tomato

Nine Palms Ranch Trial, 2008

Team members: Betsy Fisher

Summary

Many of the container tomatoes did as well or better than the in-ground tomatoes, including the indeteterminate (full-size) varieties. Container gardening with full-size tomatoes is something we can recommend.

Overview

Eight tomato varieties (Azoychka, Carbon, Flashen, Henderson’s Winsall, Howard German, Siletz, Spears Tennessee Green, and Sprite) were grown in black 15 gallon plastic pots. Three of these varieties (Flaschen, Siletz, and Sprite) were also grown in black 5 gallon plastic pots. The trial was to compare the flavor and production from container tomato plants to in-ground tomato plants

Soil preparation

The potting soil mixture was Sunland planter mix and 1/3 horse manure.

Seeding and transplanting

The seeds were started in March and transplanted into the pots in May.

Watering

The pots were hand watered twice a week.

Fertilization and pesticides

They were fertilized once with Whitney Farms organic fertilizer. No pesticides were used.

Mark your calendars! Our 2009 Spring Garden Market will be held on April 4th at History San Jose. Same great place as last year and an even wider selection of tomatoes and chiles for sale along with much much more.

Each year in April the Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County hold the Spring Garden Market in San Jose. The market is more than a plant sale - it features dozens of vendor booths, our own Green Elephant Sale and seminars on popular gardening topics. For many people who come year after year, however, the 70+ varieties of tomatoes and 90+ varieties of chile peppers, along with other vegetables and flowers ready for transplanting, are what draw them in.

Rain or shine! Free Admission!

Learn which tomatoes have really great flavor and reliable production and are able to hold up under regular garden conditions. You will learn Nancy's favorite trellising methods, soil preparation, what NOT to do and how to avoid the brown crispy foliage blues so a bountiful harvest will be yours until frost. Tomatoes featured will be the result of her 25 years of hands-on tomato research.

To register, call 650-493-6072.

Types of tomatoes

• Classic – Generally round & smooth, ranging from medium-small to medium-large in size. Sometimes called main crop or slicing tomatoes
• Beefsteak – Generally large to very large, usually somewhat irregular in shape, often later to mature
• Cherry – Small, bite-size tomatoes
• Paste – Generally elongated shapes and often meatier with less seed gel, hence good for processing as sauce & paste. Also good for salsa and salads.

Size of plants

• Determinates – Short, about 2-4 feet high. Standard tomato cages will work.
• Indeterminates – Will continue growing until frost kills them, easily 6 feet or more, need tall cages
• Semi-determinate – Indeterminates that don’t get very tall, 4-5 feet

How to grow

• If starting from seed, plant seeds in pots about 6-8 weeks in advance, February - May, and pot up into larger containers as needed.
• Stems can be buried, both when potting up and when planting in the ground. Roots will develop where the leaves were attached.
• Plant out in April through June, when soil has warmed up, 2-3 feet apart.
• Don’t use a high nitrogen fertilizer. It encourages too much leafy growth.
• Support vines with cages to keep fruit off the ground.
• Don’t overwater tomatoes once they’re established. They’ll develop better flavor with less water.

Additional links

Growing Great Tomatoes

Spring Garden Market tomato varieties, PDF list of excellent varieties for Santa Clara County

Tomato staking techniques evaluation

UC pest and disease information on tomatoes

By Nancy Garrison, March 2006

By Sue Evanicky with Nancy Garrison