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Keep those tomatoes safe!
You have tomatoes. Congratulations! They survived the cold snap in April even though you planted before tax day (April 15) in hopes of getting an early crop. And they even fought their way through the torrential rains and floods. You, my friend, are an expert gardener. Right? Just because you've made it this far doesn't mean the rest of the ride will be smooth sailing. There are still a few problems that any expert gardener could encounter. So let this be your official list of things to be on the look-out for. Viruses and wilts can be a real nuisance to the grower and devastating to the tomato plant. Typically identified by a yellowing of the leaves that starts at the bottom of the plant and moves upwards, viruses are easy to spot. Unfortunately, once a plant has been affected it usually will not recover, and there is no cure for it. The only real solution for this problem is to purchase disease resistant varieties. For example, Jet Star VF; the initials VF represent different strains of resistance. So ideally, the more letters behind the variety the better chance there is for success. Just remember that resistance is not the same as 100% immunity. Now that the rains have begun to slow down a bit, there will be an increase in the number of insects invading our gardens. A big problem causer is the pesky spider mite. When monitoring the plants, look for a fading of the deep green color. Upon a closer look, the leaf will have a yellow, speckled appearance. The spider mite feeds just like a needle draws blood. They normally start to congregate on the under-side of the leaf, and usually webbing will be present. To control; catch the problem early and use a product that is listed for tomato plants like insecticidal soap. Or better yet, use a strong stream of water to knock down the population. A much less invasive insect to worry about is the infamous tomato hornworm. When asked how the worms find the plants, I always like to joke and say that they come free with the plant when you purchase it. What a deal! Truly, the Caterpillars are the immature form of the Sphinx Moth family. They are a bright neon green color with a distinctive, but harmless red horn near the end of the abdomen. Usually, leafless stems will be the first sign that a hornworm has found your plant. Wherever the missing foliage is, the worm won't be far away. Another tip will be the black droppings, also know as frass, that the Caterpillar will leave behind. You will simply need to hand pick the worms and dispose of however you see fit. There is nothing more irritating than to watch a tomato ripen to the perfect red color, only to have it pecked at by a bird. To out-smart the birds, try harvesting the tomato as soon as it begins to blush. Bring it inside, let it set on the counter out of direct sunlight, and the fruit will ripen just as it would have on the vine. I haven't personally done the taste test yet, but I have been told that the flavor will be just as good if not better than the vine-ripened fruit. Only one way to find out . . . Good luck with those tomatoes and don't hesitate to give the OSU Master Gardeners a call if you have more specific questions about your garden, 405-713-1125. Date: 7/17/07
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