tomatoSolanum lycopersicum

tomato

tomatoes

1. garden tomato
2. love apple

1. Paradeiser
2. Goldapfel
3. Liebesapfel
4. Wolfspfirsich

1. Paradeiser
2. Paradeis

1. love apple

1. tomato
2. tomatoes

nightshade family

1. fruit

1. Taskplan_indoor_sowing

   Label

   Plan indoor sowing

   Prioritymedium

   Months

   1. 2

   Conditionfrost

   Estimated effortlow

   Notes

   Order seeds for desired varieties.

1. Tasksow_indoor

   Label

   Sow indoors

   Priorityhigh

   Months

   1. 3

   Estimated effortmedium

   Notes

   Use seed compost at 20–22 °C, place bright.

1. Taskprick_out

   Label

   Prick out

   Priorityhigh

   Months

   1. 4

   Conditionseedlings@1st_true_leaf

   Estimated effortmedium

   Notes

   Plant into individual pots, harden off from late April.

1. Taskplant_out

   Label

   Plant out

   Priorityhigh

   Months

   1. 5

   Conditionafter_last_frost

   Estimated efforthigh

   Notes

   Spacing 60x80 cm, plant deeply, tie up.

1. Taskwater_mulch

   Label

   Water & mulch

   Priorityhigh

   Months

   1. 6

   Estimated effortmedium

   Notes

   Keep evenly moist, mulch with straw.

2. Taskprune_suckers

   Label

   Remove side shoots

   Prioritymedium

   Months

   1. 6

   Conditionplants_growing

   Estimated effortlow

   Notes

   Remove side shoots in leaf axils.

1. Taskharvest

   Label

   Harvest

   Priorityhigh

   Months

   1. 7

   Conditionfruits_ripe

   Estimated effortmedium

   Notes

   Harvest regularly to promote further ripening.

1. Taskharvest_main

   Label

   Main harvest

   Priorityhigh

   Months

   1. 8

   Estimated efforthigh

   Notes

   Check daily and pick ripe fruits.

1. Tasklate_care

   Label

   Late care and green harvest

   Prioritymedium

   Months

   1. 9

   Conditioncold_nights

   Estimated effortlow

   Notes

   Let green fruits ripen or protect from frost.

1. Taskfinal_harvest

   Label

   Final harvest and remove plants

   Priorityhigh

   Months

   1. 10

   Conditionbefore_frost

   Estimated effortmedium

   Notes

   Harvest all fruits, compost plants.

Full sun

sheltered, open to wind

Tomatoes require a sunny, sheltered spot, ideally under rain cover.

humus-rich, loose garden soil

well-drained

Deeply loosen soil and incorporate mature compost before planting.

Water evenly, preferably in the morning, keep leaves dry.

1. Fruchtansatz
2. Fruchtwachstum

compost

Apply potassium-rich organic fertiliser or nettle tea during fruit set.

Tomatoes are heavy feeders, nitrogen before flowering, then switch to potassium.

Bed planning: do not plant after other nightshade crops (rotation).

Tomatoes should be grown on the same bed no more than once every 3–4 years.

1. beans
2. peas
3. cabbage
4. lettuce
5. spinach
6. onions

1. potatoes
2. peppers
3. eggplants
4. other nightshades

Green manure in the previous year improves soil structure.

1. sucking insects
2. mites
3. miners

1. fungal diseases (Phytophthora, Botrytis, powdery mildew)
2. bacterial diseases

1. Choose resistant varieties
2. Crop rotation (at least 3 years)
3. Rain protection (roof over tomatoes)
4. Promote air circulation
5. Encourage beneficials

Regularly inspect leaf undersides for pests and watch for wilting or spotted leaves as first disease symptoms.

