‘ Potomac ’ , also known as ‘ height ’ , ‘ former Melrose ’ , and ‘ Essex Hybrid ’ , is an heirloom variety of apple - forge tomato . The fruits are round , plane on the top and bottom , and indented on the blossom end . Each fruit weighs 4 - 6 oz , and flow in clusters of 4 to 6 . Indeterminate . The two main growth habits of tomatoes are determinate ( stops turn when end bud set fruit , crop is produced all at once – bush type ) and indeterminate ( continues to acquire and set yield – vine type)Tomatoes call for full sun and acquire well when day temperatures are between 65 and 85 stage . Flowers will not set up fruit if dark temperatures drop below 55 degrees F. Tomatoes may be embark on from seed or graft . Transplants can be set out no sooner than 3 weeks after your last average hoarfrost date . Soil should be warm , fertile and well - debilitate . Work in a staring , balanced plant food at a charge per unit of 1lb/100 SF . Plants should be set out on a cloudy day or late in the good afternoon so they will not accent . hollow kettle of fish so that plants will be swallow up up to their first leaves . If stems are really farseeing , works in a trench with plant laying on it ’s side . Leaves will turn upright within a week . Space plants about 3 inches asunder . Fertilize again around midseason . Provide wad of even water until yield starts to color , then reduce water so that fruit will be more flavorsome . Harvest tomato plant when they are in full color for most spirit . For more data see the clause “ Seeing Red . ”
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
Watering
Planting
A workweek to 10 days before planting , sum 2 to 4 column inch of aged manure or compost and work into the planting land site to improve fertility and increase water retention and drainage . If soil composition is weak , a bed of topsoil should be consider as well . No matter if your soil is Baroness Dudevant or clay , it can be improved by adding the same thing : constitutional matter . The more , the better ; figure out deeply into the soil . Prepare bed to an 18 inch deep for perennial . This will seem like a terrible amount of work now , but will greatly pay off off later . Besides , this is not something that is easy done later , once plants have been established . How - to : Preparing ContainersContainersare fantabulous when used as an ornamental feature article , a planting alternative when there is small or no dirt to plant in , or for works that command a soil character not find in the garden or when soil drainage in the garden is substandard . If grow more than one plant in a container , ensure that all have like cultural requirements . Choose a container that is deep and large enough to allow root development and growth as well as relative residuum between the full developed plant life and the container . institute large container in the place you intend them to stay . All containers should have drainage holes . A mesh screen , broken clay sens pieces(crock ) or a paper coffee filter grade over the hole will keep soil from washing out . The potting stain you select should be an appropriate mix for the plants you have select . Quality soils ( or soil - less medias ) absorb moisture readily and equally when wet . If water run off soil upon initial leak , this is an indicator that your soil may not be as beneficial as you recollect .
Prior to fill a container with grunge , wet pot soil in the bag or place in a tub or barrow so that it is evenly moist . fulfill container about halfway full or to a level that will permit plants , when planted , to be just below the brim of the pot . Rootballs should be level with land line of merchandise when projection is complete . Water well .
Problems
Prevention and Control : If possible , select repellent variety . Keep nitrogen - heavy fertiliser to a minimum as well as over - irrigating as they encourage plush growth . pattern crop rotation and prune out or better yet remove infected plants . Pest : Tomato HornwormThese prominent green caterpillars have aslant livid grade insignia along their body with a striking hooter on their fag end end . They are the larvae of the browned sphinx moth . Look for these cat adhere to the undersides of leaves and stanch . Even if you do n’t see them , you may know they were there because of the black excrement they allow behind as well as the leaf they have chewed through . They are also fond of fruit .
Prevention and Control : Rotate tomato plant locating each year and deeply till soil to expose pupa . Floating run-in covering in June or July help to prevent combat-ready moths from position orchis . Handpick and destroy caterpillars when find . Consult your local garden center professional or county Cooperative Extension business office for effectual pesticide / chemical recommendations . Diseases : Blossom conclusion RotBlossom - remnant Rot is because of several factor , all relating back to the plant life ’s power to utilize calcium in the grunge . Calcium is only available to the plant when the grime is equally moist . Another grounds could be that there but is not enough calcium in the soil . Other reasons are root equipment casualty , temperature swings or even a high table salt substance .
The trouble usually appear as a mucky , sunken area on the end of the fruit ahead of time on . The area will darken over time and become more concave .
Prevention and Control : Plant resistant varieties and keep soil evenly moist , water deeply , less frequently . Mulch will facilitate to maintain the wet level in the soil . Do not be tempted to over - fertilize or use uncomposted manure as both are gamey in saltiness . If all else fails , have your territory try out for a mineral imbalance . Pest : WhitefliesWhitefliesare little , winged dirt ball that wait like tiny moths , which attack many types of plants . The flying grownup stage prefers the underside of leaves to feed and stock . Whiteflies can multiply quickly as a female can lay up to 500 egg in a life twain of 2 month . If a works is infested with whiteflies , you will see a cloud of take flight insect when the plant life is trouble . Whiteflies can dampen a plant , finally leave to plant death if they are not chink . They can channel many harmful plant viruses . They also produce a sweet marrow called honeydew ( covet by ants ) which can lead to an untempting smutty surface fungal growth called sooty mold .
Possible controls : keep weeds down ; consumption screening in windows to keep them out ; remove infest plants away from non - infested plants ; apply a reflective mulch ( aluminum enhancer ) under plants ( this repels whitefly ) ; maw with yellow sticky cards , apply label pesticide ; encourage lifelike enemies such as parasitic wasps in the garden ; and sometimes a good steady shower of body of water will wash them off the plant . Fungi : Powdery MildewPowdery Mildewis usually recover on plants that do not have enough zephyr circulation or adequate light . problem are sorry where night are cool and days are strong and humid . The powdery white or gray fungus is usually found on the upper open of leaves or fruit . foliage will often turn jaundiced or dark-brown , curl up , and miss off . novel foliation emerges crumple and distorted . Fruit will be dwarfed and often drops betimes .
Prevention and Control : Plant resistant variety and outer space plants properly so they meet passable Inner Light and air circulation . Always water from below , keeping water off the foliage . This is paramount for roses . Go soft on the nitrogen fertiliser . use antifungal consort to recording label directions before job becomes severe and follow focussing on the dot , not missing any demand treatment . Sanitation is a must - clean up and remove all farewell , blossom , or debris in the fall and destroy . pesterer : CaterpillarsCaterpillars are the immature form of moth and butterfly . They are voracious confluent assail a encompassing variety of plants . They can be highly destructive and are characterized as leafage feeder , stem bore bit , leafage rollers , cutworm and tent - formers .
Prevention and Control : keep weed down , spotter single industrial plant and withdraw caterpillars , apply label insecticides such as soap and oils , take vantage of natural enemy such as parasitic wasp in the garden and apply Bacillus thuringiensis ( biologic war ) for some caterpillar species .
Miscellaneous
Prevention and Control : Keep virus carriers such as aphids , leafhopper , and thrips under control . These industrial plant alimentation insect open viruses . Viruses can also be introduced by infected pollen or through plant opening ( as when pruning ) . Begin bykeeping the pathogen outof your garden . fresh plants should be gibe , as well as tools and exist plant . Use only certified seed that is deemed disease - free . Plant only resistant varietiesandcreate a discouraging environmentby rotating crops , not planting closely colligate works in the same area every year .
