Update Tomatoes This week has been perfect tomato growing weather, good soaking rain and warm weather have them exploding with growth and the fruit are swelling up too. However too much rain can spread fungal diseases and you need to be on the look out for this. We have started picking cherry tomatoes from our 'bruscetta baskets' pictured above. They are planted with basil and chives- both of these herbs taste fantastic in salads or on toast with tomato. Our 'Truss Plum' are also starting to ripen ready for picking this weekend.
Feeding It is essential to give tomatoes extra feed while they are growing and there are many specific feeds on the market. However we suggest keeping away from feeds high in nitrogen as this can lead to flimsy growth, delicious to caterpillars. We like to alternate food every few weeks so the plants are getting all the trace elements required. Side dress your tomatoes with fertiliser or use a soluable feed. They are plenty of organic and inorganic fertilisers on the market so be sure to choose the right one for your garden. Good tomato foods include Harvest, Dynamic Lifter for Tomatoes, Seasol/Powerfeed and Thrive for Fruit and Flower. Worm wee is also good once fruiting has commenced.
Things to do now Removal of lower leaves is essential and if your tomato leaves are yellowing, spotting, browning off from the bottom up now is the time to remove them. If you plant hasn't started to yellow then remove the lowest leaves as a preventative meaure. Our plants are now bare to 20-30cm. Don't remove too many leaves up high as they are useful for shading fruit and preventing burn. Tie up branches as they will soon have to support heavy fruit. Make the stakes are secure. The fruit from heavy fruiting varieties such as OxHeart and Morgage Lifter may even need supporting with slings.
Fungal diseases Fungal diseases occur in damp conditions amd you may find fungal growth on leaves and stems (looks like mould). This is not life threatening and leaves can be removed and the air allowed to circulate into the bush. Copper sprays such as Mancozeb plus can be used for those who are desperate.
Mulching Top up the mulch around your plants and don't worry about putting the mulch right up to the stems as tomatoes will develop roots along the stems as well firmly rooting the plant into the soil. You can use sugarcane, lucerne or your own compost as mulch.
Pest Prevention Hang sticky yellow traps to lure white fly, black fly, aphids etc. Make up Econatralure to lure fruit fly away from crops. Place fruit exclusive bags over the large developeing tomatoes to keep the fruit fly out Dust with tomato dust on tops and underside of leaves (use as per directions and make sure you harvest fruit after the withholding period)
Companion planting We have always found planting basil around tomatoes an excellent companion. They taste good together, look good together and make each other grow strong.
