How to Care for Herbs & Tomato Plants

Soil & Fertilizer Tomatoes require a well-drained soil and a sunny location. When transplanting, set the plant deep in the ground and water immediately. Throughout the growing season, provide an even supply of water to your tomatoes. Water is best provided early in the day and below the foliage level to avoid the foliage and fruits remaining wet overnight, which can encourage disease. Each week, plan to provide 60 gallons of water for every 100 square feet of tomatoes grown. Regular applications of a fertilizer labeled specifically for tomatoes will increase yields. Like peppers, tomatoes will produce more foliage than fruits in response to a high nitrogen fertilizer. To insure the quality of your harvest, it is important to be providing a tomato specific fertilizer as soon as fruits begin to form.

Water Keeping your tomatoes uniformly moist will provide the best results. Water the tomatoes well just before transplanting and try to choose a shady day. This minimizes the initial water lost from the plant to the soil. When watering, avoid getting the foliage wet to discourage disease.

Spacing Determine plant spacing based on your growing method. Free growing will require the most space per plan; allow three to four feet between plants in all directions. Caged plants will also require a lot of space with approximately four feet between plants in all directions. Staked plants can be grown in a tighter spacing, 18 to 30 inch spacing in rows three to four feet apart.

*Disease codes: V = verticillium wilt, F = fusarium wilt, N = knot nematodes, T = tobacco mosaic virus, A =alternaria

Blossom End Rot is an environmental disease caused by improper watering or by a calcium deficiency when fruit is forming. The disease can be caused by several other factors as well. It most often occurs when plants are grown under favorable conditions in the early part of the season and are then subjected to a long period of drought while the fruit is in the early stages of development. Under such circumstances, the cells at the end of the blossom fail to receive sufficient water to grow. Blossom end rot can also occur after a period of heavy rain, because many small rootlets die from lack of aeration in the soil. Overdoses of nitrogen hinder the uptake of calcium, a situation which aggravates the problem. Blossom end rot could also be caused by excessive root pruning, which results from heavy cultivation near the plants.

Most Obvious Symptoms:

• Pepper – Light-colored, sunken, water-soaked spot near the blossom end of the fruit. A third of the fruit may become shriveled.
• Tomato – Sunken, dry, brown to black leathery spot develop near the blossom end of tomatoes.

Control Strategy Water plants evenly (consistently) and only as needed. Check the pH of the soil: It should be between 6.0 and 7.0. If it’s below 6.0, add horticultural lime, which contains calcium. Also calcium containing sprays such as Rot- Stop from Bonide could be used to treat the plants.

Prevention Avoid adding surplus nitrogen, and be sure to apply ample amounts phosphorus and horticultural lime. Water plants consistently and evenly throughout the season. Cultivate the soil as little as possible in dry weather to avoid further drying of the soil, and be careful not to damage roots during cultivation. Test for and correct calcium deficiency.

Light Some herbs grow well in partial shade, but most need full sun for at least six hours a day. Growing plants in portable containers will allow you to move them if you don’t have a fixed spot with enough sunlight. It also allows you easy access for harvesting when cooking.

Soil & Water Herbs appreciate good drainage and an evenly moist soil. Drainage is probably the most important single factor in successful herb growing. None of the herbs will grow in wet soils. Perennial and biennial herbs should be winter protected. Mulch after the ground has frozen in early winter.

Harvesting Fresh leaves may be picked as soon as the plant has enough foliage to maintain growth. Pick leaves or seeds after the dew has disappeared but before the sun becomes too hot. Wash dirty leaves and seed heads in cold water; drain & thoroughly before using. For the most part, the more you harvest herbs, the more they will produce. When you don’t pick your herbs often enough, they tend to go to seed or become bitter.

Bringing Herbs Indoors Extend your herbal gardening season by bringing your herbs indoors. Annual herbs can spend their full life cycle in a pot indoors. Perennial herbs, however, will do better if you place them outdoors during the summer. When transplanting herbs into pots, cut them back to make them easier to work with and encourage new growth. Place your herbs in a sunny location and keep them evenly moist.

Water and Fertilizer Add a veggie specific fertilizer during the growing season or use a well balanced 10-10-10 (1 lb per 10 sq ft) mid season when plants are established. Water your garden every day in hot weather. Mulch around plants when soil warms up to prevent water from splashing on the foliage and causing blights and fungal disease. Planting marigolds around the edges will help control aphids, discourage bunnies and will make it look better.

Location and Size Pick a sunny spot in your yard. At least 6 hours of sun. Make a garden only as big as you can tend. 10 x 10 ft is a good starter garden.

Build Your Garden Add as much organic matter as possible. Add a 2″ layer of compost and manure and spade your soil 12-18″ deep. Break any clumps. Level with rake. Decide what veggies to grow. Consider flavor, fruit size, yields and time to producing fruit (MN summer is short). Separate your garden into beds for the different veggies—consider plant size, spacing, growing habit (support). A chicken wire fence around the garden may be helpful if there is a bunny problem.

Timing Start your seeds indoors March-April depending on package instructions or purchase ready to plant in your local garden center. Cool crops like lettuce, cabbage, and broccoli can be started in mid April weather permitting. All frost sensitive crops cannot be planted outside until after Mother’s day (or Mid May).