Newly Revised How to Grow Better Tomatoes Booklet

I've been promising people for a few weeks that I will revise my Grow Better Backyard Tomatoes Booklet, and now I've finally done it.  I even made it a whole separate page.  Click here to go there.

If you think that it's basically the same as my previous versions, don't think that.  There are a lot of new tips and techniques in there, different from previous years, that will help all of you grow better tomatoes.

There is also a whole separate section (near the bottom of the document) that is dedicated just to growing tomatoes in pots.  If you've ever wondered how to grow tomatoes in pots, please read that.  Growing in pots is trickier and requires know-how and extra effort. 

I'm dedicated to helping people grow better tomatoes, so please feel free to forward the page to your tomato lovin' friends. 

If you have additional questions after reading the page, don't hesitate to email me at loveapplefarm@gmail.com to inquire further.

Good luck to everyone on a great tomato season.

Comments

[Jenn]

Thank you for the link to your booklet. I've been doing some things wrong and can not wait for our growing season to get under way so I can give it another go!

[Chris Stanek]

Thank you for clearly defining the steps necessary to grow healthy tomatoes.
Chris Stanek

[britt]

I was so excited to get this in my inbox today. Wow. So much information and this is my first real garden attempt so I need all the help I can get. I will print this out and hopefully remember it all when I go to plant the tomatoes in May. Thanks!

[christopher]

Cynthia, you are the Tomato Goddess. Your tireless commitment to all tomato lovers is an inspiration to this southerner, who grew up on Tomato Gravy and Fried 'Red' Tomatoes! Thanks for helping us 'change the world through better tomatoes'!

[Lauren Mcnitt]

Hello again, and thank you again for your very helpful information on organic growing methods. I live in Colorado, and am collaborating with other gardeners here to find what methods and varieties adapt to our conditions: low humidity, high summer day temperatures, low night time temperatures, clay soils. Your organic pest control and amendment suggestions for tomato-growing are particularly interesting to me, and will be easily transferable to our climate and soil conditions. I find useful and inspiring information every time I read your newsletter. Thank you.

[Ruth Neumann]

I just love your tomato cage building instructions and am definatly going to try to make some this year (the flopsy wire cages have been sitting in my garage for the past year because letting the tomatoes sprawl all over the ground was better than watching them beat themselves to death on the flopsy wire cages and having to set them up again after every windy day!!!)

[Margaret]

Are there variety of tomatoes that will produce a later crop? We seam to be overwhelmed by our harvest in August and September, but underwhelmed in October and November.

[Steve K]

Great site! I have MANY 1 gallon pots that I'll bring over. I can't wait for nights to warm up to 50*. I can almost taste those green zebras still warm from the sunshine. And Sungold cherries.

[Damara]

I love opening up my email in the morning and seeing a posting from Love Apple Farm. It is an inspiration and always a source of wisdom. Thank you for being so generous. I look forward to reading the new tomato booklet.

cheers,
~damara

[Diana Chapman]

Cynthia,

I appreciate your generousity by sharing all of your wisdom that you have acquired through much experimentation. I'm so very excited to successfully grow a wonderful crop this year!
In gratitude,
Diana

[Julianne Hastings]

Thank you so much for the new and improved tomato booklet! All of your tips and suggestions are invaluable. Last summer after taking your tomato classes, I had a huge yield of tomatoes, but due to a big pregnant belly, I was only able to implement about 50% of your tips/advice/knowledge. This season I'm shooting for 100% implementation. I appreciate the extra section in your booklet about growing in pots. Now I can plant even more varieties!
Thanks again,
Julianne Hastings

[Jan Kampa]

Hi Cynthia,
As always, receiving your messages generates renewed motivation to do the job right! I just scanned your latest pamphlet and as my tomatoes went in two days ago, I'm encouraged that your previous instructions regarding bed preparation got done to the letter.
One question: I've read that tomatoes shouldn't be continuously grown in the same plot, yet, due to space restrictions, I utilize the same bed year-to-year. Any ideas regarding specific soil amendment/treatment to cope with lack of crop rotation?
Best regards,
Jan K.

[Kevin Goodwin]

My seedlings from the tomatoe planting class are thriving -- thanks to all the incredibly useful information I got at the class. Now I just have to figure out where to plant the 116 seedlings that have survived my care! Thanks Cynthia, see you soon.

