Warm weather, from May 25 on in Zone 4.How to Plant Tomatoes - Plant 3 feet apart in the
field. Dig a deep good size hole. If you buy single plant, put it in up to bottom leaves of plant. Pick those bottom leaves off. Do this if you plants are in packs also. These usually are
not so large so the holes do not have to be so deep. Put cages around them for support.
For deck or pot growing use plants that do not get so tall. I have not found a short cherry
variety. Use new soil in the pots. Put cages around tomatoes for support.
After Planting Tomatoes - Mulch top of soil. Keeps plant better. Use shredded newspaper, wet
before applying. Mulch when plants are 18 to 24 inches tall. Meadow hay is good also. Do not use straw, you will have an oats field in your garden!
For blossom end rot – do not hoe close
to the roots of the plants. This cuts off roots to clusters of tomatoes. Also, your soil could be low on calcium. Use powdered milk around plant, ½ cup per plant.
Harvesting Tomatoes -
Harvest when fruit is red. Tomatoes can be harvested with some green on them. They will ripen. Pick the stems off when you are gathering into a container. If you leave the stems on they will
poke holes in the flesh of the other tomatoes in the container.
