Have you been picking tomatoes for weeks? This time of year, our gardens really start taking off. If you have excess produce, we have a great recipe for you! This video shows tomato plant care tips, harvesting information, and a delicious salsa recipe!
By: Cassie Homan
The hot weather we have had recently not only interferes with flower pollination but also can affect how quickly fruit matures. The best temperature for tomato growth and fruit development is 85 to 90F. When temperatures exceed 100 degrees, the plant goes into survival mode and concentrates on moving water. Fruit development slows to a crawl. When temperatures moderate, even to the low to mid 90s, the fruit will ripen more quickly.
Tomato color can also be affected by heat. When temperatures rise above 95 degrees F, red pigments don’t form properly though the orange and yellow pigments do. This results in orange fruit. This doesn’t affect the edibility of the tomato, but often gardeners want that deep red color back.
So, can we do anything to help our tomatoes ripen and have good color during extreme heat? Sure, there is. We can pick tomatoes in the “breaker” stage. Breaker stage tomatoes are those that have started to turn color. At this point, the tomato has cut itself off from the vine and nothing will be gained by keeping it on the plant. If tomatoes are picked at this stage and brought into an air-conditioned house, they will ripen more quickly and develop a good, red color. A temperature of 75 to 85 degrees F will work well.
By: Cassie Homan
Tomatoes may have that tasty zing that makes them tart and tasty. But in reality, they are not as acidic as they seem, especially when canning tomatoes.
Tomatoes have a pH value around 4.6 which makes them unsafe to can by themselves, with many varieties above 4.6. All tomatoes must be acidified with either citric acid, bottled lemon juice, or vinegar with 5% acidity in both water bath and pressure canning processing.
Without this added acid, tomatoes will likely ferment and spoil. Learn more in Preserve it Fresh, Preserve it Safe: Tomatoes.
By: Ashley Svaty
Everyone loves to grow tomatoes but unfortunately, they can be prone to disease. If your tomatoes have ever looked brown and splotchy you might have a leaf spot disease. The link below will help guide you when diagnosing and preventing tomato disease.
http://www.ksuhortnewsletter.org/newsletters/tomato-leaf-spot-diseases4919005
By: Cassie Homan
Do you want to have the best tomato plants ever this year? Follow the step in this guide to have beautiful tomatoes all season long.
Post Rock Extension Blog: http://postrockextension.blogspot.com/2018/05/growing-tomatoes-101.html
By: Cassie Homan
Have your tomatoes not been producing like they should this year? We have some solutions to the most common issues you will see in your garden.
Watch this video for a successful harvest:
By: Cassie Homan
