Tips for Tomato Growing Success (How to prune, trellis, and support your tomato garden)
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- Опубліковано 1 жов 2024
- Hey ya'll, I'm Jess from Roots & Refuge Farm
Welcome to a place that feels like home. A small farm with a big family. We hope you'll pull up a chair, grab some coffee and visit awhile.
There was a time that all I wanted in the world was a little farm where I could raise my family and grow our food. Now, that is exactly what exists outside my door. In watching it unfold, a new dream was formed in my heart - to share this beautiful life with others and teach them the lessons we've learned along the way. Welcome to our journey, friend. I am so glad you're here.
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💜Hey y'all. I just want to tell everyone in the R.&R. Community....💜. You can do this too. I found Jess about 3 years ago I didn't think I could be a " gardener ", but I started off with a few raised beds. And today, I have a yard my mother calls an oasis. Trees🌳, plants🌿, flowers🌹, veggies🍅, and more🍍🌽🍀🍆🌿🍊🍠🌾🍐🌱🍯.. You name it I grow and propagate it. It's looks like a long road sometimes. But today I spent some time walking through my yard and was truly in awe of how transformative plants can be in so little time..
* get fruit trees in now not later
* plant asparagus now not later
* put a spot in your garden where you can look and see how not only you shaped your garden. But how it shaped you . 💜
Thank you for my likes
Awesome! Same here
I started watching your videos during 2020. I have followed all of your tips for tomatoes and have always had an abundant harvest. As I was planting out my tomatoes this year in my 6B area, I was thinking about your parting words "I bless you", and thought, "Yes. You have blessed me with confidence and knowledge and in turn blessed my family and neighbors." Thank you for sharing your garden!
It’s a thing of beauty when Jess starts talking about tomatoes!
So true! She is the tomato boss. 😂
Wow. The joy on her face while talking about tomatoes 🍅. I have definitely found my people. When I start talking about growing tomatoes or the different varieties I have started peoples faces just glaze over 😂
The way my grandma's place was set up, you walked out the back door past a couple flower beds, a swing under the weeping willow, the vegetable garden, and on the back side of the garden was the chicken coop. Every summer, I would hide a shaker of salt behind the chicken coop. So when grandma was sitting under the willow, her back was to the vegetable garden. I would sneak tomatoes back to the chicken coop. And have a little snack. Those were some of the best days of my life. Even better when volunteers popped up behind the coop and grandpa asked why she planted tomatoes behind the coop. She told him Janna thinks she's sneaking tomatoes from the garden
😂(I was 6)
Thanks for all of the tips! My dear friend Mary who has gone on to be with Jesus told me many years ago when I planted my first tomato plants and they were huge but I wasn't getting much fruit to "pinch the crotch". That has always stuck with me to this day and I always laugh and think of her when I prune my tomatoes 😂
I think Kitten George sent you Zucchini to keep you company while you garden like he did!🥰 I miss Kitten George.
Dr. Wyche's Yellow is one of my favorite tomato varieties, thanks to watching Jess ❤
You all's videos are always such a joy to watch. Thanks for sharing your years of experience. Here's to fat, juicy tomatos.
Their are also semi-detrminate varities, such as Dad's Sunset. Eight feet tall is the maximum height I will allow a plant to get. Ideally, I like to keep them below six feet tall. As the branches start to look sick, I prune them off from the bottom up.
Please do these kinds of videos for other veggies! So helpful!
Yes! I’m looking for a great informative video about bell peppers (or peppers in general). My pepper plants have some black joints, and I’m not sure if it’s something that I should worry about.
I live in upstate SC (about an hour away from Jess) so we’ve had a good bit of rain recently.
I love my cattle panel trellises! I do plant on both sides though. I offset the tomatoes and plant a row on each side, forming a zig zag. I also typically plant the tomatoes on their side, so they can form lots of good roots. I just dig a shallow trench and plant them all along it with about 12 inches between each root ball.
That’s exactly what I do too here in Maine, and it works wonderfully. (Of course I can’t plant them until June 1…😟)
I do this as well!
Me too! I don't plant them super close to the cattle panel so they are about 8-10 inches away from it and just use twine to tie them up so I can plant on either side. And I offset them from each other to allow more airflow.
