Rooted Ramblings: Partnering with nature to grow thriving tomatoes

By Jeff Cumberlidge, Portage County Master Gardener Volunteer

There is nothing quite like the taste of a home-grown tomato – vine ripened and bursting with flavor. This could be the reason that tomatoes are one of the most popular plants you will find in any backyard garden. A symbol of sunny summer days, eaten sliced with a little basil and balsamic vinegar drizzled over the top or simply sandwiched between two slices of white bread with extra mayo. Growing great tomatoes doesn’t mean that you need to outsmart nature. In fact, if you partner with nature and utilize the helpers already present in the ecosystem, you can grow healthy plants, reduce pest pressures, and improve your soil over time.

One of the best ways to increase tomato yields is to increase the number of pollinated flowers on your tomato plant. Tomatoes have what is known as a perfect flower meaning that one flower contains both male (stamen) and female (pistol) parts. This allows tomatoes to pollinate themselves with just a little vibration to release the pollen within the flower. You can do this manually or with an electric toothbrush to the back of the flower, but why not let nature take the lead? Bumblebees are expert “buzz pollinators” and will do the job beautifully. All you have to do is attract them to your garden and they will do all of the work. Planting flowering herbs and plants such as lavender, borage, zinnias, coneflowers, and cosmos will direct the pollinators to your garden.

While selecting plants to attract pollinators, consider plants that draw beneficial predatory insects as well. Attracting these garden allies will eliminate the need for chemical pesticides. The pests that drive tomato growers crazy include aphids, white fly, spider mites, horn worms, and several others. The beneficial insects that you want in your garden include ladybugs, lacewings, parasitic wasps, predatory mites, and several others. The plants that will attract “the good guys” include marigolds, nasturtiums, calendula, dill, basil, and parsley.

The foundation for all thriving gardens is in the soil. It is highly recommended that you perform a soil test of your soil to know just what you are working with. The Portage County OSU extension office offers easy-to-use soil test kits for $15. The office is located at 705 Oakwood in Ravenna and is open Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 9:00-4:00 pm.

After testing your soil, the report will give you specific recommendations on how to amend your soil for maximum crop production. Tomatoes prefer a slightly acidic soil (pH 6.2 – 6.8) so a pH adjustment is very common. Adjusting your soil pH for acidity is easy to do. Simply incorporate elemental sulfur into your soil at the amounts recommended by OSU Ohioline Soils and Soil Health. While you’re at it, don’t forget to add organic matter in the form of compost or well-aged manure to help restore the soil structure, moisture retention, and microbial life.

If you are growing in a greenhouse or containers, fungus gnats and thrips are persistent pests. Fortunately, nature has a solution: beneficial nematodes (Steinernema feltiae). Simply apply an application of nematodes according to the instructions on the packaging label at the base of each plant, and these microscopic organisms will search and destroy both pests. Using Beneficial Nematodes

Growing tomatoes is an opportunity to collaborate with nature. You can attract natural helpers in many forms, give back to the soil, and respect the ecosystem that supports your garden all at the same time.

Want to learn more about growing tomatoes? Join us for a free presentation on Thursday June 12th 7:00pm at the Moebius Nature Center 929 Mennonite Rd, Aurora OH 44202.

Ohio State University Extension Portage County Master Gardener Volunteer program. Questions/comments/suggestions/want to find out more/become a PCMGV: 330-296-6432 • OSU PCMGV web • portco.mgv.oh@gmail.com • FB PCMGV • PCMGV Speaker’s Bureau