Wow, another summer with night temperatures below 50 degrees!  This is not what makes a great tomato crop.  Starting early, trapping solar energy, good nutrition, and uniform watering help insure a good crop.

1) BLOSSOM END ROT

This is a common problem in our area.  A lack of soluble calcium or damaged roots cause a calcium deficiency in the fruit resulting in a black, leathery spot on the underside of the fruit making it inedible.  Allowing plants to get too dry can damage the root hairs and affect calcium uptake.  Soils lacking in soluble calcium can cause the problem too.  Spray plants with calcium phosphate (Yield Booster) weekly if you’ve had a problem with this.

2) BLOSSOM DROP

When temperatures drop below 48 degrees F. many tomato varieties will abort their flowers.  So no matter how carefully you grow and protect early-planted tomatoes, you may not realize an advantage because of the low temperatures.  Using the plant hormone sprays “Blossom Booster” or “Blossom Set” will help somewhat.  Spray the flower clusters daily.  Eventually, you’ll probably realize that there’s not much advantage of planting tomatoes before mid-May.

3) MULCHING

One of the best ways to preserve moisture in the ground and reduce drought stress is by mulching.  Apply mulch around tomatoes by June 15 before it gets too hot.  Use lawn clippings, shredded leaves, compost or any other organic matter.  Avoid too much manure.

4) SUPPORT SYSTEMS

Support systems produce more usable tomatoes and are space efficient.  When tomato plants sprawl on the ground they are difficult to manage and harvest and are highly prone to slug damage.  Tomato cages made of heavy galvanized wire should be 5-6 feet tall and 18 to 24 inches wide.  “Texas Tomato Cages” fold neatly in the winter for easy storage.  Sturdy wooden stakes (1 to 2 inches thick) six feet tall can be used also.  Using stakes, tie the main stem to the stake every 6 inches and remove side branches (suckers).

5) FERTILIZATION

Fertilization is crucial for a good tomato harvest.  Manure during soil prep is a good start.  Apply alfalfa meal (Alpha One) as a sidedressing about June 1, July 1 and August 1.  Apply about one half cup per plant.  Spray plants with “Yield Booster” (calcium) weekly to minimize blossom end rot.  Alternatively, spray plants with a dilute solution of seaweed extract weekly instead of using alfalfa meal.  Avoid salty fertilizers like Miracle Gro, etc.

6) HARVEST

You’ll get the best flavor if you harvest fruit when it is fully ripe.  As frost time approaches in mid to late September harvest larger sized fruit (getting whitish on the bottom) and let ripen on the garage floor or in the basement.  Just before frost juvenile fruit can be picked and used for green tomato recipes like relish, pickles, mock apple pie, fried green tomatoes, etc.

7) PRESERVATION

Canning tomato fruits can allow you to enjoy them all winter, it preserves the flavor we love.  Freezing them works well but some flavor is lost.  Dried tomatoes have an intense flavor and can be stored for long periods.  Tomatoes can be preserved as sauce, paste, salsa, whole or diced.

Lastly, keep track of varieties that do well for you as well as those that don’t.  If you find a variety that consistently develops disease try another.  If possible, move plants from one area in the garden to another every year to avoid the accumulation and diseases.