Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Tomato Pick of the year!

Hillbilly Potato leaf
Made it to my monthly Master Gardener meeting last night and have some big news! Our Extension dude, Mark Bray, says the hot tomato plant for this year is the "Hillbilly Potato Leaf". So when your out there looking for your plants and you see one of these jewels, grab it and give it a try. It's an indeterminate plant which means it's a vine and will produce more than your determinate plants. It will also try and take over your yard. Dig a deep hole, around 12" deep and put some manure in the bottom of the hole. About 3-4" should be good. This will heat up the ground and give you a jump on the season. Tomato's have to have warm ground if they are going to grow. If not, they just sit there. Follow this with a 50:50 compost:soil mixture. Remember to plant deep! Keep the vines off the ground by staking and a heavy layer of wheat straw mulch under it and you should be good to go. Remember they need Nitrogen in the beginning of the season and Potassium when the fruit starts coming on! A most is to pinch off the suckers that show up between the main stem and the true branch. Doing this insures a good fruit size! I haven't eaten one of these lovely's but word has it they are sweeter and a better producer than a Brandywine. They are not a hybrid, so I strong suggest you try them. I am growing more and more against the hybrid and most anything that has had it's gene's altered. These seeds can be saved and used again next year or shared with your friends! Another good one is the Yellow Pear. This is a small pear shaped yellow fruit. Yum! Very sweet and produces like a cherry! I found out about them last year while helping at the church garden. You just fill your pockets and eat as you go! There you have the first of many plant updates! As I learn more, you will get to hear about it! So you better get out there and sharpen your hoe's and shovel's!
  

2 comments:

Unknown said...

Good info, thanks. Had garden years ago and enjoyed tomato growing. Maybe someday? PS - any extra you want to give away.......

DF said...

Thanks Kim, I will keep a look out for them at the nursery. I am excited to have a new sunny spot this year for a small garden. We had to say adios to a large oak tree this past winter, but now this area will get some sun.