Tomatoes are the most popular garden vegetable crop in Texas. They are a good source of vitamin A and fair source of vitamin C. Fresh tomatoes are popular in salads, on sandwiches and sliced. They can be cooked and used in many ways.
Varieties
Texas gardeners can grow a variety of small- and large-fruited tomatoes.
Many different tomato varieties will grow well in our area. Most people plant varieties that are available. Some new varieties such as Texas Superstar Tycoon will be hard to find.
Site selection
Tomatoes grow well in most Texas areas if planted in soil that drains well. They need at least 6 hours of sunlight each day.
Tomatoes grow best in soils that have lots of organic matter. If possible, spread 2 to 3 inches of organic material such as compost, leaves, or rotted hay over the planting area. Mix this organic material into the top 4 to 6 inches of soil.Planting
Most families need only a few plants, so it is best to buy plants and not grow them from seed. Buy healthy, green plants that are 6 to 8 inches tall. Do not set out tomato plants until all danger of frost has passed. Transplant fall tomatoes in the garden about 100 days before the first expected frost. If possible, set out tomatoes on raised beds of soil that are about 6 inches high. Make the transplant holes 3 to 4 inches deep and 2 to 4 feet apart in the row. For staked or caged plants, space the rows at least 3 feet apart. For unsupported plants, leave 4 to 5 feet between the rows. Transplant your tomatoes in the evening or on a cloudy day to keep them from drying too much and wilting. Before placing transplants into the soil, fill the transplant holes with water and let it soak in. Plant each transplant slightly deeper than it had been growing. Pack the soil loosely around the plant. Leave a slightly sunken area around each plant to hold water. If you plan to grow single plants, dig a hole 2 feet wide and 10 inches deep. Refill the hole with half soil and half organic matter. For this type of planting, mix 2 level tablespoons of fertilizer into this planting area. If you are limited on space tomatoes also do well grown in containers.
Fertilizing Tomatoes need quite a bit of phosphorus, some nitrogen, and some potassium. Do not use fertilizers high in nitrogen. Too much nitrogen results in plants growing too big and not setting very many tomatoes. It is not recommended to apply fertilizer same time as you put in your transplants. Once the plants blooms and setting fruit applying fertilizer as a side dress will be needed.
Watering
Water the tomato plants slowly and deeply to help them develop a strong root system. Do not let the tomatoes wilt severely, or yields and fruit quality will be low.
Care during the season
For the highest yields, place mulch around the tomato plants. Spread a 2- to 3-inch layer of organic material such as compost, leaves, or hay around the growing plants. Mulching will help stop weed growth and water loss from the soil. You can let tomatoes grow on the ground orsupport them with stakes or cages. When you stake tomatoes, put the stake in shortly after transplanting to lessen root damage. A 6-foot-long Sulstake set 10 inches deep in the soil will work well. As the plant grows taller, tie it loosely to the stake every 12 inches with pieces of rag or twine. Prune the staked tomatoes to produce a more orderly vine. Remove the small shoots that grow out of the point where each leaf joins the main stem. Remove the shoots by bending them sideways until they snap. To develop the plant into two main vines, remove all but the lowest shoot. It will develop into a second branch. Caging is another way to train tomato plants. You can make a good cage with a piece of concrete reinforcement wire 5 feet tall and 6 feet wide. Put the cages over the young plants. Push the cages down into the soil to keep them from blowing over. Using this method, you can give the vine support without having to tie it. Tomatoes growing in cages do not need to be pruned. When the first fruits are about 1 inch in diameter, scatter 1 level tablespoon of fertilizer around each plant. Scatter it about 6 inches from the stalks. Work it lightly into the soil. Water the plants after fertilizing. Fertilize the plants every 3 to 4 weeks with 1 to 2 level tablespoons of fertilizer. To control weeds, you may cultivate or hoe around the plants. Work the soil only deep enough to kill the weeds but shallow enough not to damage the tomato plant roots.
Harvesting
For best quality, pick tomatoes at full color. If you pick them when they are pink, let them ripen at room temperature. They may be stored in the refrigerator after they reach full color.