JESS. I HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING YOU SINCE LOCKDOWNS AND BECAUSE OF YOU I HAVE A GIANT VEGETABLE GARDEN THAT IS THRIVING. THE FIRST VIDEO I SAW WAS YOUR TOMATO PRUNING VIDEO OVER 3 YEARS AGO AND YOU TALKED ABOUT THE SUCKER IN THE ARMPIT. LOL AND I FINALLY UNDERSTOOD WHAT A SUCKER WAS SO THANK YOU!!
I JUST HAVE TO SAY THAT YOU LOOK ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL YOUR FACE IS GLOWING AND YOU LOOK SO HAPPY AND SO AT PEACE. I KNOW YOU HAVE HAD HEALTH ISSUES ALONG THE WAY... SO KUDOS TO YOU FOR WHATEVER YOU ARE DOING. ❤ GOD BLESS & THANK YOU AS ALWAYS.
Jess I have been waiting for this video since you moved there- I learnt to grow Tomatoes 10 years ago from you but I think We all need a refresher every now & then - I am growing Paul Robeson this year & am having such fantastic success so far. I have failed previously. Thank you for this video as I really needed it. Cheers Denise- Australia
Tomato Maintenance
I thought only machine needs maintenance.................
Is it weird that I could smell those tomato plants while I was watching this video?🤷♀️
Same here!😂
If you sick the bigger suckers into a jar of water for 2-3 days you will get more plants
I got inspired by your microdwarf tomato filled Greenstalk and am doing something similar myself. If you wouldn't mind giving tips on what you are doing with that planting, I would be really grateful! I'm new to gardening, so I have a lot to learn. 😃
Thanks for this video. I’m in SC zone 7b and have struggled with tomatoes. I now know they were not getting enough air flow because I never cut off suckers. Last year lost all of them from blight.
Where are your garden gloves? Hummmm? 😂. Always there never thought about! Black tip summer manicure!
I love the aromatic scent produced by the tomato leaves. Thank you for the tomato plants tutorial, Jess! 🍅You’re a blessing! 🤗🌻❤️
Lawn clippings make great mulch for tomatoes too!
Hi Jess, I have a postage stamp sized yard and have put up 4 x 4 garden beds using "The Square Foot Gardening" book by Mel Bartholomew. By any chance would you be able to do a video on planning what to put in 16 Square Feet for zone 8B ? I will be planting my last two beds this weekend. I want to grow tomatoes, peppers, squash, radish, chard, basil, etc. Thanks for your consideration
Skip the squash unless you let it grow out of the side of the bed or vertical. They take up a lot of space. 😊
I just gotta tell you sis, gosh I missed you. I am SO glad you are feeling better -- first for YOU -- but second selfishly, for us ;) I just want you to know, we see you and are so grateful. Feels like my friend is back. 😆
Thank you for sharing this information! Very helpful! xo
I love these trellis for tomatoes perfect when you live in the ARMPIT OF TEXAS like I do 😂😂😂
Im so excited for my tomatoes this season! Last season i had very little fruit due to the early onset heat and drought.. this year i cant believe how well my tomatoes are doing in comparison so far! I have main stalks bigger around than my thumbs and flowers already!! I have some in cages and some on the trellis as well, so we'll see what happens!
I love all your tips btw lol been following them for a few seasons now.
I caught the bug! I have grown my tomato plants from seed for the first time this year and have transplanted 42 plants in my average size suburban garden. I am so excited! Love you Jess!
We planted our first tomato plants and we’ve gotten two harvested so far and waiting on one more. They’re SO good! You’re right…store bought tomatoes do taste like disappointment 😂
Jess, I’m a 63 year old grandma from Tennessee and you are my gardening mentor. I always learn something I didn’t know and I’ve been gardening a Long Time. Love you, girl!
Planting my first "real" garden at age 64. Greenstalks, bottom watered five gallon buckets, bait trays (think lobster) and grow bags. These videos are so helpful.
I wonder if when Bear sees Zucchini in a garden bed, he is thinking... "Ya know you are NOT supposed to be in garden beds. I was taught that!" lol
I love the things you tie you plants with back when I was a kid my grandmother used to use old pantyhose she would cut them into strips and tie her plants with them my job was to help cut them and help her tie them she said they were soft and wouldn’t damage the tender plants such wonderful memories she was a wonderful teacher just like you are .God bless you ❤
I started my first round of tomatoes a bit too early, which led to one of my cherry tomatoes bending over and getting kinked when I put them all outside to harden off. I figured I could save it by cutting it off the stem and rooting it in water, but I kept the stem so I wouldn't lose the label with the variety on it. While I was waiting for it to root, I saw that the stem put out some suckers and is working hard to keep growing. It's impressive how resilient these plants can be!