1. Slugphytophthora_infestans

   Severityhigh

   Conditions

   1. Warm humid weather
   2. Rainfall
   3. Temperatures 15–20°C

   Affected parts

   1. leaves
   2. stems
   3. fruit

   Prevention

   1. Resistant varieties
   2. Rain cover
   3. Maintain spacing
   4. Preventive copper treatment

   Organic control

   1. Remove infected parts immediately
   2. Copper fungicide spray
   3. Horsetail tea as preventive
2. Slugbotrytis_cinerea

   Severitymedium

   Conditions

   1. Cool, humid conditions
   2. Poor air circulation
   3. Plant wounds

   Affected parts

   1. stems
   2. fruit
   3. leaves

   Prevention

   1. Improve air circulation
   2. Avoid overhead watering
   3. Remove dead plant material

   Organic control

   1. Cut out infected areas
   2. Copper or sulfur preparations
   3. Use beneficial fungus Trichoderma

1. Symptom

   Brown spots on leaves with white mold

   Possible causes

   1. Phytophthora infestans

   First checks

   1. Check humidity
   2. Recent weather
   3. Assess infection stage
2. Symptom

   Gray mold on stems/fruit

   Possible causes

   1. Botrytis cinerea

   First checks

   1. Check plant spacing
   2. Irrigation method
   3. Look for injuries

If late blight is suspected, act quickly as it spreads rapidly.

1. Germination
2. Seedling stage
3. Vegetative growth
4. Flowering
5. Fruit set
6. Fruit ripening

Tomatoes exhibit continuous growth with simultaneous flowering and fruit development over a long season, especially for indeterminate varieties.

hermaphroditic flower

yellow

June to September

Small, yellow flowers appear in clusters. They are self-fertile, but slight vibrations (wind, insects) promote pollination.

July to October

Harvest time varies by variety and growing conditions, but typically begins in mid-summer and lasts until the first frost.

Regularly, every 1-3 days during peak season

1. Fruit is fully colored (variety-specific)
2. Fruit is firm but yields to gentle pressure
3. Fruit detaches easily from the stem

Pick tomatoes carefully, ideally with the calyx attached. Do not stack to avoid bruising. Green fruits can be harvested before the first frost and ripened indoors.

fresh, processed

Do not store ripe tomatoes in the refrigerator, as this impairs flavor and texture. Unripe fruits will ripen at room temperature.

fresh produce, preserved

Fresh: 1-2 weeks at room temperature; Processed: several months to years

1. Canning (whole, diced, pureed)
2. Drying (sun-dried, dehydrator)
3. Freezing (whole, pureed)
4. Sauces and soups
5. Juice

fresh consumption, preservation

sauces, soups, juices

Tomatoes are extremely versatile and excellent for processing into long-lasting products.

1. Salads
2. Sandwiches
3. Sauces (e.g., pasta, pizza)
4. Soups
5. Stews
6. Grilled
7. Stuffed
8. Juices
9. Ketchup

Sweet-tart, umami, varying by variety

Tomatoes are a staple in many cuisines worldwide and can be enjoyed raw or cooked.

1. Fruit (ripe)

1. Leaves
2. Stems
3. Unripe green fruits (except specific varieties)

All green parts of the tomato plant (leaves, stems, unripe fruits) contain solanine, a mildly toxic alkaloid. Ingesting large quantities can cause gastrointestinal upset. Ripe fruits are safe and contain only trace amounts of solanine.

Yes, ripe tomatoes are excellent for raw consumption.

Very good for open-pollinated seeds

Extract seeds from ripe fruits, ferment, wash, and dry.

For true-to-type seeds from open-pollinated varieties, fermentation of the seeds is recommended to remove germination inhibitors and improve viability.

Allow seeds with pulp to ferment in a glass with a little water for 2-3 days at room temperature until a mold layer forms. Then rinse and dry the seeds.

For open-pollinated varieties, an isolation distance of 3-6 meters is sufficient, as tomatoes are primarily self-pollinating. Seed saving from F1 hybrids is not recommended, as offspring will not be true to type.

Thoroughly dry seeds on a plate or screen in an airy location. Store in a dry, cool, and dark place.

Tomatoes are annual, herbaceous plants and do not fall under the category of woody crops. Therefore, most woody plant care concepts are not applicable here.

Tomatoes are self-pollinating, but bumblebees can improve fruit set. They offer little direct benefit to native wildlife, but can indirectly attract beneficial insects through companion planting with flowering plants.