INTRODUCTION
Gardeners in Southern Nevada often plant tomatoes throughout the month of March. The area’s final frost date is March 15. Planting a few days or several weeks earlier is better because tomatoes need a number of days before they will bloom and produce fruit. It is advisable to start planting tomatoes early since temperatures may rise sooner than normal. Most cultivars will not set fruit if the temperature rises over 90°F during the day and falls below 55°F at night.
SELECTING VARIETIES
Backyard tomato growers have a vast variety of sizes, styles, and colors to choose from. They range in size from the cherry type, like Sweet 100, to the one – two pound giants, such as Big Boy. In the middle are medium-sized tomatoes like Early Girl. In addition to round, red tomatoes, there are yellow types shaped like pears and plums. Even paste tomatoes like Romano Hybrid thrive in the home garden. Tomato flavors and sweetness vary widely. A favorite may be discovered with a little exploration.
Selecting tomato varieties adapted to Southern Nevada determines both the quality and quantity of tomatoes grown in the yard. Some varieties have the ability to set fruit early in the season before hot weather arrives. Certain types are less susceptible to sunburn, cat facing, and other issues. This is critical for tomato growers.
TYPES OF TOMATOES
Early varieties provide a crop in 50 to 60 days. Main season cultivars might take up to 80 days or longer to mature. Plant some of each kind to lengthen the harvest season. Tomatoes are often categorised according on their usage. Most conventional cultivars have been altered for a number of tasks like as slicing, canning, and salad presentation. Large, meaty tomatoes are particularly popular for slicing. The pear-shaped or thick skinned types are nearly seedless and are a favorite for cooking, canning and juicing. Use the little cherry tomatoes in salads or as a snack.
Tomatoes are classified as determinate or indeterminate. Determinate or bush tomato vines are typically bushy and grow 1 – 3 feet long. The main stem and suckers each yield three bloom clusters. The plant stops growing after blooms appear at the tips of the branches. They set the fruit once and then cease. They can be staked and trimmed, however trimming back suckers reduces fruit output. Indeterminate tomatoes have vines that may grow up to six feet long. This type makes up three fourths of all tomato cultivars and most produce about three flower clusters at every second leaf. They keep growing and producing unless stopped by frost or disease. This enables for fresh tomato harvesting over many months.
ROTATION OF CROPS
Alternating or rotating crops promotes soil fertility and aids in the management of insects and illnesses. It is one of the most effective methods of preventing tomato problems caused by bacteria or fungus in the soil. It also “starves out” the disease-causing organism by keeping sensitive crop plants away from the region for many years.
PLANTING FROM SEEDS AND TRANSPLANTS
The majority of tomato transplants acquired from nurseries are reliable and decent kinds. Nevertheless, certain cultivars must be produced from seed in order to take benefit of the complete variety of available cultivars. Unwanted seeds may normally be kept correctly for three years.
Six to eight weeks before the average last frost in Southern Nevada, which is March 15, sow seeds ¼ ” deep and 1″ apart in well drained flats or any large containers. To prevent illness concerns, use a sterile potting mix. To harden the seeds, softly pat the soil. Direct watering should not be used to dislodge seed. Using a spray bottle, thoroughly wet the surface.
After planting, wrap the flat or container in a wide clear plastic bag to keep moisture and heat in for rapid germination. Maintain a moist but not damp seeding mixture. The seeds germinate in 7 to 14 days. Remove the covering as soon as the seedlings emerge, and then provide full light but not direct sunlight to these plants. Maintain a temperature of 70° and water on a regular basis. Fertilize once a week with fish emulsion and remove any weak or sickly seedlings.
When the second set of leaves appears, transplant to individual four inch peat pots, burying the stems slightly deeper than they stood previously. Unless they are going straight into the ground, nursery bought transplants should be transplanted in separate pots. Otherwise, they will get root bound and produce blooms but little fruit.
Give seedlings less water and more morning light after the first transplanting. Water the plants less often as the weather warms up before placing them in the garden. Plant them in a location where they will only get morning light and afternoon shade.
Remove the lowest leaves from transplants before placing them in the soil. Leave the main stem, which has leaves on both sides, alone. If feasible, dig a hole at least one foot deep. Fill the hole with water and allow it to drain. This will give the plant the moisture necessary for its growth. Combine organic stuff with the dirt used to fill the hole. Plant the tomato so only the tip of the tomato plant with its leaves are above the surface. Bury the rest of the stem in the ground. Additional roots will grow where the lower leaves were removed. This will strengthen the tomato’s root system and make it a stronger plant.
