Tomato Gardening Tips & Tricks

The iconic Jersey tomato - well-loved in sauces, salads, sandwiches, sliced and eaten raw right from the garden (arguably the best way to enjoy them). We're so lucky to have the perfect conditions to grow some great tomatoes here at the Jersey Shore! Follow our guide to grow your best tomatoes ever this year.

Choose Your Tomato

The first stop is planning out which tomato varieties you're going to plant! Most tomatoes can be broken down into the following categories:

• SLICERS: These are the beefy, picturesque tomatoes that come to mind when you think of cutting up a tomato for a sandwich or burger. They come in a variety of colors, shapes, and sizes!  Example varieties: Brandywine, Beefsteak, Mortgage Lifter, Early Girl, Cherokee Purple
• SAUCE TOMATOES: These varieties are best for... you guessed it - sauces! Also great for canning. These are your Roma and Italian plum varieties and they tend to have an elongated shape and fewer seeds. Example varieties: San Marzano, Roma
• GRAPE TOMATOES: These are shaped like... grapes! They are small in size and elongated in shape and generally have a sweet, but balanced flavor. Great in salads and for roasting! 
• CHERRY & GRAPE TOMATOES: Small in size, great in salads, roasting and snacking.  Example varieties: Sweet 100, Sungold, Husky Cherry Red

Garden Prep

Preparation is the key to successful tomato gardening and it all starts in the soil. The good thing is tomatoes aren't terribly picky when it comes to the soil in which they're planted. The 3 most important things to remember are:

1. Tomatoes need full sun (6+ hours direct sunlight) in order to thrive
2. Make sure the soil has good drainage
3. Make sure the soil is amended with rich compost or organic material

Tomatoes are susceptible to root rot from standing in wet soil for too long, and here at the Jersey Shore, we get some humid, rainy weather in the summer. Well-draining soil will help ensure the roots get all the water they need, but excess water can run off. 

Your tomato crop will greatly benefit from soil amended with compost or other nutrient-rich material. We recommend amending your soil with Bumper Crop's Organic Soil Builder before planting, and using it to top dress after planting. Coupled with regular feedings of a tomato fertilizer, this should give your plants all the nutrients they need to produce healthy foliage and high yields of great fruit.

Troubleshooting

There are a few common problems you'll see with tomatoes - some are easier to deal with than others. Here's a guide on how to tackle your biggest tomato woes:

• ROOT ROT: Aside from well-draining soil, you want to make sure your tomatoes are consistently watered but not over watered. Allow some time between waterings to give the soil a chance to dry out slightly. Make sure the plants don't dry out too much, or you could end up with...
• BLOSSOM END ROT: Ever noticed brown, mushy spots on the bottom of your tomato fruit? This is called blossom end rot and is generally caused by a calcium deficiency that is linked to inconsistent soil moisture during the growing season. To prevent it, regularly feed your plants with a good tomato fertilizer, such as Espoma Tomato Tone or Jack's Classic Tomato FeED. These formulas are balanced specially for tomato plants. And we can't stress enough how important it is to keep a consistent watering schedule for your plants! If the soil stays too wet then dries out too much, the chances of blossom end rot will increase.
• SPLITS/CRACKS IN FRUIT: Yet another common tomato issue caused by inconsistent moisture! You'll usually see cracking/splitting in tomatoes after a heavy rainstorm following a dry period. This is due to the fruit receiving so much moisture so rapidly that it swells faster than the skin can expand, causing cracks and splits. To prevent splitting, maintain a consistent moisture level in your tomato garden. Allow the soil to drain, but don't let it dry out completely!
• FUNGAL/VIRAL DISEASES: Leaf spot, blight, powdery mildew, and leaf wilt are all examples of fungal or viral diseases that can really do a number on your tomato crops. If you've had issues with these in the past, it's important to keep your garden beds clean of any infected plant material after the season is done. Even a single leftover leaf from a previous season can infect an entire bed, so it's important to keep an eye on your plants and clean as you go! If you notice any spots or fungus on your plants, trim back the infected material and dispose of it in the garbage (not your compost!). Most diseases can be treated early with a variety of chemical controls, but prevention is the best approach. Make sure your plants are well-spaced when planting so there is room for airflow and sunlight to get in between the branches. Most fungi thrive in humid, damp, dark conditions, so increased airflow and sunlight will help minimize the risk of infection.  

These are some of our best tomato tips - we hope that it sets you up to grow your best crop of tomatoes ever!

Visit our Seasonal Garden Market page to learn more about Barlow's Farm & Flowers and discover what we’re growing this season, including downloadable lists of varieties.