First things first — here’s wishing you all a safe and happy Independence Day weekend! And next; I wonder how your tomato plants are progressing. Are they producing the fruit of your dreams — or are they fighting the effects of foul weather? Here’s my tomato report, followed (I hope!) by yours:
During late spring and early summer, my tomatoes — most of them heirloom varieties — endured heavy rain and unusually cold temperatures. Mercifully they are growing in a raised bed. Gardening on “higher ground” affords both excellent drainage and soil that warms quickly in the sun.
Thanks to a recent heat-wave, the plants are growing rapidly now. In another week or two, I’ll start tying the vines to their supports. The supports are nothing more than wooden 2x2x8 posts, pounded into the ground with a hammer, and tied in place with twine. No power tools necessary!
A layer of mulch helps to retain moisture in the soil. Furthermore, during a heavy rain, the mulch keeps water — and potential fungal spores — from bouncing off the soil and splashing onto the lower leaves.
Do you remove suckers from your tomato vines? I do. Suckers burden the plants with excess foliage. Too much lushness promotes the shady, damp conditions that inevitably lead to problems (like fungal diseases). If you need a refresher course on sucker-identification, take a moment to be read this post from 2012: De-Suckering My Tomatoes.
As for the fruit, it’s… tiny! But I’m not concerned. Harvest-time in my Hudson Valley region (zone 5-b) is normally mid-August through late September. So there’s plenty of time for the cute green marbles to achieve their monster-size potential.
And why do I bother to grow tomatoes? Because…Tomato Pie. If you’ve never tried it, you must. Here’s the shockingly simple recipe.
In the comments field below, let me know how your own tomato plants are coming along. As always, I love hearing from you.
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Tammy says
We also had a cool, rainy spring here in southern NH and the tomatoes had an unhappy start in their outdoor life. But they’re more than making up for it in the past few weeks, growing very quickly now, like yours. The paste and slicing varieties are full of blossoms and the sungold already have very small fruit and many more blossoms. I think it’s going to be a good tomato season!
Like you, I remove the suckers and mulch heavily to retain moisture in our raised beds. I also remove the bottom 6″ of branches to promote air circulation. I train our tomatoes around those tall metal spirals, so we end up with very tall tomato plants!
Cheryl says
Our conditions are very similar to yours (Carlisle, NY) so cherry tomatoes are like tiny marbles and the San Marzano is starting to get blossoms. Right now they are getting pounded by a downpour (@ 2″ per hour) .
Julie Culshaw says
I recently watched a very informative video on Youtube, channel is MIgardener.
He said that only 25% of tomato flowers get pollinated and that simply shaking the flowers manually can increase pollination tremendously. I think the results were something like 300%. I certainly never knew that.
Kate says
This is our first year with our raised bed garden here in eastern PA. The tomatoes are doing well. Lots of fruit production. We used the “Florida weave” method of staking this year. We’ve also just let them do their thing, with the exception of pruning suckers. A friend suggested “single stemming” but we decided against that in favor of seeing how the do just on their own. We learn as we go. But I can’t wait to make my first tomato pie!
John says
Your tomato pie looks FANTASTIC. I shall try it this weekend. Thanks for all your shares, Kevin. I must say that a good portion of my recipe book are printed in my three ring binder with a credit to you. 🙂
Joanne Toft says
Minnesota – Cool and rain hear as well. I started with extra small plants this year (troubles with a too damp growing room in the basement) but they are settling in now and growing well. I am hoping for some July heat to help them along or we will have frost before they produce red fruit! Here’s hoping!
Gloria says
Flowers are forming- Hope springs eternal for tomato pie in August!
Phyllis says
I am trying a new concept: when the tomato suckers are about 6″ tall, remove them and put them in a jar of water. When they have roots (approximately 2 weeks later), remove and plant them in a shady area for a while and then transplant into the garden or large pot. Have you tried this and does it work?
Nancy J says
After 3 days of needed rain and some warmer nights here in NE Ohio my tomatoes are looking better and I have my eye on the prize…tomato pie. I think I made it 4 times last year to rave reviews. I may have to buy a few beauties at the nearby Mennonite farm market to tide me over.
Thank you.
Regina says
Happy 4th to you also. We are getting a few tomatoes, peaches, blueberries, blackberries and just put up 6 quarts of green beans. Mainly just eating the blackberries, but managed to get a quart of blueberries in the freezer. This year my milk jug plantings were the GA native Butterfly Weed, which were my introduction to native flowers, and find so many natives growing in the woods around us; got quite a few set out and hoping they will grow to beautiful adult flowering plants.
