Park Seed Garden Journal

This past weekend I helped my dad build a couple of raised garden beds for his tomatoes and peppers. We finished pouring in the topsoil and peat just as it was getting dark, and he asks, "How many more should I build?" Of course, I suggested that we just go ahead and plant his tomatoes and peppers and build more on another day– he never stops working. He purchased mature tomato plants that will be producing fruit within a couple weeks, beefsteak and cherry varieties.

Buying the plant is a great idea, but it’s so easy it feels like cheating. The mature plant is inexpensive, and you don’t have to worry about when to start your seeds or when it is safe to move your seedlings outdoors. I prefer starting from seed, myself, you can get many more plants, and you have more options, but I can understand avoiding the hassle. Also, if it is late in the spring, like now, and you decide you want to grow tomatoes, you still can if you buy the plants instead of seed.

Park Seed is having a great sale on a couple of their most popular Tomato varieties. If you would like to try them for your self: Park’s Whopper and Tomato Plant Beefy Boy

If you want sandwich tomatoes, grow Beef Steaks. If you love tomatoes in your salad, try some different cherry varieties. If your garden is the source for most of your canned goods, you should probably try to grow a few paste tomatoes. Growing your own tomatoes will give you power over selection and power over growing methods. It is cheaper than than buying them at the supermarket, and it can be much more rewarding

Your standard or slicing tomatoes are the common medium-sized round tomatoes. These will most often be used in soups or sliced for salads. You’ve seen these in six-pack trays at your local supermarket.

Beef Steak are big tomatoes, some up to 2 pounds. These are the ones that, when sliced, fit sandwiches and burgers very nicely. Beef Steak varieties are also great for stuffing and baking. They are rarely found in supermarkets because their size and tenderness makes them more trouble than they are worth for big retailers. However, they are a home garden dream, a big tasty return on the simple investment in a tiny packet of seeds. Some popular cultivars of this variety are ‘Better Boy’, ‘Big Beef’, and ‘Park’s Whopper’.

Cherry tomatoes are very small tomatoes, ranging from barely bigger than your finger tip to the size of a golf ball. They are often very sweet and perfect by themselves just as a snack. They are the sublime salad tomato because they add lots of flavor, and you don’t have to slice them. The elongated smaller and sweeter grape tomatoes are also a tasty variation of the cherry tomato. Cherry tomato plants produce a large amount of fruit, so you don’t have to plant many to get plenty of tomatoes.

Paste or plum tomatoes are, as the name suggests, often used for canning and sauces. They work well for this because they are less juicy than other varieties, they don’t have a core, and they have far less seeds than other varieties. They are usually small and slightly elongated or “pear-shaped.” They are often lumped together as “Roma” tomatoes, which is actually just one cultivar of this tomato variety.

Thomas
Park Seed Company

By now, many tomato plants are getting pretty big– most of the ones in our Garden Center are already over a foot tall. My own seedlings are probably bigger than that. If you want to grow tomatoes this year, it’s not too late. For many, spring is just starting.

For most of us who don’t have a greenhouse or enclosed patio, we have a limited window of opportunity for growing our tomato plants outside. I have a friend, a fellow Park Seed employee, who grows fruits and vegetables year round in a glassed in patio. I guess you would call it a “sun room” or “conservatory” if you wanted to be really fancy. His air-hockey table prevents me from using any of those words– even “patio” might be a little to high-class for this space. But, it is perfect for year-round, homegrown produce. There is nothing quite like a tomato sandwich from a freshly picked tomato in the middle of December.

I guess many people will grow their tomato plants and other goodies inside. You could use grow lights, a greenhouse, or a sun room and grow many of your garden vegetables in containers if you have the space. It allows you to start flower seed, tomato seed, or any vegetable seed any time of the year.

If you are looking to grow some tomato plants, park seed is the perfect place to get them. We also still have plenty of tomato seed, if you want to try to start from seed this late in the year. Maybe you can grow them in your conservatory.

Click here to see Park Seed’s complete list: Park Seed Tomato Plants

Thomas
Park Seed Company

This is our last bit of info from the Park Seed tomato files. This section covers some habitat issues and gives some methods for controlling them. Some of these things will be affected by the variety of tomato you are growing and your local climate and may not be avoidable. Switching to a hardier variety perhaps growing your tomatoes in a container could be your solution. Good luck with your tomato garden this year, and I hope this information has been helpful.

Hard Cores and Center Spots: Due to changes in temperatures, especially low night temperatures. No control, although some varieties are more resistant than others.

Anthracnose (Ripe Rot): Improve soil drainage. Pick all ripe fruits as they mature and use promptly. Dust with an approved fungicide such as Zineb, Ferbam, or Maneb for control.

Fusarium Wilt, Verticillium Wilt: Rotate crops but do not rotate with eggplants, peppers, or potato crops. Plant resistant varieties.

Blossom End Rot: Caused generally by sudden changes in soil moisture and lack of calcium. Lime soil and mulch plants with hay, straw, etc. Keep watered and fertilized and do not cultivate in dry weather. Use resistant varieties.

