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Organic Tomatoes and Tomatilloes - Growing and Seed Saving Info

PLANTING INFO: Days to maturity are from transplants. Planting depth: 1/4". Field Tomatoes- Plant spacing: for determinate varieties 12-18", for indeterminate 24-36". Row spacing: 4-6’ centers. Greenhouse Tomatoes- Plant spacing: 16-24”, maintain 4 square ft/plant. Row Spacing: 4-5’ centers. CULTURAL INFO: Tomatoes are warm season tender annuals. Indeterminate varieties bear fruit over a long period of time and typically require trellising or staking. Determinate types have a concentrated fruit set and a shorter growth habit, therefore don’t require trellising. Heavily fertilized soil results in more

foliage, softer fruits, and less flowering. In the northern climates, transplanting after danger of frost is recommended. Start seeds 6-8 weeks before planting date (do not start too early; transplants will suffer if allowed to become root bound and leggy). Optimal soil temperature for germination is 75-85°F.  Harden off transplants by reducing water and nitrogen fertilizer.  For varieties requiring staking, place stake in row every two or three plants, tie twine to end stake and walk down one side of the row, looping twine around each stake until the end. Return down the other side of row, again looping twine around each stake, so that plants are sandwiched between two sides of twine. Harvest tomatoes fully ripe for best flavor. Tomatoes can also be harvested green or at first blush and ripened off the vine at temperatures above 70°F. Store between 55° - 70°F at 95% relative humidity. Storing below 50°F can result in chilling damage. 

DISEASE & PESTS:
The most problematic disease for tomato growers in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Midwest is early blight, caused by Alternaria solani and Alternaria alternata in cooperation with Septoria lycopersici. Early blight is best treated early with regular applications of fungicidal sprays such as oxidate and/or copper hydroxide. Field tomatoes are also subject to several common diseases that affect fruit quality, such as bacterial speck (Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato) and anthracnose (Colletotrichum coccodes). Symptoms include black spots on the fruit; the size (less than 2 mm) distinguishes bacterial spec from bacterial canker and bacterial spot, two other bacterial diseases which case larger fruit spots. The best prevention for all bacterial diseases is to use odisease-free seed and to avoid contact with plants during moist conditions. Bacterial canker (Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis) has become more common in recent years with the increase in greenhouse tomato operations. The most distinctive symptom of are raised, light tan, “birds-eye” cankers, no more than 3 mm in size. Diseased plants should immediately be removed and destroyed to prevent spread. Most sprays are largely ineffective and can serve to spread the disease.  See Potatoes for common pest problems.

RESISTANCE KEY:
ASC-Alternaria Stem Canker, FF-Fulvia fulvia Blight, FW-Fusarium Wilt, LM-Leaf Mold, TMV-Tomato Mosaic Virus, VW-Verticillium Wilt

SEED SPECS:
Varies widely per variety. Cherry & Saladette Size- 280-420 seeds/gram, (350 avg), 8-12M seeds/oz, (10M avg); Full Size- 225-335 seeds/gram, (280 avg) 6,500-9,500 seeds/oz, (8M avg). M=1,000

SEEDING RATES:
Determinate- 660 plants/1000’ (~ 3 grams), 5,000 plants/acre (~ 1 oz), using 18” plant spacing, 6’ center rows. Indeterminate- 500 plants/1000’ (for cherry ~ 2 grams; for full size ~ 3 grams) 3,600 plants/acre (for cherry ~ 14 grams; for full size ~18 grams), using 24” plant spacing, 6’ center rows.

SEED SAVING INSTRUCTIONS:
Self pollinated. Different tomato varieties rarely cross with one another so isolation distances are not generally required. The seed is mature when the tomato itself is ripe. Squeeze the seeds and juice into a jar and add about the same amount of water. Allow this liquid to ferment in a warm place for 3-5 days, stirring daily, until the seeds have sunk to the bottom of the jar. Rinse the seeds and allow to dry on a paper plate or cloth. Use of a 1/8" screen can help with cleaning. Tomato seeds remain viable for 4-10 years under cool and dry storage conditions.