Yes, every persons situation is unique. IMO, many peoples problem is that they are looking for someone to follow every step.
They want to do everything that person suggests and have everything turn out perfect.
Life doesn't work that way.
Videos like this need to be watched and listened to carefully so the viewer completely understands what's being shown. Then s/he can think it over to decide if it's good ideas for his/her situation with his/her resources.
Hog panels are much cheaper now days but they are a little shorter. They still make pretty good trellises. You can just raise them a little higher.
Wow! You covered everything about growing tomatoes in this one video! I'll be sharing this because it's so informative. Thank you Jess! 🍅🍅🍅
Yes, I agree! Thank you, Jess ❤❤❤
Indeterminate are the crazy kids of the world that never experience confines, whereas determinate are the well behaved, quiet children that stick to the rules.
I apply that to potatoes as well. It gives me a mental visual picture to know what I have to do with them.
1st year Garden. Extremely hot & dry for Joplin Mo. In my move to JOMO I brought my Jessica skills w/me from TX. Cattle Panel Trellis, 40% shade cloth, base water (used older, flimzy hoses by punching tiny holes...came w/the house so why not) and pruning. Pruning & pruning! Tomatoes stopped setting fruit by late June but I harvested good amt of maters. I continued to prune & support them while I waited for Sept and a break of excessive heat. In mid Sept they woke up. Crikey!! I had more tomatoes than I dreamed. It was a jungle and quickly I was pruning daily!!! Nov 15th was forecast as 1st frost. I gathered any 'turning' maters. Gave 6 to 8 LBS of Green ones to large family on my block. Her plants fried in July :( . I was canning into Dec. (AKA) Soooo over it. I threw the rest in the freezer for stew/chili etc. This method works! Don't doubt 'The Jess'. LOL My garden is small. But w/trelling Shade Cloth, base watering & pruning, and of course painting my T-Posts, it was absolutely a big success.
We are in Kansas City and I felt every word you typed. Last year was a rough year for our gardens and our tomatoes. I pulled all my green tomatoes, and ripened as many as I could in the house. I was surprised to get as much as I did, and I'm thankful I did that, as that was pretty much the only tomatoes I had for the season. Fingers crossed that this year is much better. I have some things in place to mitigate that horrible heat again that devastated my plants, just in case.
Growing my first indeterminate slicer this year! Went with the Pineapple variety. Excited to see how it does in my climate. Cherries did amazing last year so I am hopeful. Tip for those with tomato tar fingers. Rubbing alcohol takes it off quick!
thank you so much for the tips on tomatoes. after resolving to not having a garden this year (decision made after a bunch of tomato seeds were planted, but didn't seem to germinate)... it turns out I will be having one. A last ditch effort with the seeds I brought them in the house next to a window that gets lots of sun and they came up! so many of them! and... as it turns out.... some of the winter sown seeds decided to make a showing.
I'm nervous and stressed out moving forward (juggling bumbling through figuring out gardening with new learning differences in tow and settling a chaotic house)... but with videos like this... I mean WOW!! so much information... all the way down to the encore tip!
I live in a very dry area. Generally I let my tomatoes ramble, because all the leaves keep the area a tiny bit more humid, like mulch. Even with that, they will get stressed out in summer and stop growing for a bit. If I am lucky, they will all survive the heat and start growing again in October. Then they have a little over a month to finish. Tomatoes have a very hard time in my zone lol.
THANKS for the lemon juice tip - I've scrubbed and scrubbed to no avail before trying to get rid of tomato tar. Smells good but----
Beautiful timing! Just got done planting all my tomatoes in the heat of the day ❤
Tomato tar! Didn’t know the residue was called that. It is a smell that brings instant happiness. 🌟
Anyone here stake their tomatoes individually? I didn’t plant mine in a trellis fashion (🤦♀️) and recently moved to a warmer location. I am already anticipating having a tomato jungle. My MIL uses 4’ wide round cages for her plants, which is another option but I know height will be the issue. Please help! 😃
Can you use lawn clippings for mulch? As long as you haven’t used herbicides? Thanks!
