Tomatoes
The cornerstone of the vegetable garden. The early plantings require season extension materials, but all plantings benefit from them!
Spacing
On 30” beds, 1 row of Tomatoes can be planted with 18” spacing
On 4’ beds, 2 rows of tomatoes can be planted diagonally, with 18” spacing
Pests & Diseases
Tomato hornworms can be an issue, though parasitic wasps typically take care of them. An application of OMRI- Approved Pyganic or Dipel for infestations will control if necessary.
Diseases are the true enemy to tomatoes. If the season is moist, diseases thrive. There are two ways of dealing with these diseases: preemptively or retroactively. To take down the problem before it occurs, weekly applications of Serenade, a biological based organic fungicide can be sprayed, starting at flowering. If disease is already threatening, Champ WG, a copper based organic fungicide can be sprayed.
Trellis and Support
Tomatoes get big. Tomato cages are not enough. I like growing the tomatoes in cages, then training the branches up a string trellis. Check the Trellis and Support page for more information.
Spacing
On 30” beds, 1 row of Tomatoes can be planted with 18” spacing
On 4’ beds, 2 rows of tomatoes can be planted diagonally, with 18” spacing
- Larger tomatoes yield about 20- 30# a plant over the entire harvest season. Cherry Tomatoes typically yield about a pint-quart per week.
- Brandywine Tomatoes produce about 2 fruits per week
Pests & Diseases
Tomato hornworms can be an issue, though parasitic wasps typically take care of them. An application of OMRI- Approved Pyganic or Dipel for infestations will control if necessary.
Diseases are the true enemy to tomatoes. If the season is moist, diseases thrive. There are two ways of dealing with these diseases: preemptively or retroactively. To take down the problem before it occurs, weekly applications of Serenade, a biological based organic fungicide can be sprayed, starting at flowering. If disease is already threatening, Champ WG, a copper based organic fungicide can be sprayed.
Trellis and Support
Tomatoes get big. Tomato cages are not enough. I like growing the tomatoes in cages, then training the branches up a string trellis. Check the Trellis and Support page for more information.
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Amish Paste Tomato
85 Days to First Harvest Planting Notes: Early planting in late-April for July Harvest. May planting for August harvest. “A long-time favorite heirloom plum. Large for a sauce tomato, Amish Paste's slightly irregular plum-to strawberry shaped fruits avg. 8-12 oz. with excellent flavor. These meaty tomatoes are good in salads and great for processing. A Slow Food USA Ark of Taste variety.” |
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Brandywine Tomato
78 Days to First Harvest Planting Notes: Early planting in late-April for July Harvest. May planting for August harvest. “One of the best-tasting tomatoes. We describe Brandywine's luscious, heirloom flavor as "very rich, loud, and distinctively spicy." The large fruits, often over 1 lb., have a deep pink skin and smooth red flesh.” |
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Celebrity Tomato
72 Days to First Harvest Planting Notes: Early planting in late-April for July Harvest. May planting for August harvest. “Medium-large, 7-8 oz., flavorful, globe-shaped, firm red fruits ripen midseason. “ |
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Sungold Tomato
57 Days to First Harvest Planting Notes: Early planting in late-April for June Harvest. May planting for July harvest. “Intense fruity flavor. Exceptionally sweet, bright tangerine-orange cherry tomatoes leave customers begging for more. Vigorous plants start yielding early and bear right through the season. Tendency to split. Taste can't be beat. 15-20 gm. fruits.” |
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Valencia Tomato
76 Days to First Harvest Planting Notes: Early planting in late-April for July Harvest. May planting for August harvest. “Sunny orange fruits with full tomato flavor. Round, smooth fruits average 8-10 oz. Their meaty interiors have few seeds. This midseason tomato is among the best for flavor and texture.” |
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Sakura Cherry Tomato
60 Days to First Harvest Planting Notes: Early planting in late-April for June Harvest. May planting for July harvest. “Early, delicious, attractive cherry tomatoes. Real sweet tomato flavor and firmness without being hard. Among the first to ripen, Sakura keeps going all season long because of its disease resistance. Very tidy, compact plant fits well in tight spaces. Prolific yielder of bright red, shiny, medium-large cherry tomatoes that average 20–22 gm.” |
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Valentine Grape Tomato
55 Days to First Harvest Planting Notes: Early planting in late-April for June Harvest. May planting for July harvest. “Delicious high-lycopene grape. Massive early yields, deep red color, and unusually rich flavor. Developed in collaboration with Dr. Majid Foolad of Penn State University, Valentine marries the best of wild-type tomato genetics with flavorful high-performing strains. This vivid red, high-yielding, and early blight-resistant tomato is the first commercial variety developed with Penn State's patented high-lycopene breeding lines.” |