How To Grow The Best Tomatoes – Ag Matters

Knowing what you'll be using your tomatoes for is the first step in determining the best ones to grow.  Will they be used on sandwiches, in salads or used to make sauces and salsas.  Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oneida County holds a class that teaches you all you need to know.

According to Cornell's Master Gardener program, you should wait until around the 15th of April to start your seeds indoors.  Otherwise they may get to tall by planting season.

Choosing what tomato to plant should be determined by it's intended use. Indeterminate tomatoes ripen over several weeks for salad and sandwich use and Determinate tomatoes ripen all at once for canned sauces, salsas, and canned whole tomatoes.  

Cornell's Master Gardener Volunteers will present a class, “Grow your Best Tomato Class” Wednesday, May 6th from 6 to 8 p.m.at the Oneida County Extension offices in Oriskany.  Cost for the class is $10 and you can register online.  You can also call the Horticulture Hot Line on Wednesdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. at 736-3394.

SOURCE:  Holly Wise Cornell Cooperative Extension Oneida County