How to grow a great tomato

by: Maribeth Lewing, Sabine Master Gardener

If you could taste summer it would taste like a juicy vine ripened tomato. Everyone gets tired of eating the mealy winter impersonators. That is why every spring Southerners set out tomatoes in pots on porches or any place they can squeeze them in. Here are a few tips for growing great summer tomatoes.

Plan your garden before you plant. Choose a location that receives a minimum of six to eight hours of sun. Put your stakes in the ground before you plant to keep form damaging the roots. Metal rods do well holding up top heavy plants. Many people prefer cages and that is fine but make sure they are driven into the ground and secured with small stakes to prevent them from tipping over.

Choose a plant that is right for you. There are two kinds of tomatoes, determinate and indeterminate. Determinate plants grow short and bushy and all of their fruit ripens at once. These plants work well in cages and are great for canning. Some popular varieties include Celebrity, Floramerica, and Roma.

Indeterminate tomato plants are tall and vinelike, needing strong stakes. They tend to have longer more spread out fruiting period. Some of the more popular inderterminates are Early Girl, Better Boy, Big Beef and Lemon Boy.

If you do not want to grow tomatoes from seed buy healthy looking, stocky transplants from a reputable garden center. Lightly brush the tops of plants with your hand before you buy them. If small white flies appear the plants probably have white flies. You do not want to introduce these pests into your garden. Avoid buying transplants that are flowering because young plants need all their energy for root and plant growth.

Make sure your soil is loose and fertile. Plant transplants deep. This allows them to grow lots of roots. Pinch all but the top four leaves. Leave only the leafy tops above the ground. Roots will soon develop along the buried stem.

To boost young plants feed them Miracle Grown liquid fertilizer according to label directions then fertilize with a slow release general purpose fertilizer such as Osmocote. One handful per plant should do. Then water with Miracle Grow every two weeks during the summer.

If you want to be the envy of the neighborhood add EPSOM Salt. Every week for every foot of height add one tablespoon of EPSOM Salt to a gallon of water and water your plants once a month. You will have bigger tomatoes and more of them. Try it and see if it works for you.

Watch your plants carefully. If they look wilted in the middle of the day it’s ok. If they are wilted early in the morning they need water. Mulch around plants to prevent any soil borne diseases from splashing on them during heavy rains. Try to avoid from watering overhead. Drip irrigation or soaker hoses are better alternatives for your plants.

If you are using cages tie the plants to the cage when it is about two feet tall. Use a biodegradable twine or an old T-shirts. It is better to tie as they grow instead of waiting until they fall over.

If you plants outgrow your stakes you can cut off the tops and pinch off blooms. This allows fruit that has already set to mature quickly.

Don’t miss out on the experience of growing your own tomatoes. Plant a few different selections and see which ones work best for you.

For more information call the LSU Extension Office at (318) 256-3406. They will get you in touch with a Master Gardener who will be happy to answer any questions you may have. Have a great growing season and enjoy your garden.