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| Every year, we get asked the same question about tomatoes: "Which varieties are the best?" Most don't realize that there are thousands of varieties available, and that they come in all
different colors, shapes, sizes, flavors, etc. So, my strategy when choosing which of the thousands of tomato varieties to grow is this: We always plant at least 4 delicious tomatoes that reliably grow/produce/ripen, such as 'Sun Gold,' 'Brandywine,' 'Early Girl,' and 'Green Zebra,' and then I experiment with many different tomato varieties that sound like fun ('Hawaiian Tropic'), look unique or interesting ('Ananas Noire'), or have a reputation for amazing flavor ('Neves Azorean Red').
I also like to experiment with growing tomatoes in
containers. This works especially well if you don't have much space in your garden/yard to work with! Just make sure that you are choosing varieties that are more compact, and that the
location of your container is getting at least 6-8 hours of daily sunlight. Below I'll list tips on growing these packed-with-flavor beauties, as well as list some delicious
varieties for you to try out this summer! But don't just stick to my list! Get yourself out there
and try something new and different! And at the end of the season, come by and tell us all about it...or better yet, bring in a sample for us to try! ;) Haha...just kidding! ...well, sort of! |
Planting |
The best time to plant tomato seedlings or starts is generally after all danger of frost has passed. But if you are like me, and want to get a jump start on planting, then go ahead and plant now! Just make sure that you are protecting the plants from late frosts and
temperature fluctuations with a season-extending product such as a glass or plastic cloche, "Frost Kap", or a "Season Protector" Wall O' Water; all three act as a greenhouse-like
environment on cold days and nights. Or you can also use a frost cloth to cover the plants
when nighttime temperatures are dipping into the low 50's or cooler. Next, choose your site. All veggies and herbs love to be in areas of your yard where they can receive at least 6-8 hours of sunlight a day, so make sure to choose a hot spot that gets lots of full sun.
Prep your soil. Each new year, you should be adding an organic compost and fertilizer to
your garden beds. This helps to add lost nutrients from the prior year back into your garden
beds. Mix in between 3-4" of compost (we like Master Nursery's Bumper Crop Organic Compost) directly into your existing soil; once tilled, then add an organic fertilizer, such as Dr. Earth's #5 Tomato, Veggetable, and Herb Fertilizer. And "Voilà!" You're ready to plant!
Now, if you look closely at the stem of a tomato seedling, you'll notice tiny "hairs". These will grow into roots when buried in the soil, and will help the plants develop a robust root system. You will want to make planting holes extra deep, then pinch or snip off all but the
top two sets of leaves on the seedling. Take the plant out of its pot and tease the roots
apart. Backfill with soil until the lowest remaining leaves are just above soil level. Water the
seedlings in well. |
Growing |
| Tomatoes left to sprawl over the soil are more prone to developing problems with disease and rotting fruit. So, immediately after planting, place a sturdy tomato cage over each
plant. By keeping the soil consistently moist, this can help prevent problems with cracking
and blossom-end rot. An easy way to measure when you should water would be to water
whenever the soil is dry down to the bottom of your second knuckle. If the soil is dry to
that point, go ahead and water. If you still feel moisture, hold off. Time of day? Best time would be in the morning hours before the sun has started to creep out over the plantlings. |
Delicious Varieties |
Like I said above, there are thousands of tomato varieties to choose from, these are also divided into two main categories: determinate and indeterminate.
Determinate plants grow to a certain height and then flower and set all of their fruit at the
same time, while indeterminate plants will grow and produce fruit until fall's frost comes along.
Another factor to consider when choosing your tomatoes is the plant's "Day to Harvest" or
DTH. This refers to the number of days that your crop should be ready after planting. Keep in mind that these numbers are just general figures and can vary depending on the time of year, fertility, etc. If you are not planning on getting your tomato crops in the ground until
sometime in May, think about choosing a variety that does not take longer than 75-80 days
to get to the point of harvest. So many good tomatoes, so little space...
Here are 20 other delicious varieties to try: |
CHERRY AND CURRANT
'Chocolate Cherry'
'Sun Gold'
'Super Sweet 100'
'Sugary'
'Yellow/Red Pear' |
BEEFSTAKE
'Beefmaster'
'Big Beef'
'Brandywine'
'Cherokee
Chocolate'
'Dr. Wyche's Yellow'
'Momotaro' |
SAUCE
'Banana Legs'
'San Marzano Redorta'
'Santa Clara Canner' |
SLICING/SALAD
'Boxcar Willie'
'Copia Striped'
'Eva Purple Ball'
'Green Zebra'
'Lemon Boy'
'Manyel' |
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| Mmmmmm... Can't wait for harvest time! |
Hello, my name is Tanya and more than just about anything else I love gardening!
I really hope you enjoy reading our newsletters. Please feel free to contact
me with any of your gardening questions or comments you may have! Enjoy...and keep digging!
Email Tanya: tanya@sunrivergardens.com
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This Week's Question:
A drug made from the bark of Cinchona succirubra was first used in European medicine in the 1600s, and is still used around the world today. What is the name of the drug?
This Week's Prize:
$10 Gift Certificate
Last Trivia Question:
Botanically speaking, which of the following doesn't fit in?
- Chili Pepper
- Cucumber
- Eggplant
- Tomatillo
- Tomato
Answer:
B. Cucumber--all the rest are members of the Solanaceae (nightshade) family.
Congratulations, Susie Harrison! You've won a $10 Gift Certificate.
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To claim your prize, bring in a valid form of ID to Sun River Gardens.
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- 8 small new potatoes
- 1 small cauliflower, broken into florets
- 8 baby carrots
- 4 stalks asparagus, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 3 tbsp. butter
- 3 tbsp. all-purpose flour
- 2 cups milk
- Salt
- Pepper
- 3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- Chopped fresh parsley
Step by Step:
- Bring 2 inches of water to a boil in a 2-quart saucepan over high heat. Add potatoes; cover and return to a boil. Reduce heat to low. Simmer until the potatoes are tender, about 10 minutes; drain and set aside.
- Repeat cooking process with the cauliflower, carrots and asparagus, cooking separately just until crisp tender.
- Preheat oven to 350º.
- Lightly grease a 2-quart casserole with butter or spray with nonstick cooking spray.
- Arrange vegetables in buttered casserole.
- For sauce, melt butter over medium heat. Stir in flour until smooth. Gradually stir in milk.
- Cook until thickened, stirring constantly. Add cheese, stirring until cheese is melted. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Pour sauce over vegetables and sprinkle with chopped parsley. Bake until heated through, about 15-20 minutes.
Serves 4-6
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