SUCCESS WITH TOMATOES

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "SUCCESS WITH TOMATOES"

Theresa Abigail Malone
6 years ago
Views:

SUCCESS WITH TOMATOES A Favorite In Every Garden Don Wells Sedgwick County Extension Master Gardener Ideal soil SOIL CONDITIONS Fertile, well

1 SUCCESS WITH TOMATOES A Favorite In Every Garden Don Wells Sedgwick County Extension Master Gardener Ideal soil SOIL CONDITIONS Fertile, well drained Rich in organic material ph of 6.0 to 7.0 If you have clay soil Add organic matter annually Add composted material Plant cover crop in fall 1

DESIRABLE ENVIRONMENT Need full sun at least 8 hrs/day No trees close to garden Water regularly Mulch TOMATO CATEGORIES Heirlooms Been around Around for For generations Generations Open

2 DESIRABLE ENVIRONMENT Need full sun at least 8 hrs/day No trees close to garden Water regularly Mulch TOMATO CATEGORIES Heirlooms Been around Around for For generations Generations Open pollinated Pollinated Some varieties Have Better have Flavor better flavor Hybrids More vigorous Vigorous More disease Disease resistant Resistant Higher production Production Cannot save Save seeds Seeds 2

3 TOMATO TYPES Determinate Shorter or bush type Require less support or caging Shorter fruit bearing span Indeterminate Taller 6 To 8 ft Need caging or support Continuously bear until frost Will bear, bloom and ripen simultaneously SEEDS OR SEEDLINGS? When purchasing plants Can purchase when you need them Can usually find good healthy plants May not find variety wanted When starting from seed May have a larger variety available Less expensive Need to start at proper time Does require some effort and equipment 3

WHEN PURCHASING PLANTS Choose healthy vigorous plants Avoid tall leggy, blooming plants Short stocky plants are better Select disease resistant varieties Look for one or more of the letters (VFNTA)

4 WHEN PURCHASING PLANTS Choose healthy vigorous plants Avoid tall leggy, blooming plants Short stocky plants are better Select disease resistant varieties Look for one or more of the letters (VFNTA) Verticillum wilt Fusarium wilt (f1, f2 and f3 races) Nematodes Tobacco mosaic Alternaria stem canker STARTING SEEDS INDOORS Need a light source Plant seeds 6 8 wks prior to transplant Use potting soil or seed starter mix Temp deg Keep mixture damp, not wet Cover until germinated Keep light 1 2 in. above plants Grow light stand Need light hrs/day 4

outdoor temperature Start out in shade Slowly introduce to sun Takes 7 10days Should stand all day sun

5 MOVING TO INDIVIDUAL POT When plants have true leaves, transplant to individual pot Tomato plants with first true leaves HARDENING OFF Acclimate to outdoor conditions Gradually expose to sun, wind and outdoor temperature Start out in shade Slowly introduce to sun Takes 7 10days Should stand all day sun and night temps above 50 degrees Hardening off helps prevent transplant shock which slows initial growth 5

6 COLD FRAME or HOT BED? Can be used in hardening off Used to control temperature Cold Frame or Hot Bed? Also used to extend season Automatic opener PLANTING THE TOMATO Plant after last frost late April to early May Soil temp degrees Plant a little deeper than was in the pot Apply root stimulator Water 6

GETTING AN EARLY START Can plant a few weeks earlier Might gain a week

Gallon plastic containers WHEN TO ADD FERTILIZER Use a root stimulator

blooming and have small tomatoes (10 10 10) Add a fertilizer with low N

7 GETTING AN EARLY START Can plant a few weeks earlier Might gain a week or two Need to protect from possible frost Hot caps Wall of water Gallon plastic containers WHEN TO ADD FERTILIZER Use a root stimulator at transplanting (5 20 5) A balanced fertilizer after the plants are blooming and have small tomatoes ( ) Add a fertilizer with low N and high K after plants are bearing (5 5 10) Sandy soils need more fertilizer 7

WATERING Water regularly and deeply Do not keep wet Let them dry out between watering At least one inch/wk Need more water when plants are large and weather is hot windy and dry Avoid overhead

8 WATERING Water regularly and deeply Do not keep wet Let them dry out between watering At least one inch/wk Need more water when plants are large and weather is hot windy and dry Avoid overhead sprinklers Drip irrigation is much better In small flat gardens can flood with hose MULCHING Mulch 3 to 4 wks after planting Mulching too early keeps soil temp low Use wheat straw, grass clippings, newspaper Mulch is important Lowers soil temperature Helps retain moisture Keeps down weeds 8

