, tomatoes tend to be the most susceptible to disease. And be sure to grow the right types for your area.
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- These are ‘New Girl’ tomatoes which produce medium-sized four to six-ounce fruits early in the season. This variety has sweet fruits and is more disease resistant than others.
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- ‘Skyway’ tomatoes have attractive, red, moderately ribbed, eight to 12-ounce fruits with excellent flavor and quality.
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- Chhiring, my outdoor grounds crew foreman who put up all the bamboo teepees and supports, also goes through each row to trim off any brown leaves.
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- Maintaining the plants and checking them regularly will go a long way in keeping them healthy. Another key to maintaining a rich vegetable garden is to rotate the tomato bed between a few spots in the garden to diminish the risk of soil-borne diseases such as bacterial spot and early blight.
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- And look at all these gorgeous cherry tomatoes – every one still suspended on the vine and looking perfect.
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- As Chhiring trims off the dead leaves, he also checks to see that all the vines are secure and well-supported.
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- When it comes to watering, soak the tomato beds once a week, or every five days at the height of summer. Water directly on the soil, not on the leaves.
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- Look at all the leaves that were trimmed – these will be swept up and taken to the compost pile.
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- This year, we planted about 140 tomato plants, with more than 40 different varieties. These plants look so much better when kept upright and neat. I am so pleased with this season’s crop. How are your tomatoes faring? Let me know in the comments section.
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