Roma therapy

Jose J. Santos

Got a green thumb?

Now’s the time to get outside and plant your own tomato garden.

If you have no clue where to start, here’s some tips from nursery

owner Steve Kawaratani, a columnist for the Laguna Beach Coastline

Pilot, a sister publication of the Daily Pilot.

MOVE FAST

June gloom has been somewhat of a downer this year, but with the

skies finally clear, novice gardeners can make their moves.

“Plant tomatoes now,” Kawaratani said. Tomatoes usually take three

months to grow, so if you’re planning on getting some growing done,

act quickly. Kawaratani said the plants would not have done well if

planted earlier this year due to lack of sunlight.

POWER OF THREE

Three things will ensure a great yield, Kawaratani said.

* Sunlight: The plant should be getting six hours of sunlight

regularly.

* Rich, well-prepared soil: Tomatoes face a dilemma, Kawaratani

said. The plant likes water, but what it really needs is a great

soil, one that is not too heavy and one that is not too sandy.

A great soil will have some gypsum added to adjust the pH level,

some fertilizer to add nutrients and some planter’s mix to add

texture. Your soil needs to hold moisture evenly otherwise your

tomatoes might crack at the bottom. Kawaratani recommends taking a

sample of your soil to a nursery to get some input from a

professional about what it needs.

* Protection: Select an area to grow your tomatoes that will

protect it from harsh elements, especially wind.

“Now, you’re ready to succeed at growing tomatoes,” Kawaratani

said.

THE PROPER SELECTION

If you’re in the nursery and are not sure what to buy, Kawaratani

offers this advice:

* Don’t buy tomato plants with tomatoes already on them. Start

with seeds.

* If you’re starting late and need to buy tomato plants with

tomatoes on them, don’t buy plants with fruit that is ready to snap

off.

“Purchase plants that are bushy, not leggy. Although they beckon

with the promise of early harvest, avoid plants already in bloom or

bearing fruit, as they may not transplant well,” Kawaratani said.

* Make sure to get a basin to hold water for your tomato plants to

avoid spillage.

DECISIONS, DECISIONS

Tomatoes grow on either a bush or a vine. Tomato bushes produce

less and yield smaller fruit than tomato vines.

The temperature where you live will partly determine which plant

you choose. But you should also take into account how much room you

have.

If you have a lot of space, tomato vines will be perfect for you.

Plant as many as you like, staking them two to three feet apart. One

vine will feed a family of six, producing 20 to 40 tomatoes,

Kawaratani said.

If you only have a limited amount of area for your garden, go with

a bush. Plant them one-and-a-half to two feet apart and watch them

grow.

“Plant tomatoes deep. Roots will develop where the soil touches

the stem. This makes for a bushier, stronger plant,” Kawaratani said.

THE SPICE OF LIFE

Like most plants, tomatoes come in many different varieties. While

this may seem confusing to starters, after some practice growers can

find which plants work best for them.

“If you are growing in containers, select Patio, a compact grower.

Super Steak and Better Boy, planted in your tomato patch, are good

choices for large fruit. Super 100 is a fine cherry tomato, Lemon Boy

produces yellow fruit and La Roma is planted for tomato paste,”

Kawaratani said.

THE HEAT IS ON

Tomatoes grow better in warmer climates, Kawaratani said. If

you’re in Costa Mesa, you’ll be able to grow tomatoes that can

sometimes grow double or triple the size of grocery store produce.

Big Boy and Better Boy are varieties of tomatoes that do well in

the heat. If you’re in Newport Beach or on Balboa Peninsula, you’ll

probably only have success with smaller tomatoes like Early Girl or

Early Boy.

Big tomatoes usually take 80 to 90 days to ripen. Smaller tomatoes

only need 50 days.

FOOD AND DRINK

Your plant should be watered three times a week, the amount of

water should total about two inches. You should add fertilizer to

your soil once a month until your tomatoes ripen.

Tomatoes grow in three stages. The fruit starts as a yellow

flower, then, when it starts to bud and set, green fruit will appear.

As the tomato ripens, it will turn red.

If your flowers aren’t setting, Kawaratani recommends buying a

hormone from your nursery to help your plant along.

Once your green tomatoes start turning red, you should withhold

some water. If you over water during this period, your tomatoes will

taste too watery, Kawaratani said.

DARN BUGS

Horn worms, aphids and whiteflies are a nuisance but are

inevitable.

“Most of the diseases and problems associated with tomato root

systems are in the past, thanks to the introduction of disease

resistant plants,” Kawaratani said. “Hornworms must still be dealt

with ... either by hand picking or eliminated by BT, Bacillus

thuringiensis. The occasional aphids are easily managed using an

insecticidal soap.”

Kawaratani recommends washing the white flies away with water.

YIELD DON’T STOP

When your tomatoes are finally growing, make sure to pick them

when they are nice, ripe and bright red in color.

“You can eat them within minutes,” Kawaratani said. At this point,

the fruit is full of sugar and will taste delicious.

Make sure to be vigilant about picking your ripe tomatoes. Birds

and pest will start eyeing your crop if you don’t stay on top of it.

If you have any more questions about starting your tomato garden,

Kawaratani can be reached by e-mail at Landscapes@ln.coxatwork.com.