Dig in
The GardenZeus Guide to Starting Tomato Seeds
October 2, 2015
Nothing But Tomatoes
/ Organic Gardening: Vegetables
/ The Mighty Garden Archive
By: C. Darren Butler
Tomato seeds are easy to germinate. GardenZeus recommends germinating tomato seeds directly in small pots for later transplanting; or on a paper towel kept moist in a covered glass dish, with sprouted seeds then moved into small pots or transplanted directly outdoors as soon as a root emerges. Tomato seeds can also be started directly […]
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The GardenZeus Guide to Saving Tomato Seeds
October 2, 2015
Nothing But Tomatoes
/ Organic Gardening: Vegetables
/ The Mighty Garden Archive
By: C. Darren Butler
Saving seeds from a delicious heirloom or favorite open-pollinated tomato is simple, and can provide you with more than enough seeds to plant next year, as well as plenty to share with your friends. Although tomatoes are generally self-pollinating, they do occasionally cross-pollinate, and genetic traits may vary from seed to seed and fruit to […]
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GardenZeus Solutions to Common Abiotic Problems with Garden Tomatoes
September 6, 2015
Nothing But Tomatoes
/ Organic Gardening: Vegetables
/ The Mighty Garden Archive
By: C. Darren Butler
Blossom Drop: Blossoms falling without setting fruit is one of the most common and frustrating problems with tomato plants. It may be caused by temperatures that are too warm or too cold, high or low humidity, lack of pollination, too much or too little water, or too much or too little nitrogen in soil, among […]
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GardenZeus Winter Gardening: Growing Winter Tomatoes in Mild California Areas
September 6, 2015
Nothing But Tomatoes
/ Organic Gardening: Vegetables
/ The Mighty Garden Archive
By: C. Darren Butler
Have you never grown tomatoes over winter? It is possible to enjoy tomato harvests from fall through spring many mild-winter California areas. Start by choosing cold-tolerant and/or short-season tomato varieties. Most varieties need temperatures between about 55° to 93°F for pollination and to set fruit; however, cold-tolerant varieties such as Siberian, Siletz, and Stupice set […]
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The GardenZeus Guide to Watering Tomatoes
September 6, 2015
Nothing But Tomatoes
/ Organic Gardening: Vegetables
/ The Mighty Garden Archive
By: C. Darren Butler
Tomato plants benefit from consistent soil moisture with a partial or slight dry-down of soil between waterings to ensure that soil is not consistently wet. The amount of dry-down between waterings should be kept consistent, as irregular moisture swings and dry soil can lead to problems such as blossom end rot and fruit splitting. See […]
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The GardenZeus Guide to Choosing the Best Tomato Varieties For Your Garden
September 5, 2015
Nothing But Tomatoes
/ Organic Gardening: Vegetables
/ The Mighty Garden Archive
By: C. Darren Butler
With the hundreds of wonderful and reliable tomato varieties that are known to do well in your zone, in an astonishing diversity of colors, sizes, shapes and uses, it may take time and research to select varieties that best meet your needs. Do you prefer a simple roadmap to good tomato varieties for your climate […]
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The GardenZeus Guide to Buying Vegetable Seedlings
Oh, the horror! the horror! that GardenZeus expert Darren Butler has seen with vegetable seedlings offered for retail sale. The health, vigor, and future yield of most vegetables are highly dependent on what happens to the plants during their first weeks of life, from germination to transplant and early establishment. Nursery display racks, big-box-store tables, […]
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The GardenZeus Guide to Tomato Varieties for California Zone 12
September 4, 2015
GardenZeus Southern California
/ Nothing But Tomatoes
/ Organic Gardening: Vegetables
/ The Mighty Garden Archive
By: C. Darren Butler
When selecting tomato varieties for your garden, consider your own needs and preferences, and the many aspects of the tomato variety and the tomatoes it produces, from plants’ growth and fruiting habits to cultural needs to fruit size and flavor. GardenZeus generally recommends organic, open-pollinated, and heirloom seed varieties, and we note specifically on our […]
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The GardenZeus Guide to Four Basic Tomato Categories
September 4, 2015
Nothing But Tomatoes
/ Organic Gardening: Vegetables
/ The Mighty Garden Archive
By: C. Darren Butler
GardenZeus prefers the following four basic categories that cover the majority of tomatoes: 1) Cherry: Small tomatoes from plants that are generally more vigorous, productive, and easier to grow than larger varieties. Cherry tomatoes include grape or mini varieties, which are generally smaller plants that produce small-to-tiny fruits that are often sweet and borne in […]
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