It's time to plant those tomato plants. Here are several tips to help you grow an excellent tomato crop.
. Make sure you always rotate your tomatoes, not planting in the same area of your garden every year. Potatoes, peppers and tomatoes are all in the same family and need to be rotated every year. You may wish to move this crops out of the same area for at least the next two years.
. Always plant your tomato plants at least four feet apart to prevent disease and insects from developing. If you have blight on your plants, then spray with Daconial on a regular basis. Always follow the directions on how to spray.
. When buying your tomato plants, always look for plants with the most letters available like VFN or VF - the more letters available the less disease on the tomato plants.
. Plant several different maturities so all of the tomatoes do not develop their flowers into fruit all at one time. Tomatoes will abort in temperatures over 90 degrees, thus will not develop fruit. Plants can be in the 62-day to 80-day range. If you start these tomato seeds be sure to plant the freshest seeds available.
. Be sure to plant for the proper zone in which you live. The southern half of Minnesota is in Zone 4, while northern Minnesota is in Zone 3.
. Once the ground temperature has warmed up, probably in early June, prune off the lower tier of branches and also add some grass clippings and/or a thick layer of newspaper to keep the weeds in check and the ground warm.
. In the case we have a lack of rain, water your tomatoes and other vegetables in the morning so the leaves will dry off before sunset. Tomato plants need to be watered more once the flowering begins. For those of you who need to water, using the rain from a barrel from a recent rain will be much better than the water from the faucet of your home.
How high should I be mowing my lawn at this time?
I recommend cutting at a height of 3 1/2 inches. The higher the grass cut, the deeper the roots of the grass goes into the soil. With high 80s to low 90s for several days at a time, and no rain or water of any kind, the grass will dry out faster.
Those of you who wish to have your lawns look like a golf course, (they use a different type of grass on the golf course) soon the grass will drying up if you mow it too short.
I am having garter snakes in my garden. How can I get rid of them?
Garter snakes help in the garden in many ways, by catching small field mice, large insects, etc. They really are more afraid of you than you are of them. Put a radio in the area, turn the volume up and soon they will be leaving your garden.
...
Hank Wessels is a Master Gardener in Watonwan County. He welcomes questions and comments from readers. He may be reached at 601 1st St. SW, Madelia, MN 56062, hwdw@madtelco.net or (507) 642-8479.
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Ace of Spades: Time to get into tomato state of mind; follow these steps
Originally published in the May 28, 2010, print edition.
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