Plant Right to Avoid Tomato Growing Problems
One of the ways to avoid tomato growing problems is to stagger your tomato harvest. This greatly depends on the area in which you are planting and the length of the growing season. For tomatoes to grow successfully the soil temperature needs to be at least 55 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Your air temperature during the day needs to be a minimum of 70 degrees. The temperature at night should be between 65 and 68 degrees Fahrenheit. No matter whether you can plant in early March or early May, you won’t harvest your first tomatoes until late July. The full production usually begins in early August as long as the tomato plants are planted by early May. Tomatoes love the sun and need a warm climate to thrive. Six hours of sun are required for your plants to grow successfully and for the fruit to ripen. If you are interested in harvesting your tomatoes in November before the first frost comes along in December, you should plant your tomatoes in June. Once the first frost hits your harvest will be over.
One of the most popular vegetables around the world are tomatoes. They are used in a myriad of dishes and salads. Many people have found that growing their own tomatoes greatly increases their ease in using tomatoes and confidence that they are getting a quality vegetable. Although, to keep from having to many tomatoes at one time some gardeners stagger their planting times or grow varieties that ripen at different times in order to be able to harvest ripe tomatoes through out their growing season.
Septoria leaf spot, caused by the fungus Septoria lycopersici, usually appears on the lower leaves after the first fruits set. Rainy weather with temperatures of 68 to 77 degrees Fahrenheit favors disease development and a rapid spread of the disease to the upper leaves. This is one of the worst tomato growing problems in cooler damp areas.
In some warmer climates, tomatoes can be grown almost all year round. Planting tomato plants in April will give you a wonderful summer crop of most tomato varieties. Those who wish to have a fall or winter crop of home grown tomatoes choose to plant tomato seedlings in July or August. In southern climates you will still get the minimum of 6 hours of sun every day.
Planting seedlings instead of seeds in your garden will help avoid tomato growing problems. If you want to grow your tomatoes from seeds plant the seeds indoors 6 weeks before you transplant them outdoors in the ground. Seedlings should be at least at a six leaf stage to go into the ground in your outdoor garden. Make sure that the soil in your garden has been tilled well. The soil should also be slightly acid with a pH level of 6.0 to 6.8. Although, home grown tomatoes grow in most types of soil, a light, well-drained fertile soil, high in organic matter, is considered best.
If you live in a colder climate you might consider investing in a compact portable greenhouse in order to get the most out of your tomato crop. With a portable greenhouse you will be able to gradually expose your tomato plants to the cold outdoors. This is called hardening off without which tender seedlings can die quickly on a cold night.
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