Gardening: Fall Tomatoes

Gardening: Fall Tomatoes

Photos by Emily Kimbro Photography

TERRI JACKSON

Fall-grown tomatoes, in my humble opinion, are the best tomatoes around.

Autumn is a terrific time to plant tomatoes in your gardens but also a great time to purchase tomatoes from your farmers' markets or local grocers. If you can find the “Dirty Girl” variety, I highly encourage you to give them a taste. We buy them every fall from our local Whole Foods. Fresh tomato bruschetta on a breezy, back-porch, fall evening is my idea of perfection.

The lovely photos surrounding my article were taken by Emily Kimbro of her family garden. If you aren’t following her, you should. Not only is she an incredible photographer, she is also an inspiration to what you can do with your land, no matter the size. Hopefully, her tomato harvest will encourage you to get your hands dirty so your belly can be full of fall tomatoes.

Tomato tips

Ideal planting time is late July through August; however, your garden store should still have some transplants or potted tomato plants out there for you to use now.

Smaller fruit varieties will be easier to start with if you haven’t grown patio tomatoes before. These varieties yield tasty returns in the fall: Grape, Sungold, Juliet, and Sweet 100.

Another one to try is commonly sold and referred to as “patio cherry tomatoes.” They are generally sold in larger pots, and most contain green tomatoes on the vines in store. I suggest repotting them into an even larger pot for your patio and enjoying them a few steps outside your door.

Fall tomatoes like groupings, so purchase in pairs to get better returns. While you are at it, add some basil into the mix. You could easily do two pots on your patio with a tomato and a basil plant in each to keep your table supplied with fresh garden goodness as the temperatures change.

While planting, prune leaves up to the top cluster, and transplant plants into larger, deeper pots (or directly into the garden), covering the majority of the stem with soil.

Tomatoes root from the cut-off nodules at each of the pruning spots. Fun fact: they also root from all those hairs along their stems. The more roots, the faster your tomatoes will take off and produce more fruit.

Make sure you are providing nutrient-rich soil and excellent drainage.

Tomatoes pollinate when temperatures during the day are below the mid-90’s and night temps are below 75 degrees. Check your variety, but, generally, it takes 42 days for fruit to ripen.

Plants should have morning sunlight and afternoon shade while the temps are still extreme

(i.e., September in Texas). Once we are in the mid 80s, plants will require full sunlight for the best production.

Don’t forget to mulch (might I suggest using pine needles?), and give your tomato plants plenty of water. Once they take off, be sure to prune back any leaf clusters that aren’t producing blooms. This helps nutrients get to those working on production.

Tomatoes are not only a spring/summer planthere in Texas. I hope this encourages you to addtomatoes to your fall garden.

Send me pictures of your plants and harvestthroughout the fall to terri@theinspiredhaus.com.I would love to hear your experiences growingtomatoes during this season!

TERRI JACKSON Terri Jackson is a wife, mom of two boys, professional florist, Disney World trip enthusiast, coconut sparkling water junkie, backyard party hostess extraordinaire, and all-around craft genius in Buda, Texas. You can find her at TheInspiredHaus.com.