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Growing guide
How to Grow Tomatoes
Originating in South America , the tomato has the preeminence of being one of North America ’s favorite garden vegetables . Tomatoes come in 100 of variety , from large , costate “ beefsteak ” types to pocket-size “ cherry ” and “ pear - shaped ” tomatoes and in an regalia of colors and shapes .
Determinate vs. Indeterminate Tomatoes
Tomato plants can be either determinate or undetermined . Determinatetomato plants will produce tomatoes that all mature around the same sentence . Indeterminate tomatoplants will continue producing new increase and young fruits throughout the growing season .
When to Start Indoors
tomato plant plant are regularly started indoors from 4 - 6 weeks before the last outpouring frost and transplanted outdoors when soils have warmed . Plant love apple seeds ¼ inch late into modest container of pot grime , making sure to keep soil moist . Transplant tray - grown seedlings into 3 - column inch pots when two to three leaves have organize , keeping plants in a light , well - ventilated locating .
When to Transplant
graft Lycopersicon esculentum seedlings out of doors in a cheery place as soon as the filth has warmed and after all danger of hoar has passed . Gradually harden off Lycopersicon esculentum graft by put in the seedlings to the direct sunshine , wry air , and cold nights . flora outside when there is no danger of frost and gentle wind temperatures are at least 45 degrees F , with grunge temperature at a lower limit of 50 degrees F.
con more about transplant tomatoes
Time to Germination
Seeds will germinate in 7 - 14 24-hour interval when bulge indoors .
Spacing Requirements
Most varieties involve copious space to grow , so space your plant 24–48 inches apart in rowing at least 36 inch aside .
Special Considerations
Both indeterminate and determinate tomato varieties typically require trellising , staking , or caging to keep the tomato vines off the ground , where they are more susceptible to disease . Be indisputable to keep them moist but not waterlogged ; erratic watering causes the yield to separate and encourage blossom oddment rot .
Common Pests and Diseases
Tomato plants are susceptible to early blight , blossom end decomposition , previous blight , tomato mosaic virus , and many other diseases . Rotating crop , removing diseased plants , and back or caging plants can help keep these disease or curtail their spreading , as can mulching the base of the plants .
When and How to Harvest for Food Consumption
harvesting tomatoes when they are firm to the touch but seem to give a little . Ripe yield will pull well from the vine . mature take about 7 - 8 weeks from plant for determinate ( or “ bush ” ) types and about 10 - 12 hebdomad for indeterminate variety .
Eating
Enjoy love apple at acme ripeness slice into a BLT or mix together into fresh salsa . In salads , love apple are particularly good with mozzarella , basil , olive rock oil , and flavoring .
If you are lucky to have a bumper craw of tomatoes , judge make your own tomato plant soup , tomato paste , or homemade alimentary paste sauce such as“Sugo : the Juice of Life ” , a pasta sauce from Seed Savers Exchange Intern and chef Robin Morgan . Blanched and core whole tomato can also be frozen or can .
Fried green tomatoes , typically made in the Southern United States , consist of unripe tomatoes coated with Indian meal and electrocute .
Storing
Store tomatoes at room temperature or in the icebox . fruit will cover to mature after being cull if they are stored in a warm place . you may also dry big Lycopersicon esculentum in the Sunday or oven . If using an oven , fond to just below 145 degrees F until love apple are dried but conciliatory . Stored in airtight containers in a cool place , they can last up to nine months .
How to Save Tomato Seeds
tomato make an idealistic crop for the beginning seed saver as they are self- pollinating and produce seminal fluid the same time of year as planted . advantageously yet , you only want a few fruit to get started .
Life Cycle
The tomato is an yearly crop . It will fill in its full life cycle per second — including germination , reproduction , and death — in one growing season .
Recommended Isolation Distance
When saving seeds from tomato , separate varieties by 10 - 50 feet .
Recommended Population Sizes
A exclusive tomato plant can produce viable seed . To maintain a miscellanea over time , keep seeds from between 5 - 10 plants .
Assessing Seed Maturity
Tomato seed are ripe when the fruit is ready to eat .
Harvesting
To salve seeds from Lycopersicon esculentum , squeeze out the pulp and seed from the interior of the fruit into a container .
Cleaning and Processing
result the container to sit for at least one day in a warm ( 80 - 90 academic degree farad ) smirch out of direct sun so that the pulp can work . This process allows the tomato sow to break from the gelatinlike covering that cover them . workable seed will sink to the bottom of this mixture , and beat seed will float .
When a small amount of cast begins to form on the mixture , pour off the floating solids and dead seeds and thoroughly rinse the sunken seed in extend body of water . ( A all right mesh strainer is ideal for this step of the process . ) Once thoroughly clean , seeded player can be placed on a screen or a umber filter and left to dry for 5 - 7 Clarence Day .
Storage and Viability
When stored in a cool , ironical place , tomato seeds will stay workable for 5 - 10 age .
Learn more about hive away seeds .
Instructional Video
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