Growing Tomatoes in Florida
Content
Growing Tomatoes in Florida
RickHarrison.com presents...
A Guide to Growing Tomatoes in Florida
why gardeners love tomatoes
American vegetable gardeners. Flavor is probably the main reason. A vine-ripened tomato fresh from the garden tastes about a hundred times better than the typical supermarket tomato. I'll admit that produce markets sometimes carry vineripened tomatoes that taste okay, but they don't compare to a tomato just plucked off the vine, with the heat of the sun still in it, practically vibrating with aromatic fragrance and juicy flavor.
how to plant tomato seeds
You can take a cherry tomato from your next salad and throw it on the ground in a sunny spot; if conditions are good, a few plants will spring up and produce some tomatoes. However, taking good care of your plants usually produces better results.
Tomatoes are the most popular crop among Tomatoes don't always have to be pampered.
Start with some good fluffy potting soil or soilless mix. Avoid cheap brands (such as Hyponex) which take on a rock-like texture after Nutrition and safety are additional reasons to they get wet and dry out a few times. I like to grow your own tomatoes (and your own make a 50/50 mix of sandy soil from my own vegetables in general). Fresher vegetables grown garden and commercial potting soil. Put your in enriched soils are more nutritious than mix, slightly moist, into an oven-proof bowl. vegetables grown in depleted soils and shipped a Sterilize it by baking in a microwave oven at great distance. Other countries still use pesticides medium power for 12 minutes. that have been banned in the US, and imported produce is sometimes contaminated with bacteria Sterilize some planting trays or cell-packs in hot from human colons. Even in the US, crops are tap water with a splash of chlorine bleach added. exposed to more chemicals than many people are As soon as you're sure the planting mix has cooled down to room temperature, spoon it into comfortable with. the trays or cell-packs. Make sure the mix is Another reason to grow your own is that you have slightly moist but not soggy! Plant one seed in access to greater variety. There are orange each "compartment," about 1/4 inch deep. Label tomatoes, purple tomatoes, nearly white tomatoes, the containers with the names of the varieties you sausage-shaped tomatoes, hollow tomatoes shaped have planted. like bell peppers, strangely wrinkled and pleated tomatoes, and fruit sizes ranging from smaller It's a good idea to buy a fancy blank book at a than grapes to bigger than softballs. There are bookstore or art supply shop and keep notes on very tart and tangy tomatoes, very sweet and the varieties you plant and how well they sugary tomatoes, well-balanced tomatoes, and perform. (Don't use a cheap notebook. Writing in tomatoes that taste a little bit like wine or citrus. a nice hardbound journal with a good pen feels To experience this vast spectrum of tomato much better, and makes a better gift to future generations. Naturally one wouldn't try to keep varieties, you have to grow your own. such important data in an unreliable storage medium such as a computer hard drive.) seeds or seedlings?
You can buy tomato seedlings at plant nurseries when the soil temperature is in the 80° to 86°F
and in the garden departments of stores like Target, WalMart, K-Mart, etc. Look for dark green, stocky plants. If you see any signs of blotchy leaves or insect infestation, don't buy the plants; go home, take a shower, change your clothes and then go shop somewhere else.
http://www.rickharrison.com/texts/info/tomatoes1.html[3/12/2012 1:40:01 AM]
Tomato seeds sprout quickly and grow vigorously range. Put your seed trays in a warmish spot so they'll stay near this temperature. Some people use a heating pad on its lowest setting, sometimes with a layer of newspaper between seed trays and heating pad to prevent over-heating. (You can turn it off when you're away from home if leaving
Growing Tomatoes in Florida
I prefer to grow my tomatoes from mail-order seeds. That way I get to choose from hundreds of varieties, and I get to control the timing. Here's a link to my list of seed sources.
it on worries you.) Either cover the seed trays with Saran Wrap or something similar to keep them from drying out, or spritz them with an atomizer daily. Check twice a day to see if there are any sprouts; I usually see sprouts after 4 to 5 days. As soon as sprouting occurs rush the trays outdoors into full sunlight. Bring them back inside only if the outdoor temperature goes below 45°F.
page 1 next page | contents ©2005 Richard K. Harrison
http://www.rickharrison.com/texts/info/tomatoes1.html[3/12/2012 1:40:01 AM]
Growing Tomatoes in Florida
RickHarrison.com presents...
