When To Plant Tomatoes In Utah - T-Tees - Your Answers Await, Life's Questions Unraveled

Summary

Tomatoes grow best in sunny locations and in fertile, well drained soils. Incorporate organic matter and a complete fertilizer into the area before planting. Side dress with additional nitrogen fertilizer later in the season to help grow a large vine. Plant tomato seeds directly in the garden 10-14 days before the last frost date. In Utah, most gardeners transplant tomatoes through black plastic for earlier maturity. Use row covers or hot caps to protect the plants when transplanting before the frost-free period. Irrigation should be deep and infrequent. Plastic and organic mulches also help conserve water and reduce weeding, however, do not apply organic mulches until soils have warmed to 75°F. Control insect and diseases throughout the year. Harvest tomatoes when the fruits are fully colored but still firm. At the end of the season, gather all mature green and slightly colored fruits and store at 55°F. There are more than 4,000 tomato varieties worldwide so select varieties based on use, fruit size, earliness, soluble solids, growth habit or disease resistance. Many varieties are hybrids but heirloom tomatoes are becoming very popular. Consult with your local nursery or garden center, seed salesman or any seed catalog for detailed information on characteristics of each variety.

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Tomato Varieties

Tomatoes can be categorized by maturity class (early, midseason or late), fruit size (cherry, pear, plum or large), plant size (determinate, semi-determinate or indeterminate), fruit color (red, pink, yellow, orange), or use (fresh, process or dual use). When selecting varieties, consider your growing environment, primary use, and how much space is available to grow the plants. Since the growing season in Utah is short, it is best to grown determinate or semi-determine types as

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they have a more concentrated fruit set and maturity. However, all varieties will grow in Utah but not all are available or suitable. Most garden centers and nurseries carry varieties that have been proven to grow well and produce high quality, flavorful fruits for local conditions.

How to Grow Tomatoes

Soil

Tomatoes need well-drained soil and do poorly in heavy, wet soils. If planting in an area that does not drain well, it is advised to plant in a raised bed.

Soil Preparation

Choose a site in your garden that receives full sun. Before planting, determine fertilizer needs with a soil test and then follow the recommendations given with the test report. If fertilizer applications are warranted, work the fertilizer into the top 6 inches of soil. If you fertilize with compost, apply no more than 1 inch of well- composted organic matter per 100 square feet of garden area.

Plants

Allow 6-8 weeks to grow transplants. Transplants should have 5-7 leaves and a well-developed root system before planting. Germinate seeds at 80°F until the seed root emerges, then transfer seeds to sterile seeding mix and grow out at 65-70°F. Adequate light is essential to produce quality transplants. Cool fluorescent tubes placed 2-3 inches above the plants, lit for 14-16 hours per day will ensure plants grow big and healthy.

Water regularly and feed weekly with a half strength soluble complete fertilizer before planting into the garden. Transplants mature about 4 weeks before seeded tomatoes and are recommended for most areas of Utah.

Planting and Spacing

Tomatoes should be transplanted when soils are warmer than 60°F or after all frost danger has past. Seed can be planted two weeks before the last frost. Plant 4-6 seeds ½ inch deep, and 18 inches apart in the row. After seedlings have two leaves, thin to 1-2 plants per clump. Transplants should be planted 2 feet apart in row, with rows 2-3 feet apart.

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Transplants that are stocky, dark green, have 5-7 leaves and are 6-10 inches tall grow most rapidly. Transplants with flowers or fruits establish slowly and yield poorly so re remove them before planting. If plants are quite tall, they can be planted deeper as tomatoes form roots from their stems.

Mulch

Black plastic mulch warms the soil, conserves water and helps control weeds. Plastic mulches allow earlier planting and maturity, especially with transplants. After laying out the mulch, secure the edges with soil and cut holes for seeds or transplants. To avoid heat injury to the transplant, the stem should not touch the plastic mulch. When using plastic mulches and row covers, seeds or plants can be set out several weeks before the last frost date. Do not apply organic mulches (grass clippings, straw, newspapers etc.) until soils are warmer than 75°F. Both plastic and organic mulches help conserve water and control weeds.

Row Covers

Row covers enhance growth and earliness. Hotcaps, plastic tunnels, fabric covers, and other devices help protect seedlings and transplants from cool air temperatures. Plants grown under row covers require ventilation when air temperatures exceed 80°F. Tomato flowers are sensitive to high temperatures during flower development and early fruit set. Fruits abort if temperatures exceed 90°F, so use a thermometer to help determine the temperature under the row covers. Remove covers when weather has stabilized.

Irrigation

Water tomatoes deeply and infrequently, applying 1-2 inches per week. Use drip irrigation if possible. Mulch around the plants will help conserve soil moisture and reduce weed growth. Irrigate so that water goes deeply into the soil. Irregular watering (over or under) can cause blossom-end rot, a dark leathery spot on the bottom of the fruit.

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Fertilizer

Avoid over-fertilizing tomatoes which causes excess leaf growth and delays fruit set and maturity. Side dress each plant with 1/2 tablespoon of (21-0-0) fertilizer, sprinkled around the plants at 4 and 8 weeks after transplanting, then water in the fertilizer.

Trellis

Wooden stakes or wire cages are regularly used to support tomatoes and keep ripening fruits off the ground. Stakes should be driven 18 inches in the soil, 3-4 inches from the stem. Semi- and indeterminate varieties require more support and vine pruning to keep plant size manageable. Continue to tie up plants as they grow. Determinate vine types are generally grown on the ground.

Problems with Growing Tomatoes

Weeds

Plastic and organic mulches (straw, leaves and grass clippings) effectively control weeds.

Healthy vigorous plants out compete weeds, once they are established. Cultivate shallowly to avoid root damage if weeds are a problem. Volunteer tomatoes plants may create a weed issue in future years if fruit is not removed from the garden.

Insects and Diseases

View more detailed information on tomato insects and diseases (PDF).

How to Harvest and Store Tomatoes

Tomato fruits requires 25-35 days to mature from flowering, depending on the temperature and variety. Pick fruit when they are fully colored but firm, for the best flavor and quality. Pick fruits as they ripen. At the end of the season, harvest all fruits that are mature, green or colored slightly. Store at 55°F and use as they ripen. Individual fruits do not need to be wrapped. Ripe tomatoes will store for 1-2 weeks if held at 50-55°F. Fruits are subject to chilling injury so do not store for long periods in the refrigerator.

Tomato Plant Productivity

Plant 2-3 tomato plants per person for fresh use and an additional 5-10 plants for juicing, canning or freezing. Expect 100 pounds of fruit per 100 feet of row.

Tomato Nutrition Facts

Tomatoes are very nutritious and low in calories. One medium fruit has about 35 calories, is low in fat and is an excellent source of vitamins A and C.

Frequently Asked Questions

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