Sun Scald: Worse in hot weather. Do not prune plants heavily nor thin foliage. Use heavily foliaged varieties.

Poor Fruit Set: Avoid setting out when night temperatures are below 55°. Use early varieties. High day time temperatures and hot, dry winds will also cause blossom drop. Rain and high humidity hamper fruit set. Shaking plants will increase pollination. Do this in mid day when it is warm and humidity is low. Maintain soil moisture. Avoid growing plants in shade. Use Blossom Set hormone.

All Vine/No Fruit: Too much water, too little water, or too much fertilizer. Keep the nitrogen percentage low on the fertilizer. Avoid shade. Remove terminal shoots. Hold back on water somewhat and root prune to help plant to set fruit.

If you have any pictures or stories You’d like to share please feel free. We’d love to here from you.

Park Seed’s Tomato Culture File from GardenerHelp.org

cheers’
Thomas

tandrews@parkseed.com

This is another installment from the Park Seed tomato files. Today we are reading about Insects and Diseases to watch out for in your tomato garden. When dealing with pests and parasites , you must remember that you are at war, and they are your enemy. You cannot let them take what is rightfully yours.

If you know your enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.

-Sun Tzu, The Art Of War

INSECTS:

Cutworms: Place paper collars around stems of plants when first setting them in the garden.

Hornworms, Flea Beetles: For best results, use an approved insecticide such as Sevin for control.

White Fly, Aphids: For best results, use an approved insecticide such as Malathion, Rotenone, or insecticidal soap for control.

Red Spider Mites: For best results, use an approved insecticide such as Kelthane or insecticidal soap for control.

Nematodes: Plant Nemagold Marigolds.

Slugs: For best results, use a bait or trap.

DISEASES:

Early Blight (Alternaria): Browning and dropping of the lower foliage in late summer. Apply every 7-10 days an approved fungicide such as Ferbam, Zineb, Maneb for control.

Late Blight: Caused by high humidity, cool nights, and warm days. Quickly rots green and ripe fruit and kills vines. Apply every 7-10 days an approved fungicide such as Ferbam, Zineb, or Maneb for control.

Curly Top: Twisting and upward curling or cupping of the new leaves. Malformed flowers. Control leaf hoppers with Malathion. Generally spread by insects.

Botrytis Fruit Rot: Avoid syringing foliage. Apply a Bordeaux Mixture or Captan for control.

Fruit Cracking: Usually occurs after heavy rains and high humidity. Use resistant varieties. Lime soil as above and mulch with hay, straw, etc.

cheers,
Thomas
tandrews@parkseed.com

Today’s Park Seed Blog Question of the Day! concerns one of my favorite topics, weird plants. These are those novelties that will get the attention of the most avid non-gardener and make him wish he had somewhere to plant it. Today’s question came from a garden writer who was looking for something a little different from Park Seed.

“Are there unusual fruits or vegetables in the Park Seed catalog this season.”

Yes, here is a list of Park Seed’s peculiar produce you won’t find in any supermarket.

First is the Kiwi Hardy Red. This tropical delight has a deep claret skin rather than the usual brown  and a bright red center. This kiwi from Park Seed has the tangy sweet flavor you expect, and the plant produces a hundred pounds of fruit a season. Surprise your guests with the crimson deliciousness. … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … . .  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . …. … … … … … … … … … . .  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . …. ….. … … … … … … … … . .  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . …. . … … … … … … … … . .  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . …. … … … … … … … … … . .  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . …. … … … … … … … … … . .  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ….

Slice up a Carrot Purple Haze and a Carrot White Satin to toss in your salad, and your guests will definitely have a few questions. The All-American Selection Winner, Purple Haze, is the first purple hybrid ever, and when sliced it has a beautiful bright orange center. The White Satin is brand new this year and is pure white all the way through. They are straight, firm, extra-crunchy, and have that same sweet carrot taste you’d expect from the orange counterparts.… … … … … … … … … . .  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . …. … … … … … … … … … . .  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . …. ….. … … … … … … … … . .  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . …. . … … … … … … … … . .  . . . . . . . . . . .

The next curious comestible is my personal favorite. A native of the Mediterranean, the Cauliflower Romanesco Veronica is probably the most interesting looking vegetable in the entire catalog. Italian cauliflower, as it is called commonly, has a sweet mild taste that some say surpasses its classic cousins, as if that pretty face wasn’t already enough to win me over.… … … … … … … … … . .  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . …. … … … … … … … … … . .  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . …. ….. … … … … … … … … . .  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . …. . … … … … … … … … . .  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . …. … … … … … … … … … . .  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . …. … … … … … … .

My next pick is Park Seed’s odd-looking Tomato Pineapple. Many people sing the praises of this heirloom variety with it’s huge misshapen gold/red-striped fruit. For those who grow it, it has the best flavor of any tomato, an old-time flavor long-forgotten in a new age of mild hybrids. It has meat from skin to skin and each piece of fruit weighs up to two pounds. This beefsteak variety is a real tomato grower’s tomato.… … … … … … … … … . .  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . …. … … … … … … … … … . .  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . …. ….. … … … … … … … … . .  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . …. . … … … … … … … … . .  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . …. … … … … … … … … … . .  . . . . . . . . .

