Tomato Tip of the Week

With heavy rain predicted for Sunday, you should consider extra protection for your vegetables, particularly the tomatoes. Recent summerlike conditions have these warm season vegetables growing fast and furious. If you grow any of the heirloom tomato varieties like Brandywine and Rose, these plants can be highly susceptible to a host of diseases.

For preventive measures, you may consider spraying the plants with a fungicide to keep the foliage clean and healthy. We seldom spray but young plants require extra protection during intense growth periods. Especially with warm, humid, wet weather, diseases can run amuck.

Don’t want to spray? Another option is to cover your tomato plants with plastic during heavy rain events. This keeps the foliage dry and less apt to leaf diseases. Some local growers are producing substantial amounts of tomatoes under hoop houses for just this reason. It extends their season and prevents many of the weather-related diseases, therefore minimizing chemical applications.

Make sure your tomatoes are staked and are properly supported with ties. You may have a bit of a scramble before the weather but don’t procrastinate. Protect your crop. Take Laurie Colwin’s tip. “"A world without tomatoes is like a string quartet without violins." Have a great weekend. Annie

Image of Brandywine tomato from the Internet