Tomato is a popular, short season half-hardy summer vegetable; relatively easy to grow without a greenhouse or hoop house anywhere that has a reasonable summer. Tomatoes however, are an excellent crop to grow undercover. There are literally hundreds of cultivars. Heirloom and organic varieties are readily available. The fruit can be round or plumb, large or small and is red, yellow, orange, or purple.

From a gardeners perspective there are two main types of tomato.

1) Indeterminate- sometimes called (cordon or tall), these varieties produce a tall main shoot that grows indefinitely in warm climates. These generally need to be grown outdoors.

2) Determinate- or bush varieties do not have a leading shoot but develop side branches forming a sprawling bush. Trailing and dwarf fall into this type.

Ideal Site- Tomatoes prefer warm, sheltered, in full sun, with fertile well-drained soil. Undercover tomatoes are easiest to manage in soil beds, but can be grown in containers.Prior to planting apply a medium-fertility soil improver or a low-fertility soil improver combined with a general purpose organic fertilizer. Ideal pH 5.5-6.7

 

Seed to Harvest-  7-12 Weeks

Cultivation- Minimum germination temp 60F(16C). Tomato seedlings can withstand cooler temperatures, but sowing under cover, in gentle heat is the best method of getting consistently successful crop in cool climates. Sow seeds 6-8 weeks before last frost for outdoor plants. Harden off before planting. Soil temperature should be at least 50F(10C) and air temperature should be 45F(7C). Protect with cloches or row covers if necessary. Tomato side shoots are easily rooted as cuttings to provide several plants from a single seed. 
 

 
 

Spacing-   Rows: Tall indeterminate types 15-18in x 18in (38x45cm x 45cm) 3ft (90cm) between pairs of rows  Bush determinate types 18x20in x 18 x 24in (45x48cm x 45x60cm), 3ft (90 cm) between pairs of rows. Block Planting: 18 in (45cm)

Plant Care- Protect from low temperatures and frost but remember to allow access for pollination once flowers open. Mulch the soil for moisture retention. Plants in containers need regular watering, even 2x a day in dry conditions. Over-watering or over-feeding reduces flavor of the crop. Indeterminate crops can be trained on a trellis or tied to a pole. In late summer or cool climates pinch off growing tip to encourage development and ripening of fruit. Do not pinch side shoots of bush tomatoes. To keep the crop clean mulch with straw. Shade greenhouses in summer.

Harvesting- Pick fruit when fully ripened; reaching the color appropriate to the cultivar. Cut the fruit stalk leaving the calyx attached to the fruit. Toward the end of the growing season pull up the plants still fruiting and hang by their roots in a frost free area(garage or shed). The fruit will continue to ripen

Problems- Potato and tomato blight, Colorado potato beetle, aphids, whitefly, red spider mite, hornworms, wilt, gray mold, tobacco mosaic virus, leaf mold, verticillium wilt, blossom rot, and magnesium deficiency.

Nutrients- Tomatoes are a source of lycopene, vitamin A,B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, C, E, K, molybderum, potassium, chromium, manganese, magnesium folate, iron, copper, phosphorus, Tryptophan, protein, and dietary fiber