What could be better than home grown tomatoes all summer long?
One way to ensure that is to plant both determinate (bush) and indeterminate (vine) tomatoes. A tip from Kirchhoffs seeds is to first sow vine tomatoes, followed about three weeks later by bush tomatoes. The reason for that is that bush tomatoes are quicker to produce the first flush of fruit after which the vine tomatoes take over.
Gardener who prefer bush tomatoes and find them less demanding to grow, can sow a second crop in January. Cherry tomatoes can also be sown in January. Although they are vining tomatoes, they are quicker to mature because of their smaller fruit.
The last recommended sowing date for tomatoes is 60 to 80 days before the first frost date, which is usually towards the end of May.
Bush tomatoes are also easier to grow in containers, because they are compact, tidy, and only need minimal staking. Plum shaped jam tomatoes are worth growing for their firm, sweet flesh and few seeds. They are good for roasting, salads and for sauces.
Tomato Roma VF (Kirchhoffs) grows well in large pots with a supporting frame.Tomato ‘Principe Borghese’ (RAW) is an Italian heirloom variety with small fruit that ripens within 80 to 100 days. Support the 1.2m plant with a trellis or cage.
Growing cherry tomatoes in pots will contain their growth and because the fruit is small it doesn’t get heavy. Plants can also be trimmed to keep them manageable. However, they still need support and a good idea is to fit a trellis into or behind the pot.
Red Cherry Sweetie’ (Kirchhoffs( has super sweet fruit and plants are dependable growers even under adverse conditions, with a long fruiting season. Another super sweet and juicy variety is ‘Rainbow Cherry Mix’ (RAW seed) of red, yellow, orange, pink, white, green, brown and bi-colour cherry tomatoes. Plants have a 1.2m spread and the first fruit is harvestable within 70 to 90 days.
Growing tips for tomatoes.
- Tomatoes need plenty of sun, at least six hours a day.
- Water frequently for a week or two after germination or transplanting and feed with a liquid fertiliser like Margaret Roberts Organic Supercharger.
- Once established, water tomato plants deeply once a week or more often if the weather is very hot.
- Use an organic pesticide like Ludwig’s Insect Spray to control pests like white fly, aphids and boll worm when they occur.
What to sow now
Summer rainfall areas
bush beans, beetroot, carrot, cucumber, lettuce, leeks, radish, Swiss chard, spring onions, bush squash, bush and cherry tomatoes.
Winter rainfall areas
Bush and runner beans, beetroot, carrot, lettuce, leeks, bush squash, Swiss chard, spring onions, radishes, cherry tomatoes
Lowveld and KwaZulu Natal coast
Capsicums and all summer vegetables if grown in semi-shade.
Article supplied by Alice Coetzee.