Tomatoes

Of all vegetables, the tomato is the most popular. Tomatoes are easy to grow, produce an abundance of fruit in a small amount of space, and taste great.  Success with tomatoes can be assured by paying attention to their basic cultural needs.

First of all, tomatoes are warm season crops, native to South America. Despite extensive breeding advances, tomatoes still need warm temperatures -- both for plant growth and to set fruit. This means both warm soil and air. Soil temperatures should be 60º F for plant growth and air temperatures must be between 60-90º F in order to set fruit.  For best results, plant tomatoes when all danger of frost has past and the soil has warmed. In Chicago land, May 25 is our frost-free date and planting around Memorial Day will yield good results, since this is when soil temperatures usually reach 60º F.

Tomato plants are usually purchased from a nursery or garden center. If you wish to start your own from seed, it is usually best to sow the seed indoors 6-8 weeks before you plan to plant outdoors. Seed can be sown directly in the garden at the end of May, but your plants will not grow as large nor produce as many fruit compared to setting out plants.

Plant tomatoes in full sun for best results. If full sun - all day long - is not possible in your yard, tomatoes will grow reasonably well if they can get at least a half day of full sun. The western, afternoon sun is preferable to morning sun, since temperatures are warmer in the afternoon, and tomatoes respond well to warm, sunny conditions.  When planting, tomatoes are one of the few plants that can have their stems buried. If you cover several inches of the stem, roots will form along it, resulting in a sturdier plant. Remember to always water a newly transplanted plant very well, and follow with regular watering until the plant becomes established. During its growth, a tomato should receive about one inch of water per week. If this does not come from rain, water it. For plants growing in a container, the rules change, and more frequent watering is necessary.

Before planting, however, you must chose what variety to grow. Some people look for old favorites that have always performed well. Why tamper with success? But sometimes you may wish to try a new or better variety. What do you look for?

Tomatoes differ in maturity, disease resistance, growth habits, and fruit size, color and taste. Maturity refers to the days from planting to first fruit. Practically, it measures closer to the number of days from May 25. Add some days if it is a cool summer!

Disease resistance is designated by letters, such as V for Verticillium Wilt, F for Fusarium Wilt, etc. Though selection for more resistance is better, healthy plants and good growing conditions are they best ways to avoid disease.

Most tomatoes are vines with indeterminate, or continuous, growth where staking is often recommended. Some varieties are determinate, meaning they make little new growth after fruit is set. These are often called bush varieties and grow compactly, without support.

The selection of a variety for color, taste, and fruit size depend on one's personal preferences and proposed uses. While red is the traditional color, yellow, orange, or pink fruit can offer a different look in a salad. Often, yellow tomatoes have a milder taste, but are not much lower in acidity. Cherry or plum tomatoes are often used whole, while large tomatoes are usually sliced. Often the large, or beefstake, types are preferred for slicing.

Paste tomatoes are denser, with less water, and are good for creating sauces or canning. Heirloom varieties are old types, often reputed to have superior flavor. The only way to really distinguish flavor, however, is to taste them. And isn't tasting a juicy, vine-ripened tomato from your own garden the entire goal?

Some tomato varieties and their characteristics:

*Disease Resistance to:

V = Verticillium Wilt F = Fusarium Wilt FF = both races of Fusarium N= Root Knot Nematodes T = Tobacco Mosaic Virus

AAS = All America Selection

Date: May, 1997
Author: David Tyznik