by Lisa Giroday, Sandra Lopuch and Sam Philips | Oh, yes! The time has finally arrived! The sun is shining and the weather is warm, so it’s the day all gardeners dream of and long for, tomato transplant time! Tomatoes are such a fetish fruit in Vancouver since they pose such a challenge to ripen in time. It’s an emotional rollercoaster babysitting the little seedlings from germination to the moment when they are finally ready to be set outdoors. Even if you are starting by transplanting alone it can be a ride. We at VG have a couple of pointers to help ease the tensions associated with growing tomatoes…

We said it in a post last year around the tomato harvest and we’ll say it again: For god’s sake, choose at least one cherry tomato variety, such as Gold Nugget. They are sure to ripen in our climate. Alternatively, choose a variety that has a shorter maturation time, and one suited to cooler climates, like Early Cascade. And don’t forget that tomatoes are great in containers, too.

Are the night-time temperatures sitting around 13 degrees at night? If they are, it’s a good indication that it’s time for the tomatoes to leave the greenhouse (or nursery) and get into your garden. Remember that tomatoes need full sun exposure, so plant accordingly.

A few planting tips: tomatoes are heavy feeders, so add compost. Mix in a scoop of organic fertilizer into the transplant hole; one that is specific for tomatoes (there will be more Phosphorus, which is associated with fruit development). Bury the stalk up to their first set of true leaves, or even deeper! Yes, that’s right. Tomato roots develop off the stalk, and the bigger the root ball, the bigger the fruit. And, when pruning, pinch off the “suckers” on indeterminate varieties – these types will keep growing and producing fruit until frost. These “suckers” are the offshoots that develop in the “elbow” (or “crotch”) that juts out between the stalk and stem of the plant. This encourages the plant’s energy to focus more on producing juicy tomatoes, not leafy growth.

Your tomatoes will need support, so use a cage for bush (determinate) varieties, and trellis or stakes to tie up vine (indeterminate) varieties as they grow.

And finally, planting under an overhang, on a covered deck, or in a greenhouse (or hoop house) will aid in helping fruit production in our wet climate. That being said, if you set them outside, you’ll be sure to reap rewards, too. If you do cover your tomatoes, remember that they don’t rely on insects for pollination. Vibrating the plant shakes pollen loose within the flowers, which then self-pollinate. Even though the wind does this naturally, just make sure your tomatoes are getting a little extra shake here and there.

Gold Nugget, Green Zebra, Amana Orange, Italian Heart, Sweet 100, Black Krim and Juliet Roma are a few varieties we are featuring this season. And be sure to plant basil alongside your tomatoes! Not only are they a great companion plant for a multitude of reasons, they convene in the best culinary locations: on the top of your pizzas, in Caprese salads, and in your homemade pasta sauces.

———————————————————————————

Victory Gardens is a team of local urban farmers for hire. Lisa, Sandra and Sam help transform tired or underused residential and commercial green spaces into food producing gardens. Their goal is to challenge the way communities use space and to participate in the change needed to consume food more sustainably. For the rest of the growing season, they’ve hooked up with Scout to share some cool tips and tricks on how to get the best from of our own backyards.