Growing Tomato Tips

Posted by Joshua Mihaita on October 27th, 2019

In southern Canada, where the frost-free period is short and maximum summer daytime temperatures average less than 90, recommended varieties are Burpee’s VF Hybrid, indeterminate, 72 days, VF; Spring Giant, semi-determinate, 65 days, VF; and Spring set, determinate, 67 days, VF.

In the East and Northeast, where the frost-free period is longer than it is north of the Canadian border but maximum summer daytime temperatures still average less than 900, recommended varieties are Beefeater, How To Grow Tomato Plants 5 Great Tips indeterminate, 75 days, VFN; Better Boy, indeterminate, 70 days, VFN: and Spring Giant, semi-determinate, 65 days, VF. Modern varieties have a built-in resistance to verticillium wilt and fusarium wilt, diseases that can wipe out a crop and for which there are no effective sprays; several varieties are also resistant to nematodes, microscopic pests that eat and weaken tomato plants.

The resistance of each variety is indicated by the letter “V” for verticillium wilt, “F” for fusarium wilt or `V” for the nematode.

In the Northwest, where maximum summer daytime temperatures average less than 90 and cloudiness and mist are common, recommended varieties are Beefeater, indeterminate, 75 days, VFN; Terrific, indeterminate, 70 days, VFN; and Vineripe, indeterminate, 80 days, VFN. In the Southwest, where the climate is arid and maximum summer daytime temperatures average over 90, recommended varieties are Beefeater, indeterminate, 75 days, VFN; Better Boy, indeterminate, 70 days, VFN; and Spring Giant, semi-determinate, 65 days, VF.

Determinate plants yield about 8 pounds each, semi-determinate 10 pounds, and indeterminate 8 pounds if staked, 15 pounds if unstaked.

A cold, rainy growing season will cause delay in ripening and reduce the yield. Three nonresistant varieties are Ponderosa (indeterminate, 83 days), whose pink fruit, up to 6 inches across and weighing as much as 11/2 pounds each, is excellent for slicing; and Yellow Pear and Yellow Plum (both indeterminate, 70 days), two vigorous plants with pear- and plum-shaped yellow fruit about 2 inches long. Small Fry (determinate, 52 days, VFN) bears great quantities of red fruit about 1 inch in diameter and can easily be grown as a pot plant on a sunny patio. Sunray (indeterminate. 72 days, F) is grown for its 2 1/2- to 3-inch golden-orange fruit.

Several varieties are excellent for special purposes and can be grown in all regions.

Roma (determinate, 75 days, VF), an oval tomato 2 1/2 to 3 inches long and 11/2 inches in diameter, is extensively used to make tomato paste.