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Home , Better Boy, Brandywine (tomato), Grape tomato, Super Sweet 100, Tomato

Agriculture and Natural Resources

FSA6017

Home Gardening Series Tomatoes

Craig R. Andersen Environment Associate Professor and Extension Specialist ­ Light Soil Fertility pH Temperature Moisture – sunny Culture– well-drained loam – medium-rich Planting– 5.8 to 7.2 – warm Spacing – moist Hardiness Fertilizer

Tomatoes– transplant Ð after danger of esculentumfrost or - midsummerPerennial – 18-24 x 48-72 inches – tender, frost sensitive – heavy feeder a tender, warm-season perennial that is handled like an annual in summer and fall gardens.

Today, 95 percent of all American gardeners grow tomatoes; they are the Tomatoes belong to a group of most popular garden in in the nightshade family. Its . According to the U.S. edible relatives include Irish potatoes, Department of Agriculture, four out of , peppers and . fiveCultural people prefer Practices tomatoes to any Tomatoes originated in the - otherCultivars homegrown . Tomatoes rank Ecuador area and spread northward number one in terms of their contribu­ in pre-Columbian times to , tion of nutrients to the American , where they were first domesticated. simply because we eat a lot of them. Spanish explorers carried the plants to southern Europe, where they were tomatefirst eaten,tomata before being utilized by the people of northerntomatl Europe and the . For many years, they were considered poisonous and were Hundreds of of tomatoes grown only for ornamental purposes are now available for the home under the names “tomatl,” “love gardener. They range widely in size, Visit our web site at: ” or “pomme d’amour.” The name shape, , type, disease resis­ , or , was adapted from tance and seasons of maturity. Cata­ https://www.uaex.uada.edu the Aztec word . Early tomatoes logs, garden centers, Web sites and were remarkably similar to those offer a large selection of University of Arkansas,grown United today. States Department of Agriculture, and County Governmentstomato cultivars, Cooperating and selecting the best one or two cultivars can be Tomatoes are easy to grow. A few extremely difficult. Choose the culti­ Arkansas Is plants provide an adequate harvest vars best suited for your intended use for most families. The plant is and method of culture. Small-fruited Our Campus Cultivars

Plants Per Disease Days to 100 Feet Resistance Crop Maturity of Row or Tolerance Remarks 72 50 F, V, RKN Globe-shaped , vigorous plant growth with good production, indeterminate vine. Celebrity 70 50 V, F, TMV, N AAS winner, crack resistant, determinate vine, large firm fruit. Tomatoes Mountain Pride 77 50 F, V , determinate vine, deep red fruit, crack resistant. Big Beef 80 50 F, V AAS winner, indeterminate fruit up to 2 pounds. Outstanding taste.

BradleyAR 75 50 F Smooth pink fruit, crack resistant, indeterminate vine. Pink Pink 78 50 Deep pink skin, red flesh, indeterminate. One of Tomatoes the best-tasting tomatoes.

Arkansas Traveler 76AR 76 50 Crack-free, 6 to 8 ounces. Pink fruit are mild and juicy. Viva Italia 80 50 Determinate plants produce lots of red, 3-ounce, Paste paste-type fruit. Great fresh or cooked. Tomatoes Plum Dandy 82 50 EB, F1, V Roma tomatoes, compact, determinate plants, red fruit, good fresh or cooked. Lemon Boy 72 50 Seven-ounce lemon-yellow fruit with mild flavor, Yellow very productive hybrid. Husky Red, Gold and 65 50 Hybrid, dwarf, indeterminate, good container/patio Patio/ Pink Cherry type. Container Types Lizzano 50 LB AAS winner. Semi-determinate with a low growing habit for containers and uniform growth habit. Large Red Cherry 72 50 Good quality, small, round fruit, indeterminate vine. Small Fruited 50 Dependable production. Juliet 65 50 AAS winner, clusters of sweet fruit.

