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Tag Archive for: tomato care

VIDEO: Grow Healthy Tomatoes with Wyse Guide! ??

August 10, 2023/in Blog, Fruits & Vegetables, Kaleb Wyse

Are your tomatoes starting to bloom? Kaleb from Wyse Guide has some bountiful tips to ensure your tomato plants stay happy and healthy! Watch as he uses Espoma Organic Tomato! Liquid Fertilizer to help his tomato plants grow more blooms.

Learn more about Wyse Guide here:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/WyseGuide

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WyseGuide/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/WyseGuide/

Website: https://www.wyseguide.com/

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https://www.espoma.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Pruning-Tomatoes-1-scaled.jpg 2560 1707 Matt Dauphinais https://www.espoma.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/espoma-logo340w-1.png Matt Dauphinais2023-08-10 10:46:332023-08-10 10:46:33VIDEO: Grow Healthy Tomatoes with Wyse Guide! ??

VIDEO: Planting Tomatoes ?, Peppers ?, and Basil ? with Garden Answer

June 30, 2023/in Blog, Garden Answer

The sun is out and the time is ripe to plant some veggies! Follow along with @gardenanswer as she plants tomatoes, peppers, and basil using Espoma Organic Tomato-tone and Land & Sea Gourmet Compost.

We also recommend planting with Espoma Organic Bio-tone Started Plus to help give your new plants the nutrients they need to grow strong roots in their new environment.

 

Learn more about Garden Answer here:

https://www.youtube.com/c/gardenanswer 

https://www.gardenanswer.com/

https://www.facebook.com/gardenanswer

https://www.instagram.com/gardenanswer/

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We also recommend planting with Espoma Organic Bio-tone Started Plus to help give your new plants the nutrients they need to grow strong roots in their new environment.

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https://www.espoma.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/GA-Tomatoes-peppers-basil.jpg 1080 1920 Matt Dauphinais https://www.espoma.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/espoma-logo340w-1.png Matt Dauphinais2023-06-30 14:35:492023-06-30 14:35:49VIDEO: Planting Tomatoes ?, Peppers ?, and Basil ? with Garden Answer

VIDEO: Plant Perennials & Vegetables with Wyse Guide ???️

June 20, 2023/in Blog, Kaleb Wyse

‘Tis the season to bring the gardens to life, and Kaleb of @Wyse Guide can help you start planting like a pro! Watch as he fills his perennial beds with Espoma Organic Flower-tone and Bio-tone Starter Plus to help flowers establish and blossom over time. Then, follow along as he plants tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant in fresh soil fueled by our Espoma Organic Land & Sea Gourmet Compost!

Kaleb speaks to how important it is to keep your soil healthy.

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Learn more about Wyse Guide here:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/WyseGuide

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WyseGuide/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/WyseGuide/

Website: https://www.wyseguide.com/

 

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https://www.espoma.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/kaleb-ss.png 634 1234 Matt Dauphinais https://www.espoma.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/espoma-logo340w-1.png Matt Dauphinais2023-06-20 11:26:302023-06-20 11:34:57VIDEO: Plant Perennials & Vegetables with Wyse Guide ???️

VIDEO: How to Grow Tomatoes ? with Kaleb Wyse! || Wyse Guide

April 14, 2023/in Blog, Fruits & Vegetables, Kaleb Wyse

Do you know the best way to plant tomatoes?

Watch as Kaleb Wyse @WyseGuide takes you out to his garden and shows you the best way he knows how to plant and be successful in growing tomato plants.

Kaleb uses Espoma Organic Tomato-tone to grow healthy tomato plants in his garden.

 

 

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https://www.espoma.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/WG-How-to-Plant-Tomatoes-YT-Short-4-14-23.png 533 300 Matt Dauphinais https://www.espoma.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/espoma-logo340w-1.png Matt Dauphinais2023-04-14 16:43:442023-04-14 16:43:44VIDEO: How to Grow Tomatoes ? with Kaleb Wyse! || Wyse Guide

BAGR 89 Blog: Vegetable Gardening for Beginners

April 13, 2023/in Blog, Bloom and Grow Radio, Fruits & Vegetables, Fruits & Vegetables - None

An edible garden can be a wonderful addition to any home. But with all of the information out there on vegetable gardening, it can feel overwhelming to start. This blog is here to help people who are in their first few years of vegetable gardening by covering the need-to-know basics. 

This blog is inspired by Episode 89 of Bloom and Grow Radio Podcast, where host Maria Failla interviewed Toby Adams, the Director of the Edible Academy for the New York Botanical Garden.

