You might have heard the old saying, “there ain’t nothin better in life than true love and a homegrown tomato.”
It’s that time of year again where we get to delight in those plump red tomatoes, but the heat and humidity of Georgia summers may put a damper on the fun.
While many tomato varieties are resistant to disease and easy to produce, humidity and heavy rain force us to be proactive in the garden to be able to prevent yellowing, curling and spotting.
If your tomatoes are not coming along how you had hoped, it may help to check your soil. Most problems with tomatoes arise from the soil they are planted in and improper watering. A routine soil test can tell you if any nutrients need to be added.
It is important to move them to a new spot every year and focus on building up organic matter in each spot. By doing this, you can increase the soil drainage, prevent the spread of disease and strengthen the composition of the soil.
There tends to be some misconceptions about a common culprit of tomato failure in home gardens. Blossom end rot, the thing that happens when the bottom of tomatoes turn black, is actually not a disease, but rather a lack of calcium.
Overfertilizing with nitrogen can be detrimental to tomato plants, so it is important to wait until there is a solid root system before fertilizing the recommended amount. If you fertilize too soon, it will burn the plant.
Improper watering is a common error made by well-meaning gardeners. Established tomatoes only need an inch to an inch and a half of water per week, and the best time to give the plants water is early in the morning.
If you feel like your tomatoes are not getting enough water, try mulching around the plants. This will not only retain moisture, it will also suppress weeds and soilborne pathogens.
If you have any more questions about your tomato plants, look at Georgia Homegrown Tomatoes or contact us!
