Growing Tomatoes in Florida Takes Planning and Vigilance
By Carmen and Tripp Eldridge
Organic vegetables are all the rage, so why not plant some of your own? In South Florida, August to February is perfect planting period for tomatoes, so we wanted to share a few tips and tricks for adding this amazing vegetable to your home-grown menu.
Tomatoes aren’t the easiest thing to grow given their vulnerability to pests and disease in South Florida’s hot and humid conditions. But they are definitely worth the effort. Seeing these little love-apples ripen in your garden and tasting a self-grown tomato for the first time are incredibly rewarding experiences.
The first step to starting your own tomato garden is to define your growing area. Do you have a lot of space or just a little? Think carefully because some types of tomatoes take up more room than others. If space for your tomato garden is tight, consider a determinate variety, which tends to grow in a compact, bush like shape. Indeterminate types grow long, lanky and sometimes climb. They may have to be staked in place to keep the tomatoes from rotting on the ground.
If you’re really short on space, consider container gardening, which is a fancy term for growing plants in pots or trays. It’s important to note that tomatoes require four to six hours of sun a day, so make sure you choose the right spot.
Here are a few tips to help you get started:
- Choose the right variety of tomato plant.
If you’ve ever tried growing tomatoes in Florida, you may already know it can be challenging. The problem is gardeners choose tomatoes that are susceptible to diseases and pests that kill the plants quickly. “Determinate” varieties are resistant to Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus and bacterial wilt, which destroy tomato plants in short order. Make sure you know what type of tomato you are planting and what type of diseases can hurt the plant. Be sure to check out University of Florida’s recommended varieties for our state in their Vegetable Gardening Guide.
- Fertilize your tomato plants when they are young and water them regularly.
Healthy tomato plants require less fertilizer as they age so don’t overdo it. Tomato plants love sun and water, so make sure your plants get plenty of water when the days get long and hot.
- Beware the tomato hornworm.
The gigantic, rubbery bright green caterpillars appear seemingly out of nowhere and can completely defoliate a plant and chew holes in the fruit. What do you do if your plants are invaded? Pick the worms off by hand or they will destroy your plants and devour the tomatoes on them. If you drop the hornworms in a bowl of soapy water, they will never trouble you again. Spraying your plants with a mixture of organic Neem oil and water is one way to keep the hornworms at bay. Neem, however, is only effective if the worms are less than an inch long, so be sure to scout often in the early morning in order to notice them when they first arrive and are young.
- Containers or in the ground?
If you decide to plant your tomatoes in pots, use containers that are at least five gallons per plant. Choose a rich, well-draining soil mix and make sure the container has a few drainage holes in the bottom. If you plant your tomatoes in the ground, space the plants 18 inches to two feet apart. The soil should be well-drained. Fertilize as necessary.
Ready to start your gardening adventure? Pick your plants, choose your space and get ready to get your hands dirty. Plan it correctly and your organic harvest will be well worth your time and effort.
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About the Authors
Carmen and Tripp Eldridge are small-scale farming experts and the current Farm Directors at Arden, an award-winning residential agrihood in Palm Beach County, FL. Managing the community’s five-acre farm, Tripp and Carmen are pioneering innovative farm-to-table living in South Florida.