 

What Vegetables Should I Grow as a Beginner?

You might be tempted to try growing lots of different vegetables, especially as a beginner. But it’s best to start with just a few varieties and get really good at growing them. From there, you can expand your vegetable garden in the following years, slowly building on your mastery. 

So, where do you start? The simplest way is thinking about what you like to eat! Create a small list of vegetables you purchase regularly at the grocery store or farmer’s market. Then do a little research about the plants themselves and what they require to grow. You may find that some vegetables don’t grow well where you live, or you might be hindered by your growing set up in size, sun, and scale. 

Next, think about your location. If you’re growing in a place like New York City or other Northeastern U.S. locations, you’re likely to have different seasons. Spring and fall are referred to as cool seasons. There are groups of plants that do well in cool weather with some warm days, but colder nights. There are also warm season crops that grow best in summer with no chance of frost. 

If you go back to your wishlist, you can figure out which plants are cool season versus warm season crops, and plan from there. Here are some examples of cool and warm season vegetables: 

Cool season vegetables: lettuce, radish, peas, spinach, carrots, kale, cabbage. 

Warm season vegetables: squash, tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, beans, corn, cucumbers. 

What’s a Hardiness Zone? 

If you’re in the U.S., you can find your USDA plant hardiness zone by entering your zip code. This helps you determine which plants are most likely to grow well in your area based on temperature. 

Once you find your hardiness zone, you can also search for the last frost date in your zip code. Your first and last frost dates will show you how many frost-free growing days you have in a season. This can help you figure out which warm and cool season crops will grow best in your area. 

From there, you can even find helpful planting calendars for your area through resources like your local extension office, local or online gardening groups, and the Farmer’s Almanac. 

What Do Vegetables Need to Grow Successfully? 

There are a handful of factors that go into a successful vegetable garden. Below we’ll cover space, sun, water, soil, and fertilizing. 

How Much Space Do My Vegetables Need?

Once you’ve got your list of vegetables, think about other growing factors like space requirements. Some plants require more space, while smaller varieties can be planted in small containers. 

A tomato plant, for example, needs about 18 – 24” to grow successfully. If you’re growing tomatoes in containers, make sure to only plant one tomato per container. 

On the other hand, leafy greens like lettuce and spinach can be planted close together and harvested as baby greens. 

How Much Sun Do I Need for My Vegetable Garden?

The next component of successfully growing vegetables is sun exposure. Most vegetables need a minimum of six hours of direct sunlight, but eight hours is ideal. Think about your garden placement based on how much sun each area receives. 

An easy way to determine how much sun your garden gets is to do a sun analysis. If you have a full day at home, check the area every hour and make note of whether it gets direct sun or not. At the end of the day, add up how many hours of direct sun you get. This will help you determine which plants will thrive in your area.  

Be aware though, if you’re doing your sun analysis in winter and you have trees nearby, those trees will actually have a full canopy of leaves in summer that will cast shade.

An easy way to start is keeping in mind the following: in the Northern hemisphere, gardens that face South will get the most sunlight. Eastern gardens will receive gentle morning sun and Western gardens will receive hotter afternoon sun. Northern gardens will receive the least amount of light and may cause issues for successful growing. 

How Much to Water Vegetables

Water is another key aspect of vegetable gardening. The amount you water will depend on the time of year, the needs of each plant, and the other growing conditions in your garden. A general rule is that plants don’t like to sit in water, but they do need consistent water. 

Deep watering your plants with longer, less frequent periods of watering will encourage robust root systems that grow deep into the soil. During Summer months, this can look like watering 3-4 times a week at 30 minute intervals, depending on your climate. 

What’s the Best Soil for Edible Plants? 

Last, you’ll need a soil medium based on where and how you’re growing. A well-draining soil that contains organic food for your plants, like compost and fertilizer, is a good option. 

If you’re growing in containers, Espoma’s Organic Potting Mix works great for growing vegetables. If you have an outdoor growing space, the Raised Bed Mix or the Vegetable & Flower Garden Soil work well for edible plants. 

Whatever soil you choose, make sure that it has good drainage. Most of your plants’ root systems need oxygen to grow and don’t like to sit in water. 

If you’re growing in an in-ground garden, a soil test is essential to know what nutrients and heavy metals are in your soil. Your local extension office may have soil testing or be able to direct you to companies that do. You can use Espoma Organic Land & Sea Compost to amend your soil. 

Do I Need to Fertilize My Vegetable Garden? 

Plant nutrients are broken up into macro and micronutrients. The main macronutrients you need to know about are the famous NPK: Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), and Potassium (K).