A Guide to Growing Tomatoes in Florida
when to plant
Spring, after the danger of frost has passed and before the Summer's rains, heat and humidity create optimum conditions for the bacterial and fungal diseases. If you want to grow during the Spring, plant your seeds in mid-January.
dealing with adolescent plants
Growing tomatoes in Florida is easiest during the When the seedlings are 3 to 4 inches tall and
have 2 or 3 sets of true leaves, it's time to transplant them into larger pots. Most people put plants in the ground at this stage, but it is wiser to keep the plant in a small pot for a few weeks before setting it out. Another gardener's web page about this technique says "the bigger and The second easiest season is Autumn. You can healthier the tomato plant at transplant time, the also grow tomatoes during the Winter if you are better it did in the long run." willing to cover them when frost threatens and uncover them after the coast is clear. Growing I transplant the seedlings into square 3.5" by 3.5" tomatoes in Summer is a challenge for plastic pots that I've saved from previous experienced tomatophiles. purchases of annuals and other nursery plants. You can use slightly bigger pots if you have some. Don't hold the seedlings by the stems; any taking care of seedlings bruising of the stem tissue will slow down the You'll need to keep your seedlings someplace plant's growth. Hold the seedling by its leaves or, better yet, handle the soilclump / rootball. Plant where you will see them twice a day, preferably the seedlings about 1 inch deeper than they were in full sun. Let them get fairly dry, almost or just before; the buried stem will develop roots and barely to the point of wilting, and then water strengthen the plant. At this stage I use the same thoroughly. Twice a week I give the seedlings a 50/50 mix of potting soil and garden sand, but I very dilute solution of fish emulsion and/or don't sterilize it. I do add to the mix whatever Miracle Gro for Tomatoes. When I say "very nutritional supplements are handy at the time: dilute" I mean just a small pinch of fertilizer per perhaps just a pinch of powdered phosphate rock, gallon of water -- considerably less intense but bone meal, and/or Osmocote. more frequent than the directions on the package suggest. Water gently with a watering can; do not Continue inspecting the plants twice a day and splash soil onto the leaves, and keep wetting of watering as before. If you are "in tune" with the the leaves to a minimum. tomato plants, you will sometimes be able to tell when they get hungry or thirsty even before you Since you'll be inspecting your seedlings twice a see them -- as if you can feel them crying out to day, you'll see any insect problems developing you telepathically. When the plants are about 7 before they become critical. Apart from an inches tall, they will tell you that they are ready to occasional aphid or leaf-miner, I seldom have any be transplanted into the ground. pest troubles at this stage.
http://www.rickharrison.com/texts/info/tomatoes2.html[3/12/2012 1:40:39 AM]
Growing Tomatoes in Florida
page 2 next page | contents ©2005 Richard K. Harrison
http://www.rickharrison.com/texts/info/tomatoes2.html[3/12/2012 1:40:39 AM]
Growing Tomatoes in Florida
RickHarrison.com presents...
A Guide to Growing Tomatoes in Florida
site selection Generally you should build your tomato garden in
an area that gets full sun all day long. Tomatoes grown in partial shade often do not develop normal flavor. (However, if you're going to try to grow tomatoes in mid-summer, consider a site that gets full sun until noon and then broken shade from trees in the afternoon.) Don't put your tomato patch in a low soggy area. Good drainage is important. It is a good idea to "rotate your crops" -- this means if you have tomatoes in garden beds #1 and #3 this year, you should grow tomatoes in beds #2 and #4 next year. When tomatoes are grown in the same spot year after year, bacteria and viruses can accumulate and multiply in the soil.
You know how you build a basin around a newly planted tree, with a little dirt dam around it? You can do the same thing on a smaller scale with each tomato plant. This is a good idea if the weather is droughty and you will be doing a lot of watering by hand. Florida sand can get so dry that water just beads up on the surface and trickles away to the lowest point; this is less troublesome if each plant is sitting in a slight basin-shaped area large enough to hold a cup or two of water.
