Tomato newbie, Please help!!

12 years ago

I just recently planted tomatoes in my raised bed. They are cherry tomatoes, bigboys, and brandywines. How often do I water them now that its turning summer (its hot where I am (florida))? Is it better to use stakes or cages for them to grow? when do they start producing? Do they continue growing through each year or do they die after fruiting? How do I keep from raccoons getting them? I can't afford an electric fence and they can climb a regular fence.

Your help is much appreciated, Thank you!!!

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Comments (3)

johns.coastal.patio
12 years ago
I would't put myself as top tomato expert in any crowd, but since I have a few minutes, I'll share my guesses.

Watering: There are rules of thumb, number of time to water per week, etc., but I think the most important thing is to get a feel for what a happy plant looks like (leaves high, stiff in the breeze) and then as it starts to get a little parched (leaves hang a little looser), and then of course the to be avoided full wilt.

Growing up I was told tomatoes like it dry, and I try to keep them somewhat on the edge, happy, but less water would make them look a little parched.

Maybe that's not the best plan, and I can learn something here too.

Stakes or Cages: people use everything, but a healthy tomato will overgrow and perhaps topple small cages. Big cages or big stakes.

When: the varieties all quote a "days to harvest" for what that's worth. I guess it starts from seed, right? So a 4 week plant already has 30 days built in?

Season: We have some in California last to December, sometimes, I'd think Florida would do even better.

Raccoons: lol, no idea!
cold_weather_is_evil
12 years ago
>> How often do I water them now that its turning summer (its hot where
>> I am (florida))?

Just to illustrate that there are no hard and fast rules for tomatoes, I live in climate sorta similar to Florida, except it's dry (we get as much rain in a year as you get in a wet two days) and the temperature swings are larger because of that dryness. I water toms on a slow auto drip every single day. Here, it works but in many other parts of the world it would be a bad idea.

And take the "days until harvest" numbers with a BIG grain of salt. The numbers have some hype built in. Again, your climate and techniques dictate reality. Wing it!
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digdirt2
12 years ago
I'll stick with the racoon part of the question since the answers to all your other questions are found in many, many of the existing discussions here - lots of homework reading to do including all the FAQs here that cover all the basics. For example just type 'cages or stakes' in the search engine at the bottom of the page or 'watering'.

But racoons I deal with weekly. Electrical fencing is ideal of course. If that is out regular fencing is better than nothing especially if it is lose, floppy, and angled out. The repellents work but have to be applied regularly and after every rain. I find coyote urine to be the most effective. Life trapping and relocating is very effective - Have A Heart traps. And if you are out in the country, a .22 works too.

Dave