Tips on growing the popular tomato , the organic way
BY IRENE CLARK
Tomatoes are the most popular crop grown by the home gardener, and the most perfectly ripe, delicious and healthful tomatoes you will ever eat are the organic tomatoes you grow yourself. From the tiniest cherry tomatoes to the giant beefsteak varieties, your crop is sure to be gobbled up by your family and friends. Tomatoes are not only delicious, but also nutritious filled with vitamins C and A, calcium and iron. Your homegrown tomato has almost twice the amount of vitamin C and beta-carotene as the commercially grown tomato.
The Past Life of the Tomato
Tomatoes have been around since at least 1519, when the wild varieties that grew in the Andes Mountains were being cultivated by the Aztecs. The first recipe for cooked tomatoes appeared in 1692. Tomato seeds then migrated to America along with the European settlers, and were grown by Thomas Jefferson at Monticello in 1809
Endless Variety.
There are two types of tomatoes: open pollinated and F1 hybrid. Open pollinated tomatoes produce true seeds that will reproduce the plant. F1 hybrid tomatoes will not reproduce themselves or their parents.
Hybrids have been crossbred for desirable characteristics sought after by commercial growers: shelf life, thick skin and disease resistance. Most hybrid tomatoes require more water (which is environmentally draining) and fertilizer (which is environmentally damaging) than the open pollinated varieties. Hybridizing has also led to a loss of flavor, in addition to diminishing an important component of genetic diversity. However, reliable performance and disease resistance have made F1 hybrids popular with many gardeners.
Open pollinated tomatoes are true to type and reproduce themselves. You may save these seeds to plant next year's tomatoes. Heirloom tomatoes are open pollinated varieties that are at least 50 years old. Their spectacular flavor, as well as gardeners' environmental concerns, has created a renewed interest in heirlooms.
A wide variety of seeds are available to the gardener who starts her own tomatoes. There are countless heirloom, open pollinated and hybrid varieties available. For example, early maturing Early Girl (hybrid), small fruited Sweet Million (hybrid) and beefsteak Brandywine mid-season (heirloom) can be grown for a diverse organic tomato garden. Remember that tomatoes are annuals, so you'll need to plant them anew each year.
For such a small investment, an organic tomato garden gives you a great return. Just one dozen tomato plants will produce enough fruit to feed a family of four, with an ample amount left over for preserving and freezing.
Seed to Seed: Starting Your Tomatoes
Try starting your tomato garden from seed. There is a vast array of species available through seed catalogs many more than you can grow by purchasing seedlings. Look at the early, main, and late-season varieties, and choose those that will mature in your horticultural zone. The best organic tomato seeds are available through the Seeds of Change and Johnny's Seeds catalogs. You can also save your own seeds of the open pollinated varieties you grow for next year's garden.
Begin with friable (loose and crumbly) composted soil and a clean, disease-free garden. Add organic fertilizers to the soil and mulch heavily. Tomatoes like a slightly acid soil a pH factor of 6.0 to 7.0 and full sun eight or more hours a day. Use companion planting principles to aid tomato growth. For example, plant basil, chives, carrots, marigold and parsley near your tomatoes to deter pests.
Sow indoors six to ten weeks before planting out in the garden. Seed-starting kits are available through mail-order catalogs and at garden centers. Fill clean containers with drainage holes at least two inches deep with a sterile soil mix. Press the seeds firmly to three quarters of an inch under the soil. Water from the bottom and cover with a plastic bag or plastic wrap. Germinate at 70 to 75 degrees by providing bottom heat the top of the refrigerator or a heating pad is effective for providing this warmth. Check the containers every day and bottom water if they are dry.
Once the seedlings emerge (in about a week), grow them at 60 to 70 degrees in a south window or under plant lights. Transplant tomato plants to larger pots if they get leggy. Fertilize them once a week with a diluted seaweed/fish emulsion. Begin to acclimate the tomatoes by putting them outside for a few hours a day in a windless semishade location a week before planting in your garden. Be sure to bring them inside to a cool location at night for the first few days.
Planting Seedlings
Whether you buy seedlings or grow them yourself, select stocky, dark green tomato plants without fruit to set out in the garden. Be sure there are no spots or insects. Also, choose several varieties of tomatoes to plant in your garden to insure against crop failure. Transplant the seedlings on a cloudy day. Make sure the night air temperature is consistently above 50 degrees (usually by May 15 in zone 7).