Abbreviations: EB: Early Blight; LB: Late Blight; F: Wilt; N: ; RKN: Root-Knot ; TMV: ; V: Wilt. (R): Resistant; (T): Tolerant; AAS: All-America Selections®

cultivars, such as cherry tomatoes, set fruit during Be prepared to cover early-set plants overnight to periods of high temperature that limit fruit produc­ protect them from frost. There are many different tion of the large-fruited types. Container and patio ways to protect young tomato plants. Some of these cultivars are popular where space is limited. Their methods include hot caps, floating row covers and ornamental value is considered as important as fruit water-filled plastic cones. For best results, plant Plantingquality. They Time have red or golden fruit and are not when the soil is warm, soon after the frost-free date. suitable for pruning. Many cultivars Plant development, not the age of the plant, such as Brandywine, Oxheart and Marmande are determines when tomatoes bear fruit. readily available as seeds or plants. It is always fun to try one or two of these and rediscover tomatoes Late plantings may be made in early July for fall from our past. harvest and storage. These plants have the advantage of increased vigor and freedom from early diseases. They often produce better-quality tomatoes than a Transplanting tomatoes gives them the best start. late picking from the spring planting. Time late plant­ Start plants five to six weeks before the first frost-free ing for maximum yield before a killing frost arrives in date in your region. Some gardeners transplant toma­ your region (about 100 days from transplanting for toes soon after the soil is prepared for spring garden­ most varieties). ing when there is a high risk of damage from freezing. Spacing of Plants

Prune staked or caged tomato plants to stimulate Care Spacing depends upon the variety and method of early fruit maturity. Be sure your cultivar is suitable culture. Space dwarf plants 12 inches apart in the for pruning. To prune the plant properly, remove the row, staked plants 18 to 24 inches apart and wire- shoots (suckers) when they are 1 to 2 inches long. The caged or groundbed plants 24 to 36 inches apart. shoots develop in the axil of each (the angle Place rows 48 to 72 inches apart. between the leaf petiole and the stem above it). Pinch the shoots off by hand rather than cut them.

Prune the plants every five to seven days. Be Prior to planting, fertilize with a complete careful not to prune the developing clusters fertilizer at the rate of 1 pound per 100 square feet of that grow from the main stem or to pinch off the row. Apply 8 ounces of a starter fertilizer solution growing tip (terminal) of the plant. Remember, the (1 tablespoon of 20-20-20 per gallon) when transplant­ more severely you prune the foliage, the more you ing. Hoe or cultivate shallowly to keep down weeds limit plant growth (including root development). without damaging roots. If you wish to maintain your Double-stem or multiple-stem pruning systems plants for full-season harvest, consider mulching with black plastic or organic materials. sacrifice some earliness and fruit size for less risk of cracking, blossom-end rot and sunburn. Do not prune Water the plants thoroughly every two to four cherry tomatoes. days during dry periods. Plants in containers need daily watering. Side-dress with nitrogen fertilizer at Determinate cultivars stop growing after five to seven clusters of fruit have developed. This type Stakingthe rate ofand 1 pound Pruning per 100Methods feet of row or 1 table­ spoon per plant after the first tomatoes have grown requires less pruning than the indeterminate culti­ to the size of golf balls. Make two more applications vars. The determinate vine has a repeating pattern of three and six weeks later. If the weather is dry two followed by a fruiting cluster, while the following these applications, water the plants indeterminate vine has a repeating pattern of three thoroughly. Do not get fertilizer on the leaves. orHarvesting four leaves and a fruiting cluster. The indetermi­ nate cultivars are technically perennial plants because they keep growing until adverse conditions Many gardeners train their tomato plants to stop their growth. Indeterminate cultivars require stakes, trellises or cages with great success. Wire more pruning and larger cages or taller stakes. cages placed over small tomato plants hold the vines and fruit off the ground. Short cages (3 feet high) usually support themselves when the wire prongs at The tomato is an unusual plant; cell division in the bottom are pushed into the ground. Taller cages the future fruit is nearly over at the time of flower­ require a stake, post or wire for support. Large mesh ing. A small but fully formed tomato can be seen at (6 x 6 inch) wire permits easy harvesting. Tomato the base of the flower as soon as it opens. Further plants must be tied to supporting stakes or to a trellis development is largely a matter of cell growth. The because they do not support themselves with tendrils, tomato reaches full size in 20 to 30 days, about half unlike plants. Loop ordinary soft twine, the length of the total period. cord or cloth loosely around the main stem and tie it tightly to the stake. Tying the stems too tightly Tomatoes should be harvested when they are firm injures them. All varieties are not equally suitable for and changing color. They are of highest quality when staking and pruning. they ripen on healthy vines and daily temperatures are about 80 degrees F. When temperatures are Staking involves pruning the plant to either one higher (90 degrees F or more), the softening process or two main stems. Tomatoes grown without support is accelerated and color development is retarded. develop a bush shape. The small suckers that develop between the axil of the leaf and the stem are removed to develop a vine structure rather than a bush. Drive During hot summer weather, pick tomatoes every a wooden stake (1-inch diameter and 6 feet long) into day or every other day. Harvest the fruit when it has the ground beside the plant and allow it to be loosely a healthy pink color and ripen it further indoors (at attached to the stake as it grows. Do not damage the 70 to 75 degrees F). Harvest all green, mature fruit in root system when inserting the stake in the ground. the fall on the day before a killing frost is expected. Attach the plant to the stake with twist-ties, soft Wrap the tomatoes individually in paper and store at string, strips of cloth or nylon hosiery. The plant is 55 to 65 degrees F. They will ripen slowly during the sufficiently supported if it is attached to the stake at next several weeks. Immature green tomatoes may be 12- to 14-inch intervals. Continue to remove suckers harvested and used for frying or processed for relish, to prevent the plant from developing more than one pickles, etc. or two central stems. Common Problems Insects

