tomato do and dont

[SwampG8r]

putting out a lot of plants this year
i have 20 seed starters of a good tomato stock
i always get great growth but not much fruit
these are supposedly a heavy producer i got from specialy seed company

can you share you tips on good tomatoes?
i am in florida and grow in an acidic soil that i adjust for pH
anyone who has had sucess with tomatos and doesnt mind sharing please give a hand?

[NYC_SKP]

1. We used chicken manure.

Back in the day on the ranch, central valley California Delta, great peat soil.

From my limited experience, good drainage, not too much water until they're well established, like 12" high, bad to overwater them while young.

Full sun, of course, and watch for pests.

We get a couple different worms and other critters.

:thumbsup:

[SwampG8r]

2. you ever gonna decide who you want for governor?

i want to get a big harvest so i am saying adios organinc and bring on the chemicals
full war on pests

[NYC_SKP]

3. i'm leaning toward wazzizname....

gov moonbat, moonbag, something like that.

you might not have any pests, maybe call a local nursery to see what's common in your parts.

[MilesColtrane]

4. My only attempts at tomatoes ended in blossom end rot and bird attacks on the little fruit that...

actually grew.

Netting could take care of the little peckers, but I need to get a handle on soil moisture management to keep away the rot.

[Lasher]

9. Blossom end rot can be controlled by spraying.

As I believe you must be aware, it is caused by calcium deficiency that occurs during fluctuations in moisture; such as a cycle with a week of heavy rain, followed by 2 dry weeks. You can buy blossom end rot spray, which provides calcium for your tomato plants. I use it every year.

2 other sprays I use on my tomato plants are liquid sevin (as needed) and Ortho Garden Disease Control.

I grow Celebrity plants because it's a heavy producer of high-acid tomatoes that I prefer, and it's more disease resistant than other varieties like Big Boy.

[MilesColtrane]

12. Thanks for the tips.

[Lasher]

14. I learned something new downthread about borage.

But I probably won't try it because I don't farm organic and I'll just spray sevin if I get attacked.

Here's another tip: If you find a tomato hornworm with little things attached that look like rice, don't kill it. They are larvae of a parasitic wasp and it is good that they reproduce. They will feed on the hornworm until it dies.

If I find a hornworm that is infested like that I move it out of the garden before I spay.

[suninvited]

5. the most common reason for great plant growth

but poor fruit output is too much nitrogen.

[Gormy Cuss]

6. 1) Wait for at least two sets of true leaves before transplanting

2) Add 1 tbsp of Epsom salts to the planting hole and mix thoroughly with the loose soil This adds magnesium and sulphur to the soil -- things tomato plants need to thrive. You'll get faster main stem growth early on.

3)Bury the plants up to the level right below the first set of leaves (this encourages the stem to become a root and speeds up the growth.

4) If tomatoes form when the plant is very young (say, under a foot tall) pinch them off. If fruit formation is delayed until the plant is bigger you'll have a greater yield over the course of the season.

5)After the plants are established, water deeply and infrequently (once or twice a week if nature doesn't provide) rather than frequently. This promotes bigger, deeper roots and the plants will be better equipped to handle stresses like heat waves or high wind.

6)Pick fruit as soon as it's ripe. It encourages new growth.

[old mark]

8. Also, if the plants put out excessive leaves, pinch about half of them off.

You don't want to grow leaves, you want fruit.
We always grow our tomatos from plants already started, never from seeds, but we are here in PA and have very different conditions.

Good luck.

m

[Lasher]

10. Prune the suckers.

http://gardening.about.com/od/totallytomatoes/qt/Tomato_Suckers.htm

[ashling]

7. Home grown tomatoes

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-QzLIjL1u4

[Lasher]

11. Turn plenty of organic material into the soil every year when you plow.

One year is good but it's better after you've done this multiple years. Tomatoes love organic material.

[hippywife]

13. Planting borage in a border

around your tomatoes will repel that most insidious pest of all...the tomato horn worm.

[Old Troop]

15. I try every year

Some years I practically have to pay people to take some of the bounty and some years I end up buying them at a farmstand. I think the key is proper sunlight, watering and protection from pests.

[kimi]

16. Whenever I plant seedlings

which a lot of people don't do, they start from seed, but I'm lazy and don't, I put some molasses in the hole with the plant. Just a habit, I do it with roses too. I get great result that way, but it's just a habit. I also use sea kelp as fertilizer through the growing season, it smells horrific, but seems to give good results.