Dig the soil down to a depth of the shovel. Add up to 6 inches of compost and dehydrated cow manure. Plant tomatoes deeply (this is the biggest secret for great tomatoes) and bury most of the stem, even on its side, up to the first set of true leaves. The buried stem will send out deeper roots, thus producing a robust plant with a more abundant yield.
Plant the tallest tomatoes (indeterminate vines, or those that keep on growing) at the north end of the garden. Determinate tomatoes (bush type, growing to three or four feet) can be planted in other locations in the garden. (Seed catalogs usually identify tomatoes as determinate or indeterminate types. Also check the labels on the plants you get at the garden center.)
In most regions it is a good idea to protect tomatoes from spring's chilly winds until the weather has settled. Use row covers or individual plant protectors available by catalog and in garden centers. Mulch tomatoes heavily when the soil is thoroughly warm. Use hay or compost to mulch; do not use wood chips, as they deplete the soil of nitrogen.
Caring for Tomato Plants
Food and Drink
Juicy tomatoes are big drinkers. Use a soaker hose to give the plants one to two inches of water a week. This amount is usually adequate, depending on weather conditions.
To feed, apply an organic fertilizer that is low in nitrogen and formulated especially for tomatoes. Tomatoes Alive Plus in the Gardens Alive! catalog is a good choice. Fertilize tomatoes after the first blossoms appear and again after the first fruits are ripe. Tomatoes planted in containers (like Small Fry or Patio varieties) will require more frequent watering and feeding.
Stake Your Beefsteaks
Remove the suckers (side shoots) that grow in the joints between the main stem and leaves until the plant sets the first fruits. After that, allow some of the suckers to grow to provide shade for ripening tomatoes. Indeterminate tomatoes (those that grow vines) need to be supported. Use wire cages that are four or five feet tall; these are the least amount of work. Tomatoes can also be tied to thick wooden stakes as they grow. Attach them to the stakes loosely using soft ties like pieces of torn sheet or Velcro. Even the tidy determinate bushes will need a short stake when the tomatoes are ripening.
Tips for Tomato Bounty
Bury crushed eggshells in the planting hole to provide tomatoes with the extra calcium they need.
Place a three-inch foil or cardboard collar at the base of each seedling to prevent cutworm damage.
Do not use twine or wire to tie tomatoes; either will cut the stems.
Plant marigold near tomatoes to prevent root nematodes.
Do not plant tomatoes with members of the cabbage family (brassica).
Lettuce usually grows well in the shade of tomatoes.
Plant dill to lure the tomato hornworm away from tomatoes. If you discover the green tomato monster, remove by hand unless he has white spots on his back. These are the larva of his predator, so let him live for a while until the larvae mature.
Plant calendula and nasturtium near your tomatoes to ward off aphids.
If you have the space, rotate tomatoes in the garden each year to prevent soil-borne diseases.
Do not compost diseased foliage.
Plant wildflowers near tomatoes to attract beneficial insects such as ladybugs and lacewings that prey on aphids, whiteflies and other pests.
Keep a full birdbath near so thirsty birds will not drink from your tomatoes.
Harvest tomatoes when they are firm and fully colored. Ripen others in a paper bag.
Organic Gardening
If you're starting a new garden or improving the one you have, these tips will help you grow the organic way.
BY IRENE CLARK
Imagine the luxury of being able to pick vegetables at the peak of their flavor, right from your own yard. You can grow the best tomatoes, peppers, lettuce, celery and artichokes as well as many varieties of vegetables that are not available commercially. Best of all, you can grow them organically a happy turn from the underripe, chemically laden produce sold in supermarkets.
And organic gardens are not only good for you, they're good for the planet. By growing an organic garden, you're helping to reduce toxic chemicals in the soil, water supply and food chain. What's more, you will be an irresistible example for your fellow gardeners to follow when they see how easy, fun and economical organic gardening can be.
Begin With the Basics
The key to successful organic gardening is to begin with a strong, healthy foundation: nutrient-rich soil, the right amount of sun, sensible placement and companion plantings. These healthy beginnings will lead to a healthier, more bountiful garden in the long run.
Soil
The soil is the most basic building block of a garden. The healthier the soil, the better your harvest will be the more abundant and disease-free. When preparing your garden, take a little extra time to examine the texture and acidity levels of the earth you'll be working with.