Starting with high quality soil and compost sets your edible garden up for success. Throughout the growing season, your vegetable garden will use up and absorb many of the macronutrients in your soil, and they will often need to be replaced by using fertilizers.

Use a general fertilizer like Garden-tone or use the plant-specific fertilizer line of “Tones” that Espoma has to offer like Tomato-tone, Berry-tone or Bulb-tone. For a list of Espoma’s wide varieties of “tones,” visit our website.  

The Best Vegetable Gardening Advice

What’s the best advice you can get on starting your edible garden? Just start! Remember to try growing only a few different vegetables, making sure they have the right conditions, and expand from there. We hope this blog inspired you to try growing some of your own vegetables right in your own backyard! 

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About Bloom & Grow Radio Podcast

 

Bloom & Grow Radio Podcast helps people care for plants successfully and cultivate more joy in their lives. Host Maria Failla, a former plant killer turned happy plant lady, interviews experts on various aspects of plant care, and encourages listeners to not only care for plants, but learn to care for themselves along the way.

 

About Our Interviewee

 

The NYBG Edible Academy is a state-of-the-art educational facility featuring hands-on activities and innovative programs that help children, families, teachers, and the general public learn about growing and preparing vegetables, fruit, and herbs while encouraging a lifelong interest in gardening, nutrition awareness, and environmental stewardship. Toby Adams has worked at the NYBG for almost 20 years, and has a passion for helping people understand how to grow food.

 

​​Follow the New York Botanical Garden:

Website

Online Courses

Instagram

Facebook

 

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https://www.espoma.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Vegetable-Gardening-1.png 1080 1080 Matt Dauphinais https://www.espoma.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/espoma-logo340w-1.png Matt Dauphinais2023-04-13 17:02:332024-09-06 14:18:54BAGR 89 Blog: Vegetable Gardening for Beginners

Video: How to Care for Tomatoes with Epic Gardening

June 7, 2021/in Blog, Fruits & Vegetables, Fruits & Vegetables - None, Gardening, Summer Gardening, Vegetable Gardening

Kevin from @Epic Gardening is walking us through how he plans to maintain those tomatoes he recently planted with the help of Espoma. Follow along to hear his top tips!

 

See our guide to growing tomatoes here

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https://www.espoma.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/EG-feature-image.jpeg 360 480 Danielle Kirschner https://www.espoma.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/espoma-logo340w-1.png Danielle Kirschner2021-06-07 13:14:372022-04-12 08:15:48Video: How to Care for Tomatoes with Epic Gardening

Video: Choosing a Trellis for Tomatoes with Epic Gardening

June 2, 2021/in Blog, Espoma Videos, Fruits & Vegetables, Fruits & Vegetables - None, Gardening, Vegetable Gardening

Looking to grow some deliciously plump tomatoes this season? Let Kevin from @Epic Gardening show you the different trellis types that will work best for your space and budget.

See our guide to growing tomatoes here

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https://www.espoma.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/epic-thumbnail-1.jpeg 480 640 Danielle Kirschner https://www.espoma.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/espoma-logo340w-1.png Danielle Kirschner2021-06-02 11:19:432022-04-12 08:16:48Video: Choosing a Trellis for Tomatoes with Epic Gardening

A Seed Ahead: Preserving Tomato Seeds

September 6, 2016/in Blog, Fruits & Vegetables

You’ve had a great season tending to your tomato plants! But with the summer winding down and chilly days coming soon, you may be wondering what to do with your tomato plants now.

Get a head start on spring by preserving the seeds from your tomatoes.

Tomato seeds might be available at the store year-round, but saving your own is satisfying and easy. Luckily, September is the perfect time to begin planning for next year!

How do I pick which seeds to preserve?

The general rule of thumb is to only take ‘open-pollenated’ seeds or heirlooms. Hybrid plants often produce sterile seeds. Or, they do not produce seed with the same desirable traits of the parent plant.

Harvest seeds from tomatoes that are healthy and embody the characteristics you’re interested in preserving. For example, you could pick seeds from the juiciest tomatoes, or the ones with the most interesting colors. It’s your choice, but make sure you pick from healthy plants. Unhealthy plants could carry illnesses.

If possible, save seeds from multiple plants.tomatoes-101845_1920

Method 1: Air-dry

This method is pretty simple. Open the tomato and remove the seeds, squeeze them onto a paper towel, wait for the seeds to air dry and then store them in a jar, an envelope or even the same napkin. This method is quick and straightforward.

Method 2: Ferment

It’s not absolutely necessary to ferment your tomato seeds, but fermenting makes it easier to completely separate seeds from the gel that surrounds them. Fermenting also eliminates the bad seeds and reduces the possibility of seed-borne disease for next season.

