I set out to grow my own tomatoes, experimenting with different varieties and learning through trial and error. From seed-starting to harvest, it’s been a season filled with lessons, surprises, and, of course, delicious tomatoes. Here’s a recap of what I planted, the challenges I faced, and the successes I had along the way.
What I Planted & When
I started my tomato season with a mix of varieties, aiming for a balance of flavor, productivity, and resilience. Here’s what I planted:
- Two Cherry tomatoes for snacking from Rro Specie Rara planted in raised bed
- Three indeterminate heirloom slicing tomatoes: Copia and Brandywine pink from Livingseeds, planted in raised bed
- 3 determinate paste tomatoes for homemade tomato sauce planted as seedlings, planted in raised bed and pots
- I started the seeds outdoors in a planter box in early August and transplanted into the garden in October. By early January, the tomatoes began ripening, with the cherry tomatoes coming in first.
Challenges & Problems Faced
No gardening season is without its struggles! Here are some of the biggest challenges I faced:
- Weather Although frost isn’t a concern in this area, the winter was long and wet, making the start of the season feel slow. On the other hand, summer was particularly hot, which posed its own challenges, especially attracting pest early in the season.
- Pests & Diseases
- Early on, leafminer damage became evident and spread quickly. To combat this, I set up a Tuta Absoluta lure from Livingseeds and regularly sprayed the plants with Bt. This approach worked well, and the issue was resolved quickly.
- As the season progressed, blight became a problem, especially for the determinate plants in pots, which were the first to decline. More frequent fertilization might have helped extend their lifespan.
- Another major pest was small worms that burrowed into the fruit through tiny holes near the stem. I don’t think they were tomato hornworms, but I’m still unsure. Alternating Bt with Bioneem helped curb the damage.
- Botton end rot: Especially the determinate but also the slicing tomatoes in the raised bed were affected by this. I have not looked into it enough but will do so before the next season. The tomatoes were still great and as the season progressed they were less affected.
- Fertilizer: I prepped the raised bed with fresh compost, but despite my best intentions to fertilize regularly with kelp and fish fertilizer, I fell short. I started strong with a few feedings but eventually neglected it.
Successes & Harvest Recap
Despite the challenges, I had some great successes this season:
Best Performing Varieties
- A yellow-green cherry tomato variety thrived beyond expectation, outperforming all others. Since this was part of a seed mix, I am saving the seeds for the next planting.
- The heirloom slicing varieties required more attention and didn’t fare well if left alone for a few days, but their flavor was exceptional.
- The determinate paste tomato plant in the raised bed was incredibly productive, contributing to several jars of canned tomato sauce.
Taste & Quality
- ‘Copia’ from Livingseeds was a standout—its beautiful orange-marbled skin and fruity taste made it one of my favorites!
Considering the space I have, the number of plants was just right, and the mix of determinate, indeterminate, and cherry tomatoes worked well. I might experiment with different varieties next year.
Changes for Next Year
- I used a single stake to support the indeterminate tomatoes, which worked, but I’d like to explore a better trellising system next season.
- I need to commit to a regular fertilizing schedule to ensure better plant health.
Despite a few hurdles, I’m excited to refine my approach next season and (hopefully) grow an even better harvest. Until then, I’ll be enjoying the last of these tomatoes and planning for the next round!