Tomatoes -- In the Trenches

Tomatoes are America’s favorite homegrown vegetable. As with all things that are super fresh from the garden-like potatoes, corn, and peas, there is nothing that can substitute for that flavor.

Once the sugars of these vegetables break down into carbohydrates, they’re gone forever. Store-bought tomatoes are mass harvested short season plants that are rolled and bounced about on sorting belts that mechanically sift out green or misshapen varieties. These are then packed into boxes, refrigerated, and driven to your grocer. This process unfortunately leads to a big falloff in flavor.

There are Basically Two Types of Tomatoes
The first type of tomato plant is known as determinate. These plants grow to a certain size and stop. They require no staking and set their fruit in a relatively short time—often within 10 days. This one time harvest of tomatoes is a beautiful bounty for those who like to can or juice.

For gardeners who like to enjoy small harvests throughout the whole summer, however, indeterminate plants are the desired variety. They set fruits all summer long, grow in height throughout the season, and require the support of a stake or cage.

The first step in planting a tomato, assuming that you are going to plant from a cell pack, is choosing a healthy plant. Don’t buy a plant that has already set fruit—it’s a good indication the plant is stressed. Another quality to avoid is ‘legginess’—a stock that is smaller and bushier may be a better bet.

Trench Plant for Better Tomatoes
Place the plants in dark pots and set them out in the early spring sunshine. When the last frost of the season is 10 days past, it’s time to get planting. Trench planting is my favorite method for planting tomatoes.

In well-draining soil, pH between 6 and 6.8, dig a small trench that is 6 to 8 inches deep, and 6 to 15 inches long. In the bottom of the trench, sprinkle a line of fertilizer that is 5-10-10 or 6-24-24. On top of the fertilizer, shovel on a 2 inch layer of soil.

Pinch all of the leaves off of the top of the plant except for the top few and lay it horizontally in the trench. Cover it with soil and rest the stem on a pillow of soil. Two inches behind that pillow, pound a wooden stake and water the plant generously.

The plant will grow roots into the fertilizer and form roots along the buried stem. Because the root system is closer to the soil surface it will be much warmer than if it were buried deeper in the earth. This gives them a jump-start on the growing season where production can slow in August when the backyard garden becomes hotter than a toaster oven.

Water your plants one inch per week, two inches during dry spells. Plants will wilt in afternoon heat, but if they are wilted in the morning, they need a drink ASAP. The name of the game is steady even watering throughout the season.

See you Next Month...
...with more helpful tips from GardenPower with Joe Sherinski and your Local STIHL Dealer!

Hanging Tomato Basket

Do you live in an apartment or have limited gardening space? Then check out Joe's step-by-step demonstration for creating a hanging tomato basket.

Click the start arrow TWICE and wait for the file to load.

This newsletter is currently available to consumers/customers of STIHL Dealers in Missouri, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Southern Illinois, and Texas.

To Join this Newsletter Mailing list, go to the STIHL Dealer Locator and visit the STIHL PowerChord website of the dealer closest to you.

When you arrive at the dealer's PowerChord website, click on the Newsletter button and join the dealer's mailing list.