Joanie says
Slow start here in SE Pennsylvania as well! Things are looking up now with the increased sun and heat, although we endured a torrential downpour yesterday. Mine are in a raised bed too, which helps tremendously.
Gail L. says
The hubster planted tomatos, but like you we have had heavy rains all spring. The plants got into the ground late and so far are not doing much.
I rely on a friend in North Carolina for tomatos. Her husband grows them well. (We are in southern Virginia).
My mouth is watering for tomato pie! Ever since I found the recipe on your blog, I have made it several times each summer. Love it!
pk says
I just moved my 5 tomato plants that are in large plastic pots out of the garden room (inside house) last week. Daytime temps have warmed up considerably, but night time temps are still below 55F so I cover them with frost cloth every night! They are enjoying the sunshine and starting to grow more rapidly.
A Sungold tomato grew so tall in the house (6 feet) that the top broke over (even with support). I cut off the top 10″ that bent over and stuck it in a pot and threw the rest away. It is now growing beautifully (and normally) in the sunshine.
Marjie T. says
Thanks, Julie of the tip on shaking tomato plants..I will go do that in a minute or so! Plants here in eastern WI are full and tall but I don’t see a lot of fruit setting just yet. Rhubarb loved the cool spring and lots of rain. There were lots of sweet cherries (birds said thank you) and it looks like peaches and pears will also be abundant. Strawberries were down everywhere here but raspberries are looking great. It’s a bit soon to tell about apples. Hope everyone has a bountiful season.
Abby says
Hi Kevin,
I love your recipes and would like to make the Tomato Pie once my tomatoes ripen (I live in South Egremont, MA so it will be a while!) The pictures for your recipes really help but when I look at this one, the pictures aren’t loading. Is there something you can do to fix it?
Thanks!
P.S. The African violets I ordered from Lyndon Lyon a few years ago are doing really well. Thanks for the recommendation.
Sue Smith says
I usually raise my tomato plants from seed…but, not this year. I purchase them very early in 4″ pots. Then, I put them in my greenhouse and transplanted them into 1/2 gallon sized pots. Let them grow until mid May. Our weather was cold and rainy all spring long. After hardening them off , I finally I planted them in hay bales. We will eat our first nice Early Girl in a few days. Yipee.
I always plant a variety. The Mortgage Lifter and the heirloom that I can’t think of the name….are way out there and haven’t even set fruit. But, all of the plants are lush and loaded with blossoms. Which, I shake or flick with my fingers every time I pass by them.
Oh…and I have planted suckers right into pots of a light medium and it worked like a charm.
Laura Munoz says
Okay, here’s the truth about my tomatoes. Last fall, a volunteer tomato come up in one of my plastic pots. I didn’t want it, so I tried to give it away. I offered it to a woman who came to clean a few times. She forgot it. I offered it to my neighbors who said “No, thanks.” I hated to let it die, so it over-wintered (looking pretty rough) on top of the washing machine. I’d move it when the need arose.
Finally, I planted the darned thing in my veggie patch in early spring. No exaggeration, that thing is now a 10 ft x 10 ft monster. It’s a cherry tomato and it’s taken over almost half of the 20’x 30′ plot. Its smothering the eggplants, the blackberries, etc. But it’s prolific with tomatoes, and the tomatoes are so very sweet. Guess it was meant to be. I’ll check out your recipe for tomato pie.
Toni says
re: suckers I don`t let them grow to six inches or any length that may require cutters to remove them. The reason they are called suckers is that they suck the energy from the producing stalks of the plant, so, I pinch them off every time I walk by, as I see them starting, when they are a quarter inch or so.
Trudi says
No tommy- toes in my garden. The local organic growers do a MUCH better job than i do .Our pines have gotten so tall they make too much shade for tommy -toes. Our neighborhood excitement was a copperhead that bit a dog. Drat! The dog has been treated and is doing well. Where are the good snakes (black rat snakes) when we need them …. rain rain and more rain these last few weeks have sure given everything enough . I have a generous neighbor who is loaning me his weed-whacker to clear out the snake hiding undergrowth. . Flowers are doing well. this year. and my hosta collection is really pretty this year! Happy Fourth to all ..esp our guru Kevin
Susy says
Slow here in the Chicago area, plenty of flowers and tiny tomatoes so the future looks bright.