1. Wash the tomatoes. Slice each in half across the middle (not the end with the stem). Squeeze the seeds and juice into a (labeled) glass or plastic container.

2. Set containers aside when half-full. Place containers in an area that is out of direct sunlight and out of the way, so the fruit flies and odor will not bother you.

3. Let the seeds sit for three to five days or until the surface of the container shows a whitish mold. This is a good thing! The seeds should be floating at this point. In warmer climates, you may need to add some water to keep the seeds afloat.

4. Gently scrape the mold off with a spoon. Do not remove the seeds.

5. Fill the container with water and then stir it. The seeds you want will sink to the bottom.

6. Pour off the excess to remove floating seeds and pulp.

7. Repeat the process until the good seeds, at the bottom, are cleaned.

8. Pour the good seeds into a strainer, then rinse and drain them.

Storage

An airtight container works best for storage. When packaged correctly, tomato seeds remain usable for up to six years!

You can place the seeds in the refrigerator or freezer, but the seeds will last even when stored at room temperature. When you’re ready to use the seeds, if they’ve been chilling in a refrigerator or freezer, let them adjust to room temperature first to prevent excess condensation from creating any damage.

See our guide to growing tomatoes here

Be sure to visit us on our Facebook page or Twitter page and tell us how you plan to preserve your tomato seeds!

 

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How to Plant Fruits and Veggies in Containers

July 14, 2016/in Espoma Videos

Short on space? Grow fruits and vegetables in galvanized buckets! Laura from Garden Answer shows you how to plant the perfect companion plants for containers. Try zucchini, peppers, tomatoes and marigolds or raspberries with strawberries.

https://www.espoma.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/raspberry-368159_1920.jpg 1280 1920 espoma https://www.espoma.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/espoma-logo340w-1.png espoma2016-07-14 13:01:262019-05-07 10:05:36How to Plant Fruits and Veggies in Containers

Harvesting Tomatoes Made Easy

July 12, 2016/in Fruits & Vegetables

It’s the moment you’ve been waiting for – tomatoes are ready to harvest! You can almost taste the delicious flavors of that first bite.

Whether you’re cooking, canning, freezing or simply eating your tomatoes raw, you’ll want to pick them at the perfect moment. These harvesting tips will ensure your organic tomatoes are ripe when picked.

tomatoes-7605_1920

Timing is Everything

One of the first steps to a successful harvest is keeping a close eye on your tomatoes to determine the best time to pick. Tomatoes are typically ready to harvest 60-85 days after planting seedlings outdoors. However, timing can change depending on your climate and the variety of tomatoes you’re growing.

If you’re planting determinate tomatoes, be ready for a large harvest all at once. These varieties typically set and ripen their fruit within about two weeks.

Indeterminate tomatoes can ripen all summer long, so keep an eye on these varieties throughout the season to ensure peak harvesting times.

tomato-tone, growing tomatoes, organic gardening

Color is Key

When the tomato has even color throughout, it is typically ready to be harvested. Tomatoes often ripen from the bottom up, so check the bottom of the tomato first for mature growth color. Once the entire tomato has reached this color, it is ready to be harvested.

Tomatoes need heat to harvest, and not necessarily light. They continue to ripen on overcast or cloudy days, as long as the temperature is warm. Tomatoes can even continue to ripen off the vine. If you live in an area with an especially hot climate, it’s better to pick the tomato from the vine before it reaches its mature color. Tomatoes will continue to ripen and change color as long as they are stored in warm temperatures.

tomato-tone, growing tomatoes, organic gardening

Trust Your Instincts

When it comes to harvesting tomatoes, trust your intuition. Ripe tomatoes should feel firm, but not hard. Overripe tomatoes will be soft and can be composted. Ripe tomatoes should feel full and heavy. Under ripe tomatoes are often lightweight and need more time on the vine before harvesting.

Keep a close eye on your tomato plants as harvest times come near. Overripe tomatoes typically become too heavy and fall from the vine. This can lead to disease and rot, causing you to lose a large portion of your harvest.

When tomatoes are ready to harvest, simply twist off the vine by hand or use clippers for larger tomatoes. Cut the stem close to the fruit and enjoy!

How do you plan on using your fresh tomato harvest?

See our guide to growing tomatoes here
https://www.espoma.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/tomatoes-101845_1920.jpg 1440 1920 espoma https://www.espoma.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/espoma-logo340w-1.png espoma2016-07-12 08:00:112022-04-12 09:26:37Harvesting Tomatoes Made Easy
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