CAGE SUPPORT Cage made from concrete reinforcing wire At

square Difficult to store when not in use TOMATO CAGE USING

by two plants Twine woven around plants and posts Add twine

9 CAGE SUPPORT Cage made from concrete reinforcing wire At least 5 ft tall About 2 ft in dia. Wire spacing about 6 in. square Difficult to store when not in use TOMATO CAGE USING CONCRETE REINFORCING WIRE STAKE AND WEAVE T posts separated by two plants Twine woven around plants and posts Add twine as plants grow Vertical separation of twine is about 8 in. 9

CATTLE PANEL SUPPORT 4 x16 cattle panels Tied together at the top to form a triangle Plants are crowded more than in cages or S&W Plants eventually

10 CATTLE PANEL SUPPORT 4 x16 cattle panels Tied together at the top to form a triangle Plants are crowded more than in cages or S&W Plants eventually grow thru wire Works well in large gardens Stores easily PROBLEMS WE MUST DEAL WITH Pests Diseases Environment Temperature Moisture Sun Soil Neglect 10

1/32 in They are tough They are numerous They are prolific Pierce leaf and suck out

11 TOMATO PESTS Hornworm Large green worm 3 4 inches long Hard to locate Feed on foliage Insatiable appetite Control Pick them off and step on them SPIDER MITES They are tiny 1/32 in They are tough They are numerous They are prolific Pierce leaf and suck out liquid Lightly affected plants have dark veins and yellow spots Lightly infested plant 11

Difficult to see Very small On under side of leaves

Spray with water SPIDER MITES Moderately to heavily

live in the soil Infect the plant roots Reduces

12 Difficult to see Very small On under side of leaves Control Spray with insecticidal soap Treat with Neem oil Spray with water SPIDER MITES Moderately to heavily infested plant ROOT KNOT NEMATODES Microscopic insects live in the soil Infect the plant roots Reduces production & causes premature death Control with: Resistant varieties Rotation 12

leaves Starts when fruit is small Worse in wet springs Control There are no

13 Bugs pierce and suck juices Causes yellow spots under skin Control Hand pick Treat with Pyrethrin STINK BUG EARLY BLIGHT & SEPTORIA Occurs first on lower leaves Starts when fruit is small Worse in wet springs Control There are no resistant varieties Mulching or staking helps Treat with fungicide (Chlorothalonil) 13

Leaves die from bottom upward SEPTORIA Small dark dots on lower

14 EARLY BLIGHT Irregular brown or yellow lesions Dark concentric rings within lesions Lesions coalesce turning leaf yellow Leaves die from bottom upward SEPTORIA Small dark dots on lower leaves Later the center turns gray or tan but outside remains dark 14

ANTHRACNOSE FUNGUS Symptoms Sunken spots on ripe fruit Fungal

resistant varieties Rotate crops Avoid overhead watering Treat

Lower leaves wilt, turn yellow and die When cut dark brown

15 ANTHRACNOSE FUNGUS Symptoms Sunken spots on ripe fruit Fungal disease that makes fruit inedible Prevention & control Use resistant varieties Rotate crops Avoid overhead watering Treat with chlorothalonil or copper based fungicides FUSARIUM WILT Lower leaves wilt, turn yellow and die When cut dark brown streaks are seen in stem Plants often die before maturity Plant resistant varieties 15

VERTICILLIUM WILT Lower leaves turn pale and die Usually

resistant varieties Not common in Kansas ALTERNARIA STEM

stems Cankers can girdle the stem and kill plant May cause

16 VERTICILLIUM WILT Lower leaves turn pale and die Usually occurs when plant is bearing Normally plants survive Use resistant varieties Not common in Kansas ALTERNARIA STEM CANKER Another fungal disease Dark brown cankers occur on stems Cankers can girdle the stem and kill plant May cause curling of leaves Difficult to control Plant resistant varieties 16

VIRUS Symptoms: Light and dark green mottled areas on leaves Plants are stunted and have yellowish color Can be

17 WALNUT WILT Occurs in plants close to black walnut trees Walnut trees produce a toxic chemical called juglone Wilt is similar to fusarium and verticillium Don t plant within the root zone of walnut trees TOBACCO MOSAIC VIRUS Symptoms: Light and dark green mottled areas on leaves Plants are stunted and have yellowish color Can be caused by workers handling tobacco and then plants Control: Wash carefully after handling tobacco Use resistant varieties 17