mulch and supports Mulch helps to prevent sudden large changes in
soil temperature and moisture levels. It also keeps dirt from getting splashed onto the leaves, and this helps to reduce disease problems. Last but not least, mulch slows down weeds. Plastic "weed-block" fabric, cypress mulch, and grass clippings from the lawnmower all seem to work okay. (When I am going to use grass clippings, I let them dry out in the sun for a couple of weeks before applying.) To read about black plastic mulch, click here. Mulch does have one draw-back. If you only get a brief, light rain shower, the soil won't get wet. The benefits of mulch far outweigh this one problem, in my opinion. The idea of an edible "living mulch" is also worth a try. Closely-spaced lettuce, carrots or radishes can cover the ground around the tomato plants, helping to shade the soil (thus slowing weed germination) while they themselves enjoy the cooling shade cast by the larger tomatoes. You might have to use a bit more fertilizer if you try this scheme. I almost always put wire cages around my tomato plants as soon as they go in the ground. This discourages birds, cats and other visitors from stepping on the small plants. As the plants grow larger, the cages also prevent the leaves and fruits from coming into contact with soil, which is important for disease prevention.
soil preparation I n most of our home gardens, the Florida soil is
very sandy. It does not contain much organic material and does not hold moisture very well. Preparing the soil for a tomato patch involves removing the grass and/or weeds, digging out any tree roots that may be in the area, and stirring in some soil amendments. Every tomatophile has his/her own recipe. Some of the things you can add to the soil include: homemade compost · Black Kow brand composted cow manure · peat moss · bonemeal · crushed eggshells · powdered phosphate rock and muriate of potash. If you like, you can contact your agricultural extension service and have your soil tested to see if the pH (acidity / alkalinity) needs to be adjusted.
transplanting Dig a hole for each seedling that is a few inches
deeper than needed for the rootball. The idea is to bury a couple inches of the lower stem along with
http://www.rickharrison.com/texts/info/tomatoes3.html[3/12/2012 1:41:10 AM]
Growing Tomatoes in Florida
the rootball. Remove any leaves from the part that will get buried. The buried stem will develop roots and this is believed to increase the plant's ability to gather nutrients from the soil. Put the seedling in its hole and fill the hole with soil loosely -don't pack the soil down tightly. The plants should be installed about two feet apart from each other. Very large, multi-branched varieties should be even farther apart. More space between plants gives them more light, better ventilation (which means drier leaves, which means fewer disease problems), and less competition for nutrients. More space also makes it easier to see and deal with pest infestations.
a Debarao seedling poses for a portrait
page 3 next page | contents ©2005 Richard K. Harrison
http://www.rickharrison.com/texts/info/tomatoes3.html[3/12/2012 1:41:10 AM]
Growing Tomatoes in Florida
RickHarrison.com presents...
A Guide to Growing Tomatoes in Florida
I sometimes water my plants with a very dilute solution of fish emulsion and Miracle Gro for Ask a dozen tomatophiles how they prune their Tomatoes. Other tomatophiles advocate manure tea and a few are fond of seaweed solution. plants and you may get a dozen different Unless you are trying to grow the world's largest responses. Some of us never prune; others tomato, over-fertilizing is a big mistake; resist the maintain a strict regimen of removing side-shoots temptation. that emerge near the base of the plant (the so called "suckers"). Major pruning is hardly ever a good idea. Removing a lot of foliage will pests and diseases traumatize the plant and expose the fruit to sunHopefully you won't have any major problems scald. with insects, bacteria, fungi, viruses, and Don't just drop the pruned-off leaves and stems nutritional disorders. One of the advantages of on the ground. Instead, carry them to a garbage watering the plants by hand, one by one, is that it can. Any leaves and fruits that fall off the plants virtually forces you to take a close look at each should also be removed from the garden. If you plant every couple of days. This is how you catch use clippers or a knife to do your pruning, problems before they get out of control. sterilize the blade(s) before you move from one plant to the next. Caterpillars (called "worms" by some folks) can be controlled by B.t. (Bacillus thuringiensis) If you have to handle the plants, try to do it during which is sometimes sold under the name a time of day when their leaves are dry -- not in Thuricide. Aphids, mites and other small insects the morning when they are wet with dew. can be fought with Safer's Insecticidal Soap.
