Raising Tomatoes in Green House

Tomatoes are one of the most popular crops among home

gardeners, and with good reason: not only are tomatoes delicious

and versatile, they are relatively easy to grow and return high value

for the space they occupy. No store-bought tomato can compare

with the flavor of a vine-ripened tomato picked from the garden at

its peak of ripeness.

A perennial plant in its native tropics, tomato belongs to the

nightshade family (Solanacae) and is native to Central and South

America. The tomato appeared in European cuisine in the 16th

century, although it did not become popular there until the 18th

century because of the common belief that it was poisonous.

Soil Requirements

Tomato plants will grow well in well-drained sites that receive full

sun for most of the day. The soil pH should be slightly acidic (6.2 to

6.8). Excess nitrogen can result in plants with lush, vigorous foliage

but little fruit production. Although it is best to determine lime

and fertilizer needs from the results of a soil test, a rule of thumb

for gardeners lacking test data is to apply 2½ pounds of a complete

fertilizer such as 10-10-10 (or the equivalent) per 100 square feet of

garden area. Work the fertilizer into the soil about 2 weeks before

planting.

Selecting the Right Variety

Hundreds of tomato varieties exist to suit every climate, garden site

and taste. There are tomatoes that ripen in 55 days and varieties that

require three months of hot weather to produce their crop. Some

produce vines that will sprawl 25 feet if not maintained by pruning,

while others are only 8 inches high at maturity. Fruit range in size

from as small as marbles to as large as grapefruits. And the array of

colors! With so many varieties available, how do you pick the one

or ones that are right for your garden?

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