| |
 |
Growing Heirloom Tomatoes |
 |
 |
| |
|
|
| |
Sourcing
Heirlooms |
|
| |
Heirloom plants and seeds are often hard to find at garden centers simply due to
low demand. Organizations such as Seed Savers Exchange (www.seedsavers.org)
and Seeds of Diversity (www.seeds.ca) are dedicated to saving
heirlooms and are a great resource for gardeners
looking to do the same. These groups provide information on
companies that sell heirloom seeds and plants and many host
seed exchange events.
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
 |
|
 |
| The high sugar content in 'Black Pear' tomatoes makes for
tasty, sweet fruit. |
|
Richly-hued
'Purple Calabash' tomatoes have a mild flavor. |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
Cultivation |
|
| |
There
is no difference between cultivating heirlooms and cultivating
hybrids. Start by preparing the soil for planting by turning
it over and mixing in amendments such as compost, peat or manure,
or a light sprinkling of balanced fertilizer (7-7-7). The area
can be complemented by the use of black or red plastic mulch
to keep weeds in check, help maintain a constant soil temperature
and aid in moisture retention.
Seedlings should be set deeply in the soil and, if possible,
up to the first set of leaves. It's important to wrap their
lower stems up to 1-1/2" above ground to prevent cutworms
from destroying the plants. Recommended wrapping materials include
aluminum foil, newspaper, cardboard collars and washed foil
tops from yogurt containers. Water in a transplant fertilizer
(5-15-5) and, once flowers appear, begin a three-week interval
regimen of watering in a balanced fertilizer (20-20-20) until
most fruits have set.
It's advisable to stake or cage your plants to prevent sunscald,
catfacing (fruit deformation) and other damage due to environmental
exposure. Caged tomato plants do not have to be trimmed other
than to remove dead growth.
|
|
| |
|
|
 |
| |
|
|
Other Articles from this Issue |
|
|
|
|
