Tomato Growing Guide - Infinity Lawn & Garden

Appearance Description: Tomatoes are round and often glossy and red in color. The inside of tomatoes contains seeds and a lot of moisture. Tomatoes are considered both a fruit and a vegetable.

How to Plant:

1. Till soil to a depth of 12-15 inches.

2. Work the soil until it has a smooth and broken up consistency.

3. Amend native soil with compost, manure, or any other material.

4. Bury at least 50% of the plant into the soil.

5. Water generously after planting.

How to Maintain:

1. Water tomatoes extremely well the first few days.

2. After the first few days of watering, continue to water regularly with about 2-inches per week of water.

3. 2 weeks after planting, place a cage or trellis to support growth.

4. Mulch should be applied to retain moisture.

5. Rocks are also beneficial when placed around the base of plants.

6. Fertilize tomatoes with a specially formulated fertilizer.

7. Tomato plants should be rotated every couple years.

How to Harvest:

1. Leave tomatoes on the vine as long as possible.

2. Tomatoes are ready for harvest when they are firm and bright red in color. There can be some yellow around the stem.

3. If your tomato plant still has fruit when the first frost roles around, remove the entire plant and hang it upside down in a shed; harvest as they ripen.

Storage Tips:

Never refrigerate tomatoes. It is best to eat immediately after picked or preserve them accordingly.

Top Varieties:

1. Amish Paste

2. Brandywine

3. Matt's Wild Cherry

Fun Facts:

1. 93% of Americans grow tomatoes in their yards but China is still the number one tomato producer.

2. Fresh market tomatoes are grown in all 50 states in America.

3. Tomatoes originated in Peru, but the name comes from the Aztecs.

4. The scientific name for tomatoes means "wolf peach."

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