Tomatoes: General Information (6224)

Tomatoes are one of the most popular crops in home gardens. Proper care of your tomato plants in spring will mean bigger yields later in the summer. Cultivate or hoe around the plants each week to control weeds. Cultivate shallowly, not over two or three inches deep. To avoid spreading certain diseases, do not cultivate or work around the plants while they are wet with rain or dew.

Irrigate or water tomatoes during dry spells to ensure better yields and higher-quality fruit. This will help reduce blossom-drop, blossom end rot, and some types of fruit cracking. When irrigating, soak the soil thoroughly to a depth of eight to ten inches. Do not use light, frequent sprinkling.

Mulching is also a good idea. On small areas, mulching plants with straw or a similar material will save cultivation, keep down weeds, save soil moisture, and provide cleaner, better fruit at harvest time. Apply the mulch several inches deep and close to the plants.

Mulched plants may need some extra nitrogen fertilizer to prevent them from losing their usual green color. Apply one-fourth cup of ammonium nitrate or similar nitrogen fertilizer per plant about mid-July and again about two weeks later to ensure good growth.

You can also use the black plastic and special paper mulch materials available on the market for mulching tomato plants. With these, roll the mulch out on the soil and set the plants in slits made at intervals along the row.

You may want to prune and train your plants, especially if you have a small garden. Trained plants will give a slightly earlier harvest, with larger and cleaner fruit. Set a strong, three or four foot_long stake near each plant. When a plant begins to branch, tie a strong cord firmly around the stake and loosely around the plant stem. Do this every week or so as the plant grows. Break off all shoots that develop between the leaves and the main stem, leaving only one or two main stems.

For more information on this subject, Please visit the College of Agricultural Sciences Publications Web site.

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