Poor fruit set of large-fruited tomatoes occurs when night temperatures remain warm, above 72 degrees F, for six hours or more. Cherry tomatoes will continue to set fruit during these warm periods. Tomato hornworms are large (2 toBt 3 inches long when fully grown) green worms with white stripes on Poor color and sunscald occur when high their bodies and a horn protruding from the top of temperatures retard the development of full color in the rear end. They feed on the leaves and fruit and tomatoesdiseases exposed directly to the sun. Sunscald can quickly defoliate a plant. They are difficult to see appears on the fruit during hot, dry weather as a when small. Pick the worms off or use a suggested large whitish area. It becomes a problem when biological insecticide, such as Dipel, or Thuricide. foliageinsects has been lost through other diseases, such as early blight. Tomato fruitworms are almost sure to be found in the garden. The moth lays the eggs in the terminal other pests– early blight, leafspot, growth (top growth of the plant) then the larvae verticilliumcultural and fusarium wilts, late blight, tobacco (small worms) hatch and make their way to the fruit. mosaic virus, bacterial spot, tomato spotted wilt virus Once a larva is inside the fruit, it’s too late to save – flea , hornworm, pinworm, stink thatDiseases fruit. Use the recommended insecticide every bugs, Colorado beetle, fruitworm, , seven days. mites, , cutworms – nematodes Stinkbugs attack the fruit and produce small, – blossom-end rot caused by irregular irregular, cloudy white spots under the skin of soil moisture or calcium deficiency, poor color, yellow the fruit. spotsHarvesting or large whitish-gray and Storage spots, sunscald from lack of foliage cover, leaf roll, fruit cracking, irregular soil daysmoisture, to maturity black walnut wilt caused by roots of Verticillium and fusarium wilt are diseases that tomatoharvest plants coming in close contact with roots of cause yellowing of the leaves, and premature black walnut trees dying of the plant. These diseases persist in gardens where susceptible plants grow, and the only practical control is resistant (VF) varieties. approximate yield– 55 to 105 Early blight is characterized by dead brown spots – Harvest when fully ripened but still that usually start on the lower leaves, spread up the firm;amount most varieties to raise areper darkperson red. Place in shade. plant and cause defoliation. Upon close inspection, Light is not necessary for ripening. Mature green concentric rings can be seen within the spots. tomatoesstorage may be picked, and when desired, ripen Although early blight is most severe on the leaves, it at 70 degrees F. sometimes occurs on the stems. Use fungicide sprays (per 10 feet of row) – 15 to for high yields and quality fruit. Some varieties are 45 pounds more tolerant of early blight than others. Remove – 20 to 25 pounds for diseased leaves from the garden and dispose of them. freshpreservation use; 25 to 40 pounds for or drying – green tomatoes – medium cool (50 to PhysiologicalSeptoria leafspot Disorders is characterized by numerous 70 degrees F), moist (90 percent relative humidity) small brown spots on the leaves. The centers of these conditions,Frequently 1 to 3Asked weeks; ripe Questions tomatoes – cool (40 to spots later turn white, and tiny black dots appear in 45 degrees F), moist (90 percent relative humidity) the white center. The disease starts on the bottom conditions,Q. What causes 7 to 10 thedays lower leaves of my tomato leaves and may become severe in wet weather. Use plants to roll– up?can, dry or freeze as sauces or in suggested fungicides for control. chunks (whole or quartered), peeled

Blossom-end rot, a dry, leathery rot on the blossom end of the fruit, is common in homegrown tomatoes. It is caused by a combination of calcium deficiency and wide fluctuations in soil moisture. A. Leaf roll (curling of the leaflets) is a physiological Severe pruning stresses the plants and increases the condition that occurs most commonly when plants incidence of blossom-end rot. Some tomatoes are are trained and pruned. Any type of stress can much more susceptible to this condition than others. cause leaf roll. It does not affect fruiting or Liming the soil, mulching and uniform watering help quality, and it is not a disease. prevent blossom-end rot. Q. What causes the to drop off my tomato plants?

