1	Every Thing You Ever Wanted to Know About Tomatoes Kevin Schoessow Ag Development Agent Burnett, Sawyer, and Washburn Co.
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3	Solanaceae Tomato (Meso american) Pepper (Meso american) Eggplant (Asian) Potato (Andean) Tobacco (Meso american) Petunia Nightsade: eastern &bitter black
4	Tomato Lycopersicon esculentum “It is an unwholesome meat, engendering in the bodie many evill humors.” Doddoneasus 1554 Origin is Andes mountain region of South America Domesticated in Mexico Many related wild species in South America “Tomato” is from the Nahuati language of Mexico. “Tomati” was the name used by Native Americans
5	Lycopersicon esculentum Was considered poisonous until 1700’s First introduced in US in 1710 Thomas Jefferson was one of the first to grow tomatoes, which were called “Love Apples” at the time Related to nightshade (alkaloids) Major alkaloid in tomato is tomatine High in foliage but little in ripe fruit
6	Are they a Fruit? Botanically it is a fruit Horticulturally and legally it is a vegetable They are the 2^nd most important vegetable crop in the U.S. (the potato is #1)
7	Nutritional Aspect Low in calories and protein Ranks 16^th in vitamins, but #1 in contribution Very high in Vitamin C poor man’s orange Carotenoids nine different identified Beta-carotine Lycopene
8	Beta-carotine Main precursor of Vitamin A Range of 2 to 10 mg/g Highest amounts in some wild species High B-carotine varieties for special markets “Caro-Red” 10x normal
9	Lycopene Red pigment Health aspects 90% of lycopene comes from tomatoes Most potent antioxidant among carotenoids May protect against some forms of cancer Absorbed better in processed products
10	Fruit Color
11	Plant Growth Habits Determinate Flower clusters produced with only one or two leaves (nodes) between them After several clusters shoot will terminate in an infloresence (flower cluster) Tend to be smaller plants are suited for caging or sprawling Fruit tends to ripen all at once
12	Plant Growth Habits Indeterminate Three to four leaves are produced between flower clusters Shoot does not terminate in flower cluster Since plants continue to elongate they are larger and tend to get viney if not pruned Suited for staking and caging Fruit ripen throughout the growing season ISI Indeterminate Short Internode varieties with the controlled growth habit of a “determinate” with the unlimited production potential of an “indeterminate”
13	Plant Growth Habits
14	Determinate Growth Habits
15	Indeterminate Growth Habits
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17	Roots and Leaves Deep rooted, penetrates below 4 feet Direct seeded develop taproot Transplants develop more fibrous root Compound leaves are covered with fine hairs that emit the characteristic tomato smell when crushed
18	Flowers Individual flowers borne in clusters of 4-8 flowers Largely self-fertilized and primarily wind pollinated
19	Fruit Depending on variety fruit may be red, yellow, orange, green pink, or purple Shape may be oblong, round or pear Under simple genetic control Size ranges from < 1 oz. to several lbs. Under multi-genetic control Composition is typically 5% solids (up to 12% for paste) and 95% water Sugar/acid is prime factor in flavor Low light reduces sugars
20	Vine Ripe Tomatoes? Why is it that winter store bought tomatoes taste like cardboard? Ripe tomatoes cannot be shipped long distances Harvested as “breakers” Fruit can “ripen” to near red if gassed with ethylene, but never develop full flavor
21	Breaker 5-10% red
22	Growing Tomatoes Site Selection Cultivar Selection Recommended Varieties Cultural practices Planting Mulching and weed control Staking, caging and pruning Fertility Diseases and Insects
23	Site Selection Full Sun Open to good air movement Loam to Sandy Loam well drained fertile soil Soil pH 5.8-7.5
24	Cultivar Selection Length of growing season Disease and Pest considerations Type Early vs. Late Cherry vs. Beefstake Paste vs. Slicers Hybrid vs. Heirloom Determinate vs. Indeterminate
25	Early Varieties Typically smaller plants and smaller fruits 55 to 65 day (Siberia 48 days) Early Girl, New Yorker, Wayahead, Flash, Daybreak, First Lady, Miracle Sweet, Sunstart Artic, 4^th of July, Glacier
26	Main Crop Widest selection 70 to 100 day (Big Boy, Big Girl 78 day) Better Boy, Big Beef, Beefmaster, Jet Star, Pink Girl, Celebrity, Floramerica, Henz 1350, Ultra Sweet, Campbell 1327, Husky Gold, Husky Red Sun Series, Mountain Series
27	Paste or Salsa Fewer selections Medium size fruit (2-4 oz.) 65 to 75 day (Viva Italia 72 day) Roma VF, Italian Gold, Sherriff Super Marzano, Aztec, Classica Shasta and 5913 X 5914 two promising new varieties being developed by UW-Madison
28	Small Fruit Cherry or Grape sized fruits 60 to 75 day (Sweet 100 65 day) Yellow Pear, Pixie, Small Fry, Tiny Tim, Sweet Million, Juliet, Gardener’s Delight, Patio
29	Colored Fruit Yellows, Golds, Oranges, Green Striped Golden Boy, Golden Girl, Lemon Boy, Husky Gold, Sungold, Yellow Plum, Black Brandywine, Black Krim, Green Zebra, White Wonder, White Potato Leaf, Pineapple
30	Heirlooms Family: seeds that have been passed down for several generations through a family Commercial: open-pollinated varieties introduced before 1940 Created: crossing two known parents and dehybridizing the resulting seeds for how ever many years/generations it takes to eliminate the undesirable characteristics Mystery: varieties that are a product of natural cross-pollination of other heirloom varieties
31	Heirloom More lobed and undulated fruit Open pollinated More prone to diseases, fruit cracking 75 to 110 day (Brandywine 100day) Aunt Ginny, Boondocks, Prudens Purple, Striped German, Old German, Amish Paste, Mr. Stripey
32	"Plant after last spring frost" Plant after last spring frost Spooner last frost Median May 27 90% chance May 5 10% chance June 14 Plant spacing 24 to 36 inches in the row 36 to 48 inches between the row
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35	Pruning and Staking Indeterminates Leave two main stems Remove suckers between leaves and main stem Remove suckers before they get 2 ½ inches long Remove late season (after Sept 1) flower buds
36	Pruning and Staking Advantages Promotes early, larger and cleaner fruits Easier to harvest May help reduce disease problems Disadvantages Lower yields Increase risk of sunscald and fruit cracking
37	Caged tomatoes Little or no pruning Produce more fruit Later Ripening Low sunscald
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39	Fertilizing Tomatoes
40	Diseases of Tomatoes Fungal Fusarium and Verticllium Wilts Early Blight Septoria Leaf Blight Fruit Anthracnose Bacterial Bacterial Spot and Speck Viral Cucumber Mosaic Virus
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53	Publications available form A1691 Home-Grown Tomatoes for WI A3687 Growing Tomatoes, Peppers and Eggplant in WI A3110 Disease-Resistant Vegetables for the Home Garden A2606 Early Blight & Septoria Leaf Spot of Tomatoes A2617 Verticillium & Fusarium Wilt of Tomatoes A1653 Vegetable Cultivars and Planting Guide for WI A2801 Growing Vegetables at Home Q & A A3383 Mulches for Home Gardens and Planting
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