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Gardening column: Tips for growing healthy tomato plants
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Friday, June 5, 2015 - 12:01 am
I think I am safe in saying that tomato plants are at the top of the plant list of a majority of gardeners in The News-Sentinel area — and, If you are like most tomato growers (whether one plant or 20), you are hovering over them and thinking of ways to encourage your plants to produce plumper, juicier, more amazing tomatoes than ever before — and especially better than those being grown by your neighbor.
Now a note to the men who are reading this, growing tomatoes is a very masculine hobby and shameless bragging is perfectly acceptable. So, whether men, women or children, even if you are already doing the things I will mention in this column, here are some growing tips your tomato plants will love:
• Soil structure is vital to your plants’ health. Make sure it is rich in nutrients and friable. This means soil that has a crumbly texture and will allow your plants the freedom to grow healthy roots and is 16 to 18 inches deep (in raised beds at least 12 inches).
• More roots on a tomato plant just mean stronger plants that will produce more tomatoes.
• Always plant your tomato transplants up to the first set of leaves. They will rapidly shoot out new roots along the stem.
• Never purchase leggy, anemic looking plants. They usually have weak root systems and will pretty much take a long time to respond if at all. If you have grown your plants from seed and have this problem, don’t waste time — go to a garden center or nursery and look for healthy, dark green plants with sturdy stems.
• Visit the Display Gardens at the Allen County Extension and spend time in all the gardens but especially the vegetable garden area. Master Gardeners have given tomato plants a roomy place to grow, surrounded by companion plants that will help repel pests. This ensures that the plant will not have to compete for root space or sunlight and air but can freely spread its’ fruiting branches.
• A full sun location with plenty of air movement should help avoid powdery mildew and other fungal problems from taking hold.
• Taking these precautions does not ensure that when the very hot humid weather comes that your tomatoes will not have yellowing leaves or powdery mildew. So, some have had success in treating them by spraying with a tablespoon of baking soda in a gallon of water. This can be done before or when you first notice the spores on the leaves or yellowing leaves.
• Whatever type of remedy you use, always spray a few lower leaves and watch to make sure this does not damage the plant in any way before spraying the whole plant.
• Keep the soil around and under the plant spotlessly clean. This helps avoid infection from setting in.
• Pinch off any non-fruiting branches. Don’t let your tomato plant waste energy on non-productive growth.
• Keep lower branching and sprouts pruned off. This forces the main trunk to grow stronger.
• Stake high — give the plants plenty of support to reach for the sun and air.
• Water once a week, deeply, with compost tea. Water at the soil level.
• Try the liter bottle method of watering. Cut off the bottom. Bury; spout down, in the soil at the root level being careful not to damage the roots. Fill with water or preferably compost tea once a week and this will provide continuous hydrating over a longer period of time.
Jane Ford is an Advanced Master Gardener. Email questions to bloominthing@gmail.com. This column is the opinion of the writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of The News-Sentinel.
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