Q. My tomato plants wilted rapidly. When I cut thetomato stem plants, open, because I found the a fallenbrown leaves ring aroundaround the baseinside. of the plant feed the and allow it Q.A. WhatDuring causes unfavorable the young weather leaves (night of temperatures my plants to build up near the plant and cause damage. tolower become than 55pointed degrees and F or irregular above 72 degreesin shape? F I Crop rotation also reduces the incidence of noticedand day temperaturesthe twisting aboveof the 95 leaves degrees and F withstems southern blight. afterdry, hot spraying winds), tomatoesthe plants do fornot theset fruitfirst and time. the flowers drop. The problem usually disappears as the weather improves.

A. This is fusarium wilt caused by a soilborne fungus that attacks tomatoes and other crops. Q. TheUse resistantlower foliage varieties on tomy control tomatoes this disease.is beginningMost commercial to turn tomato yellow varieties and drop. are resistant. The A. Your tomato plants have been injured by 2,4-D or Beforeleaves youhave plant circular a cultivar, dark make brown sure to it is Q. Howa similar often weed should killer. my Never tomato use theplants same be sprayer resistantblack spots. to fusarium wilt. This resistance is fertilized?for weed control in your vegetable garden you denoted by the letter F after the name; for used on your lawn. Drift from herbicides originat­ example, Celebrity VFN. ing one-half mile or more away can also injure tomato plants. A virus disease called (CMV) can mimic these symptoms.

A. This is leaf spot or early blight, a A. Fertilize the garden before planting tomatoes. common problem on tomatoes that causes Apply fertilizer again when fruit first sets. After defoliation usually during periods of high rain­ the first fruit sets, side-dress the plants with fall. Plant tomatoes on a raised bed to improve additional fertilizer every two weeks. Fertilize Q. Thewater foliage drainage, on andmy tomatoesspace them is so covered air can moveby Q. Whatplants causesgrown on large, sandy black soils spotsmore frequently on the than smallto dry thecircular-shaped foliage and prevent spots diseases. that cause Start it ato bottomthose grown or blossom on heavy end clay of soils. my Atomatoes? general turnfungicide yellow spray and program drop off.when This the occurs fruit is inset all and side-dress fertilizer recommendation is 1 1/2 level seasonscontinue atand one-week is on the intervals top and during bottom the leaves. tablespoons of a complete fertilizer (10-20-10 or growing season until harvest. Use a fungicide 13-13-13) scattered around the plant and worked such as Daconil approved for home garden use. into the soil.

Q.A. IfBlossom-end tomatoes rotare is picked caused green by improper or before moisture they Q. What causes my upper tomato leaves to turn areconditions. fully mature, This results how in should a calcium they deficiency be in A. yellowishSeveral types and of fallleaf off?spots attack tomatoes. handledthe developing to ensure fruit. Makeproper sure ripening the soil andpH is Septoria leaf spot quite often starts at the bottom fullabove flavor? 6.0. Maintain uniform soil moisture as the of the plant and rapidly spreads. It can be fruit grows. Remove affected fruit. When possible, controlled with a fungicide spray. Begin the spray use calcium nitrate to fertilize the plants. program early in the life of the plant.

A. Q. ManyHow doconditions you select may good cause transplants these symptoms, at Q. My tomatoes were healthy during the spring includingnurseries spider or garden mites, centers?diseases and nutrient A. andNever early refrigerate summer; tomatoes yet after if immature a rain, theywhen deficiencies. Examine the underside of the leaves wiltedpicked. Placeand died them very in a rapidly.single layer I found at room a for small, red to greenish mites. If you find mites, whitetemperature, fungal and growth allow atthem the to base develop of the full plant. color. treat with two to three applications of insecticides When fully ripe, place them in the refrigerator at five-day intervals. where they can be stored for several weeks.

