The time is ripe to plant tomatoes

The tomato has a long history in New Jersey. The plant’s origins lie in Mexico and South America, where the Spanish conquistadors tasted it, liked it and took it back to Europe. Tomato plants arrived in North America courtesy of the colonists and made their way to New Jersey in the late 18th century. The tomato is said to have been officially introduced to Garden State farmers in 1820 by Colonel Robert Gibbon Johnson of Salem County.

Since then, dozens of varieties have been cultivated, with new, colorful types introduced each season.

Full-sized tomatoes — the Big Boy, Better Boy and Beefsteak varieties — are the top sellers among home gardeners, according to Rick Eisele of Eisele’s Nursery, Paramus (eiselesnursery.com).

"We sell more of them every year than any other variety," he said, noting that the nursery carried about 15 different kinds for sale this season. "They’re easy to grow and are the most disease-resistant."

Grape and cherry tomato plants also are gaining in popularity, he added, because these small types are perfect for salads or just a quick snack.

Heirloom varieties are increasingly in demand, too, Eisele said, because people are seeing them in specialty grocery stores and want to try growing them at home.

No matter which you choose, growing tomatoes is part of New Jersey culture.

Ideal Conditions

The Garden State has the perfect summer weather for growing tomatoes — hot and humid with plenty of sunshine.

Generally, tomatoes prefer soil with these conditions:

* pH of 5.5-6.8

* well-drained

* rich in organic matter

All of this is possible if the home gardener does a little homework first.

After choosing a sunny location for your plants, test the soil to determine the pH level. If necessary, add nutrients and organic matter to reach the ideal level.

"Fertilizing after planting is important if you want to get a good crop," Eisele said. He recommended a 5-10-5 combination (5 percent nitrogen/10 percent phosporous/ 5 percent potassium) with the remaining 80 percent composed of nutrients and filler. Fertilize according to manufacturer’s instructions.

Is It Too Late?

Garden experts agree that late June/early July is the cutoff date for planting tomatoes, for a couple of reasons:

* New Jersey summers can get so hot that the soil may become too dry, and tiny plants may suffer shock if you try to plant them in extreme heat.

How to Grow the Best Tomato Plant | Arbour Realty

Filed under: Northern VA Real Estate

Spring is here and I am getting ready to plant my modest Arlington vegetable garden. I always do a little research on the vegetables I plan to grow. I try to learn something new every year that helps me become a better gardener. I would like to share with you some tips on growing everyone’s favorite, the tomato. I only plan on growing 3-4 tomato plants so I bypass the whole germinating from seed process and just buy the plants at the store.

Tomato plants love full sun so keep that in mind when picking the perfect area. These plants are able to grow roots all along their stems so plant them deeper than they were in the pots. This will ensure they have a good strong rooting system. Make sure that they have something to support their growth be it a pole or a cage. You will need to water regularly while the plant is developing. Once the fruit begins to ripen, you could lessen the watering which will coax the plant into concentrating its sugars. Though not watering them enough will stress the plant causing it to wilt and drop its blossoms and possibly the fruit! To be on the safe side just stick to watering regularly and don’t fret since the sun will help with the sweetness as well.

When the plant gets about 3 feet tall, remove the leaves from the ground up to 1 foot. This will prevent any fungus issues. When you see new growth between the joints of two branches, just pinch them off. They don’t bear any fruit and they just drain the plant of nutrients.

These tips should start you in the right directions. Happy gardening!

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