GROWING TOMATOES

Site Selection

Tomatoes grow best in a light, well-drained soil. A site with a slight southern slope is ideal, as it will foster good drainage and provide more sun, which will help keep the soil and root temperatures warm. The site should receive at least six hours of sunlight a day. Ensure beds are away from the drip line of trees and shrubs that may prohibit sunlight and water. The drip line is the area extending from the trunk of the tree out to the furthest branch. The plants should be located at a distance from trees and shrubs that is equal to the height of the closest tree or shrub. Intersperse tomatoes among flowerbeds, or other vegetables, to attract bees and butterflies.

Planting

Tomatoes are warm weather plants. Ensure tomatoes are planted well after the last frost. The frost-free date is typically May 15 in the Chicagoland area. Nighttime temperatures should remain above 55^oF to ensure healthy fruit come summer harvest.

Starting Seeds Indoors

For best results, germinate seeds indoors and transplant them into the garden. Plants may be purchased already germinated, also. When buying plants that are ready to transplant check that they have four to six true leaves. Avoid plants already in bloom or with fruit.

To begin plants indoors, plant seeds in trays of light loam soil. Sow seeds in rows three inches apart, with four seeds to the inch. Cover seeds with a half-inch of soil. Keep seeds in temperatures around 75^oF. Seeds should sprout within 10 days. The first seeds to sprout are usually the best plants for transplanting into the garden.

Transplant seedlings after two or three weeks, when the plants have begun to show true leaves, into flats of the same soil and same temperature. Place seedlings four inches apart. Plants are ready for the outdoor garden when they are six to ten inches tall, and the danger of frost has passed.

Transplanting

Tomato plants require beds with a high supply of nutrients. Work beds with a generous amount of mushroom compost or well-decayed manure at least two weeks before planting. Water generously to allow for proper absorption of nutrients.

Set plants deep in the ground, with the lowest true leaves above soil level. Plants should be spaced one-and-a-half feet apart, in rows three feet apart. Stake plants with six-foot long stakes, driven into the ground at least 18 inches. Plants should be tied to the stakes in three or four places. This will keep plants stable for easy pruning and unfettered growth.

Maintenance

Tomatoes require a uniform supply of moisture. Wet and dry spells can stunt growth, causing the fruit to rot. Cultivate plant beds by gently and shallowly working the soil around them. Continue to cultivate until the plants’ growth makes it impossible to do so.

Prune all suckers off the plants. This will allow for stronger and uniformly ripened fruits at harvest time.

Harvesting

Allow tomatoes to ripen on the vine until the appropriate color has deepened. Refrain from picking tomatoes when the foliage is wet as this increases the spread of disease. Tomatoes also may be picked when the first hint of color is visible, and stored in a warm, dark place where they will ripen in about a week. Do not place tomatoes on the windowsill to ripen.

Below is a list of tomato varieties recommended for the Chicagoland area:

• Beefsteak: large, rough fruit with a vigorous vine and coarse foliage
• Beefmaster: very large fruit with triple disease resistance
• Big Boy: productive plants with firm, thick-walled fruit
• Big Girl: more disease resistant version of "Big Boy"
• Patio: a dwarf plant with small to medium fruit, good for container plantings
• Celebrity: vigorous, all-American grower with large fruit
• Early Girl: early variety with small, solid fruit
• Golden: large, bright yellow fruit with mild flavor
• Roma: strong-growing dense plant with small, pear-shaped fruit for pastes
• Supersonic: reliable cropper in this area with large, crack-resistant fruit
• Sweet 100: sweet hybrid cherry tomatoes which grow vigorously
• Red Cherry: excellent grower with plump cherry tomatoes
• Lemon Boy: a hardy variety with low acidity and good flavor
• Yellow Pear: clear yellow fruit with a sweet, mild flavor that children love.

Pasquesi Home and Gardens is Chicagoland's premier resource for gardeners wanting to create a perfect atmosphere. We have a vast selection of plants, many of them rare and unusual. Our qualified, professional staff is ever-willing to share their knowledge with customers needing advice.

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