pruning and garden hygiene
Slugs and birds sometimes attack ripening fruit; bird netting or vinyl screen material will keep the Over-watering will cause most varieties to birds away, while special traps or a barrier of diatomaceous earth will slow down the slugs. The produce bland-tasting fruit. On the other hand, more odiferous varieties of marigolds are said to allowing the plants to get very dry and then repel nematodes, but you may have to grow them suddenly giving them a lot of water will make the for several years and compost them into the soil fruit crack. Moderation is the key word. Bend to have any effect. over and stick your finger in the ground once in a while. When the top few inches of soil are getting Fungal diseases can be slowed down by spraying dry, it's time to water. If you accidentally let the the plants with fungicide every 14 days. plants get so dry that they wilt, don't give them a Alternating between daconil and copper fungicide whole lot of water all at once! Just give them a is a good idea. Follow the label directions exactly brief sprinkle to cool the soil, then come back with regard to diluting the fungicide in water after the heat of the afternoon has passed and before spraying. Over-concentrated fungicide will water more thoroughly. hurt the plants, and over-diluted fungicide will give the fungi a chance to build up a resistance. If possible, water the plants in a way that does not Spray in the morning before the searing heat of get the leaves wet. Soaker hoses or drip irrigation day kicks in. Be sure to spray the undersides of systems under plastic mulch are good. Personally the leaves as thoroughly as the tops. I water by hand with a watering can. Keep smokers out of the garden. Tobacco If you prepared the soil properly before products can carry a virus (tobacco mosaic virus) transplanting seedlings into it (by adding plenty of that can infect tomatoes and related crops.
feeding and watering
http://www.rickharrison.com/texts/info/tomatoes4.html[3/12/2012 1:41:24 AM]
Growing Tomatoes in Florida
composted manure, a pinch of powdered phosphate rock, a trace of muriate of potash, and a calcium source such as bonemeal or crushed eggshells), then you will not need to do much fertilizing afterwards. page 4 next page | contents ©2005 Richard K. Harrison
http://www.rickharrison.com/texts/info/tomatoes4.html[3/12/2012 1:41:24 AM]
Growing Tomatoes in Florida
RickHarrison.com presents...
A Guide to Growing Tomatoes in Florida
After the seed is thoroughly dry, label the date and variety name on a plastic zip-loc bag or other Most tomato varieties change from green to red airtight container, insert the seed, seal the container. Several small containers can be placed (or some other color) when they are ripe. Not all in one large airtight container with some oventomatoes ripen uniformly, though; some will have dried silica gel. Seed should be stored in a cool, ripe bottoms and unripe tops. Pick any that have dry place. Depending on conditions, tomato seed very ripe spots. can remain viable for 3 to 5 years.
harvest
If you are having problems with birds, slugs or stinkbugs attacking your ripening fruit, you can pick some when they first begin to change color and bring them inside to finish ripening indoors. Don't pile them up; spread them out so they are not touching each other, and keep them in a wellventilated area with a temperature of 70 to 75 degrees. There is no benefit to putting the tomatoes in a sunny windowsill, and doing so may cause them to be heat-damaged.
varieties Tomatoes come in a wide spectrum of colors,
shapes, sizes, flavors, and ability to withstand various climates. Selecting the right varieties for your needs is an important step on the path to tomato nirvana. Here are my suggestions for Florida gardeners. for beginners:
saving seed I f you come across an open pollinated (nonhybrid) tomato variety that you are especially fond of, you may want to save some seed for next year's planting. If it's a hard-to-find variety, such as a family heirloom given to you by a friend or neighbor, saving seed is the only way to guarantee that you'll have access to the variety in the future. Tomato seed needs to go through a brief fermentation process. During this process, beneficial bacteria remove the germinationinhibiting gel from the seeds and also destroy many of the seed-borne diseases that can affect the next generation.
Celebrity Better Boy any cherry tomato medium-to-large red tomatoes: Gulf State Market Walter Villemaire Flora Dade paste tomatoes: Martino's Roma for growing during Summer: Porter's Pride Heatwave Solar Set
Start by selecting ripe (not over-ripe) fruits from the most vigorous plants. Scoop out the seeds and gel into a big jar and stir in a little water. Cover the jar's top with some screen or cheesecloth. If unusual colors: you're doing more than one variety, label the jar. Tangerine Let the mixture ferment at room temperature for 3 Green Grape to 4 days, stirring once a day, until a white or Cherokee Purple grey mold forms on top. Immature seed will float to the top; viable seed sink to the bottom. Remove the cover, pour off the scum, add fresh water, and Most of these varities can be obtained from swirl the contents around a bit; repeat until only Tomato Growers Supply Company.
http://www.rickharrison.com/texts/info/tomatoes5.html[3/12/2012 1:41:35 AM]
Growing Tomatoes in Florida
clean water and clean seed remain at the bottom of the container. Drain off the water and lay the clean seed out to dry in a thin layer on a plate or screen. Dry in an area where the humidity is low and the temperature is in the 80 to 85 degree range; use a fan to keep the air circulating. Seed will mold or germinate if dried too slowly, and will be damaged by shrinkage if dried too quickly. page 5 back to table of contents ©2005 Richard K. Harrison
http://www.rickharrison.com/texts/info/tomatoes5.html[3/12/2012 1:41:35 AM]
RickHarrison.com presents...