A. First, select the right cultivar. Look for plants that appear healthy, dark green in color and do not have any spots or holes in the leaves. The A. This is southern blight, a soilborne fungus that ideal tomato transplant should have five leaves lives on organic material in the soil. Deep burial and no flowers. Avoid tall, spindly plants with of undecomposed organic material in the soil weak stems and leathery purple leaves. reduces this problem. Control foliage diseases of Q. What causes some of my early tomato fruit from the spring garden to be oddly shaped and of poor quality?

plant growth and reduce yields. Height of the Q. Whatcage varies, causes but a generallytomato fruit 3 1/2 to feet crack? is sufficient What canfor the I do? recommended varieties. However, with A. This condition is usually caused by stress and low vining types such as Better Boy or Cherry temperatures during flower formation, bloom and Grande, a cage 5 feet in height is preferred. Q. Mypollination. tomato Fruitfruits set have when small temperatures yellow specks are Whatever cultivar, a cage 3 1/2 feet tall is on55 degreesthe surface. F or below When often the arefruit odd-shaped is peeled, and of sufficient for most fall garden tomatoes. thosepoor quality. yellow The specks blooms form are aabnormal tough spot because that of musttemperature be cut conditionsoff before and eating grow the into tomatoes. abnormal, Whatodd-shaped is wrong? fruit. Another name for this disorder is catfacing. A. Cracking is a physiological disorder caused by soil moisture fluctuations. When the tomato reaches the mature green stage, reduce or cut off the water supply to the plant as the tomato begins to ripen. At this time, the skin around the outer Q. Will tomatoes become fully ripe and red if surface of the tomato becomes thicker and more they are harvested early? rigid to protect the tomato during and after A. The yellow speckling is caused by injury from harvest. If the water supply is restored after sucking insects such as stinkbugs or leaf-footed ripening begins, the plant resumes translocation bugs. Early control of sucking insects that feed on of nutrients and moisture into the fruit. This the fruit is necessary to reduce the problem. causes the fruit to enlarge, and the skin splits around the fruit resulting in cracking. The best Q. Mycontrol tomato for cracking plants isare a constantstunted andand regular have pale yellowwater supply. foliage. Apply The a rootlayer system of organic has mulch knots to or A. Q. MyYes. tomatoFruits harvested plants look at the great. first Theyblush areof pink dark swellingthe base of on the the plant. roots. This serves as a buffer and green,will ripen vigorous fully. A tomatoand healthy. picked However,at the first sign prevents soil moisture fluctuation. Some varieties flowersof color and are ripened not forming at room any temperature fruit. What will is be are resistant to cracking, and we try to thejust problem?as tasty and colorful as one left to fully recommend these varieties. mature on the vine. Picking tomatoes before they turn red reduces bird and squirrel damage.

Q.A. WeThese planted are root-knot tomatoes nematodes. in our small Some garden.varieties Theysuch as are Celebrity loaded and and Better are the Boy best resist tomatoes this weproblem. have Itever is best had; to however,use only nematode-resistant there are some Q.A. AreSeveral there conditions really low-acidcan cause tomato tomatoes varieties? to not set smallvarieties. holes Nematode near the resistance stem end is shownof the bytomato. fruit. Too much nitrogen fertilizer, nighttime Whenthe letter we N cut after the the tomato name; open,for example, there is a temperatures over 75 degrees F, low smallCelebrity worm VFN. inside. What is it and what can temperatures below 50 degrees F, irregular we do? watering, insects such as or planting the wrong cultivar may result in poor fruit set.

A. Some varieties are less acidic than others. Some Q. Whenyellow-fruited caging typestomatoes, are slightly how largeless acidic are thethan cages?the normal red varieties. Flavor differences between varieties are not because of differences A. Your fruit has been invaded by the tomato in content but the -to-acid balance. pinworm. They usually do not damage all fruit Cherry tomatoes are higher in both sugar and and can be controlled only by a preventive acid levels. Printed by University of Arkansas Cooperative Extensioninsecticide Service spray Printing every Services. 7 to 10 days. When the damage is evident, it is too late to do anything DR. CRAIG R. ANDERSEN about it.

A. The diameter of the cage should be at least 18 to 20 inches at the top. Smaller cages often restrict

is associate professor and Extension Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts of May 8 and specialist - vegetables, Department, University of June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Arkansas Division of Agriculture, Fayetteville. Director, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Arkansas. The Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service offers its programs to all eligible persons regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, gender, age, disability, marital or veteran status, or any other legally protected status FSA6017-PD-5-11RV and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.