First, test the pH factor of your soil. Most plants and vegetables prefer a neutral pH. The soil's pH is measured by a numbering system from 0 to 14 0 being the most acidic and 14 the most alkaline. You may have your soil tested for its pH factor at a county extension laboratory, or you can purchase a soil-testing kit to use at home.
Once you get the results, assess the needs of your garden and adjust accordingly with the proper organic materials. For example, if your soil is too acidic, simply add hydrated garden lime to reduce the level of acidity. In general, most vegetables prefer a neutral soil with a pH factor between 5.0 and 6.8. If you are in doubt about which pH level a certain plant requires, consult a good gardening reference book like Rodale's Successful Organic Gardening: Vegetables (Rodale Press, 1993) or The Big Book of Gardening Secrets (Storey Communications, Inc., 1998). It is also a good idea to check your garden's pH level every three years.
Creating Compost
Adding organic matter is one of the best ways to boost the productivity and fertility of your soil. Compost the hallmark of organic gardening is one of the best fertilizers around. What's more, compost is virtually cost-free: The things you waste become the best building blocks for successful compost. Vegetable scraps, grass cuttings, wood ashes, coffee grounds, eggshells and disease-free garden foliage all decompose in the compost pile and turn into nutrient-rich soil.
Not all organic materials are good for the compost pile, however. You should never add coal ash, charcoal, animal by-products (including meats, oils and even droppings) or hair to the pile. These are items that can be too hard to break down, attract scavengers or introduce diseases to your compost.
When preparing your garden bed, dig the soil down to the depth of the shovel, adding up to six inches of compost and dehydrated cow manure. It is a good idea to dig in an all-purpose organic fertilizer in early spring and add it again around July 4. All of these products are available at garden supply centers or by mail order.
Planned Diversity
If you arrange your garden intelligently, you will yield an abundant natural harvest. By working in partnership with nature you can make the most of the natural resources available such as sun exposure and planting times to encourage a healthy garden. Encouraging natural habits rather than fighting them and understanding the balance of nature is, perhaps, one of the most natural, organic ways to garden. Planned diversity is one important technique organic gardeners use to deal with insects and diseases.
Organization
First, it is important to lay out a general plan for your garden that includes the plant's optimal seasons and harvest times in addition to any other information about its preferences. Check the map in your seed catalogue to determine the planting zone for your climate. This is valuable information from which you can determine the length of your growing season. You can determine the average frost dates within your zone and figure the temperature ranges your plants may encounter. For optimal performance, use this information to choose plants that thrive in your zone.
After you've created a plan for your garden, select a site that makes the most of the available natural light. Your plot should receive 8 to 12 hours of sun per day. Most vegetable plants, especially those that produce fruit (tomatoes, for example), need a great deal of sun to yield an abundant harvest. Even spring crops, which enjoy cooler weather, love the sun.
Friends and Foes
Some plants grow together like love and marriage. These plant combinations are mutually beneficial and will enhance each other's growth and performance. This is the gardening principle known as companion planting. For example, tomatoes and basil, as well as cucumbers and radishes, enhance each other's performance.
Herbs are also important in your organic garden. Honeybees natural pollinators favor dill and calendula. Other herbs can act as repellents to garden pests. For example, coriander repels aphids and nasturtiums repel beetles, which can chew the leaves of a plant to a skeleton. Nasturtiums can also enhance the productivity of a cucumber crop; they play host to aphids, thereby keeping the vegetable plants aphid-free. Also, plant garlic in your garden and use it as a spray against insects, animal pests and various vegetable diseases. Try French marigolds in your garden; they look great in your vegetable plot and have a scent many unwelcome bugs hate.
On the other hand, some vegetables cannot abide one another. Some ill-fated combinations cause the plants to inhibit each other's growth; other combinations attract pests. Asparagus and onions do not get along, for instance; yet onions do well with most other vegetables. Also, do not plant tomatoes with members of the cabbage family (Brassica).
In addition, weeds are unwelcome in a healthy garden. Weeds compete for the water and nourishment that your organic vegetables and fruit require. If the weeds win, your plants become weak and more susceptible to disease. A healthy garden needs about one inch of water a week and should have very few weeds. Add a layer of straw (mulch) on the garden paths and around plants to cut down on weeds and conserve moisture.
Natural Solutions for Solving Problems
For all the care, planning and organization you put into your garden, you will inevitably encounter pests and diseases. Fortunately, there are a variety of safe, organic ways you can combat these troublemakers.
