Growing Tomatoes

Introduction

The species originated in western South America and Central America. The Aztecs used tomatoes in their cooking at the time of the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire.

After the Spanish encountered the tomato for the first time after their contact with the Aztecs, they brought the plant to Europe. From there, the tomato was introduced to other parts of the European-colonized world during the 16th century.

Types

There are many varieties of tomatoes that grow well here in Hawaii. A few popular local varieties are the Healani, UH-Kewalo, Komohana Grape and Anahu Bush.

These local tomato varieties have a natural resistance to common tomato diseases and are able to grow in many areas around our islands.

Heirloom tomato varieties, commonly sold in stores, do not grow as well as the local varieties in Hawaii.

Germination & Propagation

Fresh tomato seeds germinate within a week and older seeds may take as long as 21 days to sprout. Seeds are best stored in the refrigerator and can be purchased directly from us via our Seed Store. We get our seed stock directly from the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (C/T/A/H/R), University of Hawaii at Mānoa.

Plant one or two seeds per starter pot in a quarter inch hole and cover lightly with soil. Keep watered and moist until the seeds form seedlings. If more than one seed sprouts, cut the extraneous seedlings at the base with a pair of scissors so that there is only one plant per pot.

Propagate from cuttings: With a sharp knife, cut about 6-8 inches of the sucker or new growth at the tip of the branch. Then, you can simply immerse the tomato cutting in water or plant it directly into some soil medium. In water, the cutting should root within about a week and will be ready to transplant.

Planting

Tomatoes are very versatile! They can be grown in the ground or a container. Tomatoes can also be grown on a lanai using a supporting trellis or similar structure to help keep the plants upright. Keeping the plants upright help to prevent insects away and makes it easier to prune and harvest.

To transplant, carefully remove the starter tomato plant from the original container and place it into the hole in the new, larger container. It is best to use a trellis or tomato cage so the tomato plants will be supported as their stems grow. Make sure the trellis or cage is placed at the base of the tomato plant.

If you are using a container to grow tomatoes, it should be large enough to allow the tomatoes to grow properly. I use 5 gallon gallon containers with plenty of drainage. Use the Best Hawaiian Soil Mix once seedlings have established themselves.

Prune any dead or yellow leaves from your tomato plants and harvest any ripening tomatoes to prevent rotting. Adding organic mulch five weeks after transplanting starters will help to control weeds and retain moisture in the soil. As the tomato plants grow, trim all the leaves off about 12 inches from the bottom of the stem to prevent any soil related diseases.

Sun and Water

Tomato plants need a lot of sun so placement of the plants are important. Full sun is preferable, although tomatoes are pretty resilient and are fine in sun with cloud cover.

Tomatoes need a lot of water at all times. It is best to keep the soil moist and watering in the morning is best. During the rainy season, it is fine to keep watering at a minimum but during the hot summer months, it is best to water consistently especially if you are using containers.

Fertilizing

Tomatoes are heavy feeders and require copious amounts of plant food. They will eat it all with little complaints. Heavy top feedings with guano and blood meal as well as using a liquid fertilizer solution like an organic tea is suggested.

Pollination

While wind, the birds and insects (like bees) will pollinate your plants doing it manually will increase the amount of fruit you grow. This can be done by vibrating (this can be done with an electric toothbrush) the stems to simulate the wind or birds or using a small paintbrush or even a q-tip and touching every flower with it to simulate bees.

Harvesting

Harvesting times depend on the variety of the tomato. Generally if you plant starters, you will be able to see tomatoes growing within two to three months. If you are planting seeds, it could take a little longer.

Tomatoes are the only type of fruit that you can harvest before it is fully ripened.

When the tomatoes turn a mature green with a slight blush of red, they should be ready for harvesting.