Growing Plump Juicy Tomatoes
We all want to produce a juicy, ripe tomato that will be perfect for summer salads and fresh sauces. And who doesn't like a fresh BLT sandwich? Choose a bright airy spot to plant your tomatoes. Air needs to circulate around them, and they need at least 10 hours of light per day during the summer season. Each season it is good to alternate the tomato beds between a few spots in the garden to diminish the risk of soil borne diseases such as bacterial spot and early blight. When planting your seedlings plant up to the first true leaves. New roots will quickly sprout on the stems and more roots means more fruits. It is best to water deeply but infrequently. Soak your tomato bed once a week, or every five days at the height of summer. Water directly on the soil and not on the leaves. Look for the runts. Pinching off the runts of the non-fruiting branches and it will direct the tomato plants energy into growing bigger better fruit. When the time comes to stake the tomatoes, stake them high. Use 6 foot stakes for indeterminate varieties like Brandywine. Put in the stakes when transplanting to avoid damaging roots. While the first fruit is ripening, encourage new growth and continued fruit by scratching compost around the stem and trimming some of the upper leaves. Three weeks or shortly there after you plant tomatoes in your garden, put in another set so all of your harvest doesn't come in at once. Harvest and enjoy your growing tomatoes once they've reached full size and are fully colored. ENJOY! Simply delicious!!
