Garden Markers Shine the Light on Your Tomato Varieties
Tomatoes are one of the best reasons to start your own backyard garden. They are relatively easy to grow, and one plant will yield plenty of tomatoes for your table. All tomatoes are not created equal, though. Plant a variety of tomatoes, and use garden markers to distinguish between types and give them individualized care.
While any homegrown tomato is sure to please, there are certain considerations that go into choosing the right plants for your garden. Take a look at some of the factors you’ll want to keep in mind while shopping at your local nursery:
Resistance to disease: Working to cultivate a beautiful tomato plant can be so defeating if you then find that your plants aren’t able to resist the verticillium or fusarium wilt. It’s easy to tell which varieties of tomatoes will resist these diseases because they will have “V” or “F” after the name. You should also talk with your local nursery to see if there’s a risk of root-knot nematode or tobacco mosaic virus in your region, because some species are able to combat these diseases, too.
Growth conditions: Of course, all tomatoes need sun, soil and ample watering, but you also need to consider the space necessary to grow your chosen tomato varieties:
- Determinant plants grow to about two feet, then focus their energy on producing and ripening fruit
- Indeterminate varieties are unlimited in their growth
If you have a small space or plan to do a potted tomato plant, it’s best to stick with a determinant variety. Be sure to use garden markers so that you don’t mistakenly plant other vegetables too close to an indeterminate variety, as it may block sun and hinder the growth of both plants.
Time to maturity: This is a concern if you live in a location with a relatively short growing season. Be careful to check the timing and compare with the weeks of summer that remain. Tomatoes thrive in sun and warmth, so if you live in a cooler climate, look for varieties that ripen in 75 days.
Characteristics of the fruit: For many people, this is the consideration that most heavily informs their choice of tomato plants. Your preferences largely depend on how you want to use your tomatoes. Some people favor varieties that slice well for sandwiches, while others prefer types that dry well for sun-dried tomatoes.
No matter which tomato characteristics you prefer, you’ll love the juicy, hearty taste of tomatoes that you can pick right from your garden. Keep all of your tomato plants straight with garden markers from Kincaid Plant Markers. Durable and attractive, you’ll appreciate their neat appearance year after year.