SPOTTED WILT VIRUS Young leaves turn bronze Later develop numerous black spots

plants Very difficult to control Prevent by planting virus free plants Resistant

s affected plants in 2011 PHYSIOLOGICAL LEAF CURL Leaves curl when weather turns

18 SPOTTED WILT VIRUS Young leaves turn bronze Later develop numerous black spots Affected fruit has large yellow spots Disease spread by thrips Destroy diseased plants Very difficult to control Prevent by planting virus free plants Resistant varieties available to commercial growers are questionable Commercial KS gardener s affected plants in 2011 PHYSIOLOGICAL LEAF CURL Leaves curl when weather turns from cool to hot and dry Plants are trying to reduce transpiration Not a serious problem 18

blossom end of fruit Caused by: Lack of calcium Inconsistent moisture Cultivating too close

19 HERBICIDE INJURY Leaves are cupped and thick 2,4 D can travel for miles Plants will survive moderate injury Poor production is likely BLOSSOM END ROT Symptom: Large black spot on blossom end of fruit Caused by: Lack of calcium Inconsistent moisture Cultivating too close Solution: Most KS soil has enough calcium Consistent watering Avoid excessive nitrogen Mulch 19

TOMATO CRACKING Cracks can be concentric or radial

regularly Pick when just turning color Mulch will help

Juliet, Mountain Pride SUN SCALD Caused by Excessive

20 TOMATO CRACKING Cracks can be concentric or radial Caused by: Inconsistent watering Control: Water regularly Pick when just turning color Mulch will help Plant more resistant varieties Early Girl, Jetstar, Juliet, Mountain Pride SUN SCALD Caused by Excessive sun exposure Insufficient foliage Nitrogen will increase foliage 20

plants POPULAR TOMATOES SLICERS Jetstar Celebrity Big Beef Jetsetter Big Boy Orange

21 BACTERIA SPECK & SPOT Small black spots on leaves and fruit Usually affects only fruit quality Control Remove debris in fall Rotate Use non infested seeds and plants POPULAR TOMATOES SLICERS Jetstar Celebrity Big Beef Jetsetter Big Boy Orange Blossom HEIRLOOMS Brandywine Mortgage Lifter Pruden Purple Black Krim Rose Cherokee Purple 21

22 MORE POPULAR TYPES Roma Juliet PASTE San Marzano Amish Paste Paisano Golden Rave Mamma Mia CHERRY/GRAPE Sweet 100 Chelsea Sweet Sugar Plum Tumbling Tom Ildi Black Cherry Yellow Pear EARLY & HOT TEMP TOMATOES EARLY TYPES Early Girl 4 th Of July Siberia Glacier Jetsetter Applause Most Cherry Varieties HOT TEMPERATURE Super Souix Sunmaster Solar Fire Heat Wave Sun Leaper BHN 189 Florida 91 22

23 HARVESTING Pick daily or every other day When color is solid When fruit is firm When just starting to show color If problem with cracking Do not ripen in window Ripen on kitchen counter COMPOSTING OLD VINES? Do not compost Do not plow under Could perpetuate diseases Best to destroy old vines 23

24 AN INTRODUCTION TO GRAFTING What is tomato grafting? Grafted tomatoes are created when the top part of one plant (the scion) is attached to the bottom (the rootstock) of another plant Why do we graft tomatoes? To provide the soil borne disease resistance of hybrids to heirloom tomatoes To provide the enhanced vigor of hybrids to fruit quality of heirloom varieties GRAFTED TOMATOES The tops of the root stock plants are removed The tops of scions are attached with plastic clips Grafted plants Grafting clips from Johnny s seed catalog 24

HEALING CHAMBER Grafted plants are placed in healing chamber Kept in dark to

darkness for 3 to 4 days Healing chamber INSIDE OF HEALING CHAMBER INSIDE THE

Humidity 80 95 percent Provide a fine mist spray Water in pans increase humidity

25 HEALING CHAMBER Grafted plants are placed in healing chamber Kept in dark to maintain dormancy Allow the scion to absorb water and nutrients Remain in darkness for 3 to 4 days Healing chamber INSIDE OF HEALING CHAMBER INSIDE THE HEALING CHAMBER Chamber environment Temperature deg. Humidity percent Provide a fine mist spray Water in pans increase humidity Chamber is opened daily to re supply CO2 Gradually introduce light after 3 4 days Remove from chamber after about a week 25

26 GRAFTING TOMATOES Literature sources: df Other source: Dr. Cary Rivard Kansas State University Thank you for you attentiveness. Are there any questions?? 26

Growing Tomatoes in Pinellas County. Pam Brown, Gardening Coach

Growing Tomatoes in Pinellas County Pam Brown, Gardening Coach www.pamperedgardeners.com pamperedgardeners@gmail.com Getting Started Sprouting Seeds vs. Purchasing Transplants Sprouting seeds: Requires