IS ANY CROP AS BELOVED by gardeners as the tomato? It's certainly the most anticipated harvest in my garden. Each spring I plant my family's favorites as well as a few new-to-us varieties. My goto's include 'Sungold', 'Galahad', 'Cherokee Purple', 'Costoluto Genovese', 'Captain Lucky' and Jaune Flamme'. This year I'm excited to grow 'Purple Zebra' and 'Solar Flare', among others.
Tomatoes are a high-value crop, and homegrown tomatoes provide flavor and quality unmatched by any you'll find in a supermarket. Plus, growing your own allows you to explore the thousands of heirloom, open-pollinated and hybrid varieties available in seed catalogs.
There are cherry and grape types for salads, beefsteaks for slicing and plum tomatoes for sublime sauces. You'll find red, pink, yellow, orange, purple, green, white and even striped or streaked tomatoes boasting flavor profiles that range from acidic to sweet. Don't be shy about trying something new in your garden.
STARTING TOMATO SEEDS
In most regions, it's best to start tomato seeds indoors six to eight weeks before the last expected spring frost date. That's because if they're sown outdoors, the plants may not have time to mature their fruits before the end of the growing season. I sow tomato seeds a quarter-inch deep in cell packs or soil blocks and use a seedling heat mat to improve and speed up germination. Just be sure to remove the mat when about half of the seeds have sprouted.
Tomato seedlings need lots of light for vigorous growth. I use a grow light, leaving it turned on for 16 hours each day. Also watch soil moisture, aiming to maintain a lightly moist growing mix. Start to fertilize with a dilute solution once the second set of true leaves has emerged.
Denne historien er fra May - June 2024-utgaven av Horticulture.
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Denne historien er fra May - June 2024-utgaven av Horticulture.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
GAGA FOR GALANTHUS
As easy as they are irresistible, snowdrops boast a devoted and growing following
NEW PLANTS
Multiseason Marvels
BLUEBERRIES & CO.
Members of the genus Vaccinium provide sweet flavor, health benefits and beauty in the garden
AN ECOLOGICAL AGREEMENT
How three great minds think alike
Take It Indoors
Cs the growing season dwindles, _ potted cittus became a summer souuenir
ROOTED IN PLACE
LAYERING IS A PROPAGATION TECHNIQUE THAT TAKES A WHILE TO COMPLETE, BUT IT DEMANDS LITTLE EFFORT FROM THE GARDENER
AT HOME WITH PLANTS
Business travel and pleasure trips helped inspire this Cincinnati garden
THE GARDEN GOES DARK
Yes, gardens have their dark side. But-surprise! A garden's darkness can be good, not sinister.
LOW-WATER WONDERS
EXPLORE ONE PLANTSMAN'S DROUGHT-TOLERANT FAVORITES FOR EACH LEVEL OF THE GARDEN
Succeed With Succession- The best crops to plant throughout summer, plus how to time them right
The best crops to plant throughout summer, plus how to time them right. Once a crop like spring turnips or snap peas has finished, I tidy up the bed, amend the soil with a thin layer of compost and replant. Depending on the new crop, I may be sowing seeds or transplanting seedlings.
