Tomatoes

By: Stephen Kessler
Plant Science 211, NDSU, Fall 2011

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Planting

Tomatoes are annuals, this means that they will only live one season.

Tomatoes are sun loving plants and they require at least 7 hours of sunlight or more to produce better tasting tomatoes. The more sunshine a tomato plany recieves the better tasting the tomatoes will be. Tomatoes are not very picky about the type of soil that they are planted in but however a high organic matter soil will serve the tomato plant the best.

Tomatoes should be spaced out around 18 to 36 inches apart, the further apart is usual the best because the plant will expand to its max and produce better.

The first 7- 10 days after planting a tomato plant they need to be watered daily with at least 16 ounces of water, preferably warm water. Always keep the soil moist for a tomato plant to produce its best. After 2 weeks a tomato cage should be placed over the tomato plant so that the veins of the plants can grow up the cage and expand.

After 45-90 days a person will start to see the fruit of the tomato plant be produced or the tomato. After the tomatoes on the plant have ripened to a nice red color and the tomatoes outside is not soft the tomatoes are then ready to be picked and ate.

For more information you may visit http://www.tomato.org/Growing-Tomatoes.html.