GROWING TERRIFIC TOMATOES

most crops, there are pros and cons. Determinate tomatoes are a good choice if you want a quick crop, have a short growing season or small space.

Indeterminate Tomatoes

These varieties are vining and continue to grow. They don’t have a determined height (just an estimate). They grow bigger as they mature and continue to produce fruit. So, you can harvest over an extended period. These varieties grow on a vine that can extend 2-3m/69ft or higher.

Indeterminate tomatoes get quite straggly if left untrained and unpruned. They need strong vertical support, so stems don’t sag or break. A tall trellis is ideal for varieties that grow >1.2m/4ft. Cages and other vertical structures also work well. Think of indeterminate tomatoes as tall and long-lived ‘marathon runners’! Indeterminate tomatoes are a good choice if you have plenty of space, a long growing season and want an extended harvest.

Now to the juicy part, how to actually get a terrific tomato harvest.

When to Plant Tomatoes

Tomatoes grow in all regions. If you are in a warm climate, you may be able to grow them most of the year.

Choose the Best Position for Growing Terrific Tomatoes

• Sow in a full sun location. Ideally, in nutrientrich, well-drained soil with plenty of compost. Specifically, choose a warm position protected from winds and the cold.

• If you are growing in a container, choose a large deep pot (minimum 30 cm/12 in). Use enriched potting mix that has long-lasting moisture and nutrients. Tomatoes will grow in partial sun in warm climates. So, experiment with your microclimates.

• Avoid sowing tomato seeds or planting seedlings where you have recently grown other members of the Solanaceae family. Crop rotation is good practice. Rotating annual crops in the same family group helps minimise pests and soil-borne diseases.

• To aid pollination for a high yielding tomato crop, consider planting tomatoes near flowers that attract buzz pollinators. These are insects that shake the pollen in the flower for successful fertilization https://themicrogardener. com/top-tips-forgrowing-terrifictomatoes/#more-43565