CAES Newswire

 College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences UGA Cooperative Extension
Menu
Published on 04/16/13

Grow your own tomatoes for tastier 'mater' sandwiches this summer

By Michael J. Wheeler

Homegrown vegetables are a must have for many Southerners during the summer.

The one vegetable, well technically fruit, that makes everyone’s mouth water in anticipation is the homegrown tomato. Nothing beats it.

Homegrown tomatoes are much better than any tomatoes you can buy from the grocery store, and the folks I know always say the first tomato of the season is the best.

Whether or not you are trying to grow tomatoes for the first time, or this is your 30th season, here are some tips to follow from the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension to make sure your harvest is plentiful.

Before you plant, incorporate four inches of new organic matter into the soil. This will encourage the tomato plants to spread roots and get established quickly.

Plant tomato plants deep. At planting, remove the leaves from the bottom of the plant and bury about two-thirds of the stem. This deep planting causes the plant to grow roots up and down the stem that is underground. This extra root system makes the plant stronger and more stable as it matures.

Add a good 2- to 3-inch layer of mulch. Wheat straw will go a long way to hold back weeds, keep the plants clean from rainfall and keep the soil moist in the middle of summer.

Speaking of rain and moisture, what if Georgia suffers from another dry summer? This is what causes many of the problems in vegetable gardens — improper watering.

Water your plants so the soil stays fairly and evenly moist. Avoid the extremes. Don’t let your plants go from being parched to being flooded. Water at the base of the plant; wetting the leaves encourages diseases.

Apply fertilizer to your tomatoes when they are planted. After that, they do not need much fertilization until the first tomatoes are the size of a dime or so. Pushing your tomatoes to grow will only encourage the growth of leaves and stems, not the fruit.

For more information on how to grow tomatoes, visit your local UGA Extension agent’s office, call your agent at 1-800-ASK-UGA1 or visit the website www.caes.uga.edu/publications.

Michael Wheeler is the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension coordinator in Hall County, Ga.

Authors:
Michael J. Wheeler
Experts/Sources:
Michael J. Wheeler
A variety of tomatoes for sale at the Buford Highway Farmers Market in Atlanta.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.
Download Image
Although it may not fit the traditional image of a well-kept lawn, this landscape is the result of careful planning and a deep commitment to ecological stewardship. CAES News
Done with mowing? How to transform your lawn into a native, perennial landscape 09/12/24 Emily Cabrera
On a tour of her Blairsville, Georgia, home, Becky Griffin navigates a swaying maze of perennial grasses interspersed with pussy willows, switchgrass and boneset. Although it may not fit the traditional image of a well-kept lawn, this landscape is the result of careful planning and a deep commitment to ecological stewardship. As a native plant enthusiast and coordinator of the Great Southeast Pollinator Census, Griffin hand-selected each of these native plants for the countless ecological services they provide year-round.
Master Gardener Carrots CAES News
Celebrating 45 years of Georgia Master Gardeners 09/03/24 Sheri Dorn
The Georgia Master Gardener Extension Volunteer program is celebrating its 45th anniversary with signature events throughout 2024, culminating in the Georgia Master Gardener Association’s annual conference Oct. 4-5. Hosted on the University of Georgia Griffin campus, the event’s theme is “Think Globally, Grow Locally” and will feature research tours, presentations and workshops hosted by Master Gardeners.
Demonstration gardens provide examples of things people can create in their own gardens. CAES News
Master Gardener Open Garden Days offer practical inspiration for the home gardener 05/28/24 Sheri Dorn
Looking for great garden inspiration that you can implement at home? Consider visiting a University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Master Gardener demonstration garden during Open Garden Days throughout the month of June. The Georgia Master Gardener Extension Volunteer program has created a comprehensive garden guide, including a 2024 garden passport, to help visitors plan garden stops around the state.
Closeup of small, unripe tomatoes growing in a backyard garden CAES News
Starting a garden from scratch 05/22/24 Emily Cabrera
Whether you are a seasoned gardener or a novice, having a home garden can be an enriching experience. But starting from scratch may seem like a daunting endeavor. To help you embark on this journey, we've compiled a general guide, drawing insights from University of Georgia Cooperative Extension publications and Clarke County Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension Agent Laura Ney on the most important steps for establishing a garden.
The Extension Master Gardener program celebrates 50 years of cultivating green thumbs. CAES News
Extension Master Gardener program celebrates 50 years of cultivating green thumbs 04/20/23 Paul F. Brown
What began decades ago as an experiment in horticultural education is still going strong — and celebrating 50 years of public service. Offered through local Extension offices all across the country, the national Extension Master Gardener program brings together local gardeners with a passion for educating others and land-grant universities to help spread the most up-to-date research and information on gardening and horticulture.
Pollinator Plants of the Year CAES News
UGA announces 2023 pollinator plants of the year 02/17/23 Laurel Clark
With so many options available, it can be challenging to know what plants to add to your home garden that will look beautiful and help the environment. University of Georgia Cooperative Extension and the State Botanical Garden of Georgia are helping gardeners by selecting four Georgia Pollinator Plants of the Year.