I grow tomatoes up both sides of a trellis like that. I basically stagger them in a zig zag about a foot apart with a trellis down the zigzag ...HOWEVER, I live and garden in the frigid north. Lol. Northwest MT is not particularly humid or hot. It will be in the 90s in August, but it's not nearly as humid as where you are. So it totally works to have tomatoes grow up both sides of this kind of trellising. ❤
I'm in Boston and I've been listening to Jess for a long time. I've learned a ton and sometimes it's just relaxing after a long day to see what Jess is doing. Love it! My wife calls her my "southern girlfriend". My family here goes back to the Mayflower (mostly farmers) but I'm a software geek so I find it all relaxing. Thank you Jess!
Building my greenhouse this weekend so hopefully can start my tomato seedlings (FINALLY) Love your passion and information as always
I wish I could find some straw that is definitely not sprayed with herbicides. Somebody says EZ straw at Tractor Supply is ok but I doubt it.
Love your tips. I do most of it, always learning. This year I am trying all sorts of ways to support my tomatoes. Old faithful cages, florida weave and trellises. with 200 plants, I have options!
Tomato Tar!! Caught that at the end there - for all that is good and holy do NOT touch your nose or eyes when you've got that stuff on your hands. It burns!! haha I knew most of this except I always forget to cut the water down to pick the toms at their best. This year I found a Green Zebra variety and a Siam table tomato at my local farmers market and garden store (respectively). VERY excited to try them this year!
When the camera almost fell and you yelled zucchini! I laughed so hard ,😅 your passion inspired me a long time ago I started watching your channel and now I am about 5 years in on our large scale garden and it has been a passion of my own as well. Love your personality and how knowledgeable you are with all your experience. Thanks for creating the content... Wish I had a gal friend to hit up and be like how's your tomatoes doin... That might sound silly... But I don't have any female buds that garden or homestead and it takes so much of my time it makes up alot of who I am now and tbh I could use a woman to bounce off of... How do you preserve your sweet corn to make it as good as it is fresh?? Experience and recipes... I need all the info I can get
Good morning Jess! Planting time is near in these parts, after one more cooler night on the Dark Moon. Tomatoes will likely be in the ground during the next week, depending on planting location within the garden space. Do you have a checklist concerning leaf curl that is only an issue with tomatoes, and not adjacent plants not tomato? You and Miah sure have yourselves a fine and growing operation over your way! -Bob...
Great video!! You mentioned if you stick the suckers directly in the ground during the HOT season they will struggle. I just get some of the garden soil & put in a cup to keep it in the window cill with the sucker inside. Works great! Also I will still stick the sucker in the garden soil and partially cover with the rite size plant pot for a week or so. All the best to ya!!🎉
I'm in Tx, there is NOTHING humid about N texas! Now down south they will tell you " It's not the heat its the humidity" and yes, yes it is humid due to the ocean and the inlets and all but don't be fooled it IS the heat too! WAY up here in Ft Worth, we just get the HEAT! this year I put my tomatos in a spot that does not get many hours of sun a day I'm hoping they will stay alive better without the sun trying all day all summer to kill them!
Love all your tips JessAs always so insightful!
Wish I was your neighbor I will take all the tomatoes shoots and rooted ..free plants
Can't wait for the harvest video's. Those are my favorites 😊
I’m hearing mixed opinions about paste tomatoes. Can you provide some insight regarding whether you prune suckers off of those or not?
Jess. Do y’all use black cow manure for growing. I’m new to growing and trying to find how to make up my soul mixture
I’m in central Florida. I have heard that when it’s very warm at night, tomato plants won’t flower. I have one last plant with 4 tomatoes. I watered them tonight and noticed white fuzzy dots on the stems. Is this harmful for the plant? Is it sick? Is it a parasite? I appreciate the help of the garden community 🌻
Jess, what do you grow on the other side of the panel? Can I grow bush beans on the other side of the cattle panel? Or do I have to leave it empty?
Thanks for the tip about the tomato tar! I have atopy prone skin and it seems to irritate it quite a bit if I don't get it all off. Gloves do help, but I forget to put them on 😅
I was just listening to the part of the video where Jess says to heavily mulch the tomatoes and you can use decomposting leaves. I have an abundance of western red cedar fronds. I keep hearing that they are too acidic to use for mulch or compost,,,, is this true?
Jess, YOU are the reason we are able to grow tomatoes and so many other veggies in our gardens. Thank you for teaching us all. 🤗🥰😇
Is the tomatillo plant and ground cherries the same? It's my first year growing them. Not sure if you're familiar with those varieties.