[Ariel]

Thank you for taking the time to share your secrets to a successful tomato season! I'm excited to pamper my seedlings and do things right this year. Here's to hunting for fish heads this weekend : )!

[Donna Brown]

I absolutely adore your new Tomato growing Booklet!! I love growing my own tomatoes, so any info I can get is greatly appreciated. Thanks for taking thre time to help all of us tomato enthusiasts to grow better fruit!

[sarah]

Thank you for putting so much information in one place. It seems a little overwhelming, esp. after having some success with the 'plunk it in the ground and see what happens'. I look forward to having more tasty fruit to share this summer with friends and neighbors.
On a side note, do you have recipes for the 'tomato gravy' and 'fried red tomatoes' mentioned in an earlier post?
Thanks!

[Renee J]

Great info in your Grow Better Tomatoes booklet. I've taken the class, read the booklet and I'm patiently caring for my tomato children as they grow. My excitement to see them produce lovely fruit this summer is slowed by my wanting to do everything just right. Thank you for helping me become a true "tomato freak"!

[Craig]

Thanks much for all the helpful info. Looking forward to growing a great set of fruit this year!

[Mary Lovin]

I've been growing tomatoes for a while now and thought I've seen every tip/trick until I read your information in "Grow Better Tomatoes." I will definitely try the aspirin spray and the tomato cage idea will be much better than the cheap ones that get all bent and twisted from just one season of usage. I am guilty of overcrowding but there are just so many wonderful varieties to grow, it's easy to get carried away (just ask my friend, Jeph!) For the first time last year, I saved some seed from two of my biggest beloved Wisconsin heirloom tomatoes and I put about 8 seeds to one small starter cell thinking maybe one would come up, but much to my surprise, they all came up!! Looks like I'll have plenty to share with my friends (yes Jeph, even you who just planted 32 varieties of tomatoes this year!!)

[Annie]

Great post with lots of good information on how to grow and maintain tomatoes Cynthia! I can't wait to get my tomatoes in the ground but I've also learned to wait patiently for the weather to warm up some. My biggest dilemma right now is which one to plant (I seeded over 50 varieties but only have space for about 35).

[Love Apple Farm]

Jan K: I use biodynamic principles for gardening, and its tenets say that tomatoes can indeed be planted year after year in the same bed. The trick is that if you keep your soil and plants healthy enough, then no diseases seem to bother them. My best tips for disease prevention are: Root Zone, aspirin spray, compost, and worm casting tea. All are outlined in my grow booklet here on this website. Good luck!

[Jan Bryant]

Hi Cynthia- You are a local home farmer who is so willing to share all your knowledge to help all willing to grow not only tomatoes but other vegetables as well. I thank you for all your long hours that must go into what you do. There is definitely more info in your "grow better tomatoes." I have always known soil was VERY IMPORTANT so letting us know how to amend is helpful, as well as how to feed them too. And who would know an asprin would help our plants . Describing different diseases will help direct me better when looking in some reference books I have as well. In a BIG nut shell THANK YOU VERY MUCH Jan Bryant

[Carlos]

It has always been tough to grow heirloom tomatoes due to the special care they need, unlike hybrid varieties. The instructions and specific recommendations to combat common pests is awesome. I never realized there were natural ways to fight some of the common tomato enemies. I hope to have a more vibrant and healthy crop this year and look forward to using Cynthia's recommendations.

[Cathy S.]

Thank you so much for the great tomato info. Slowly I was accumulating most of what you had said about what to put in the hole when transplanting. I didn't know about the fish head, was told fish emulsion, which might work as well since I don't live on the coast where you have lots of fish (lucky you). I also have a worm bin which will help, though I don't have much castings yet from them. Thank you, thank you, thank you! I hope to have the best tomato growing season yet! Cathy

[Becky C.]

Hi Cynthia,
I was so excited to receive your booklet for growing better tomatoes. Thank you for putting so much effort into sharing your knowledge with your customers. This will be my first year growing tomatoes in containers & with your detailed instructions I'm hoping to be very successful. I've been setting my seedlings out in the sunshine every morning & bringing them in each night. They look wonderful. Thanks again.