Jack's Heirloom Tomatoes: June 2008

Jack's Heirloom Tomatoes

What are Heirloom Tomatoes?

These are varieties that date prior to 1940 because in the mid-30's seed companies were creating hybrids by crossing two varieties together to achieve the perfect tomato.

May of the characteristics the were bred into the tomato were traits that would help market the tomatoes in the grocery stores. These are traits like uniform size, reddening genes and perfectly round shape. One of the trade offs was the taste. Many of the tomatoes that you purchase at the store will not taste like heirlooms picked fresh from your garden. The tomatoes that I have selected are from the book "100 Heirlooms for the American Garden" by Carolyn Male. The author has grown out over 1200 varieties of heirlooms.

Sunday, June 15, 2008

1st Tomato Blossom

On June 15th I have my 1st tomato blossom. It is on the Brandywine Red. This week many of the
tomatoes should start flowering. This year the stems are very stout. This can be attributed to the
cool weather and wind the past few weeks. I put in an additional bamboo cane to support the plants. I will start tying the main stem to the bamboo cane next weekend. I hope that each of you have escaped the bad weather the past few weeks.

TOMATO TECHNIQUES - Trenching

This is the practice of laying the plant horizontally along its stem. The additional roots will form along the buried stem providing the plant with more energy to produce tomatoes:

a. Pinch off yellowing or dying leaves on bottom of stem before planting.

b. Lay the whole plant in a shallow trench. Roots facing west, and stem facing east.

c. Cover the stem with 2-3 inches of soil and bring the top cluster of leaves above the surface.

d. Wrap strip of newspaper around the stem ground level (cutworms)

e. Place stake on east side where the stem emerges.

TOMATO TECHNIQUES - Pruning

Pinching off the shoots or suckers that sprout for the stem in a crotch right above a leaf branch. If you let the sucker grow it will become another big stem with its own blossoms, fruits, and suckers. If you pinch these suckers the energy of the plant will be directed to the main stems. If you want additional stems to develop, allow the suckers closest to the bottom above the 1st blossom set to develop. These will have more flower blossoms and are easier to train suckers that sprout higher up. It is important that you watch for suckers that grow out of the ground. Also it is important that this technique is applied primarily to Heirloom that are indeterminate.

TOMATO TECHNIQUES - Other Tips!

1. Spend the minimum of 5 minutes each day in your garden. You will spot details that need attention.

a. Cut off suckers
b. Correct Tomatoes that need traning.

2. Water thoroughly once weekly. Over watering will cause more problems than underwatering.

3. Use the tallest stake that you can buy. 5 ft. work fine but 6 ft. will work better. Remember that these plants are indeterminate (will continue to grow). 12-15 tomatoes at 1.5 lb. each will weigh 18-23 lbs. Plants with this much weight need support.

4. Pinch flowers off 30 days before anticipated frost. These will not ripen before the frost. This will channel the energy into the ripening tomatoes.

Ideally, a great tomato year is having the first tomatoes by the third week of July and the harvest continuing each week until frost which is generally the end of September or early October.

It is important to have all sizes and flowers of tomatoes. I can customize a selection for you that will achieve your tomato needs.

Jack's Heirloom Tomatoes