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Show SOLSTICE TIMES planted the next year and plants rotated to a new area since the fungus can live in the soil for years. Common problems in our area include split skins caused by irregular watering and also blossom end rot which turns the bottoms of the fruits brown or black and leathery and is caused by calcium deficiency and moisture fluctuations. Tomato plants need at least 2 gallons of water a week and do better if watered steadily rather than letting them go dry and then watering heavily. Mulching also helps maintain this constant moisture balance. Ne ver smoke around your - JUNE 15, 1997 - 5 like sac in order to destroy seed-borne diseases. 3. I have access to a list of places to get heirloom seeds if you are interested in these and can’t find them locally. 4. Tomatillos are related to tomatoes with the same pests and diseases, are easy to grow in areas with long summers, and need full sun with staking. QUESTIONS about this subject: 1. Does anyone have a favorite variety that grows well here and they’ (1 recommend to everyone? plants and wash your hands if you’ve handled tobacco since tomatoes (as well as eggplants, peppers, and potatoes) are subject to tobacco mosaic virus which will mottle, stunt and pucker the leaves and for this reason don’ t grow any of these near each other. Most healthy tomato plants can survive light frost but when heavy frost is expected, harvest all the fruit or pull the entire plant and hang upside down in a protected cool area. To ripen fruits rapidly, place next to apples or bananas or, for slow ripening, wrap in newspapers in a cool, dark Next month’s subject is LEITUCE, so contact me at 259- 4044 or HC 64 Box 2012 if you have information which will be helpful! —Rusty Salmon (Graphics from Texas A & M extension via intemet.) area. Green tomatoes can also be cooked, made into relishes, or pickled. So now, if you’re REALLY ready to produce that super tomato, I’ll leave you with this little encouraging tidbit. The current Tomato Challenge champion was a tomato weighing in at 7 pounds 12 ounces from a vine BALSLEY WELL SERVICE over 53 feet long, and if you can do better, it’s worth * Water Well Drilling $100,000 to you from the Miracle Gro folks! Let me know what your biggest one is, and we’ll put it in our column here. * Residential. Commercial. Industrial ir Pump Sales and Service * Monitor Well Drilling TIPS about this subject: 1. Use cut—up pantyhose over young fruits if birds are a problem. 2. If you save seed, remember the tomato seed has to TRACY BALSLEY Ph.D. "Professional Hole Driller" (801) 259-6408 » go through a fermentation process that removes the gel— SAVE TIME SAVE MONEY SAVE WATER WITH A DRIP SYSTEM FROM INSTALLATION AVAILABLE FREE DESIGN 275 WILLIAMS WAY 259-8274 FREE DELIVERY CANYON NURSERY - |