Tomato Talk

The talk of the summer (if you're a gardener) is tomatoes - the jewel of the garden. Anyone who starts a vegetable patch usually has this vine growing somewhere in between the squash and cucumbers.

A note of caution in this slow, growing season - fertilize accordingly. Additional fertilizer doesn't necessarily produce a better crop. Too much fertility can create a lush plant with a moderate to low fruit set. It can actually weaken a plant, making it less tolerant to the elements. This being said, it is a good idea to inspect your plant and look for signs of nutrient deficiencies. This should not be confused with signs of early or late blight. Check the web and gardening books for images displaying the differences.

Regarding nutrients, you may like to use water-soluble fertilizers like Miracle Gro or Peter's Professional to feed your plants. Water-soluble applications tend to leach out of the soil quickly, especially with all the heavy rains. If you use granular organic fertilizers (Plant-tone by Espoma) during planting, the nutrients are slowly released as it breaks down and becomes plant available. It lasts throughout the growing season and adds trace elements that build your soil, similar to compost. A good rule of thumb for all your plantings: feed the soil, not just the plant.

You can check earlier posts for some other tomato thoughts.