Growing Tomatoes Successfully
May 30, 2015
Growing Tomatoes Successfully
Tasty Tomato Contest
July 15th
Winners announced at the Tasty Tomato Festival on
July 19th
Let’s Get Started!
Enough Sun?
6 - 8 hours best
Source of Water?
When to Plant
1st Planting
April 5 – 25
2nd Planting
July 10 – 20
Look for VNFT on Plant Label
These plants will be resistant to:
Verticillium Wilt
Nematodes
Fusarium Wilt
Tobacco Mosaic Virus
Soil Matters!
Soil Test – pH Value
0 14
7
6.0 – 6.5
Acidic Alkaline
Best pH Rangefor Tomatoes
Why is pH Important?
0 147
6.0 - 6.5
Low pH?Plants Can’t AbsorbNitrogen
Nitrogen affects leaf growth & color.
Why is pH Important?
0 147
6.0 - 6.5
High pH? Plants Can’t Absorb Phosphorus
Phosphorus affectstomato (fruit & flower)growth.
Soil Testing offered by Clemson Extension
Add Organic Matter
Work
well-composted material
into the soil
each time you plant.
Planting
Leave only top 2-3 Sets ofTrue Leaves Above Ground
Pinch off any other leaves & bury beneath soil
Leggy Transplants?
Plant as Shown
How Far Apart?
18 - 24 inches apart
12 inches to outside of bed
Tomatoes Need Support
Cages – Best Bet
Install when planting tomatoesBuy cages with wide openings so you can reach in & pick tomatoes
Staking
Staking - Second Best
Tie Loosely
Use Twine orCloth Strips
Tie Every 6 - 10 inchesS
Remove Suckers on Staked Tomatoes
Train staked tomatoesto two main stems
Pinch off any suckers thatwill grow at the junctureof each leaf
Keep Suckers onCaged Tomatoes
OK to leavesuckers on caged plants
Mulch Well
Reduce Weeds.
Preserve Moisture.
Keep mulch 3”away from stem of plant.
Watering
Slow deep wateringBest. Develops good root system.
1” – 1 1/2” per week
Use rain gauge
Insects
Leave horn worms with cocoons alone.
Wasps will hatch and eat otherhorn worms.
Pick off and destroy horn worms if cocoons are not present.
Insects
Pick off and destroy tomato fruit worms
Other Common Problems
Blossom end rot
Cause – extremes in soil moisture
Keep soil consistently moist
Tomato Wilt
No Hope –Remove entire plant.
Next Time:Look for VFNT on Plant Label
Bed #2Bed #3
Year 1
Year 2
Year 3
Rotate Crops – Prevent Disease
Use same location
every third year
Bed #1
Resources
Clemson Home and GardenInformation Center Web Site
Google: Home and Garden Clemson
Look for Tomato Fact Sheet withRecommended Tomato Cultivars