Alli Farkas says
Long rainy hot/cold wait for spring in lower Michigan. I started tomato seeds–Juliet grape and 4th of July (such a coincidence) sometime in March. Kept them in a cold frame unless night temps dipped into upper 20’s. Was finally able to get the really tiny plants (2 to 3″) into the raised bed in mid-May. They are now pushing 3 feet tall and are quite “pregnant”. Been using concrete reinforcing mesh for decades as cages, no tying or propping required and the cages are barely noticeable. Cheap and last almost forever. Only replaced them once since the mid-80’s. Your tomato pie has been a “must-serve” at my annual Tomato Fest celebration for four years running. Wouldn’t dare skip it and run the risk of wrath from upset guests!
Kim Murphy says
Planted Romas and Grape tomatoes this season. They are growing like weeds thanks to the warm wet start to the season. I have and a few early Romas go red so far, with a ton of green ones and new flowers. I started making your tomato pie a few years back, it is a huge hit with my family. Thanks for all your advice and ideas on making a garden grow and grow well. 🙂
Debbie says
I live in Western MA (zone 5b) – this morning I went back to my raised bed tomato plants and did an inspection. Indeed I do have a couple tomatoes growing… one is about the size of a golf ball 🙂 … but mainly there are a bunch of blossoms. This weather is CRAZY ~ it hasn’t affected my snap peas or garlic (yum) but it sure is taking some time for the peppers, eggplants and tomatoes to get growing. Hopefully I will be able to bake your yummy Tomato Pie soon – it’s the VERY FIRST THING we do with the tomatoes … YUM YUM YUM!
Annie Guss says
Cool wet spring here in Pacific Northwest as well. Thanks to a brief hot spell (89 degrees in June is really unusual here) the tomato plants have set flowers and even a few small tomatoes. Now we are back to the normal temp range, so we’ll see what happens by August!
Suzanne K says
I’m lucky enough to be in warm (or very, very, very hot) So Cal. I gave in this year and bought 3 small pots of tomatoes, combine that with 2-3 volunteer cherry tomatoes and it’s off to the races! I’m already sharing with friends, neighbors, my daughter, my ex…. and, I’m very much enjoying the cherry tomatoes! I pick them and put bunches of them on the counter and snack on them during the day! Yum and very healthy!
Theresa says
I’m in the central Appalachians of WV. We had a beautiful spring and the real heat just turned on this past week. I planted ox heart tomatoes (my all-time favorites) and they are doing well. Just did my second round of tying them to their trellis, removing lower leaves, and trimming out suckers. I also have mulched them with grass clippings to hopefully retain moisture. Things have gotten pretty dry here, so I’ve watered the garden twice in the past week. Fruit is set on several and getting large. I also have a few volunteer cherry tomatoes which come up every year. They look good and healthy, but no tomatoes yet.
Diana says
Thank you Kevin…..that’s tonight and tomorrows main meals taken care of.
I love sheet pan recipes….quick easy and flavoursome. The tomato pie sounds tasty too. You are an inspiration.
Laura in Georgia says
Down here in the hot, humid sticky South – we are eating ripe heirloom tomatoes! We also are seeing blight. A fact of life with heirlooms in the South! It has rained for a month. Over whelmed by green! The weeds have overtaken everything. But,the tomatoes are getting ripe. Eating wonderful Sungold cherry tomatoes. (Only hybrid I grow- delicious) and the Brandywines are now ripe. We love them – so do the squirels. I grow enough for all of us.
Mary says
This has been a blessed year for tomatoes. We had a very mild winter and I was able to put the seed grown plants out in March. I’ve had such a great and continuing harvest that I suspect my neighbors and friends are growing tired of tomatoes. I’ve been growing Black Krim, Cherokee-Carbon, and Aussie Heirloom (a large beefsteak type) The Blondkopfchen cherry tomatoes are sweet, and I pop them like candy when I’m in the yard. I also have Sweet Scarlet that are nice, from a dwarf tomato plant, and Baronia Dwarft tomato plant. The Baronia taste a lot like Cherokee purple and can be grown in pots quite well because of being a dwarf plant.
Last year was a disaster for tomatoes, so I’m very thankful to have such good luck this year.
Dianne says
Kevin, what kind of mulch do you use on the ground under your tomato plants? Is it wheatstraw?
Sandy Abalos says
Here in zone 8-b I just filled my second half-bushel basket of Parks Whopper tomatoes & finally a few Brandywine have ripened enough for picking. And plenty more on both in-ground & raised bed vines, so my dirt-road neighbor can pick for her fav Fried Green Tomatoes.
