Sound growing practices might produce world-record tomatoes.
What are the best methods for growing world record tomatoes? Ask two tomato fanatics and you'll likely receive four different answers. While an end to the debate of technique appears unlikely, one thing remains certain: if you choose a record-breaking variety, the results might amaze you. The record for heaviest tomato ever belongs to the 'Delicious' variety and the largest plant, at 65 feet long, belongs to the 'Sungold' variety. Begin with world-renowned seeds, practice sound growing methods and you might be the next record holder! Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Start tomato seeds indoors during late winter for planting during early spring. Fill seed trays with seed-starting soil mixture. Sweep soil mixture into each of the seed tray's cups and brush excess soil from the tray's surface. Poke a hole into the center of each cup and fill the hole with two tomato seeds. Cover the seeds and fill the holes with a light sprinkling of the soil mixture. Gently moisten the seed trays. Do not allow the seed tray's soil to dry until after germination (sprouting) occurs.
2. When seedlings reach a height of approximately 3 inches, transplant them to 4- or 6-inch pots. Fill a pot with garden soil, use your fingers to create an indenture roughly the size of a seedling's root ball, remove a seedling from the seed tray and place it into the hole. Fill surrounding gaps with potting soil and firm the soil into place. Water transplants until moisture drips from the pot's bottom. Place the seedlings in an area that receives full sun and water at least once daily.
3. After all risk of frost and freezing temperatures has passed, prepare garden beds for tomato transplants. Till the garden's soil using a garden hoe. Plunge, pick-up and pull soil from the ground. Break large chunks of dirt with the hoe's blade. Spread a one inch layer of compost across the planting area and use the garden hoe to incorporate the compost with the garden's soil.
4. "Harden-off" transplants prior to planting them in the garden. To harden off plants, take them outdoors during the day for 3-4 days prior to planting. Bring the plants inside at night. This practice encourages the plants to adjust to their new environment and prevents them from suffering excessive shock.
5. Transplant the tomatoes into the garden. Use a garden spade to dig holes 1 ½ times the size of the tomato plant's pot. Space holes 3 feet apart in rows 5 feet apart. Fill the bottom of each hole with a one-inch layer of compost. Remove plants from pots, place in the holes and fill gaps with the soil removed during digging. Provide tomato plants with deep and prolonged watering every 2 to 3 days. Apply fertilizer at the sides of plants after the first tomatoes grow to approximately two-inches in diameter.
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