Discover Insider Secrets To Grow The World's Finest Tomatoes
Did you know that more people pick and grow tomatoes than any other dinner table vegetable?
You've probably heard the horror stories of growing your own.
Molds. Parasites. Fruit flies. Over fertilizing - killing your months of hard work.
Or problems with under fertilizing resulting in a crappy harvest or yucky taste.
You've probably always wondered how supermarket tomatoes come so ripe, so tasty, and last SO LONG?
When I first began my gardening adventure, I, too, had these same exact questions
growing vegetables with only a few days, and an amazing yield for my family.
Tonatoes are some of the most popular vegetables around.
(Well technically it’s classified as a fruit, but most people think of it as a vegetable!)
And no worries, with over 13,000 varieties to choose from – you’re sure to have your own favorites.
You'll have your very own collection in no time!
There’s the tiny cherry varieties – like the sweet little Tommy Toe right through to the huge beefsteak varieties
like Black Krim with charcoal coloured flesh. Some varieties have real ‘bite’ and others are deliciously sweet.
The tasty Black Russian is very juicy and packed with flavour.
The Tigerella has gorgeous striped red fruit and contrasts well in a salad with the Beams Yellow Pear.
Once you have tasted the delicious flavour of home grown vine ripened tomatoes it is difficult to return to buying the supermarket varieties. However growing healthy juicy tomatoes with lots of flavour is not always easy. . .
There are all sorts of things which can go wrong and destroy the plants and fruit before you get to taste the first one.
Professional growers don’t leave it to chance – they get expert help, so they have the very best scientific information. American expert Marc Meisels has been helping professional growers for years – and he now shares his knowledge with home growers.
The following information is derived from his book “Growing Elite Heirloom
Tomatoes” which he developed over many moons. The book provides step-by-step advice and tips
on how to grow tomatoes
which you can use to help you substantially increase your crop’s health and yield.
Not only that – your tomatoes will have more flavor and be a lot sweeter than you’ve tasted from any store bought variety.
Deciding On Your Tomato Plant Varieties
Heirlooms are the gorgeous tasty varieties that have been cultivated for hundreds of years – all over the world.
They are more tasty than hybrids, but the payoff is higher susceptibility to disease and a shorter shelf life.
Many new hybrid varieties are bred to be resistant to some common diseases and have a longer shelf life.
The payoff is a reduction in flavour, thick skins, and unreliable (and sometimes sterile) seeds.
The varieties you choose should be a good fit for your climate because big, healthy plants produce better-tasting tomatoes. Tomatoes are described according to size, shape and the use of the fruit, the stage of the season that the fruit appears and the growth habit of the plant. (See pages 11-15 and our upcoming database of 1300 varieties.)
How To Plant Tomatoes
Grow from seed – in a seed tray, peat pot, rockwool cube or make your own from newspaper. It’s very important that you use the right growing medium and spray mist regularly. Temperature is also crucial. Minimum temperature is 15-29C (60-84F). (See page 26 for tips on sowing seeds and maximising germination.)
Transplant seedlings – soil temperature must be above 15C (60F) with no risk of frost. It’s also important that they are properly spaced for root and canopy development. Correct spacing depends on the variety. (See page 27 for advice on when to plant out, how to plant out and correct spacing.)
Where To Plant Tomatoes And How To Properly Space Them
You need a sunny area, sheltered from strong winds, with good quality loamy soil.
The quality of the soil is crucial to growing healthy plants.
Check your soil type and pH first and adjust if necessary using our techniques to turn poor soil into rich loam. I also suggest adding organic matter and thoroughly digging it
in a couple of weeks before planting, to ensure your your plants get the best start. Finally, ensure soil is mulched to keep moisture in and keep the roots cool in hot months. (See pages 16 – 24 for in-depth detail on how to prepare the soil and correct problems with soils that are clay, sandy, rocky or compacted. This section also provides advice on drainage, compost, mulching and preparing commercial plots.)
Growing Tomatoes In Containers
If you prefer to grow in pots, use a well drained, deep pot (at least 30cm deep) filled with quality potting mix.
You will need to add the right fertilizer mix at the right growth stage of the plant and keep up a strict watering regime.
Plants in pots need more frequent fertilizing and watering, compared to those in garden beds. Not all varieties do well in pots, so be sure to pick ones that do. (See page 25 for everything you need to know about growing in containers.)
Suckers affect the strength of the main stem, so remove them by pinching them out, to improve plant health, vigour and fruit size. Make sure you remove the right ones! (See pages 34-35 for tips on the correct way to prune tomatoes.)
Staking supports the vine and helps spread the canopy for even growth, good airflow and keeping the fruit off the soil.
This method can secure stems, double yields, and it's easy! (See pages 28-35 for a comparison of 11 staking methods.)
