Tomatoes
Lycopersicon esculentum
For all tomatoes, days to maturity are from date of transplanting.
9,000 seeds per oz, 0.1 gram pkt ~30 seeds, 0.2 gram pkt ~60 seeds, 0.5 gram pkt ~150 seeds.
Culture: Tender, cannot tolerate frost. Usually started indoors Feb–April. Avoid using fresh manure as it causes lush foliage with few ripe fruits. Instead use generous amounts of well-rotted cow or horse manure or compost to boost plant vigor, and crushed eggshells at the bottom of each hole for calcium. Heavy phosphorus needs. Respond well to foliar sprays.
Determinate (Det) bush varieties may be staked, should not be pruned.
Indeterminate (Ind) climbing varieties are customarily staked and pruned.
Tomato experts Carolyn Male and Kokopelli’s Dominique Guillet both oppose pruning, arguing more abundant foliage provides more photosynthesis.
Good seed retains viability so we often commission two-year productions. Organically and sustainably grown seed was rinsed with a sodium hypochlorite solution to reduce risk of seed-borne disease. This treatment poses no health risks.
Minimum germination soil temperature 50°, optimal range 60–85°.
Diseases:
- ASC: Alternaria Stem Canker
- EB: Early Blight
- F: Fusarium
- GLS: Grey Leaf Spot
- LB: Late Blight
- N: Nematodes
- SEPT: Septoria Leaf Spot
- TMV: Tobacco Mosaic Virus
- V: Verticillium
Diseases: Bacterial Canker, Spec and Spot
Cultural controls: Disinfect greenhouse materials & cages, farming tools & gloves, avoid overhead irrigation, don’t work crop when wet, rotate crops, use compost.
Material: Copper.
Disease: Anthracnose
Cultural controls: Rotation, mulching, minimize plant wetness, staking, use compost.
Disease: Early Blight
Cultural controls: Rotation, avoid stressing plants, staking, keep leaf wetness to a minimum, mulching, indeterminate varieties are more resistant/tolerant, disinfect stakes & cages.
Material: Trichoderma harzianum (RootShield) or Streptomyces lydicus (Actinovate).
Disease: Late Blight
Cultural controls: Destroy cull potatoes & potato volunteers, avoid overhead irrigation.
Material: copper products.
Disease: Septoria Leaf Spot
Cultural controls: Space plants for good air circulation.
Materials: copper products.
Pest: Tomato Hornworm
Control: Look for frass (droppings) and handpick. Eeeuww!
Material: Bt kurstaki, Spinosad.
Pest: Tarnished Plant Bug
Cultural controls: Floating row covers, good weed control.
Material: try Pyrethrum products.