March is Mater Time! Tomatoes, That Is

iStock_000014257208_Large
 
 
 
 
America loves its homegrown tomatoes! Of all the vegetables people ask me about growing, tomatoes are the most frequent. With a little hard work, you can have the satisfaction of feasting on your very own tomatoes soon.
March is the time to plant tomatoes outdoors because the threat of freeze is generally over by mid-March. Some choose to plant in February or early March, but be prepared to cover them when a freeze is forecast.
iStock_000009164928_Large

Preparation and Planting

Like most vegetables, tomatoes like a rich, well-drained soil in a location that gets a full day of sun. To prepare your soil follow these basics:
  1. If you have clay or poor soil, create a raised bed from untreated lumber or edging bricks and filling with a quality soil amended with compost.
  2.  If you have prepared beds, amend by adding a good balanced fertilizer and two inches compost and then mixing both into existing soil.
  3. Dig a hole for each plant. The trick here is to plant the tomato deeply. Tomato plants can create roots all along the stems and a good root system will give you a healthier plant and more tomatoes! So remove the leaves from the bottom third of the plant and dig the hole deep enough to cover the bottom third.
  4. Sprinkle a little cotton seed meal and Epsom salt in the bottom of the hole to get them off to a great start.
  5. Insert plant, back fill the hole and pat soil firmly around plant.
  6. Water in and add a water soluble fertilizer at ½ strength.
  7. Mulch with a natural mulch such as hay, pine needles, or crushed leaves.
  8. If planting more than one, plant two feet apart.
Full article

Comments

Popular Posts