Growing tomatoes in harsh conditions

Growing tomatoes in Carson City, where the soil is mostly alkaline and the weather unpredictable, can be tricky.

Wearing his usual 10-gallon hat and heavy belt buckle, David Ruf, owner of the Greenhouse Garden Center, explained the process of successful planting and cultivation.

"There are two kinds of tomatoes - determinate and indeterminate," he explained. "The determinate grows to a certain point then stops and produces all its tomatoes at once. This is the kind people who can or make tomato sauces use.

"For most of us the indeterminate is best. It keeps growing and producing fruit all season long so we can pick and use as we need."

WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN BUYING

"Here's a plant most buyers wouldn't go for," he said, holding up a plant of about 10 inches with one stem growing out parallel to the level. "But you can plant this root ball horizontal - see all the little bulbs on the vine - so that they can become vines and increase the yield.

"Buy plants with straight, sturdy stems about the thickness of a pencil. They should have four to six young true leaves, no blossoms or fruit, and be free of insect pests and diseases," Ruf said.

Plants in individual containers or cell packs experience little or no transplant shock and become established quickly.

PLANTING TOMATOES

The last frost here is usually around Memorial Day, so you're pretty safe now to dig in. When temperatures drop to below 55 degrees, tomatoes will not set fruit. In the summer, you can expect blossom drop when it's above 90 in the day and 76 at night, the Greenhouse handout warns. The more 55 degree nights we have, the later the fruit will mature.

"Soils here are alkaline, and you need just a bit on the acid side, check your pH reading (6.2 to 6.8 is fine) and add organics, particularly phosphorus."

Ruf suggests planting the tomatoes so the first lead is just above the soil. Water regularly, but don't overdo it early on. Follow the directions that come with the plant for spacing.

TRAINING THE PLANTS

Stakes or cages are good to keep tomatoes growing nicely. With cages, place over the plant early. Ladder frames also work well. Make sure they keep the fruit from contact with the soil and head off damage from slugs, cracking, sunscald and decay.

Picking off the first few blossom will increase later yields, Ruf noted. Cracking of the fruit occurs when it is watered too much so that the fruit grows more quickly than the skin covering the tomato; water in the evening to avoid this. And don't prune; let the plants grow as they want.

Once the tomato plants are established, apply a mulch to conserve moisture and block weeds. An even moisture supply is important, especially once the tomato fruits begin to develop. If the soil becomes too dry, blossom-end rot can be a problem.

Staked plants are usually pruned to a single or double stem and periodically tied loosely to the stake with soft twine. Unsupported and caged tomatoes may be left to branch normally. Staked and pruned tomatoes produce fewer but larger fruit than caged or unsupported plants.

"Organics are important to us here in Nevada," Ruf said. "Feed your plants once a month while the fruit is developing with such products as Master Nursery Bud 'n' Bloom or Dr. Earth, but stop when the plants reach full size. Shake the tomato plants to help pollination."

• Contact reporter Sam Bauman at sbauman@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1236.

History of the tomato

• The plant has been cultivated by Indians in the Andes Mountains since prehistoric times.

• Moved to Mexico more then 3,000 years ago, when settlers migrated to the area of the world

• Arrived in Europe in the 16th century and grown in Italy in 1550.

• They were classified as a vegetable until the feds reclassified them so they could avoid the vegetable tax, which has since been rescinded.

• Until the 1900s in the U.S. they were thought to be poisonous and inedible. Some wild ones that grow in patches on the ground are poisonous, especially the green ones.

- Source: Greenhouse Garden Center

Tomatoes that grow best in Carson

Early in the season

Morton Hybrid

Jet Star

Pik-Red

Pilgrim

Mid-season

Heinz 135

Better Boy

Burpee

Roma

Floramerica

Celebrity

Red Star

Market Pride

Mountain Delight

Late in the season

Supersonic B

Ramapo

Supersteak

Mountain Pride

Beefmaster

- Source: Greenhouse Garden Center