If you’ve ever grown your own tomatoes, then you know that they taste nothing like the ones you buy in the store. Now researchers have discovered one reason why: a genetic mutation, common in store-bought tomatoes, that reduces the amount of sugar and other tasty compounds in the fruit. For the last 70-odd years, tomato breeders have been selecting fruits that are uniform in color.
“It’s no secret that commercially grown tomatoes taste lousy. Now scientists have discovered the reason: a gene mutation”
But all of that is changing now. Gardeners are beginning to realize that homegrown tomatoes taste much better than store-bought ones, and they’re starting to demand varieties with more flavor. To prepare your garden for tomatoes, dig compost or manure deeply into your beds. Use aged or composted manure when amending the soil in the springtime. Do this in an area about three feet in diameter and two feet deep, remembering that roots will grow out and down.
The best soil for tomatoes and peppers is a loose, fertile loam with a pH of between five point eight and seven. If your soil isn’t quite up to par, you can amend it with some compost or manure. Just be sure to do a soil test first so you know exactly what your plants need.
With just a little bit of preparation, you can enjoy the delicious taste of homegrown tomatoes all summer long!
Best Practices for Planting Tomatoes:
– Amend the soil with compost or manure
– Do a soil test to determine pH and nutrient needs
– Plant in an area with full sun exposure
– Water regularly and deeply
– Fertilize every two weeks with a tomato-specific fertilizer
– Stake or cage plants for support
– Harvest tomatoes when they are fully ripe
With just a little bit of preparation, you can enjoy the delicious taste of homegrown tomatoes all summer long! Best Practices for Planting Tomatoes: Amend the soil with compost or manure; Do a soil test to determine pH and nutrient needs; Plant in an area with full sun exposure; Water regularly and deeply; Fertilize every two weeks with a tomato-specific fertilizer; Stake or cage plants for support. Harvest tomatoes when they are fully ripe. Enjoy!
