Tomato Wall

Description

• When is the best time of year to plant tomatoes?
  Cape:                                August to December
  Gauteng & KZN:             August to March
• There is a wide variety of tomatoes. Which one do you recommend to grow?
  Taste some different tomatoes. If there is one that you like, slice it up. Take any small container, like an ice cream tub and fill it with good potting soil almost to the top. Cover the tomato slice with a bit of soil and keep it moist. The first seedlings should appear about ten days later.
  Alternatively, visit your local garden centre for suitable seeds or seedlings for your area.
• What’s the difference between “determinate” and “indeterminate” tomatoes?
  Determinate tomatoes are bush tomatoes that require little or no staking for support. All tomatoes from the plant ripen at approximately the same time.
  Indeterminate tomatoes will grow and produce fruit throughout the season. Their average height is about 1.8 m, requiring substantial staking like a trellis for support.

Tomato plants need well-drained soil and a lot of sunshine. Bury tomato transplants up to the bottom set of leaves, and they’ll develop roots along the length of the stem. Keep them watered deeply and regularly, and stake tall varieties early before they start to droop. Foliage that touches the soil is more likely to be plagued by diseases and pests. Pick the tomatoes when the colour is uniform, and the fruits feel firm. Cherry and grape tomatoes are tasty and fun to grow, too.