Growing Organic Vegetables: Growing Tomatoes

Latest Update 26th December 2019.

Tomatoes

I grow 18 Tommy Toe tomato plants (3 rows of 6) in an Ecobed each year. I have grown this heirloom cherry style variety for many years, but usually back it up with one or two other varieties grown in drip line irrigated beds..
Tommy Toe is very sweet, pest free and productive; they are self pollinating, but they do need help from buzz pollinators like native Australian bees or strong winds to dislodge their pollen. To be sure of a good harvest, I hand pollinate them with an electric toothbrush.

Details.

Nutrition.

This food is very low in saturated fat and cholesterol.
It is a good source of dietary fibre, thiamin, niacin, vitamin B6, iron, phosphorus and copper, and a very good source of vitamin A, vitamin C, folate, potassium and manganese.
More from nutrition data.self.com.

This blogpage explains how I maintain healthy plants. It describes how soil is prepared prior to planting, how to regulate the sun's intensity and how to help protect and feed plants through their leaves.

This blogpage tells you when to make compost and plan other garden/household related activities.

Growing Instructions.

I provide vertical support for my Ecobed grown tomatoes using twine suspended vertically from hooks set in the overhead supports of its 1800mm tall pest exclusion frame.
To start, sow 18 tomato seeds in good quality organic seed starter mix. Sow them in seed tray modules in a propagator.
As soon as they open their first set of true leaves, transplant them individually into modules containing fresh starter mix and return them to the propagator.
Plant the tomato seedlings, when ready, in the prepared bed using a large dibber.
Plant them 425mm apart along 3 rows set 500mm apart. Plant them deeply through the compost into the soil, and water them in generously with dilute seaweed extract.
Remove side shoots as they appear and remove leaves progressively as the fruit develops. This exposes the vines direct sunlight and facilitates movement of air through them. It helps to maximise fruit growth and avoid fungal infections.
As well as providing support for tomato vines, my new 1800mm high exclusion frame, when clad in the appropriate netting, provides a high level of protection against birds and the hot sun in summer.
I always grow a few basil companion plants in the tomato bed, and apart from deterring flying pests, their leaves make a fine condiment when tomatoes are cooked or preserved.

Harvesting and Storage.

I harvest tomatoes as soon as they start to change colour from green to orange and allow them to fully ripen in a sheltered spot indoors.
Store tomato surpluses in preserving jars by blanching them in boiling water for 2 minutes and cooling them rapidly in cold water.
Pack them in the jars with chopped basil leaves, salt and pepper (to taste), and sterilise them in a pressure cooker (lowest setting) for about 5 minutes. Don't add water, they should pack down well in their own juice.
Cool slowly before removing them from the cooker. Rinse the outside of the bottles, dry and label them.
Store them in a cool, low light room in racks until required.
I also store cooked tomatoes (with basil, salt and pepper) in zip bags in the freezer.

Pollination.

Tomatoes are self pollinating, however the pollen grains are securely held on the plant's anthers. Moderate vibration will release this pollen and often a strong breeze will be enough.
Bumble bees buzz pollinate tomatoes by grabbing the tomato flower and vibrating their flight muscles vigorously. Honey bees don't use this technique and consequently they are not very efficient tomato pollinators.
In mainland Australia where there are no bumble bees, we must rely on native bees (like the blue banded bee) or the wind. Both are unreliable in suburban gardens.
To ensure a good fruit set, buzz pollinate by hand. I do this using an electric toothbrush. See Video

Organic Pest Control.

Tomatoes, like most vegetables, are vulnerable to attack from certain pests in my garden. My blog on "Controlling Garden Pests" explains a little about them and what to do to protect plants from them. For details click on the appropriate link below.

Growing Organic Vegetables