Tomato Time

Though lucky gardeners in the warmest zones are already at tomato-planting time, tax week up north is time for sowing tomato seeds indoors. Too many frosty nights still lie ahead for me and Andrew in our Upper Hudson Valley gardens in New York State. If you're sowing seeds, plan to grow them indoors for six to eight weeks (we prefer six).  If you're shopping at the garden center, look for short but stocky seedlings--no spindly, leggy creatures need apply. And forget plants that have fruit on them or even flowers--too much stress for such a young thing to undergo so soon.  A small, sturdy plant will quickly catch up to and outpace a larger, leggier one.  Plant extra-deep in the garden after all danger of frost is past, right up to the topmost two or three pairs of leaves, and the plants will grow more roots along all that buried stem. To support the plants, make the best cages from concrete-reinforcing wire (available at home-supply stores), a very strong mesh that has 6-by-6-inch openings, easy to pick fruit through.  It takes a little work to cut lengths and fashion them into cylindrical cages, but they will last a lifetime and hold up even the largest tomato plant if anchored  well with one stake per plant at set-out time (wire the cage to the stake so wind doesn't topple your tomatoes).

Comments

[kathy]

I did not know this! , Good info Thank you! kathy

[Theresa Hrab]

Hi Margaret,
I live in Northern Alberta Canada and I will not be able to put my tomatoes outside until the third weedend in May. I plant a sturdy short tomatoe plant that dosn't require staking. It is called Prairie Pride. Enjoy your blog.
Theresa

[Debra]

I live on Long Island and was wondering if I can plant my peas yet. I know its still a little early for the tomatoes but don't peas require cool nights? What other veggies can i plant now?
Thanks, Debra

[cgtreasures]

Can you tell what kind of purple tomatoes were on the table on the Martha show last week? It was the show with Charo(sp) I believe. Thank you!

[dawn mulroney]

Do you have a picture of a concrete reinforced wire? That would be a great help for my north Florida tomato plant. My first ever! Dawn

[LDM]

I live in Charleston, SC so my tomatoes have been in the ground since late March. Unfortunately, several have already wilted and died and we have had warm, rainy weather. There is a thick layer of mulch in the bed. I am thinking that the rain and mulch have caused them to wilt. Any assistance is appreciated!

[Cindi]

my tomatoe plant blooms but no tomatoes yet, I live in the hill country in Texas so I should have lots of growing time to go. I water the plant daily, sometimes 2x because it is very dry here. the plant is 2-3 feet high now and no baby tomatoes? does anyone know what I can do?