...Surprisingly, a good tomato is easy to grow. I've had them at pretty much every house I've ever lived in, and I think you should too. Plant after the last frosts, when temperatures don't drop down past about 45-50 degrees Fahrenheit at night (May, usually, in Portland).
1. Start with a seedling. A sturdy plant between 6-10” will do best. Look for ones with well-established stalks; spindly ones are prone to breaking.
2. Variety is the spice of life, and that old adage works here as well. The more variety, the longer the harvest period, so mix it up a little with cherry, grape, and slicer varieties. Pretty much any small varieties will do, but for the slicers I'm particularly fond of Better Boy, Creole, Big Boy, Early Girl, Brandywine, Celebrity, or Lemon Boys. Allow 1-2 plants per tomato lover in the household, and up to 4 per person if you plan to can them.
3. Young tomatoes, like kittens, love to bask in the sun. Pick a spot that gets 6 hours a day, and mix some rich compost in with the top three inches of soil. 5 pounds per square foot will ensure they purr to their hearts content).
4. Bury the transplants 50-75% of the way up their stalks (to ensure proper rooting) and water with about 16 ounces of room-temperature water for the first two weeks. Water every other day afterward (or more if experiencing really hot weather).
5. Expect plants to start fruiting 50-80 days (depending on variety) after transplanting. For maximum nutritious and deliciousness, pick fruits when fully red and slightly soft when squeezed.
~Note~
A cage or a stake can be used to support plants after the first two weeks of growth, to prevent stalks snapping.
1. Start with a seedling. A sturdy plant between 6-10” will do best. Look for ones with well-established stalks; spindly ones are prone to breaking.
2. Variety is the spice of life, and that old adage works here as well. The more variety, the longer the harvest period, so mix it up a little with cherry, grape, and slicer varieties. Pretty much any small varieties will do, but for the slicers I'm particularly fond of Better Boy, Creole, Big Boy, Early Girl, Brandywine, Celebrity, or Lemon Boys. Allow 1-2 plants per tomato lover in the household, and up to 4 per person if you plan to can them.
3. Young tomatoes, like kittens, love to bask in the sun. Pick a spot that gets 6 hours a day, and mix some rich compost in with the top three inches of soil. 5 pounds per square foot will ensure they purr to their hearts content).
4. Bury the transplants 50-75% of the way up their stalks (to ensure proper rooting) and water with about 16 ounces of room-temperature water for the first two weeks. Water every other day afterward (or more if experiencing really hot weather).
5. Expect plants to start fruiting 50-80 days (depending on variety) after transplanting. For maximum nutritious and deliciousness, pick fruits when fully red and slightly soft when squeezed.
~Note~
A cage or a stake can be used to support plants after the first two weeks of growth, to prevent stalks snapping.
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