Author: Lorraine Wade

Few foods encapsulate the flavor of Italy quite like the pomodoro, or what we call the tomato in English. But as iconic as the tomato is to Italian cuisine, it wasn’t always that way. The tomato came from the Americas, and it was only introduced to Italy in the 15th or 16th century. When did […]

Five Beefsteak Tomatoes You’ll Want to Grow Brandywine. Brandywine is an heirloom tomato, which means it’s open-pollinated and not a hybrid. Cherokee Purple. Big Beef. Black Krim. German Johnson. What is the best tasting beefsteak tomato? The Best Beefsteak Tomato Varieties Bucking Bronco. Beefsteak VFN. Marmande. Beefmaster VFN. Brandywine (pink heirloom) Cherokee Purple. Mortgage Lifter. […]

To create a solution that prevents and treats disease, add a heaping tablespoon of baking soda, a teaspoon of vegetable oil, and a small amount of mild soap to a gallon of water and spray the tomato plants with this solution. What is a natural remedy for tomato blight? The best natural remedies to kill […]

‘Sun Gold’: Considered by many to be the gold standard of cherry tomatoes for it’s sweet, sugary taste, ‘Sun Gold’ is an early ripening variety that continues to produce prolifically until frost. A single ‘Sun Gold’ plant can produce over 1000 tomatoes! What is the most productive cherry tomato plant? Baby Boomer (Hybrid) A prolific […]

There are two types of blight that threaten tomatoes — early and late — but Epsom salts are not an effective treatment for either. What is the best treatment for tomato blight? 3 Steps to Treating Tomato Blight Remove infected plant portions. The most essential aspect of treating blight is to remove and destroy any […]

While many household soaps are effective when it comes to eradicating insects, they should not be used as tomato plant bug repellents because they are not meant to be used in gardens and can be just as toxic to beneficial insects as they are to pests, says the University of Florida IFAS Extension. Can you […]

San Marzano tomatoes are perfect for roasting. The roasting concentrates the flavors, and the normally flavorful san marzanos will become even more so. And if the tomatoes aren’t straight-up amazing before roasting, the roasted tomato sauce will give you a ton of the flavor that you’re looking for. What can I do with my San […]

indeterminate vines. This type of tomato usually grows on indeterminate vines, though you may find some ‘San Marzano’ varieties today with a shorter stature. The fruits are borne in clusters of six to eight, which places a heavy burden on the vines. Do San Marzano tomatoes need a trellis? Allow at least 30 to 48 […]

The tomato is integral to so many classic Italian dishes. In fact, it’s hard to imagine the country’s cuisine without it. Yet that was the situation until the sixteenth century, when Spanish conquistadors brought the novel fruit back as part of their plunder from the recently discovered Americas. Are tomatoes popular in Italy? In the […]

With so many types out there, it’s hard to tell you exactly when to pick tomatoes. But most will be ready sometime between 60-100 days after germination. What is this? The range for smaller varieties, like cherry or grape, is usually somewhere between 50-70 days, while larger ones and heirlooms can take 80 or more. […]

Bury the stems Plant your tomato plants deeper than they come in the pot, all the way up to the top few leaves. When planted this way, tomatoes are able to develop roots all along their stems. And more roots make for a stronger plant. Should I HILL my tomato plants? There are some who […]

Red Brandywine tomatoes have a number of nutritional benefits. They contain the four major carotenoids, including large amounts of lycopene, a powerful antioxidant. They are high in vitamin A, vitamin D, and potassium. Red Brandywine tomatoes are fat-free and have negligible amounts of sugar and calories. Are Brandywine tomatoes good for sauce? We use them […]

Spraying fungicides is the most effective way to prevent late blight. For conventional gardeners and commercial producers, protectant fungicides such as chlorothalonil (e.g., Bravo, Echo, Equus, or Daconil) and Mancozeb (Manzate) can be used. How do you get rid of late blight on tomatoes? 3 Steps to Treating Tomato Blight Remove infected plant portions. The […]

Plants to Avoid Planting with Tomatoes Plants that should not share space with tomatoes include the Brassicas, such as broccoli and cabbage. Corn is another no-no and tends to attract tomato fruit worm and/or corn ear worm. What do tomato plants not like? Cauliflower. See broccoli for why cauliflower and other brassicas make bad tomato […]

Fusarium wilt on tomatoes is caused by Fusarium oxysporumsp. lycopersici. It is a soilborn fungus that is found throughout the United States, especially in warm regions of the country. The organism is specific for tomato and is very longlived in all regions of the United States. How do you treat Fusarium wilt in tomatoes? How […]

5 Ways of Supporting Your Tomato Plants Stake them. Use whatever stakes you have on hand – wooden stakes, bamboo, metal – just be sure that they’re at least 4 feet high. Fence them. Cage them. Cage them – maximum security edition! Trellis them. How do you stop tomatoes from touching the ground? An easy […]

For tomatoes, Miracle-Gro Potting Mix is recommended since it contains a lightweight consistency that makes good drainage for potted plants. It contains fertilizer with a 0.21-0.11-0.16 NPK ratio and feeds your plants for up to six months. That alone makes it stand out among other potting mixes. Is Miracle Grow Potting soil good for tomatoes? […]

After digging hole or trench and mixing in compost, add water. Allow water to be absorbed into the soil before planting tomato. Within 10 minutes of transplanting, give each plant a gallon of water to offset transplant shock. What should I put in the hole when planting tomatoes? Compost and composted manure are great additions […]

Allow 18 to 24 inches (46-61 cm.) between the marigold and the tomato plant, which is close enough for the marigold to benefit the tomato but allows plenty of space for the tomato to grow. What can you not plant near marigolds? Marigold companion planting enhances the growth of basil, broccoli, cabbage, cucumbers, eggplant, gourds, […]