In addition, we want the plant leaves as far from the soil as possible for disease prevention and the ties will help with upward growth. Tying up also helps prevent damage from storms and high winds. Tomatoes want to grow UP and I think they do better if you help them climb the poles. I start tying up my tomatoes as soon as they’re tall enough to get the ties around-sometimes even when I plant them. Continue this monthly schedule until fall. Two weeks after your first ripe tomatoes, fertilize again, but this time use a fertilizer with a higher phosphorous (P) content, as this helps promote the fruit production. Use a high nitrogen fertilizer for this application. Once the plants have begun to set lots of green fruit it will be time to add more fertilizer. You can use a high nitrogen (N) fertilizer at the beginning as you’re trying to promote rapid growth of the new plants. Mix this in the soil when you dig your hole, and then firm the soil around the plant. Before I plant, I mix a cup or so of Espoma’s Plant Tone organic fertilizer in the soil where each seedling will go. Tomatoes are classified as heavy feeders so it’s important to give them fertilizer of some sort all during the summer. ![]() I use hardwood bark mulch in my tomato bed, but straw works well and you can use newspaper between the plants as well. Keeping good constant moisture in the soil, without being soggy, is a good way to prevent blossom end rot on the fruit. (Important note: The soil splash is one of the ways that fungal spores in the soil can come into contact with the tomato plant.) ![]() Mulch thoroughly all around the plants to conserve moisture and prevent soil splash onto the leaves. Never bury any leaves under the soil as they will rot and cause trouble later. Plant them as close as you can to your support stakes or poles and the soaker hose if you’re using it. You’ll also notice two small oval leaves, which you want to pinch off.īury your seedlings to within about 2” of the first set of leaves. These will become roots if they come in contact with the soil, so your goal is to plant your seedlings as deeply as possible for maximum root development. If you look closely at your tomato plants you’ll notice lots of little “hairs” on the main stem.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |