Let’s Talk Tomatoes

Growing your own tomatoes and other veggies has great benefits for your physical, social, and mental health, and just a small amount of work will ensure plentiful, plump tomatoes all summer long!

 We all need a treat now and again, and tomatoes are no exception.  Give them some love with one of our favorite slow-feeding fertilizers, the Espoma Tomato-tone, and you’ll make them particularly happy!  Tomato-tone is an organic fertilizer that will not force fast growth, but rather promote even long-term growth, which should result in plump tomatoes and strong plants.

On the other hand, if your plants aren’t looking their best, (do they have little holes in the leaves or are the leaves are yellowing a bit?), Bonide’s Tomato & Vegetable 3-in-1 is probably the medicine they need.  The 3-in-1 is an insecticide, fungicide and miticide that will control most insects and disease, and as an organic product it can be used up to the day before harvest.

Another problem tomatoes encounter is Blossom End Rot, caused by a calcium deficiency.  Symptoms initially appear as a round, brown sunken area on the end of the tomato fruit, and as the fruit ripens, the affected area enlarges, darkens, turns dry and becomes leathery in appearance and texture.  This often occurs after heavy rains have leached calcium from the soil, so after the weather we’ve been having, we are unfortunately predicting seeing some Blossom End Rot this year.  Ultimately, you’ll lose your tomatoes without treatment, so we’d recommend applying some Bonide RTU Rot-Stop at the first sign of disease.

If you are unsure whether your tomatoes are happy & healthy or need a little TLC, bring in a sample of the affected leaves or fruit and we will do our best to diagnose any issues.  We want your garden to be as productive and healthy as possible, and we love a good challenge!