Tomatoes

Tomatoes:

• Why you should grow it
  • There are many varieties to choose from – cherry, beefsteak, Roma
  • There are also many varieties that let you plant throughout the growing season, early, main and late season, giving you up to 6 months of potential harvest
  • Summer is a fresh picked tomato still warm from the sun
  • Tomatoes are flavourful! Homegrown tomatoes are much richer than a lot of what you find in the store
  • Companion plant to many herbs and vegetables!

• How to start seeds
  • Moist, not wet, seed starting soil
  • Once seedlings sprout, they need about 6-8 hours of good sun
  • Mist on the top before seedlings appear, and water from the bottom for good seedling root growth
  • Re-pot once seedlings get about an inch tall to prevent overcrowding
  • You may have to re-pot them once or twice before you can plant them outside
  • Use pots that can be planted directly in the ground to save moving it a final time
  • Plant seedlings around mid-May when the ground is warm
  • You can keep seedlings in pots, ensure there it is in good potting soil

• Tips for growth
  • Water well – always moist and if in a pot, water from the bottom
  • Tomatoes need warm soil, lots of sun and adequate water
  • There are many companion plants for tomatoes:
    • asparagus, basil, bean, borage, calendula (pot marigold), carrots, celery, chive, cucumber, garlic,  lettuce, marigold, mint, nasturtium, onion, parsley, peas, sage, and squash
  • Mulch around the bottom during the peak of summer to prevent evaporation
  • Many diseases are spread by water (blight, wilt). Watering the bottom, not the plant helps prevent this
  • Prune regularly removing suckers and weak leaves allowing for light to ripen the fruit and ensure air circulation

• Harvesting
  • Leave the fruit on the vine for as long as possible
  • If the fruit falls before it is ripe, store in a paper bag in the dark
  • If the soil freezes before the plant is done producing fruit, pull the whole plant, hang upside down
  • Store the tomatoes at room temperature, refrigerating will reduce flavour
  • Pit the tomatoes and freeze or make sauce for long-term storage

• Saving Seeds
  • Scoop out the tomato seeds into a jar, rinse and cover with water
  • Leave for a week, a white mould will have formed. This is necessary to break the protective coat on the seed
  • Rinse off the seeds and dry on a paper towel in a windowsill
  • Label with the variety, type and year
  • Store in a cool, dark place