Wegman’s opens our specialized area dedicated to tomatoes, vegetables and herbs this weekend. Just in time for the prime planting season we have the 2007 New Release tomatoes. Your favorite varieties of organic and heirloom tomatoes are also available. There is an extensive selection of vegetables both as seedlings and seeds. For the gourmet we have a large selection of herbs for the freshest flavors.

In our last two issues, we discussed preparing the soil for our vegetable garden, seeds vs. seedlings, fertilizers, irrigation of our plants and some of the vegetables suitable for the summer garden. Tomatoes are far and away the most popular of all the vegetables grown in the home garden. Following is information to help you choose the right tomato(es) for your garden.

Looking around at the choices available in tomato plants, it’s easy to get confused. What do they mean by determinate and indeterminate--not to mention semi-determinate? Should one buy an heirloom or a hybrid? Everyone knows what a cherry tomato is--but what is the difference between a beefsteak and a salad tomato?

Determinate and Indeterminate
Determinate varieties are also known as bush tomatoes. They stop growing when fruit sets on the top bud, ripen most of their fruit in a short period--usually 2 weeks--and then die. They generally require no staking or caging and are usually early-maturing. Pruning is not recommended. The fruit is generally about the size of a salad tomato. Determinate varieties are most suitable for containers.Indeterminate varieties are also called ‘vining’ tomatoes. They grow, bloom, and produce fruit until the end of the growing season (generally first frost). These almost always require staking or caging for support, and the prevent buds and garden pests from feeding on them if they sprawl on the ground.

Non-hybrid, Heirloom and Hybrid
Tomatoes are usually self-pollenizing. A non-hybrid tomato is one that has been allowed to self-pollinate to produce non-hybrid seed. Gardeners can save seed of non-hybrid tomatoes to plant the next season’s crop. Non-hybrid tomatoes will grow true from seed. Non-hybrid, cultivated varieties propagated and saved for many generations are often known as heirloom varieties. Hybrid tomatoes have two genetically different parents that are crossed each year to produce the hybrid tomato seed. Although hybrid tomatoes do produce seed, the seeds will not have the characteristics of the hybrid.

General Types:
Beefsteak Tomatoes are known for large size and thick, meaty flesh. The pulp cavity of this type is small and may resemble a ‘marbled’ steak -- hence the name. This meatiness makes them hold together well when sliced, and the large size makes them great for sandwiches. One slice does the trick! Beefsteaks usually take 80 or more days to ripen. Salad Tomatoes--also referred to as globe or slicing tomatoes, this variety is medium-sized, meaty enough to hold together well, and juicy. The smaller size makes them popular for salad wedges (bite-sized), or sliced to accompany a meal. Ripens in 60 to 70 days depending on variety.

Cherry Tomatoes--measuring an inch or less in diameter, these tomatoes make excellent bite-sized nibbles or tasty additions to salads. Cherry tomatoes are also great for grilling on skewers. Sub-types include grape and currant tomatoes, which are smaller in size but slightly sweeter than regular cherry tomatoes.

Plum Tomatoes--these are egg-shaped tomatoes that have thick skin and flesh. They are less juicy than most other varieties, which makes them good candidates for baking, canning, and broiling. They also do well for sauces and paste.

Paste Tomatoes--these are dryer than other varieties; many plum tomatoes are also "paste tomatoes." They are good for making tomato paste and dried tomatoes.

A few personal favorites:
Early Girl: The first one to ripen in the garden, medium sized and good flavor

Big tomatoes: Stupice; Pineapple (multicolored); Big Rainbow (multicolored), Great White (white outside, pink inside); Cherokee Purple (‘black’ outside); Black Krim (‘black’ outside);: and June Pink.

Small tomatoes: Green Zebra (green and white striped) and Sun Gold (cherry tomato).

Container tomatoes: Patio tomato series, Husky tomato series (get about 3 feet tall and do not need support.)

See our Tomatoes Information Sheet for more on planting, fertilizing, diseases, insect pests, cracking cat facing and bloom end rot. Click Here

An entertaining floral funfest for you and all of your friends. Thousands and thousands of flowers and plants with all their rich colors, fragrances and textures. Four acres of inspiring gardens, free seminars for all gardening levels and shopping at 300 exhibits all strictly related to gardening, outdoor living and gardeners.

You are invited to join the fun at the Cow Palace March 21-25. Tickets are $20 for adults. Youth tickets are available for $4.

Wisteria plants are vigorous, twining vines with wide landscape usage where space permits and gardeners are committed to keeping them in bounds. Among their attributes are hardiness, vigor, longevity and the ability to climb high. They are greatly valued for their large, pendulous flower clusters that occur in the spring. Flowers are pea-like and may be white, pink, lilac-blue, bluish-purple or purple in color.

Wisteria beautifully cloaks shade arbors and structures. It is ideal for arching over gateways and entries or along the top of a wall. Follow a regular watering schedule during the first growing season to establish a deep, extensive root system. Feed with a general purpose fertilizer like Master Nursery Formula 49 or Bud and Blooming. Provide support such as a trellis or arbor. Prune annually to control size.

Perfect to plant vegetable gardens and for your spring bedding plants.

Bumper Crop® Organic Soil Amendment –
A blend of composted fir bark and forest humus fortified with 15% chicken manure, worm castings, bat guano and kelp meal. pH balanced with dolomite and oyster shell lime. An all purpose pre-fertilized planting and garden soil amendment. Excels as a nutrient-rich top dressing and mulch.

Paydirt™
Premium organic soil builder and top dressing containing chicken manure, redwood sawdust, and mushroom compost. Provides the organic matter necessary to improve soil structure for superior plant performance. Recommended for flower and vegetable gardens and as a top dress to new or renovated lawns.

Buy 3 bags of either Bumper Crop or Paydirt at
$9.99 each and get one bag free!