A Guide to Growing Tomatoes in Florida
why gardeners love tomatoes
American vegetable gardeners. Flavor is probably the main reason. A vine-ripened tomato fresh from the garden tastes about a hundred times better than the typical supermarket tomato. I'll admit that produce markets sometimes carry vineripened tomatoes that taste okay, but they don't compare to a tomato just plucked off the vine, with the heat of the sun still in it, practically vibrating with aromatic fragrance and juicy flavor.
how to plant tomato seeds
You can take a cherry tomato from your next salad and throw it on the ground in a sunny spot; if conditions are good, a few plants will spring up and produce some tomatoes. However, taking good care of your plants usually produces better results.
Tomatoes are the most popular crop among Tomatoes don't always have to be pampered.
Start with some good fluffy potting soil or soilless mix. Avoid cheap brands (such as Hyponex) which take on a rock-like texture after Nutrition and safety are additional reasons to they get wet and dry out a few times. I like to grow your own tomatoes (and your own make a 50/50 mix of sandy soil from my own vegetables in general). Fresher vegetables grown garden and commercial potting soil. Put your in enriched soils are more nutritious than mix, slightly moist, into an oven-proof bowl. vegetables grown in depleted soils and shipped a Sterilize it by baking in a microwave oven at great distance. Other countries still use pesticides medium power for 12 minutes. that have been banned in the US, and imported produce is sometimes contaminated with bacteria Sterilize some planting trays or cell-packs in hot from human colons. Even in the US, crops are tap water with a splash of chlorine bleach added. exposed to more chemicals than many people are As soon as you're sure the planting mix has cooled down to room temperature, spoon it into comfortable with. the trays or cell-packs. Make sure the mix is Another reason to grow your own is that you have slightly moist but not soggy! Plant one seed in access to greater variety. There are orange each "compartment," about 1/4 inch deep. Label tomatoes, purple tomatoes, nearly white tomatoes, the containers with the names of the varieties you sausage-shaped tomatoes, hollow tomatoes shaped have planted. like bell peppers, strangely wrinkled and pleated tomatoes, and fruit sizes ranging from smaller It's a good idea to buy a fancy blank book at a than grapes to bigger than softballs. There are bookstore or art supply shop and keep notes on very tart and tangy tomatoes, very sweet and the varieties you plant and how well they sugary tomatoes, well-balanced tomatoes, and perform. (Don't use a cheap notebook. Writing in tomatoes that taste a little bit like wine or citrus. a nice hardbound journal with a good pen feels To experience this vast spectrum of tomato much better, and makes a better gift to future generations. Naturally one wouldn't try to keep varieties, you have to grow your own. such important data in an unreliable storage medium such as a computer hard drive.) seeds or seedlings?
You can buy tomato seedlings at plant nurseries when the soil temperature is in the 80° to 86°F
and in the garden departments of stores like Target, WalMart, K-Mart, etc. Look for dark green, stocky plants. If you see any signs of blotchy leaves or insect infestation, don't buy the plants; go home, take a shower, change your clothes and then go shop somewhere else.
http://www.rickharrison.com/texts/info/tomatoes1.html[3/12/2012 1:40:01 AM]
Tomato seeds sprout quickly and grow vigorously range. Put your seed trays in a warmish spot so they'll stay near this temperature. Some people use a heating pad on its lowest setting, sometimes with a layer of newspaper between seed trays and heating pad to prevent over-heating. (You can turn it off when you're away from home if leaving
Growing Tomatoes in Florida
I prefer to grow my tomatoes from mail-order seeds. That way I get to choose from hundreds of varieties, and I get to control the timing. Here's a link to my list of seed sources.
it on worries you.) Either cover the seed trays with Saran Wrap or something similar to keep them from drying out, or spritz them with an atomizer daily. Check twice a day to see if there are any sprouts; I usually see sprouts after 4 to 5 days. As soon as sprouting occurs rush the trays outdoors into full sunlight. Bring them back inside only if the outdoor temperature goes below 45°F.
page 1 next page | contents ©2005 Richard K. Harrison
http://www.rickharrison.com/texts/info/tomatoes1.html[3/12/2012 1:40:01 AM]
Growing Tomatoes in Florida
RickHarrison.com presents...
