Joe is going to plant a variety of both heirloom and hybrid tomato plants in the prepared beds. He finishes preparing the beds by laying down red mulch, which has been known to add 10 percent to 20 percent to tomato crop production. Then he adds the tomato cages around the tomato plants, adds some liquid fertilizer and waters the tomatoes.
Before planting tomato plants, you need to come up with a plan for getting water to them. One of the best ways is to use a soaker hose (figure A), which delivers water right to the roots without getting it on the leaves, where it might encourage disease. Soaker hoses also decrease water evaporation, because the water doesn't have to travel through the air to reach the soil.Many successful tomato gardeners swear by red mulch. The plastic cover (figure B) reflects red light back up to the inside of the tomato plants. The extra red light makes the tomato plants more productive because the fruit gets larger and more evenly ripe. There are reports of gardeners getting anywhere from 10 percent to 20 percent more tomatoes using red mulch.
1. Once the red plastic mulch is pulled out over the garden bed, secure the edges so the plastic will stay in place. Then cut Xs out for your tomato plants (figure C). Fold the excess plastic under (figure D) so you'll have room to dig and plant the tomato seedlings (figure E).
Hybrid Tomatoes: Early Girl and Better Boy- Early Girl, as the name suggests, is an early tomato as well as a disease-resistant variety. After its name are the designation F1, F2 and V; this means it's resistant to two types of Fusarium wilt, noted by the F1 and F2, and Verticillium wilt, noted by the V.
- Better Boy, also a disease-resistant type, has a V1, F1, N (root nematode), ASC (alternaria stem canker) and St (gray leaf spot) designation after the name. This is why gardeners love to put Better Boy in their gardens.
Heirloom Tomatoes: Mortgage Lifter, Bloody Butcher, Brandywine and Rutgers- Mortgage Lifter, the story goes, saved a farmer from bankruptcy when he sold his crop. It makes one- to two-pound red tomatoes that are beefy and full of flavor.
- Bloody Butcher gets its name from its cluster of small, deep-red tomatoes.
- Brandywine is known to be over a hundred years old and has very large red pinkish-red tomatoes. It's famous for it's great taste.
- Rutgers is a classic heirloom with slightly flattened red fruit. It's also known for great results and taste.
As well as planting disease-resistant plants, there are a few other tips to make your tomatoes stronger. Snip off the bottom leaves (figure F) and plant the tomatoes deep, covering up part of the stem (tomatoes have a unique ability to grow roots from their stems, so this gives them more chances to find food). A seedling can lose all of its moisture if it's planted in dry soil. Always water within an hour to prevent your new vegetables from wilting.Another tip is to pour a dose of liquid fertilizer right in the hole when you plant tomatoes (figure G). The extra fertilizer gives them a quick burst of food and water to keep them from going into transplant shock.
Here's how to set up tomato cages that won't tip over:1. Set a metal cage over each plant with the tomato centered in the cage (figure H). 2. Place a metal pipe, about 6' long, just outside the bed and drive it into the ground just enough to hold it in place (figure I).
3. Add a second vertical pipe to the other end and center of the bed (figure J). 4. Top the middle pipe with a T connection, run two horizontal pipes through the tomato cages and connect them to the T. 5. Thread an elbow on the end of each horizontal pipe (figure K). 6. Thread the outside vertical pipes to the elbows and drive them securely into the ground. By having vertical and horizontal pipes running through the bed (figure L), you can be sure the cages won't get knocked or blown over.
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