All about Tomato > Cultivation & Varieties

Family: Solanaceae
Culture: Annual
Sun: Full sunlight
Soil: Light, deep, well-drained soil, rich in organic matter
Height: 2 to 3 metres

The tomato is a herbaceous evergreen plant. Both fruit and vegetable, it grows on one main stem, or two if a sucker is left to develop.

Growing tomatoes
Tomatoes grow outdoors throughout the year in warm countries; in temperate climates, they need at least three months of sunlight in the open air.

Beginning in February or March, the seeds should be sown in seedling flats and kept in a warm place until they germinate. Moderate watering is recommended.

About May 15, or when all risk of frost has passed, the plants, which should then be 6 to 8 cm tall or more, can be transplanted. The seedlings are planted in compost-enriched soil, spaced a meter apart. The plants need to be staked up from the beginning and the earth hilled up around the base to cover the lowest leaves. Water regularly.

After a month, about the middle of June, more hilling is carried out: that is, more soil is placed around the plant base. The lower leaves that are touching the soil are removed to avoid infections. Then all the buds that appear at the axils of the leaves are pinched off to ensure better production.

To avoid having too many green tomatoes at the end of the season, it is best to cut the plant off above the fifth or third group of leaves, depending on whether the plant has one or two stalks.

Because of the fragility of the stalk and the weight of the tomatoes, the main stem needs to be firmly tied to a stake, though without “strangling” it!

Tips and Hints

Avoid watering the leaves, concentrating the water instead on the base of the plant;
tie the plant with copper wire to prevent mildew;
place ashes around the plant if you notice caterpillars.

Harvest
Tomatoes can be picked when ripe, always keeping the stem on to preserve the tomato’s freshness.