Tomatoes require an even supply of water throughout the season as irregular watering will cause
your
tomatoes to develop problems. Not enough water can cause fruit cracking and too much water or overhead watering can lead to a greater level of bacterial and fungal disease. (See pages 36-39 for step by step instructions on determining how much water your tomato patch will need, how to set up an effective watering system and how to water tomatoes in pots.)
Applying the correct fertilizer combinations at each growth stage is crucial to maximising yield and producing tasty tomatoes. Many people assume that because the soil contains organic matter that this is enough. It isn’t! Compost or granular fertilizers take time to break down, so your plants could be starving and will need supplementing – particularly when beginning to flower. There are 3 major nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium) that the plants need, and they need them in different ratios during their life cycle. For example, too much nitrogen from fruit set onwards will result in fruit cells that are thin and soft, prone to disease and lacking in flavour. Your plants may also need other types of trace elements, including calcium, zinc, magnesium and boron, depending on your soil health . (See pages 41-46 for in-depth advice and help with providing the right nutrition to your tomato plants, including how to recognise and correct nutrition excesses or deficiencies.)
Tomatoes can be seriously affected by pests and diseases, particularly in warm wet climates. It doesn’t take long to lose a crop from pest or disease issues, so you need to regularly check your plants for symptoms and control quickly. Common diseases include Wilts, Leaf Spots, Blight, Mildew, Canker, Black Rot, Root Rot, Fruit Rot, Viruses and Nematodes. (See pages 47-52 for photos and descriptions of these diseases and recommended controls.)
Pests are the bane of tomato growers – particularly in hot humid areas. It’s important to keep the tomato patch free of weeds and debris and to control pests quickly. Common pest include aphids, thrips, cutworm, bollworm, whitefly, sting bugs, spider mite, fruit fly, slugs, snails, nematodes and birds. (See pages 53-56 for photos of common pests and recommended controls.)
Sometimes the plant or fruit exhibit issues which are not caused by disease or pests, but still affect the quality of the fruit. Common issues include catfacing, blossom end rot, sun scald, blossom drop, fruit drop, leaf roll and fruit crack.
(See pages 57-58 for common physiological problems and recommended controls.)
With the proliferation of dangerous chemicals affecting our health and the environment, more and more gardeners are turnin g to old fashioned organic growing methods. Growing tomatoes organically relies on careful preparation of the soil, practicing good hygiene, using the right organic fertilizers, following companion planting guidelines and using nature based solutions to control pests and diseases. Some people also believe that planting by the phases of the moon provides better results too. (See pages 61-68 for expert advice and tips for organic gardening.)
If you live in a colder climate, growing your tomatoes in a greenhouse is a great way to guard against weather damage and get a super early start to the growing season. It’s important to locate the greenhouse in the right spot, prepare the floor, ensure you have good ventilation and keep the temperature stable. Diseases are common in greenhouses, so hygiene is crucial. (See pages 70-71for full details on how to choose and maintain a greenhouse.)
Get advice from someone who was once in your shoes now – get your own copy of Growing Elite Heirloom Tomatoes. My Growing Elite Heirloom Tomatoes Book Set has proven to be a valuable and cherished resource. Now into it’s 2nd reprint, the 80 page “tomato bible” is illustrated with over 260 colour photographs, and contains everything a home gardener needs to know about growing healthy, tasty tomatoes.
This is the Table of Contents
• History of the Tomato
• Fruit or Vegetable?
• Health Effects
• Quickstart Guide
• Varieties
• Site Preparation (including soil, wind, drainage, mulching and pots)
• Cultivation (including sowing seeds, transplanting, staking and pruning)
• Watering your Plants
• Nutrition
• Pests and Diseases
• Picking & Storage
• Collecting Seed
• Growing Organically
• Hydroponics
• Greenhouses
This book, which has sold wildly, contains a comprehensive 80 page full colour scientific guide
on growing tomatoes in every type of climate. It includes:
• Detailed recommendations for soil preparation, staking, pruning and watering
• 260 pictorial and descriptive aids for diagnosing and controlling nutritional, disease and pest issues
• Growing advice for traditional and organic methods in the garden, pots or a greenhouse
• Advice for harvesting, storage and seed saving.
• A glossary of Tomato Terms
• Bonus Tomato Diary, Disease Ready Reckoner and Conversion Charts for measurements
Purchase the ebook format (you download instantly for viewing on your computer or tablet)
and receive 6 free bonuses.
I hope you are soon enjoying the best tomatoes you’ve ever tasted!
Best wishes,
Marc
P. S. You have 30 full days to try my course, and if it genuinely doesn't help you, and you don't like it FOR ANY REASON (even the mispelling of a word on page 37) just email me and I will refund you every single penny.
P. S. S. I want happy customers only. If you're not happy, neither am I. I put my money where my mouth is. I am sure you will be happy, BUT: If you're not becoming one of my friends and fans, enjoying my book and my guidance isn't helping you,
this is NOT for you, and I will gladly refund you 100%, every penny. Guaranteed.