A Guide to Growing Tomatoes in Florida
when to plant
Spring, after the danger of frost has passed and before the Summer's rains, heat and humidity create optimum conditions for the bacterial and fungal diseases. If you want to grow during the Spring, plant your seeds in mid-January.
dealing with adolescent plants
Growing tomatoes in Florida is easiest during the When the seedlings are 3 to 4 inches tall and
have 2 or 3 sets of true leaves, it's time to transplant them into larger pots. Most people put plants in the ground at this stage, but it is wiser to keep the plant in a small pot for a few weeks before setting it out. Another gardener's web page about this technique says "the bigger and The second easiest season is Autumn. You can healthier the tomato plant at transplant time, the also grow tomatoes during the Winter if you are better it did in the long run." willing to cover them when frost threatens and uncover them after the coast is clear. Growing I transplant the seedlings into square 3.5" by 3.5" tomatoes in Summer is a challenge for plastic pots that I've saved from previous experienced tomatophiles. purchases of annuals and other nursery plants. You can use slightly bigger pots if you have some. Don't hold the seedlings by the stems; any taking care of seedlings bruising of the stem tissue will slow down the You'll need to keep your seedlings someplace plant's growth. Hold the seedling by its leaves or, better yet, handle the soilclump / rootball. Plant where you will see them twice a day, preferably the seedlings about 1 inch deeper than they were in full sun. Let them get fairly dry, almost or just before; the buried stem will develop roots and barely to the point of wilting, and then water strengthen the plant. At this stage I use the same thoroughly. Twice a week I give the seedlings a 50/50 mix of potting soil and garden sand, but I very dilute solution of fish emulsion and/or don't sterilize it. I do add to the mix whatever Miracle Gro for Tomatoes. When I say "very nutritional supplements are handy at the time: dilute" I mean just a small pinch of fertilizer per perhaps just a pinch of powdered phosphate rock, gallon of water -- considerably less intense but bone meal, and/or Osmocote. more frequent than the directions on the package suggest. Water gently with a watering can; do not Continue inspecting the plants twice a day and splash soil onto the leaves, and keep wetting of watering as before. If you are "in tune" with the the leaves to a minimum. tomato plants, you will sometimes be able to tell when they get hungry or thirsty even before you Since you'll be inspecting your seedlings twice a see them -- as if you can feel them crying out to day, you'll see any insect problems developing you telepathically. When the plants are about 7 before they become critical. Apart from an inches tall, they will tell you that they are ready to occasional aphid or leaf-miner, I seldom have any be transplanted into the ground. pest troubles at this stage.
http://www.rickharrison.com/texts/info/tomatoes2.html[3/12/2012 1:40:39 AM]
Growing Tomatoes in Florida
page 2 next page | contents ©2005 Richard K. Harrison
http://www.rickharrison.com/texts/info/tomatoes2.html[3/12/2012 1:40:39 AM]
Growing Tomatoes in Florida
RickHarrison.com presents...
A Guide to Growing Tomatoes in Florida
site selection Generally you should build your tomato garden in
an area that gets full sun all day long. Tomatoes grown in partial shade often do not develop normal flavor. (However, if you're going to try to grow tomatoes in mid-summer, consider a site that gets full sun until noon and then broken shade from trees in the afternoon.) Don't put your tomato patch in a low soggy area. Good drainage is important. It is a good idea to "rotate your crops" -- this means if you have tomatoes in garden beds #1 and #3 this year, you should grow tomatoes in beds #2 and #4 next year. When tomatoes are grown in the same spot year after year, bacteria and viruses can accumulate and multiply in the soil.
You know how you build a basin around a newly planted tree, with a little dirt dam around it? You can do the same thing on a smaller scale with each tomato plant. This is a good idea if the weather is droughty and you will be doing a lot of watering by hand. Florida sand can get so dry that water just beads up on the surface and trickles away to the lowest point; this is less troublesome if each plant is sitting in a slight basin-shaped area large enough to hold a cup or two of water.
