Roma Tomatoes 🍅

Maturity is about 80 days from transplanting. Since we have a long harvest in Vegas we can plant twice and get double the harvest. I bought these from Botanical Interest

I water with 360 water heads 3 times a day for 5 min.

Tomatoes are warm season annuals that grow best when the soil temp is at least 55 and the air is 65-90. 

First thing you need to know is the difference of determinate and indeterminate. 

Determinate

These plants reach a certain height and then stop growing. The majority of their fruit matures within a month or two and appears at the ends of the branches. These are best for those that cann and make sauce. Most of these need a cage. There is very little pruning needed on this type. Determinate are more disease resistant.

Indeterminate

These plants continue to grow and produce tomatoes all along the stems and throughout the growing season. They need extra tall supports. At least 5 feet tall. 

Semi-Determinate

There are a few semi-determinate or compact indeterminate because they are somewhat in between. Give these kind supports.

Roma tomatoes are best used for tomato paste and sauces. They are bright red egg shaped tomatoes. About 3 inches in length and very few seeds. These are a great choice to put into an omelet and spaghetti sauce since they are not a juicy tomato. This plant is resistant to verticillium wilt and  fusarium wilt.

Romas like full sun. At least 6-8 hrs of it. It matures in 73-80 days. They grow to be 4 to 6 feet tall. 

Make sure they get proper calcium. 2 egg shells per plant should be good. Sterilize the egg shells by putting into warm oven for 20 minutes and grind them up to make it work faster. 

Pick tomatoes in the afternoon to evening to have the best flavor. 

 

Sweet Peppers 🫑

Maturity is 68-85 days from transplanting. It’s frost sensitive so you have to be careful. This is an annual plant. I bought these seeds from Botanical Interests.

I water with 360 water heads 3 times a day for 5 min.

If you can grow tomatoes you can grow peppers. Don’t worry. 

Choose a site with full sun where the soil is moisture retentive but can drain well. They don’t like to get waterlogged. If you are planting sweet peppers and hot peppers then give some distance so they do not cross pollinate. 

If you are getting smaller peppers, test your soil for the ph and levels. Peppers like more of the phosphorus and potassium. They help grown the plant and fruit. Don’t add a lot of nitrogen. 

 Make sure you have added pollinator plants so that they come and you can always tap the plants everyday to make sure the pollen is being distributed. 

If you have worms and or worm holes pick them off. Corn earthworm is white, green or red caterpillar with spines about 1 1/2 in long.Tomato hornworm is a green caterpillar, 3-5 inch long with white stripes. These pests will eat holes in the leaves and your fruit. Handpick them off and destroy them, 

To have success make sure you have great organic matter. In Vegas it is best to plant them in raised beds that are at least 6 in deep. Adding bonemeal to the whole when planting to make it succeed well. Make sure not to plant until it is 65 degrees or higher. You can start the peppers indoors and get a jump on the growing season, 8-10 weeks before the temp gets to 65. If the temp goes below that bring it back inside. You will regret your hard work if you don’t. If your plant is leggy plant it lower so it gets stronger. Make sure you watering is consistent. Peppers are heavy feeders, so adding alfalfa , cottonseed or fish meal to the raised bed will be great. Before preferably. Your peppers need to be supported. It is better to do this before it gets big, like when you transplant it to the bed. If you did not make sure you are careful with your plant. Tomato cages are great. Sweet peppers are ready to harvest when they turn color. Make sure you don’t wait to long. They will wither and dye. You want that energy to go to your other peppers that are still growing. 

24JULY2021

24JULY2021