GROWING GUIDELINES
Water in moderation. A thorough soak is preferable than multiple gentle waterings. Tomato roots may grow deep into the soil profile. They will not seek out water, but grow where water and oxygen are. The use of organic matter in the soil improves aeration and water retention.
Mulch should be applied one to two inches thick to smother weeds and retain moisture. Cultivate lightly or pull weeds that grow through the mulch before they set seeds. Weeds are controlled best when they are less than a dime across.
Fertilize plants once a month until the fruits appear. When the tomatoes are ripe, stop fertilizing. Utilize 2-1-1 early in the game and 1-2-1 afterwards.
The tomato reproduces by itself. Pollination, on the other hand, requires the presence of insects or wind. Every few days, tapping the open flower clusters releases pollen to fertilize the bloom. To enhance fruit set and boost output, use a fruit set hormone, which is available at most nurseries. The hormone is important when temperatures hover around 55°F at night and 90°F during the day
TOMATOES IN CONTAINERS
Tomatoes are highly suited to container growing. Many varieties such as Patio, cherry tomatoes, and even some of the larger varieties do well if given proper care.
The container may be a half-barrel, a five gallon can, a plastic bag, or whatever you have available. Make sure there is enough drainage.
The material in the container must be kept moist. Use a diluted liquid fertilizer to fertilize.
TOMATO INSECTS
Hornworms are green with white stripes running diagonally. These are hawkmoth caterpillars that may grow up to five inches long and have a single hornlike tail process. They have a four to five inch wingspan and are the larval stage of the grayish brown sphinx oth. The caterpillars are often hard to see at first because they ling to the undersides of leaves and stems. Its green tint is excellent for concealment.
Whiteflies come in swarms, sucking sap from plants. A almost translucent wingless nymph is the immature form. It excretes a sticky sweet material that attracts ants as it feeds. Adults resemble small white moths. When disturbed, they usually eat together and fly up in a cloud. Fruit worm larvae are 1″ to 2″ long, light yellow, green, or brown in color, with white and dark stripes along the sides, yellow heads, and black legs. Adults are tan moths with wingspans ranging from 12″ to 2″. Larvae crawl into ripe tomatoes, eating the buds and chewing big holes in the leaves. Infested tomatoes are wormy, rotting, and unfit for human consumption.
TOMATO DISEASES
The easiest approach to prevent tomato issues is to use disease-resistant types. Always check the label for the letters VFN which mean they are resistant to Verticillium wilt, Fusarium wilt and Nematodes.
The fungus that causes Verticillium wilt. In the heat of the day, plants wilt, lose their leaves, and finally die. There are no available chemical controls. As with fusarium wilt, the best control is to plant disease-resistant varieties. Planting should be avoided in soil where this disease has been a concern.
Fusarium wilt is caused by a fungus. Usually the lower leaves on the stem turn yellow and die then gradually the whole stem. There are no pharmaceutical treatments for this condition. The best control is to plant disease resistant varieties and avoid planting where the disease has been a problem.
Nematodes are little round worms or eelworms that cannot be seen with the naked eye. They may be found in the soil, decomposing organic debris, or as parasites. Examine the roots for swollen, knotty galls which indicate plant injury. Crop rotation is perhaps one of the most inexpensive yet effective measures in controlling nematodes.
Related Questions
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What are the best tomato plants for Las Vegas?
Due of the hot heat in Las Vegas, tomatoes have a limited growth season, therefore choose short-season types. I hear good reports about Celebrity, Early Girl, Brandywine, Champion, Heat Wave, Better Boy, Hawaiian, Heartland, Patio and a host of cherry tomatoes.
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What is the most efficient way to grow tomatoes?
More Sun Equals More Fruit
Plants should get seven hours of sunlight every day. Let your plants to develop as well. Put seedlings 30 to 48 inches apart, with rows separated by 48 inches. Allowing space between tomato plants allows light into the lowest regions of mature plants, improves air movement, and aids in disease prevention. -
What are the best tomatoes to grow in a hot climate?
Cherry tomatoes are the ideal kind to cultivate in hot settings since they are heat and humidity resistant. Heirloom tomatoes are another an option, however they are significantly less resilient in hot, humid regions. But, if you reside in a subtropical climate, they should be alright.
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When should you plant tomatoes in Las Vegas?
Planting Dates for Spring
Crop Based on Frost Dates Based on Moon Dates Start Seeds Indoors Plant Seedlings or Transplants Tomatoes Jan 4-18 Jan 4- 6 Mar 8-29 Mar 21-29 Turnips N/A N/A Watermelons Feb 1- 8 Feb 1- 5 Mar 15-29 Mar 21-29
