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How to Grow Tomatoes in California

Contributor
By Hollan Johnson
eHow Contributing Writer
(3 Ratings)
Grow Tomatoes in California
Grow Tomatoes in California

Tomatoes are often considered the cornerstone of a good vegetable garden. There is nothing quite like fresh tomatoes right off of the vine--they are much better than anything you can buy in the store. Lucky for you, California is one of the easiest places to grow tomatoes, and it also accounts for most of the U.S. tomato crop. Go ahead and add some tomatoes to your garden and enjoy the bounty!

Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Instructions
  1. Step 1

    Prepare your garden. Pull all weeds, rake out all large rocks and work in nutrient-rich soil and manure. Your tomatoes need a fertile place in which to grow.

  2. Step 2

    Buy tomato plants of any variety (see Resources below). Get them in early spring after the last frost. The temperature at night should not be lower than 50 degrees F. Be sure to choose a tomato plant with a resistance to disease. Look for the following abbreviations on the tomato plants for reference:V = Verticillium WiltF = Fusarium WiltFF = Fusarium Wilt race 1 and 2N = NematodeT = Tobacco Mosaic VirusA = Alternaria (Early Blight)TSW = Tomato Spotted Wilt

  3. Step 3

    Plant the tomato plants in full sun with at least 3 feet between each plant. They will spread out and become very large.

  4. Step 4

    Prune the tiny yellow flowers. The tomato plant needs to take root before it can produce fruit.

  5. Step 5

    Water your tomatoes every other day for 10 to 15 minutes. If you water them with a plant booster, such as Miracle Grow, it will make your tomatoes grow faster and bigger.

  6. Step 6

    Protect the tomatoes from the wind. Tomato plants are delicate and can be torn apart in a bad windstorm. Cover them with a clear plastic tarp held down with bricks.

  7. Step 7
     

    Harvest your tomatoes. If you plant mid-spring, you should have fruit by June or July, depending on the tomato variety. Be sure to harvest each tomato as it gets ripe. Check your plants every day.

Tips & Warnings
  • Along with disease, tomato horn worms can devastate your tomato plants within a day or two. If you notice any of these pests munching on your plants, pick them all off immediately or buy some pesticide (see Resources below).
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