Let's talk horn worms & Tobago worms!!! I hate those nasty large worms...😉
This is the best comprehensive tomato growing video i have found. Go back to it yearly to refresh my memory on what to do this season. Thanks Jessica ❤
You are such a silly girl. I'm also looking forward to sitting out in the tomato garden with a salt shaker. I haven't put any seating there yet. You always have such good ideas.
Apparently I planted to many tomatoe plants in the same bed. After transplanting 7 a few days ago there are still 42 in 2 or 3 rows. We grow and learn.😂
Thanks for the video learned a lot.
I really loved this video, thank you! It has helped so much. I will begin to tie up my plants this weekend. 😃
White Vinegar has never ever removed Tomato Tar. It kinda helps but - no bueno for me.
My beefsteak is wilting. I have it in a raised bed and we do the watering everyday. Could this be why it’s wilting? I live in SC also. Thanks
Thank you.. hope I have better luck with growing tomatoes
I just rewatched your original tomato pruning video yesterday 😂
I've got about 6 little tomatoes on my plants. I'm on the northern east coast of NC. I'm so excited.
I am growing my tomatoes 12” apart. I am in arid California so they still have plenty of airflow. I use the cord method up to an above trellis. Part of that trellis system is a metal carport frame. The center area is a trellis hubby made.
I'm the worst with pruning my tomato plants LOL I feel like me cutting off my suckers I'm cutting off tomatoes LMAO! I am a boss with pruning the bottom but them darn suckers get me because I'm a sucker for a good homegrown tomato LOL. Grow on
I too am too tenderhearted to be a truly good gardener. You really have to harden your heart to thin seedlings, prune off suckers, pinch zennias, and pull the poppies that that planted themselves right where you want your spring crops to go in.
Any long suckers you prune you can put into some water and grow as a cloned tomato plant. Think opportunity, not negativity.
I prefer small tomatoes. Are you saying that if you want many more small tomatoes, you should prune less?
Jess, when you root a cutting and bottom water, do you make sure that the container the plant is in is sitting in water at all times? (Thanks in advance)
Thank you. Everything is beautiful ❤
I have about 20 suckers in my kitchen window right now 😅
Why did you put the cattle panel in the middle of the bed if you can only plant on one side? I am trying to design my garden for my new house next year.
Also, how do you prune them when they get so high?
Why tie up a branch if you can just weave it through the mesh and let friction and future growth hold it up?
Thank you for the tips. My tomatoes are doing great this year. I bless you and yours.
Do not do the egg trick unless you want the raccoons to dig up and kill all your plants. We lost 60 plants last night.
Happened to me last year
Lol Phoenix does not have this issue😂
I live in WV and in the Country on 2.33 acres for 12 years and never had a problem with Skunks or Racoons digging up my Tomato Plants. Plant Deep is what I always did. Peace from WV
I had the same thing but instead of raccoons it was my dogs :(
I haven't had a problem with anything digging up mine, but I have a 6 ft fence around my garden.
here for the tip at the end! advice for removing tomato tar is golden 🙌
I love watching your content! You live my dream life😊
It's been a long time since you spoke of tomato hornworms. Do you not tend to have them??
they also make fabric tie tape that has a little stretch to it and is pretty affordable if you're looking for a plastic free option. it can also be more convenient since you dont have to worry about removing the ties before you put the plant in the compost
HOW FAR APART do you PLANT you CHERRY TOMS?!?!?!
I'm planning to grind up eggshells and put around some tomatoes this year.
I’ve been growing tomatoes for 8 years and I still love watching Tomato video 😊
Good video! Tomato tar is sure difficult to get off - will have to try vinegar.
Also, you can root in October stickers from F1 tomatoes and winter them. Then you will have true tomatoes but if you use seeds it will be not true.
Is there a time in the growth of your plant that you shouldn't prune? Mine are pretty tall and I didn't prune.
Such a fresh garden video 😊
I use cut up dollar store pantyhose they are stretchy and by the end of season they are easy to remove.
I use cut up dollar store pantyhose they are stretchy and by the end of season they are easy to remove.
My tomatoes are dropping blooms already. They are strong plants. They are in wicking tubs. I’m in north Texas. Water is good. Fertilizer good. Is it the wind or the heat? HELP!!
If its over 90 everyday, its the heat. Look into shade cloth