mulch and supports Mulch helps to prevent sudden large changes in
soil temperature and moisture levels. It also keeps dirt from getting splashed onto the leaves, and this helps to reduce disease problems. Last but not least, mulch slows down weeds. Plastic "weed-block" fabric, cypress mulch, and grass clippings from the lawnmower all seem to work okay. (When I am going to use grass clippings, I let them dry out in the sun for a couple of weeks before applying.) To read about black plastic mulch, click here. Mulch does have one draw-back. If you only get a brief, light rain shower, the soil won't get wet. The benefits of mulch far outweigh this one problem, in my opinion. The idea of an edible "living mulch" is also worth a try. Closely-spaced lettuce, carrots or radishes can cover the ground around the tomato plants, helping to shade the soil (thus slowing weed germination) while they themselves enjoy the cooling shade cast by the larger tomatoes. You might have to use a bit more fertilizer if you try this scheme. I almost always put wire cages around my tomato plants as soon as they go in the ground. This discourages birds, cats and other visitors from stepping on the small plants. As the plants grow larger, the cages also prevent the leaves and fruits from coming into contact with soil, which is important for disease prevention.
soil preparation I n most of our home gardens, the Florida soil is
very sandy. It does not contain much organic material and does not hold moisture very well. Preparing the soil for a tomato patch involves removing the grass and/or weeds, digging out any tree roots that may be in the area, and stirring in some soil amendments. Every tomatophile has his/her own recipe. Some of the things you can add to the soil include: homemade compost · Black Kow brand composted cow manure · peat moss · bonemeal · crushed eggshells · powdered phosphate rock and muriate of potash. If you like, you can contact your agricultural extension service and have your soil tested to see if the pH (acidity / alkalinity) needs to be adjusted.
transplanting Dig a hole for each seedling that is a few inches
deeper than needed for the rootball. The idea is to bury a couple inches of the lower stem along with
http://www.rickharrison.com/texts/info/tomatoes3.html[3/12/2012 1:41:10 AM]
Growing Tomatoes in Florida
the rootball. Remove any leaves from the part that will get buried. The buried stem will develop roots and this is believed to increase the plant's ability to gather nutrients from the soil. Put the seedling in its hole and fill the hole with soil loosely -don't pack the soil down tightly. The plants should be installed about two feet apart from each other. Very large, multi-branched varieties should be even farther apart. More space between plants gives them more light, better ventilation (which means drier leaves, which means fewer disease problems), and less competition for nutrients. More space also makes it easier to see and deal with pest infestations.
a Debarao seedling poses for a portrait
page 3 next page | contents ©2005 Richard K. Harrison
http://www.rickharrison.com/texts/info/tomatoes3.html[3/12/2012 1:41:10 AM]
Growing Tomatoes in Florida
RickHarrison.com presents...
A Guide to Growing Tomatoes in Florida
I sometimes water my plants with a very dilute solution of fish emulsion and Miracle Gro for Ask a dozen tomatophiles how they prune their Tomatoes. Other tomatophiles advocate manure tea and a few are fond of seaweed solution. plants and you may get a dozen different Unless you are trying to grow the world's largest responses. Some of us never prune; others tomato, over-fertilizing is a big mistake; resist the maintain a strict regimen of removing side-shoots temptation. that emerge near the base of the plant (the so called "suckers"). Major pruning is hardly ever a good idea. Removing a lot of foliage will pests and diseases traumatize the plant and expose the fruit to sunHopefully you won't have any major problems scald. with insects, bacteria, fungi, viruses, and Don't just drop the pruned-off leaves and stems nutritional disorders. One of the advantages of on the ground. Instead, carry them to a garbage watering the plants by hand, one by one, is that it can. Any leaves and fruits that fall off the plants virtually forces you to take a close look at each should also be removed from the garden. If you plant every couple of days. This is how you catch use clippers or a knife to do your pruning, problems before they get out of control. sterilize the blade(s) before you move from one plant to the next. Caterpillars (called "worms" by some folks) can be controlled by B.t. (Bacillus thuringiensis) If you have to handle the plants, try to do it during which is sometimes sold under the name a time of day when their leaves are dry -- not in Thuricide. Aphids, mites and other small insects the morning when they are wet with dew. can be fought with Safer's Insecticidal Soap.
