The Garden Column: Love Apples
Friday, June 18, 2010
By Juergen Jaenicke, MG
(Courtesy Cornell Cooperative Extension)
(Hi folks, I’m out of the hospital and limping around on a walker. My hip replacement went well and I’m looking forward to dancing with my garden partner.)
Here we are, its Memorial Day weekend and our garden is partially planted. (Brigitte did the job) The peas are blooming, cucumbers are looking good and we put in pepper and tomato plants. Hopefully, we will not have a repeat of the tomato blight we had last year and will have a great harvest.
Here are some tips for growing those delicious “love apples”.
Sunlight: Full sun (tomatoes need at least 8 hours of direct sun daily).
Soil conditions: Tomatoes tolorate acid soil and require well drained location.
Tomatoes prefer well-drained, fertile soil, high in organic matter. Clays and loams produce the highest yields. But lighter soils that drain and warm quickly can produce earlier harvests---particularly if they are on a slight slope to the south or southeast. They can tolerate slightly acid soils, as low as ph 5.5. But produces best when ph is 6.0 to 6.8. Consistant moisture needed to prevent blossom end rot, but does not tolerate waterlogged soils.
Ease-of-care: moderately difficult
Good soil, even moisture. Very labor intensive if you stake, prune or use plastic mulch and row covers. Easier if you purchase already well established plants. Difficult to start from seed.
(I never use seeds but always buy my plants from Farmingdale State College, where I volunteer. Like I said, I am a lazy gardener).
Height: 2 to 6 feet
Staked and pruned plants can grow to well over 6 feet tall in favorite growing season.
Spread: 2 to 6 feet
Staked and pruned plants can be trained to narrow spreads. Plants left to sprawl can spread 6 feet or more. If space is limited, plant a smaller variety.
General maintennance: Mulch plants after the soil has warmed up to maintain soil moisture and suppress weeds. Tomatoes need a constant supply of moisture. If it rains less than 1 inch per week, water to make up the difference.
Keep an eye out for pests! (pick ‘em by hand)
Good Luck and enjoy your tomatoes!
(Courtesy Cornell Cooperative Extension)
(Hi folks, I’m out of the hospital and limping around on a walker. My hip replacement went well and I’m looking forward to dancing with my garden partner.)
Here we are, its Memorial Day weekend and our garden is partially planted. (Brigitte did the job) The peas are blooming, cucumbers are looking good and we put in pepper and tomato plants. Hopefully, we will not have a repeat of the tomato blight we had last year and will have a great harvest.
Here are some tips for growing those delicious “love apples”.
Sunlight: Full sun (tomatoes need at least 8 hours of direct sun daily).
Soil conditions: Tomatoes tolorate acid soil and require well drained location.
Tomatoes prefer well-drained, fertile soil, high in organic matter. Clays and loams produce the highest yields. But lighter soils that drain and warm quickly can produce earlier harvests---particularly if they are on a slight slope to the south or southeast. They can tolerate slightly acid soils, as low as ph 5.5. But produces best when ph is 6.0 to 6.8. Consistant moisture needed to prevent blossom end rot, but does not tolerate waterlogged soils.
Ease-of-care: moderately difficult
Good soil, even moisture. Very labor intensive if you stake, prune or use plastic mulch and row covers. Easier if you purchase already well established plants. Difficult to start from seed.
(I never use seeds but always buy my plants from Farmingdale State College, where I volunteer. Like I said, I am a lazy gardener).
Height: 2 to 6 feet
Staked and pruned plants can grow to well over 6 feet tall in favorite growing season.
Spread: 2 to 6 feet
Staked and pruned plants can be trained to narrow spreads. Plants left to sprawl can spread 6 feet or more. If space is limited, plant a smaller variety.
General maintennance: Mulch plants after the soil has warmed up to maintain soil moisture and suppress weeds. Tomatoes need a constant supply of moisture. If it rains less than 1 inch per week, water to make up the difference.
Keep an eye out for pests! (pick ‘em by hand)
Good Luck and enjoy your tomatoes!