Here’s How To Properly Plant Heirloom Tomatoes In Your Garden So You Can Enjoy Them On A Hot Summer Day
The tomato was made for us to consume. Its round, succulent shape fits perfectly in the palm of your hand, and its red, pulpy flesh is soft and delicately sweet.
You can just take a bite and let the juices run down your chin. Or slice it up and layer it on sandwiches and salads. They also make the best sauce for pasta.
But you know what? Tomatoes taste even better when they’re plucked fresh from the vine. And if they are of the heirloom variety.
Heirloom tomatoes are often considered to be superior to regular tomatoes because they aren’t genetically modified or bred for mass production.
They’re also different from regular tomatoes because they are open-pollinated, which means you can save their seeds and grow the same tomatoes next year. They haven’t undergone any cross-breeding.
Here’s how to properly plant heirloom tomatoes in your garden so you can enjoy them on a hot summer day.
Plant heirloom tomatoes in the spring in an area with sunlight and well-draining soil. Don’t place the seedlings in spots where you have already grown plants, such as peppers or eggplant. It makes the tomatoes more susceptible to disease.
Space the tomatoes two to three feet apart and set them deeply into the ground. The leaves toward the very bottom of the small plant should be touching the soil.
This will give the plants a strong base for when they grow taller. Heirloom tomato plants can reach up to a couple of feet in height.
Maksim Shebeko – stock.adobe.com – illustrative purposes only
If you want your tomato plants to grow to their full potential, make sure they receive plenty of sunlight. Heirloom tomatoes need to be in the sunshine all day long to stay happy.
Now onto the soil. Healthy, rich soil that is slightly acidic is your best bet for a good harvest. Mix in compost or manure to provide nutrients to the soil.
Water and soil go hand in hand. If your soil isn’t prepared properly, your tomatoes will struggle to draw in the appropriate amount of water.
They need to be watered consistently, so drainage should be efficient. Keep the soil moist, and don’t let it get dry to the touch. Going from wet to dry will cause the fruit to grow with defects and other issues.
Furthermore, tomatoes don’t tolerate cool temperatures. So before planting them outdoors, be certain that temperatures won’t drop below sixty degrees Fahrenheit at night.
Finally, watch out for pests like caterpillars, beetles, and aphids. Caterpillars like to go for the fruit itself, or they’ll gnaw away at the leaves and stems.
Beetles and aphids will also cause leaves to deteriorate by creating tiny holes in the foliage.
To protect your plants from caterpillars, pick any caterpillars you see off of the leaves and drop them into a bucket of soapy water. You can knock beetles away with a stick and spray off aphids with water.
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