‘mater Invaders
If only every 'mater looked like this!
Today’s Front Burner column focuses on some difficulties with growing tomatoes. Everyone is gung-ho about gardening this year, but the first couple of years of gardening can be quite frustrating, I’ve found. Like many, I’m working to perfect my tomatoes before I really move on to more plants.
I had discussions with several local agents for the Virginia Cooperative Extension and came up with what I think is a handy little guide to some early season tomato disorders. Take a look at the column and see what you think.
One additional tip that I’ve picked up since the column went to press: if you are planting tomatoes in pots, they had better be pretty big pots. I’m beginning to think that the reason two of my lemon boys aren’t doing well is because they’re rootbound, so I am thinking about attempting a late-stage transplant operation in the side yard.
Also, my dad, who is a VERY experienced gardener, read the column and had this to add:
Concerning tomato horn worms in your column, they can be devilishly hard to see, since they’ve adapted to look just like a tomato leaf. The best way to find them is to look at night with a flashlight. They show up well that way. And if you find one with a bunch of little white things on it’s back, leave it alone. The white things are the eggs of a parasitic wasp which preys on horn worms. The worm wont last long enough to do much damage, and it will host a whole army of wasps which will provide a fine natural defense.
What other advice would some of you long-time tomato gardeners give us amateurs?
July 8, 2009 - 9:49 AM
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Tomatoes definitely do better in the ground – last year I thought my pots were big enough for several heirloom varieties but their growth stalled and I ended up doing a late stage transplant. They immediately started growing huge.
Also – I noticed a lot of backyards in my townhouses have the upside-down tomatoes this year. Has anyone had luck with these?
If your ‘maters are in pots, use big ones and use plastic or glazed ceramic pots. Clay pots may look good and are reasonably priced, but water is actually wicked thru the clay and evaporates – away from the roots. I would also advise using mulch wherever you can. Tomato plants dry out quickly, and over-watering promotes good foliage but encourages other fungal diseases that will take the fruit. Last year was the first year I mulched my tomatoes and peppers, and they produced WAY more fruit than before. I did not have to water nearly as often to maintain proper soil moisture; the mulch also keeps the weeds down, and the ones that do pop up are easier to pull. This year I mulched everything in the garden. I use composted litter (pine shavings) from our chicken coop, which has lots of other nutrients from the -errr- ‘droppings’; but clean pine shavings (like you use for animal bedding), straw, or even grass clippings work well, too. A 3-sq.-yd. bag of pine shavings costs about $12. and covers a lot of ground!!
What about white flies and spider mites? I have a terrible time with those things and they almost make me want to not have tomato plants. I hate having to use chemicals but I also hate spending time and money on plants just to feed insects. So far this year I have avoided the white flies but my 2 hanging tomatoes have spider mites.
Kim, I have used an organic spray product (the brand name is “Safer”) on aphids before with great success. I wonder if you could spray your plants down with that? It might be worth a try for the spider mites. As for the white flies, I am unsure. Is that a South Carolina thing?
P.S. Kim, I Googled “white flies and tomatoes” and came up with some results. I like to hit the university Web sites because often those are the most trustworthy sources. They are either hooked up with the state extension office or the advice is coming from scientists who know what they are talking about.
Michelle and Julie, thank you for the wonderful tips. Mulching is a great idea for tomatoes.
I have not been having any pest problems on the tomatoes, but I have a TON of “stink bugs” also known as “squash bugs” on my zucchini.
No, white flies are not a South Carolina thing – they have them in VA too. Just like everything else though, the farther south you go the worse the bugs seem to get. On a good note, I picked my first two big red tomatoes the other day and my goodness – they were delicious!!!
Hi Lindsey! Where can I purchase “Safer?” I’ve had trouble off and on w/ aphids and would like to try something like that to control them.
Thanks!
Dennis, I bought mine at Lowe’s. You should be able to find it at major retailers like that.
I used it last summer when my hibiscus, which had been healthy as a horse for about 5 years, was suddenly COMPLETELY covered with aphids. I hate those little *&^%$S!!!
It worked like a charm. Said hibiscus is back in good health.
If you’ve got a good sawz-all, (or a hack saw and plenty of time) the cheapest garden stakes I’ve found can be fashioned from the 20 ft. lengths of rebar that you buy for $6.97 each at Lowes. You can get 5 4 ft stakes out of one (less than $1.40 each) and they last forever.
The Bonsack Lowe’s has them outside, located right next to an electric outlet, just pay, plug your sawzall in, and cut. They don’t mind.
Also, Mel Bartholomew’s “All New Square Foot Gardening” takes the whole ‘existing soil’ factor out of the picture completely.