How is the best way to grow nice tomatoes?
Question:Also how long should they stay planted before picking?
Answers:
With most types of tomatoes, the more sun and heat, the better. If they can be planted in an area that will reflect heat (like a house, shed, barn, fence, etc) that will grow much faster (be sure to give them enough water too). It tends to be in the neighborhood of 60-80 days (depending on climate, water, sun, etc) before you get tomatoes you can eat. You can pick them before they are fully ripe and place them on a window sill. They will continue to ripen, but obviously will not grow any larger. This can helpful if you are growing larger breeds (like big boy or better boy).
Good luck!
in New Jersey
Good soil conditions, sufficient water and lots of sun. I use Miracle Grow for fertilizer. Color is the key as to when to pick them. I let them get as red as possible and start to get a little soft. They never get to sit in a window. LOL
Tomatoes like sun & heat, but not humidity which encourages a virus which wilts & browns the leaves by late summer. Buy resistant varieties (labeled VF).
Better Boy is an excellent, disease resistant, very meaty, average size variety which gives lots of tomatoes of a size good for sandwiches.
Plant after last frost (May 1 in Missouri). Use a general fertilizer. Water regularly.
The short, lazy way -
Have a decent raised bed with a good, fertile, friable soil. They eat a bunch so be prepared to fertilize if needed.
Choose varieties with a long string of disease resistant letters (like VFNTTST.)
Get some type of cage, the cheap wires ones will do if that's all you have.
Water evenly, keep water off the foliage
Watch for bugs, they will spread disease.
Leave them long enough on the vine to get slight shade of red and then pick them and let them finish ripening inside.
Remember, birds like red tomatoes much better than green.
More Related Questions & Answers...