pruning and garden hygiene
Slugs and birds sometimes attack ripening fruit; bird netting or vinyl screen material will keep the Over-watering will cause most varieties to birds away, while special traps or a barrier of diatomaceous earth will slow down the slugs. The produce bland-tasting fruit. On the other hand, more odiferous varieties of marigolds are said to allowing the plants to get very dry and then repel nematodes, but you may have to grow them suddenly giving them a lot of water will make the for several years and compost them into the soil fruit crack. Moderation is the key word. Bend to have any effect. over and stick your finger in the ground once in a while. When the top few inches of soil are getting Fungal diseases can be slowed down by spraying dry, it's time to water. If you accidentally let the the plants with fungicide every 14 days. plants get so dry that they wilt, don't give them a Alternating between daconil and copper fungicide whole lot of water all at once! Just give them a is a good idea. Follow the label directions exactly brief sprinkle to cool the soil, then come back with regard to diluting the fungicide in water after the heat of the afternoon has passed and before spraying. Over-concentrated fungicide will water more thoroughly. hurt the plants, and over-diluted fungicide will give the fungi a chance to build up a resistance. If possible, water the plants in a way that does not Spray in the morning before the searing heat of get the leaves wet. Soaker hoses or drip irrigation day kicks in. Be sure to spray the undersides of systems under plastic mulch are good. Personally the leaves as thoroughly as the tops. I water by hand with a watering can. Keep smokers out of the garden. Tobacco If you prepared the soil properly before products can carry a virus (tobacco mosaic virus) transplanting seedlings into it (by adding plenty of that can infect tomatoes and related crops.
feeding and watering
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Growing Tomatoes in Florida
composted manure, a pinch of powdered phosphate rock, a trace of muriate of potash, and a calcium source such as bonemeal or crushed eggshells), then you will not need to do much fertilizing afterwards. page 4 next page | contents ©2005 Richard K. Harrison
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Growing Tomatoes in Florida
RickHarrison.com presents...
A Guide to Growing Tomatoes in Florida
After the seed is thoroughly dry, label the date and variety name on a plastic zip-loc bag or other Most tomato varieties change from green to red airtight container, insert the seed, seal the container. Several small containers can be placed (or some other color) when they are ripe. Not all in one large airtight container with some oventomatoes ripen uniformly, though; some will have dried silica gel. Seed should be stored in a cool, ripe bottoms and unripe tops. Pick any that have dry place. Depending on conditions, tomato seed very ripe spots. can remain viable for 3 to 5 years.
harvest
If you are having problems with birds, slugs or stinkbugs attacking your ripening fruit, you can pick some when they first begin to change color and bring them inside to finish ripening indoors. Don't pile them up; spread them out so they are not touching each other, and keep them in a wellventilated area with a temperature of 70 to 75 degrees. There is no benefit to putting the tomatoes in a sunny windowsill, and doing so may cause them to be heat-damaged.
varieties Tomatoes come in a wide spectrum of colors,
shapes, sizes, flavors, and ability to withstand various climates. Selecting the right varieties for your needs is an important step on the path to tomato nirvana. Here are my suggestions for Florida gardeners. for beginners:
saving seed I f you come across an open pollinated (nonhybrid) tomato variety that you are especially fond of, you may want to save some seed for next year's planting. If it's a hard-to-find variety, such as a family heirloom given to you by a friend or neighbor, saving seed is the only way to guarantee that you'll have access to the variety in the future. Tomato seed needs to go through a brief fermentation process. During this process, beneficial bacteria remove the germinationinhibiting gel from the seeds and also destroy many of the seed-borne diseases that can affect the next generation.
Celebrity Better Boy any cherry tomato medium-to-large red tomatoes: Gulf State Market Walter Villemaire Flora Dade paste tomatoes: Martino's Roma for growing during Summer: Porter's Pride Heatwave Solar Set
Start by selecting ripe (not over-ripe) fruits from the most vigorous plants. Scoop out the seeds and gel into a big jar and stir in a little water. Cover the jar's top with some screen or cheesecloth. If unusual colors: you're doing more than one variety, label the jar. Tangerine Let the mixture ferment at room temperature for 3 Green Grape to 4 days, stirring once a day, until a white or Cherokee Purple grey mold forms on top. Immature seed will float to the top; viable seed sink to the bottom. Remove the cover, pour off the scum, add fresh water, and Most of these varities can be obtained from swirl the contents around a bit; repeat until only Tomato Growers Supply Company.
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Growing Tomatoes in Florida
clean water and clean seed remain at the bottom of the container. Drain off the water and lay the clean seed out to dry in a thin layer on a plate or screen. Dry in an area where the humidity is low and the temperature is in the 80 to 85 degree range; use a fan to keep the air circulating. Seed will mold or germinate if dried too slowly, and will be damaged by shrinkage if dried too quickly. page 5 back to table of contents ©2005 Richard K. Harrison
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