Almost every gardener, even those without a vegetable garden, will make room for a tomato plant or two. Gratefully, we now have a wide variety of both heirloom and hybrid types to choose from.
Thirty-five years ago, most of our nurseries sold only hybrid tomato plants that were heavily promoted for their disease resistance and uniformity. Here in New Jersey, the “Rutgers tomato” was favored by many home gardeners. Sometimes, you might find heirloom “Brandywine” plants for sale.
Developed by a Rutgers University scientist in 1934 in association with the Campbell’s Soup Company, the Rutgers tomato was a hybrid of two heirlooms and described as “intense, round, red fruits”.
It became famous worldwide and was used for more than 70 percent of the processed tomato products in the United States. For decades, more tomatoes were grown in New Jersey than any other state and when they were in season, people in the Northeast drove many miles to come buy “Jersey tomatoes” from local farm stands.
Legend has it that the “Brandywine” tomato was developed by the Amish, but it was the Johnson & Stokes seed house of Philadelphia that introduced the fruit to the market in 1889.
The tomato became associated with the Amish because, as food historian and heirloom vegetable expert William Woys Weaver writes, “the Amish are great seed-savers … and the word Amish implies a relationship to the land, a source unspoiled by pollution, chemical fertilizers, and unethical faming practices.”
“Brandywine” tomatoes can be very special in a good year, but they were not highly sought after as they are now. Big companies had convinced us that “new hybrid” meant better and kept promoting new versions every year. However, what no one bothered pointing out to us was this: in the process of hybridizing plants for uniform shape, color, disease resistance — and firm enough to travel hundreds of miles from industrial farms to supermarkets — unique plant characteristics can be lost along the way like wonderful tomato flavor.
Those of us that had grown up with “old-fashioned” tomatoes knew something was wrong with the hybrids of the late twentieth century.
Food activist Alice Waters, kitchen garden seed supplier Renee Shepherd and others re-introduced Americans to vegetables with superior flavor to the varieties that dominated the markets in the 1970s and 80s.
Individuals throughout the country and smaller seed companies had always held onto their heirloom tomatoes. As the “food revolution” swept the country even the big seed houses like Burpee began re-introducing heirloom varieties that the home gardening industry had left behind and hybrids that retained tomato flavor.
Gardeners can even find several heirloom types at local box stores. Given that “Rutgers” is a strong plant that has retained a lot of good tomato flavor from its heirloom ancestors, it remains a popular choice for home gardeners.
Whatever tomato you prefer, all tomato plants need a minimum of six hours of sunlight per day, a stake, trellis or cage to keep the plants upright/off the ground, rich soil, and consistent moisture.
An any tomato plant can be grown in a large pot. While “bush"-type tomato plants have been developed specifically for container gardens, it isn't necessary to limit yourself to those less tasty varieties.
I have been growing full-sized (indeterminate) heirloom tomato plants in large, 5-gallon, recyclable nursery tubs for the past 30 years. The tubs are large enough for a full size tomato plant and a homemade bamboo teepee to support it.
Tomatoes need consistent water. Your plants will suffer if the soil stays dry too long, and this can affect the quality of your harvest. I mix water-absorbing crystals such as SoilMoist brand into my potting soil to help prevent it from drying out too quickly. I make sure to hydrate water absorbing crystals in a bucket before mixing them into your potting soil.
Tomatoes are “heavy feeders,” which means we need to fertilize them regularly according to the directions on the brand you choose. I prefer to use organic slow release plant food available at local nurseries and box stores.
When growing plants in pots you must water and fertilize often — but check the soil before you water. It is possible to water and fertilize plants to death.
To test the soil for moisture, insert a slender pencil or smooth dowel into the pot at least two inches. If it comes out clean, the soil is dry and it's time to water; if particles of soil are clinging to the pencil when you pull it out, the soil is still moist so wait and test again later.
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No matter the type, tomatoes require consistent care - New Jersey Herald
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