Cut tomatoes lengthwise from stem to blossom end to retain more juice in each slice. Use them for slicing on a place, into a salad, or on a sandwich. The red tomato is listed on most nutritional lists as a superfood. Heirloom. Remove your plant from the pot by loosening the soil and tipping it out into your hand. Cut stems close to fruits. Gently grab and twist until the tomato pulls free from the stem, or use a pair of clippers. Bold colors. Use a serrated knife or very sharp non-serrated knife to slice or chop tomatoes or prick the skin to get a slice going. (10 cm) across. It's very tempting to put them closer at planting time, but if you get them too close you'll only increase the chance of disease. Water is used more efficiently this way and the leaves don't get wet. Plant deeply, burying 2/3 of the stem. Check progress daily. Store tomatoes at room temperature for 2 to 3 days, away from direct sunlight until ready to use. The tiny hairs on the stalk have the potential to become additional roots, which will stabilize your plant well in the soil. Growing only 18 in. Harvesting: In general, perfectly ripe tomatoes show deep color but still feel firm when gently squeezed. The bag will help to keep some of the natural ethylene gas in place, which aids in the ripening process. Tomatoes can be harvested when they begin to show color, as they will continue to ripen. Hybrid. American breeders made modifications to the original tomato, which continues to be one of … The large, red fruits have a thick flesh with... An improved hybrid, this huge red beefsteak produces large, meaty, classic beefsteak-type tomatoes on indeterminate vines until frost. Use drip or soaker hoses whenever possible. Pair with a…, The free gardening app you've been waiting for. Plants may stop setting fruit when temperatures dip below 55˚ F or climb above 90˚ F. Blossom end rot can be a problem, as can misshapen fruit. Soil pH should be 6.2 to 6.8. This indeterminate variety grows to about the size of a tennis ball and has the look and shape of what most people would equate with a “standard” tomato. Refrigerate only extra-ripe tomatoes you want to keep from ripening any further. Sales soared. Plant tomatoes in the ground 24 to 36 in. Some Bonnie Plants varieties may not be available in your local area, due to different variables in certain regions. When gardeners talk about the “first” tomatoes, Early Girl is always there. Tomatoes will store longer if you allow stems and caps to remain in place until you’re ready to eat them. Common issues: Pest-wise, watch out for tomato hornworms (big green caterpillars), slugs, pill bugs, rodents. Be sure to monitor water, as containers dry out more quickly than plants in the ground. Start the tomato season off with these early-maturing cherry tomatoes. Punch several holes all around the bag and fold the top over. Early Girl bears lots of fruit for early harvest, but because the vines are indeterminate, they continue producing through summer. It is packed with the antioxidant vitamins A and C, potassium and the B vitamins for heart health, and above all a powerful carotenoid called lycopene. For peak flavor and nutrition, use within a week, although keeping time depends on how ripe fruit is when you pick it. And it’s blessed with the best upbringing a young plant can have: Miracle-Gro Head Start. Each row should be spaced 48 inches apart. When tomatoes are cooked, even more lycopene is made available. This is a great choice that bears sizeable fruits on a very compact plant that works well in containers and... Heirloom. Tomatoes can be grown easily in patio containers. This helps to reduce disease problems. Tomatoes originated in the South American Andes in a region that now makes up parts of Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador. Depending on how under-ripe they are, tomatoes may take one to five days to ripen. Also, if any variety is a limited, regional variety it will be noted on the pertinent variety page. Refill the space around your plant with soil and press lightly to compact the dirt, keeping your plant firmly in the ground. Growing only 18 in. A true bush-type plant, Bush Early Girl is perfect for large patio pots – amazingly compact yet productive. An old variety from the University of Arkansas, this indeterminate vine produces pink, mild fruit until frost. A true bush-type plant, Bush Early Girl is perfect for large patio pots – amazingly compact yet productive. Unfortunately, refrigeration renders them tasteless and turns the flesh to mush. This phytonutrient, which is responsible for the bright red color of tomatoes, has been studied for its role in fighting various cancers, and its ability to lower cholesterol. Look up your specific variety for more details. For more information, visit the Tomatoes page in our How to Grow section. Early Girl tomatoes are an extremely popular variety that is one of the most common supermarket and backyard garden varieties in the U.S. So much to grow, so little time. Use it to jump start your harvest. Lycopene has been shown to be especially effective when eaten with fat-rich foods such as avocado, olive oil, or nuts. Refrigeration also slows ripening of tomatoes. When inspiration grows all around you, you can’t help but create masterpieces. Higher-yielding and earlier than other compact varieties, these large red fruits have excellent flavor. Frost-fighting plan: Tomato is a warm-weather crop—even a light frost will damage plants (28º F to 32º F).