Tomato
The 19th Annual Spring Garden Market
Mark Your Calendar!
Saturday, April 12, 2014, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
History San Jose, 1650 Senter Road, San Jose
(Directions | Parking Map)
Sea of tomatoes and sea of people waiting for the market to open
Sea of tomatoes and sea of people waiting for the market to open
The rest of this page describes Spring Garden Market 2013
You don't want to miss our Spring Garden Market at beautiful History San Jose! This is our premier plant sale, sustainable gardening showcase and vendor fair (complete with Food Trucks). (Directions | Parking Map)
Spring Garden Market - Tomatoes for 2013
Tomato Information
- Looking for tomato information for the market?
- Need help deciding what varieties will be best for you?
- Want to know what to do if you can't find the exact one you are looking for?
The information listed below will give you all you need to know to select just the right tomatoes this year.
Tomato descriptions
What good is a list of varieties without descriptions of what they're like? This list will help you decide which types will be best for you.
Tomato Guide (PDF)
If you’re looking for a particular color or type of tomato, or if the tomato you want is not available, this guide may help you find what you need.
Saving Tomato Seeds (PDF)
Want to get more than one year's enjoyment from your purchases? This document describes the ins and outs of saving your own seeds.
Growing Great Tomatoes
Review tomato care basics to ensure a bumper crop. Tips cover site selection, soil preparation, planting and supporting your plants.
Tomato descriptions
What good is a list of varieties without descriptions of what they're like? This list will help you decide which types will be best for you.
Tomato Guide (PDF)
If you’re looking for a particular color or type of tomato, or if the tomato you want is not available, this guide may help you find what you need.
Saving Tomato Seeds (PDF)
Want to get more than one year's enjoyment from your purchases? This document describes the ins and outs of saving your own seeds.
Growing Great Tomatoes
Review tomato care basics to ensure a bumper crop. Tips cover site selection, soil preparation, planting and supporting your plants.
Tomatoes
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
Spring Garden Market tomato varieties, list of excellent varieties for Santa Clara County
