Who’s excited about tomato season?
Last spring the most delicious self-seeded cherry tomatoes grew abundantly in my plot and I’m positive they will grow themselves again. I’ve also been collecting seeds from friends and neighbours and already have some new varieties (cherry kumato and cherry roma) growing on my windowsill – they were so ready to grow, they took just 3 days to germinate!
I always focus on the cherry varieties. I’ve always found them to be more resistant to pests, especially the stink beetle, which seems to always show up with larger varieties.
I’ve been brushing up on tips from experts to ensure my plants will be as strong as they can be and here is my plan:
I won’t be planting them in the same spot as last year’s crop. Solanaceae, such as tomatoes, potatoes, capsicums and eggplants, share similar pests and soil-borne diseases. Planting them in the same soil year after year allows pathogens to build up in the soil.
I’ll be deep planting for a bigger root zone. How deep? I’ve been watching ‘how to grow tomatoes’ videos lately, and I was all set to go deep after watching This is a Gardening Show, episode 2 on Netflix, but I’ve since come across varying opinions on ‘how deep’. Horticulturalist Margot White shares some great tips in this Gardening Australia story. Maybe I’ll try both ways.
I’ll aim to space them out for better airflow. My goal is a couple of really prolific plants.
I won’t be watering the leaves — this is a mistake I have definitely made before! So apparently this helps prevent mildew and fungal problems. In the past I’ve had gorgeous healthy plants one week, and the next week they’re covered in fungus!
I always like to pinch out some of the small shoots that grow in the junctions of the stems to keep some airflow through the plant, and it’s very satisfying to remove any older yellowed leaves and keep the plant looking good.
I’m also pretty keen on companion planting.
I have some basil seedlings on the windowsill too. I’ll be planting them between my tomatoes. The smell will hopefully deter pests, and some even say it improves the flavour.
I’m loving having marigolds in my garden. As well as looking beautiful, they repel root-knot nematodes.
Alliums are also good neighbours. I like to keep chives, garlic chives and spring onions around the edges of my plot.
Feel free to drop by Rose Bay Community Garden and say hello — especially if you have any tomato-growing tips to share!
We also have plants, seedlings and herb bunches for sale on the third Sunday of each month, from 3-5pm!