Park Seed’s next bit of novel nutriment comes in the form of what we call an “edible ornamental,” the Tomato Tumbling Tom Yellow. It is a pleasant contrast to our Tomato Tumbling Tom Red. The Tumbling Tom is a weeping tomato plant that can grow in small areas, hanging baskets, window sills, and patio gardens. There will be fruit aplenty, and it is very delicious.… … … … … … … … … . .  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . …. … … … … … … … … … . .  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . …. ….. … … … … … … … … . .  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . …. . … … … … … … … … . .  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . …. … … … … … … … … … . .  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . …. … … … … … … … .

Park Seed’s final fancy food is a deliciously mild shell bean of a distinctive coat. This balanced heirloom bean sports the ancient symbol of eastern philosophy, the Yin Yang. The Shell Bean Yin Yang represents neither Chaos nor Order, but is each contained within the other, reflecting the other. Okay, maybe it’s just a funny looking bean, but what a unique pattern!… … … … … … … … … . .  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . …. … … … … … … … … … . .  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . …. ….. … … … … … … … … . .  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . …. . … … … … … … … … . .  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . …. … … … … … … … … … . .  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . …. … … … … … … … .

Well, there you have it, the Park Seed Blog Question of the Day!

Last night, for Valentine’s day, I was treated to sushi. The local place has a roll called the “Kamikaze Roll,” which is delicious and filled with minced raw tuna and spicy hot sauce– hot sauce made from peppers. Many people love spicy foods, often thinking of it as an exotic thing, but there have been hot peppers in the Americas since long before the new world was discovered by Europeans. Today, there was an article from the Associated Press about the ancient history of hot peppers in the Americas. It is thought, according to this article, that hot peppers where first cultivated a little over 6000 years ago, and they’ve been used to spice up dishes every since.

Peppers are known to be rich in vitamin C, and combined with other ancient American produce, like tomatoes and corn, probably made for a decent meal for stone-age Americans. I was listening to NPR the other day, and there was an expert interview about hot peppers (I apologize for not catching his name). He mentioned that capsaicin, the chemical that makes peppers spicy may contribute to the prevention of cancer. In laboratories, capsaicin has been observed causing cancer cells to die while not harming normal tissue. According to Wikipedia, it has been used directly and effectively to cure prostate cancer and has been useful in treating lung cancer as well.

According the speaker on NPR, this anti-carcinogenic property of the chemical could explain the low incidence of cancer in Central America, South America, and Mexico where peppers of the genus capsicum are a traditional and much-loved part of the everyday diet. So, enjoy your spicy meal, and know that you might be adding a few years to your life.

Salutations from Park Seed,
Thomas
tandrews@parkseed.com

Here is a little more from Park Seed’s tomato files. Yesterday we went from seed germination to transplanting. All of today’s tips will focus on basic plant care. There is still plenty of info in the Park Seed culture files. I haven’t even touched on insects, diseases, or trouble shooting.

1. Keep plants cultivated and watered but be very careful practicing shallow cultivation as the root system is shallow and easily damaged.

2. For best results, mulch plants with black plastic, straw, hay, etc. to conserve moisture, eliminate cultivation and weeds and improve the soil.

3. To help prevent blossom-end rot, incorporate lime at the rate of 5 lbs. per 100 sq. ft. at least 6 weeks prior to planting and mulch after planting.

4. One stem (indeterminate) plants are produced by removing all suckers or side shoots that appear at the leaf joints (axils).

5. Determinate varieties (shorter plants) are more compact and need no staking or pinching.

6. Do not thin the foliage as it gives vital protection to the fruit.

7. Keep the plants well supplied with water until just before harvest, then reduce water slightly. Too much water at this time may cause fruit cracking.

8. Repeat fertilization at the rate of a handful per plant, worked into the soil in a band around the plant when the plants are 6-8 weeks old and again 4 weeks later.

9. In areas where night temperatures are below 55° in the spring, blossoms may drop, thus reducing the fruit set. To prevent this, spray blossom clusters when most flowers have fully opened with a fruit set hormone such as Blossom Set.

10. When day time temperatures average 75°, allow fruit to fully ripen for best quality; however, when temperatures are higher, harvest when fruits are pinkish and allow fruits to ripen in the house.

Determinate plants yield about 8 pounds each; semi-determinate plants about 10 pounds each; indeterminate plants about 8 pounds each when staked or 15 pounds each when unstaked.

And a little reminder:

1. Determinate: Small, compact plants with 12-18"stems which stop bearing when they reach full size.

2. Semi-Determinate: Slightly larger with 18-24" stems which also cease production at full size.

3. Indeterminate: Vine type plant growing and bearing indefinitely unless killed by frost or disease. Most suited for staking. Growth can be controlled by pinching out top growth and removing side shoots (laterals).

tandrews@parkseed.com