Historical April–May 2022 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
Summer is coming and better yet, home-grown tomatoes. Although store-bought tomatoes have improved over the years, the best ones for fresh eating are still the ones grown in the hot, humid Missouri summers.
There are so many great varieties that grow well here. You can grow them in containers in your yard or in a garden bed at one of the neighborhood community gardens.
It isn’t difficult to grow great tomatoes.
Following some simple advice advice will help. Because of the huge number of varieties available, choose plants that will match your preferences. You can get good plants at many places, but understanding what you are getting is important. What you want to use them for is first.
If you plan to make sauce, you want a larger harvest over a short period of time. That means you want “determinate” varieties.
If you are more interested in slicing, salads and sandwiches over the summer, you probably are more interested in “indeterminate” varieties that ripen over a longer time period.
There are also hybrid and heirloom varieties. Usually, hybrid tomatoes produce more tomatoes, suffer fewer tomatoes diseases and mature more quickly.
They can also have less summery tomato flavor and texture, although they are constantly improving. Heirlooms come in a variety of impressive flavors and colors, and heirlooms run “true to type” so you can save the seeds and get similar tomatoes the next year.
This is the origin of the name “heirloom.” A BLT with homegrown heirloom tomatoes has no match, but heirlooms can crack with too much water, produce fewer tomatoes, and are more susceptible to diseases and pests than hybrid plants. Hybrid varieties also often keep longer once picked, depending on the the variety. Garden stores get plants as early as March, but it is not a good idea to put them in the ground until soil temperatures are consistently above 50 degrees. Lizzie Rickard of Bowood Farms says, “We receive our farm-grown tomato plants in late April and even then it is possible that we will get colder night temperatures than the tomato plants prefer.” Nevertheless, she suggests, shop early and care for the plants yourself until planting time, in order to get the varieties you want. Plants may get “leggy” but that is ok. Keep them in their pots until the soil is warm enough outside. Ms. Rickard’s family typically waits until after Mother’s Day, her grandmother’s strategy. Other local gardening wisdom suggests waiting to plant in the ground until the fireflies appear. Thoughtful planting also improves results. Tomatoes develop roots along the stem if under the soil, so remove the bottom leaves and plant them deep. Ms. Rickard also recommends fertilizer at planting time. Tomatoes need to develop strong root systems, so use a fertilizer specifically for tomatoes. Tomato fertilizers often have more phosphorus for this reason. Bone meal is traditional fertilizer for tomatoes because it supplies phosphorus as well as calcium.
This prevents end rot, a common problem. Stake your tomatoes early. Tomatoes are a vining plant, and stems need gentle support. One last important growing tip is mulching. Mulching can help reduce watering needs, but more importantly can help prevent many tomato diseases.
These diseases are spread by bacteria and fungi in the soil.
A layer of mulch helps keep soil from splashing up from below on leaves and stems, reducing the chances of soil-born problems. Enjoying home grown tomatoes is one of the great joys of living in Missouri; you may travel far and wide, but the best BLT is the one you make at home with your own tomatoes.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, April–May 2022.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Archival transcription note: Source duplicated advice advice and the the retained.
Original source: SD_Times2022_04.pdf, printed page(s) 5; PDF page(s) 5.
