Robyn Stewart
One of the most popular vegetable plants grown by home gardeners in Georgia is the tomato. Tomatoes are popular for a huge number of reasons, from taste, versatility, available varieties, and dietary benefits. Tomatoes are a great addition to any diet due to their high levels of antioxidants, vitamin C, potassium, folate, and vitamin K. Due to the way our food system works in the US, you typically can find tomatoes in grocery stores year-round—even if it’s not growing season where you live. However, homegrown produce is growing in popularity and a fruitful tomato plant is a great addition to any home garden.
When considering where to place your tomato plant in your garden, there are a few things to think about. In order to promote optimal growth, tomatoes need a minimum of 8 hours of sunlight, so avoid any places that are shady or close to other large plants. In our region of Georgia, soil pH is typically acidic, or low (most samples in our county come back between a 5 and 5.5 pH). Tomato plants, like most vegetables, prefer a soil pH range of 6.0-6.8 for optimal growth. Unfortunately, if you did not soil test and apply lime to your garden, it is too late in the season to reap the full buffering benefits of preparing your garden correctly. If you suspect your soil is too acidic, you may want to plant your tomatoes in a different prepared bed or containers for the season in order to ensure your success.
There are a variety of tomato types that grow in different ways. Determinate tomato varieties are more compact and bush-like, and produce their crop at one time earlier in the season than vine varieties. You may want to plant multiple plantings of these varieties in order to extend your harvest time. Indeterminant varieties develop fruit clusters along a vine—these types of plant grow and produce fruit all season until first frost. If you plan on staking your plants, ensure you space them 24” apart in rows 4-6 feet wide. Keeping tomato plant leaves off the ground can help decrease the occurrence of disease and improve productivity. Once planted, consider adding mulch around the base of the plant in order to help conserve moisture, reduce weed growth, and lower disease risk. Tomato plants should be watered 1-2” per week depending on rainfall and soil type—consider adding drip irrigation to water the base of the plant which reduces foliar diseases like leaf spots.
Another major consideration with tomato plants is that they tend to be very susceptible to diseases, viruses, and insect pests. Some varieties have been hybridized and produced to be resistant to these issues. When you purchase your tomato plant, consider using one of these resistant varieties. Common diseases of tomato plants include Verticillium Wilt, Fusarium Wilt, Tobacco Mosaic Virus, Early Blight, and Tomato Spotted Wilt. There are also a variety of insect pests that can affect tomatoes not limited to Corn Earworm, Tomato Hornworm—last week I diagnosed aphids on a client’s tomato plants. Catching disease and insect problems early in the season can help get them diagnosed and treated appropriately before they impact your harvest.
Tomato plants can be a fruitful addition to any home garden and there are a huge number of varieties and types to try. Following some simple guidelines can help promote plant health and ensure productivity for the home producer. If you have any questions or need help identifying disease or pest issues on your plants, please reach out to us at uge3181@uga.edu or 706-359-3233.
