Tomato Tips

[pentex]

Calling tomato experts...can you give me your best tips for successful tomatoes?

Last year, we got some kind of disease on our tomatoes...I looked it up and think it was a fungus.

Should I plant in same location or move the "crop" this year?

What other tips do you have?

This was the first year we had bad tomatoes and I was so sad..there is nothing like garden fresh tomatoes!

 

[DixieDreamer]

Definitely move your tomatoes to a different spot. I rotate mine each year to a different segment of the garden... in fact I do that with all the crops - avoids many disease problems.

One of the ways to avoid fungal problems and disease problems is to grow varieties specifically bred to be resistant to these common problems. If you have a lot of problems that would become important in your plant selection process. I grow heirloom varieties that are NOT bred to be resistant and so I have to be very attentive with them.

Soil that is heavy and wet will help harbor fungus and disease. If your's fits this description - consider growing your tomatoes in a raised bed with lighter better draining soil. Another important consideration is to keep the foilage up off of the ground (and the fruits too). I use tomatoe cages to achieve this - many people stake or tie their plants also.

Those are the things I would suggest. I hope you have a more bountiful year with fewer complications.