May | June 2010 INDUSTRY NEWS Trick to
by Sharon Dowdy University of Georgia
Tomatoes are the most commonly grown vegetable in backyard gardens. They are also one of the most dif- ficult to grow, according to a University of Georgia Cooperative Extension expert.
“When it comes to growing tomatoes, it’s best to plant twice as many plants as you need because of all the insects and diseases out there,” said Wade Hutcheson, the UGA Extension Coordinator in Spalding County. “If they all survive, there will be more to eat or give away.”
An avid gardener, Hutcheson’s experience helps him offer firsthand advice to both novice and advanced gardeners in his area.
There are a lot of decisions to make when it comes to growing tomatoes, he said.
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“First you have to decide whether to grow your to- matoes from seeds or from (small plants),” he said. “Then you need to decide whether to grow determi- nate or indeterminate varieties, or both.”
Determinate varieties produce all of the fruit at one time and are a good choice for use as canning toma- toes. Indeterminate varieties bloom and produce fruit all season.
Start seeds 4 to 6 weeks ahead of planting time. Sets can go out once all chance of frost has passed, and soils begin to warm up.
Tomato growers can also select from a large array of available varieties. While buying small plants may be easier, purchasing seeds gives gardeners the widest selection of varieties.
tomatoes: the variety
tasty
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