Is it time to plant tomatoes? Sure, if you feel lucky. The nice weather in February will lull gardeners into a false sense of security. The almanac says the last freeze date is March 17th. I resisted that tomato urge but I do have my garden prepped and I hope that everyone has theirs ready as well.

The most popular garden crop worldwide is the tomato. Hopefully, the following will answer the most common tomato questions.

I recommend a pre-plant fertilizer application 3 to 4 weeks before. Since I try to keep my garden all-natural I pick fertilizers accordingly. I have had excellent results with Wells Brothers Dirt Diet 4-1-2 and Medina’s 3-2-3. Once the plants are growing, choose a fertilizer with an equal or lower nitrogen (1st number) than phosphate (2nd number) and potash (3rd number). Too much nitrogen will grow large plants with little or no fruit. My go-to fertilizer is Espoma’s Tomato Tone with a 3-4-6 ratio. Synthetics with an 8-10-8, 5-10-5, and 13-13-13 can also be good choices. If you like liquids, it’s hard to beat Medina Hasta Gro 6-12-6.

Heirloom vs. Hybrid vs. GMO

The term Heirloom is used to describe any type of plant or seed that has been saved and grown for a period of years. Heirloom seed must be of the openly pollinated type. Heirlooms are simply varieties that are capable of producing seeds that will produce seedlings just like the parent (true) plant.

Hybrids mean crossbreeding compatible types of plants to a plant with the best features of both. Many modern plants are the result of these crosses. Seed from hybrids will not produce plants with identical qualities. Plants can cross-pollinate in nature and hybrids repeatedly selected and grown may eventually stabilize into Heirlooms.

GMOs, (Genetically Modified Organisms) can be any plant, animal or microorganism, which has been genetically altered at the molecular level. Wells Brothers sells NO GMO plants or seeds.

The two most important terms:

Determinate: relatively compact (bush) plants that do most of their growing before setting a limited number of fruit that tends to ripen all at once. As a rule, determinates set fruit the fastest.

Indeterminate: a vining plant that can grow very large (needs support), blossoms, and produce tomatoes throughout the growing season.

The Celebrity is the exception to the rule; it is called semi-determinate even though the tags say it is determinate. It grows like a determinate (bush) and in some cases will produce more than one crop. All tomatoes are planted the same way regardless of variety. From 70% to 80% of the total plant (including the roots) should be below ground. Remove any container material, including the fiber pots. I add Wells Brothers’ “Jump Starter” to the prepared hole. Then lightly break up the root ball and dip it in water just before planting. Now is the time to install any support structure that the plant will need.

Everything you ever wanted to know about tomatoes click here:

Some tomato names to remember:

Celebrity
Sweet 100
Arkansas Traveler
Big Boy
Better Boy
Roma (paste)
Porter
Patio
Husky Cherry Red
Grape
Brandi Wine
Yellow Pear
Better Bush
Rutgers
Indigo Rose

Wells Brothers Custom Organic Mix is back in stock!  Sometime in 2005/2006, Wells Brothers came up with a special mix of fine compost, lava sand, and Texas green sand. We named it “Wells Brothers Custom Organic Mix”. We sold the last bag in May 2020. We have finally found a new company to mix and bag this special mix for us. The new price is $7.85 for a 40# bag (about 1 cubic foot) or buy 4 and get 1 free.

Do you have a favorite crop? Without a doubt, mine is potatoes. They are easy to grow, they have very few issues with insects or disease and the yields can be very large. The potato rule is that every pound that is planted will yield from 5 to 10 pounds. Potatoes can grow in most soil types but prefer loose soil. We have Red Lasoda, White Kennebec, and Yukon Gold. I have grown all three but have had the best success with the Red Lasoda.

February is the start of the potato planting season. Many years ago, I was told to plant potatoes on Valentine’s night by the light of the moon. I have never been dedicated enough to hit that mark, but I try to get them planted around the middle of February.

Potato picking and preparation is next on the list. How do you pick a good potato? You look it in the eyes. When you cut a potato for planting each piece should have at least 2 eyes. In a perfect world, I will cut potatoes 5 to 10 days before planting. Before planting some folks will soak the cut potatoes in water. Some will roll them powdered sulfur or wood ashes before planting. I have used a lot of different pre-plant methods for potatoes. They all have merit. Nowadays, I cut them and put them in a dry paper bag for about 3 to 5 days before planting.

There are literally hundreds of ways to grow potatoes. In tires, burlap bags, pots, buckets, tubs and I’ve seen pictures of potatoes growing in an old boat. You can mound them, plant them in pits and in a trench. I like the trench method. Once the 6 to the 7-inch deep trench is dug I put enough bone meal in the bottom so it covers the dirt. Then cover the bone meal with about .5 inches of dirt. You can also use Jump Starter, soft rock phosphate, superphosphate, or triple superphosphate. By the book, potatoes are planted 12 to 16 inches apart. I plant them to 6 inches apart or closer. Cover them with soil to about 4 inches. As the potato plants grow, fill in the trench with soil. Harvest them when the plants start to die. That should be in the 90 to 100-day time frame. As always follow label directions.

Learn more about planting potatoes from Texas A&M University here.