Setting Tomatoes

The price of tomatoes is climbing...case in point:  Price Hike:  Tomatoes Off Sweet Tomatoes' Menu. Google "Tomato Price" under news, and there's quite a few other articles backing this up...

I know the rest of the nation is not quite at tomato production time, but here in zone 9b, it's time to set your tomatoes.  Doing this now will afford you the following luxuries:

• Tomatoes that taste like they were grown in "Tennessee, North Carolina, Kentucky, (insert your favorite summer get-away state here)"
• You will save $'s, because you won't be buying the overpriced grocery store tomato that is still just mediocre when compared to the tomatoes you had in (use above state that you picked).
• People will want you to bring over your tomatoes. You will become a coveted guest.
• It's very very cheap, and very very easy to do.  Don't over think it...plants grow with the following ingredients:  dirt, water and sunshine.  

How to set your own Tomatoes 

(and why I recommend doing this vs. buying them from a nursery)

First of all, "setting tomatoes" means that you are growing them from seed, and the term refers to planting them in their initial protected containers before you transplant them to their final production area.  Tomatoes are a plant that definitely benefits from pre-planting in sets.

You need the following:

Left to Right, Top to Bottom:

• Tomato Seeds  (don't have any, check this web site out and order today; or visit your local nursery...Apenberry's has tomato seeds in stock right now)
• Dirt (you can use any potting soil you may have around, you can use seed starting formulas, it doesn't really matter...it just needs to be a decent quality soil.  I wouldn't recommend using sandy dirt from your backyard for this activity.  If you have potting soil from a previous failed plant incident, you can even reuse that)
• Small Containers (I reuse the little plastic pots that annuals I purchase come in, that way they are free!); anything from a dixie cup with a hole punched in the bottom to a cut off 20 oz. bottle of soda with a hole punched in bottom will do. 
• 30 minutes of time (includes set up and clean up)

Step 1:  Fill Containers with Soil

Step 2:  Make small indentations in soil for seeds

Step 3:  Deposit 3-4 seeds per indentation; cover with 1/4" of soil

Don't get too worried here; cover nicely - not too deep, not too shallow.  5 seeds is okay too; you're going to thin them out later once they sprout.

Step 4:  Place in a sunny, warm area and water.
I keep mine outside in a very sunny nook; make sure when you water it's with a gentle shower of water so as not to blast dirt everywhere.

Step 5:  Clean up and put away.  You can expect germination in about 5-7 days.  Maybe even sooner.  You've set your tomatoes!  Check daily and make sure the soil stays moist, not muddy and don't let them dry out!

So why DIY your tomatoes?
Quite a few reasons.  If you're wanting to ensure organic production, this is the best way to do so.  You also gain the luxury of growing exactly variety you want.  It's still cheaper; and you'll have leftover plants to give away to friends and neighbors if you choose.  Also, if you REALLY plan ahead, you can do space apart your sets, in 2-3 week increments, ensuring a steady supply.

Why now?  By the time it rolls around to mid June, tomato production down here is pretty much over.  You need to have plants growing now to ensure that you get your spring time fix of this vegetable.  Hot summers end with split skins and plants that simply can't tolerate the 90+ temperatures day-to-day.  9b's equivalent of winter is July and August...

How many do you need?  Depends on how much you love tomatoes...but 18 containers will be MORE than sufficient.  For this variety (cherry tomatoes), probably only 4 plants will make it into the garden plot.  The rest will go out to friends, neighbors and maybe a pot or two around the yard.  We're saving room for some romas and yellow pear tomatoes as well!

Other plants you can set right now:  Sweet Peppers, Hot Peppers, Basil...just follow the exact same method detailed above!