When planting tomatoes be sure and set the plants deeper in the soil than in the original container. Be sure and use mulch or black plastic ground cover to maintain even soil temperature and moisture. A light side dressing of fertilizer may be applied when blossoms first appear. Also while plants are small you should put a tomato cage or some other type of support, so when the plant is mature it will not fall over from the weight of the tomatoes. Soil should be well limed before planting, this and even moisture levels will help prevent Blossom-End Rot. Select tomato varieties that are resistant to disease. Harvest tomatoes when red and juicy. A the end of the season, pick green tomatoes before the first frost and wrap in a single layer of newspaper and bring indoors to ripen.
I ripened my green tomatoes last fall in single layers in short boxes covered with newspaper. It worked wonderfully and we enjoyed *way better* than store bought tomatoes right up through Thanksgiving! My little grape tomatoes that were still green became delish pickled toms which we also served at Thanksgiving. Yummy!
ReplyDeleteI'm exitedly anticipating this years tomatoes!