Some insects can be a boon to your garden. There are many types of garden-friendly insects predator or pollinator that aid your garden's growth by attacking pests or spreading the wealth. Beneficial insects can be attracted to your garden naturally, or may be purchased by mail.
Beneficial insects that are predators will attack and dine on many of the most damaging plant pests. For example, ladybugs dine on aphids, the tiny and oval, green, white, or black insects that suck the life out of a plant and leave it susceptible to other diseases. Green lacewings will make a meal of aphids, as well as pesky whiteflies.
Bees are some of the major flower pollinators in your garden. Bees do the pollination work necessary to produce peppers, eggplants, melons and other mainstay crops in the garden. Butterflies and hover flies are other natural pollinators.
There are several other actions you can take to combat both pest and pestilence. Here are some quick, natural remedies for an ailing crop:
If you discover aphids, hose them off with a hard stream of water. The aphids have soft bodies, so the pressure from the water will kill them.
If mildew affects your cucumber vines, remove the infected leaves.
If you discover the green tomato hornworm, remove it by hand unless it has white spots on its back. These white spots are the larvae of its predator. Let the hornworm live until the predator larvae have a chance to mature.
If your squash plants have mildew, spray them with a mild solution made up of one teaspoon baking soda to one quart water.
If you have slugs, trap them in a shallow pan of beer placed near the base of your plants. The slugs are attracted to the yeast and will drown.
As a last resort, use a botanical spray like Safer Insecticidal Soap or Soap Shield. Check the spray's label to make sure you are choosing the proper formula for your pests.
Grow With Your Garden
Get to know your garden as it grows. Stay involved in its processes. Inspect your plants at least once a week. Be on the lookout for pests and remove them by hand. If there are signs of disease, remove foliage and discard. Remember, do not put any infected leaves in the compost. Clean your hands and tools with alcohol or diluted bleach after handling infected plants to avoid spreading the infections to other plants.
Also, it is a good idea to keep an annual notebook that includes information on the varieties of plants and seeds in your garden, their harvest dates and quantities, along with any problems you encounter. This way you can improve your decisions and help ensure a more varied and abundant harvest the following year.
An organic garden with a lot of variety is interesting, attracts fewer pests and will still yield a delicious harvest if one crop is disappointing. So buy more seeds than you need for one harvest. Grow more than one variety of your favorite vegetables.
The beauty of organic gardening is that everything you need to aid and protect your harvest is available in nature. Also, by following organic gardening principles, you are forming a partnership with nature that will reward you with a bountiful, tasty and healthful garden.
Helpful Hints to Insure Success
Choose Wisely
Buy vegetable plants that are moist, green and small. Bigger plants with fruit do not transplant as well as their younger siblings.
Select disease-resistant cultivars. Check with your local nursery for those types.
Interplant radishes with other seeds. They germinate quickly and may be harvested first, making room for the other vegetables.
To avoid transplant shock, plant out on a cloudy day or cover the transplants until evening. Also, make sure to water all of the transplants before and after replanting.
Select vegetable seeds that are not coated with chemicals. Usually seeds are labeled as "treated" or will be odd colors like pink or blue.
Go for variety. Try planting long and short carrots, red and white radishes, big beef and cherry tomatoes, or yellow and green peppers. Such combinations will create a beautiful and delicious garden.
Planting and Placement
Peas and radishes should be planted as soon as the soil can be worked.
Soak spinach seeds overnight in the refrigerator before planting.
Protective row covers are perfect for the spring. They conserve heat, keep out pests and prevent seeds from blowing away.
Plant onions, beets and carrots when the soil is warmer.
In general, summer crops should be in the garden by Memorial Day, varying
by local climate. In all, plant warm-season crops like tomatoes and melons when the air temperature is above 50 degrees F.
Plant the tallest vegetables (corn or tomatoes) at the north end of the garden. This will insure that there are no long shadows during the daily passage of the sun from east to west.
Lettuce and beans will tolerate the shade of taller vegetables.
Save space by growing pole beans and cucumber vines on a trellis. The increased air circulation also helps prevent diseases.
Plant tomatoes deep. Tomatoes send out roots from the stem. Make sure they are planted deeply in the garden to promote a strong, healthy root system.
Fall crops should be planted in August. Broccoli and other cool-weather vegetables thrive in the lower temperatures of fall.
