There is nothing like the taste of a homegrown tomato! And the best thing? Tomatoes are pretty easy to grow. In this podcast episode, I’ll share some tips and information for growing your best tomato ever! From how to plant and water (deep for both), fertilizing tips, understanding tomato blossom drop, and even some “rescue first aid” to repair a broken center stem. It’s the tips you need to help you be even more successful in growing delicious, juicy tomatoes!
Listen to Part One of How to Grow Tomatoes — A Primer for Success
Show Notes
Rx for a Broken Tomato Stem
Oh snap! Did you accidentally break off the main stem of your tomato plant? Well, all is not lost, click the button below to learn how to do a little first-aid and hopefully, put things back together again!
Blossom Drop in Tomatoes
Why, oh why, are my tomato blossoms falling off my plant?? Weather, my friend. It’s the most common reason for “blossom drop” — when flowers fail to pollinate, die, and fall from the plant.
Tomatoes are self-pollinating, but are very particular about when pollination occurs. It has to be just the right conditions for pollination to happen — not too hot, not too cool. Temperatures need to be between 70 and 85 degrees with a humidity between 40 and 70 percent.
Click below to read more about Blossom Drop.
Did you know there are more than 10,000 varieties of tomatoes? With so many types — and new ones being developed each year — how do you to choose what to grow? My answer is simple…grow what you love to eat! Experiment with different types, colors, and flavors! I try always grow one new-to-me type each year, along with my tried-and-true favorites.
One thing to keep in mind when choosing a tomato variety is its growth habit – there are two main types of growth characteristics found in tomatoes: determinate and indeterminate.
Determinate plants are usually smaller and more compact or bushy and will develop and set fruit all at once. They set a “determinate” amount of fruit that usually ripens at about the same time. After the initial fruit set, the plant usually stops producing or produces very little. Determinate tomatoes are a good choice for short season growing and do very well when grown in a container.
The second type is indeterminate. These tend to grow large and tall and keep growing, blossoming, and setting fruit until frost kills the plant back. These oversized plants definitely need the support of stakes or cages. Most cherry and beefsteak types are indeterminate.
It’s good to know what type you are growing, since space and support needs vary between the two types.
[…] this second part of the Growing Tomatoes Primer, I continue the conversation about growing healthy, productive tomato plants. I’ll share […]