Ardelle says
Torrential rains followed by several weeks of searing heat did not bode well for gardening of any kind. Farm crops are seriously in jeopardy as well. However, at the beginning of July-very late- things are beginning to take shape. Had my very first tomato a while ago so am hopeful that will continue. Best of luck to all you diehard gardeners – just hope no hail. I did put in ‘extra’ tomatoes and peppers – just in case production is slow/down. Eating kale, swiss chard, spinach-already bolted – will plant later in August again. Flowers are looking great – Shirley poppies sel-seeded – are lovely, Moon Flowers – self-seeded are already blooming. Nice peppers already too.
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Hi Diane – Mulch in my tomato bed (and in other beds in the kitchen garden) is heat-treated hay/straw.
GB says
I always have the best intentions to remove those suckers, but after the 1st round of snipping I never continue. My bad.
Careen says
Hi Kevin, Here in CT, we’ve had similar weather. My tomatoes are poppin’ now. They are at least 3 feet tall, full of blossoms and many small tomatoes. I have one zucchini and two bell peppers. I love to watch the progress of growth every day!
Mary in Iowa says
Slow start here too, with tiny 3″ seedlings and inclement weather, but now they’re shooting up at warp speed. The determinate Big Boys are blossoming and setting golf ball sized fruits, the Black Cherry and Sungold cherry tomatoes are putting out tiny marbles, and the heirlooms and indeterminate Big Boys, as well as the San Marzanos are starting to blossom. I prune all suckers from indeterminates and leave the determinates alone. Tomato pie, BLTs, tomatoes/basil/burrata, dressed with EVO and some well aged balsamic, cherry tomatoes gobbled in the garden while tending to tasks. Can hardly wait. Also am getting fidgety waiting for your cookbook. It will be heaven to sit down with an actual book and not have to be forever logging on to find something. Cheers!
Katie says
Due to some strange but boring circumstances, this year is the first year in ages that I’m not growing any tomatoes at all. I’m finding that I really miss the smell of the leaves! That smell reminds me of summer like nothing else.
Sarah says
We will have our first ripe tomato this year to eat on the 4th (tomorrow)! I splurged and bought two large Celebrity tomato plants to put in a warm corner early and they really grew large and full. Did all the tomato tricks mentioned and those two plants are so loaded with huge fruits. Later I planted out the rest of the crop, a dozen more Celebrity (four inch pots) and a couple Green Zebras and Black Krims. I have mixed feeling about pinching suckers and sometimes do and sometimes don’t. Heavy mulch for the bruiser heat here. We had to be absent from home for three days a couple weeks ago and returned to a hornworm infestation! I removed twenty six (!) from the two big plants, then several more every day for a week. Surprisingly the plants are doing well.
This was the first year I waited until the soil was truly warm, a good three weeks later than many people. We also purposefully got leggy plants from our local organic grower and planted them very deep and three feet apart. Amendments included a cocktail of aspirin, eggshells, compost, fish head, Azomite, and bonemeal. I have never seen such beefy tomato plants and covered in flowers and fruits! Shaking the hogwire fence every time I am near does contribute to increased pollination.
We have aphids again this year. How do they survive the dry heat we have here (zone 7b)? We fight them with basil and marigold plants, water spray, insecticidal soap and this year an investment in lacewings as ladybugs have not been available to us. It’s manageable. We will eat our first ripe tomatoes tomorrow, July 4th!
Bonnie Clark says
Just enjoyed the very first 3 sungold tomatoes last Thursday, and now more are ready for popping into the mouth! Sungolds rarely make it out of my garden/into the kitchen, we eat them straight off the vine like candy. Have some slicing tomatoes plump and green on vines, lots of flowers as well.
Our high season is also August – September (Vashon, WA) so these early gifts of sungold are a lovely surprise. I look forward to making the Tomato Pie when bigger tomatoes are ready to jump into it. Cheers
Phyllis says
My green zebra tomato plant has curling leaves: any suggestions?
My tomato suckers rooted in 2 weeks, now they are in a plant in semi/shade and semi/sun and tomorrow they will either go into the veggie garden or pots on the deck (which gets more sun). I will report back.
Keila says
Happy 4th of July Kevin and family!! Here in east TN, we have healthy tomato plants with green tomatoes currently. I picked my first squash and zucchini yesterday, and peas today. Ready for some fresh, home cooked veggies!
