TIPS for a BUMPER CROP of TOMATOES

A recent article in The Journal News by Max Apton, former vegetable field manager at The Stone Barns Center, gives some tips for  growing a bumper crop of tomatoes.

• Prepare bed by adding 1" of compost.  Loosen soil deeply with a digging fork allowing compost to be worked into the lower layers of soil.
• Plant tomatoes deep, at least up to the first set of leaves.  (Especially important if the seedling is gangly; roots will develop along the buried part of the stem creating a strong support for the mature plant.)
• Space plants 2½ ft apart.  Space rows 4-5 ft apart.  This allows plants plenty of room to breathe.
• Use stakes, not cages.  Steel T-posts can support the weight of a fully mature vine without falling over.  Cages do not allow for generous airflow around the plant.
• Be diligent in pruning once they start growing.  Only prune on bright, sunny days.  Sunshine helps "cauterize" the pruned cuts.
• Use a sharp pair of scissors for a clean cut.  Snip away any lower yellowing leaves.  Pinch off "suckers" as the emerge, training plants to have 2 leaders.
• Cut away any flowers that form until the plant is at least knee-high.
• Begin the season by watering deeply every 5 days.  Ideally, use a soaker hose for 3 hrs.  This less frequent and deep watering encourages deep root growth.
• Once the plant begins to flower & set fruit, do not water the rest of the season, no matter how dry the weather.   Too much water will result in watery tomatoes that easily split.