Deborah Goodman says
Mine are about a week behind this year but appear to be very healthy otherwise. I made sure I planted my heirloom carrots ( purple this year ) with them and I added oregano and nasturtium for color and because I found a recipe for marinara sauce that is made in the oven that I’m going to try. The oregano and nasturtium will also be fed to my chickens for their health benefits. I just wish it would stop raining for a few days. It’s rained( very hard at times) almost everyday for the last 10 days. We need some sunshine.
suzi says
help! growing only two sets of cherry tomatoes this year. plants are almost six feet tall and hardly any flowers. i pruned suckers and thinned out. they are in a raised bed. i’m trying organic so miracle gro this year. still waiting. thanks kevin for any suggestions.
suzi says
i am number 43
Merry says
Always love your updates Kevin! Yeas! to tomatoes, and warm weather.
Here in Massachusetts, I start my grow-light tomatoes early, in the ground, with cloches made of water jugs. I also let them grow as they wish, not removing the suckers, and mostly giving them the space to sprawl. They look like modest size Xmas trees now, with lots of flowers and pollinating bees and a few wee tomatoes! I grew blight resistant tomatoes this year: Jaspar and Damsel. My three sprawlers give me all the tomatoes I can eat!
Cheers to all us undaunted gardeners, and may we all have a happy and tasty harvest!
Beverly, zone 6, eastern PA says
I seeded about 10 different kinds of tomatoes and kept 17 plants, sending extras to gardening friends. I am most excited about the University of Florida’s introduction called ‘Garden Treasure’. Seeds are sent when you donate to their genetic program for breeding heirloom flavor and good disease resistance together.
I grew them in 2016, too, and I picked 6 tomatoes November 2nd, having wrapped the plant in frost cloth in mid October. Just astounding around here. The plant had very little affecting its foliage all the way through the growing season. Fruits are large, firm, round, red, DENSE and delicious. Highly recommend this one.
Patsy Whiteside says
Here in England my tomatoes are doing extremely well, in spite of dramatic fluctuations in temperature and very little rain which means they have to be watered every day. We call the operation to remove excess foliage ‘side-shooting’ and once you have been shown what side shoots are, it’s really easy to spot them. As well as creating excess foliage,they take the strength from the plant which would otherwise go into the fruit.
By the way, have you ever heard this saying?
‘Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not including it in a fruit salad’.
I love your blog, your recipes are very straightforward and your house – it’s beautiful. Is your book available in the UK?
Patsy
London, England
Ree Enlow says
Hi. I’m in coastal Virginia and we have also had a lot of rain, a lot of heat and high humidity. Love beach living. Our tomatoes are doing ok. Yes, usually remove the suckers. Have enjoyed tomato sandwiches twice so far this year with a bunch just turning orange. Love it!
Sharon says
Sadly I gave up my garden a couple seasons ago. I always had great intentions at the beginning of the season, but the weeds always got the best of me! Fortunately we have some amazing farmers markets close by (and produce stands), so I can pick up some great tomatoes there. And I absolutely LOVE making your Tomato Pie Kevin! Found your recipe several years back and make it every summer. Yummy!
Kathleen Wilkins says
Kevin, I love the Tomato Pie recipe. I’ve made it countless times now. When I didn’t have fresh tomatoes to use, I put stewed tomatoes I canned from last season in it. Delicious.
Mimi says
Just found your site and am loving it! In SW PA here we got a late start but are in our 6th year of straw bale gardening and love it. New varieties this year include Plum Royale and Gilberti – both paste tomatoes. All tomatoes are setting fruit, cukes, zukes and beans are well on their way. Carrots happy, as are the cabbages!
We have had tons of rain but never worry as the SBG method allows for excess water to flow through the bale.
Picked 5lbs of Black raspeberries earlier this month – frozen until I find time to make jam. Just froze first batch of kale and have lettuce out our ears.
Peach tree has so many peaches – first year in 7 that it has produced like this. Our MacIntosh tree also has tons of apples – going to be a blockbuster fruit year!
Phyllis says
Regarding #40: forget about it!! It was an experiment that did not do well. The plants are very small with possibly 1-2 tomatoes – I cannot compare the beautiful tomato plants I purchased at White Flower Garden in Litchfield, CT during Memorial day weekend. My favorite is Sun Gold (cherry-type size but yellow). I only bought two plants next year but plan to buy at least four plants. The Green Zebra tomato is doing well. Thank you again for all your info and your sense of humor!
Lori says
Hi Kevin, just wanted to let you know how much I have been enjoying your entire blog. It’s a wealth of information and a true gift for your readers. Can’t wait to try winter sowing in a few months and I’ll be trying out many of your recipes as well. Your blog is the best thing that’s happened this year!