It is Time To Plant: Container Tomatoes and Vegetables

Last summer's container garden

Last week I started my container vegetable garden— well, just the tomatoes. I am conducting an experiment: comparing the Tomato Program from Classic Gardens in Centerpoint, AL and Easy Container Combos: Vegetables & Flowers (Pamela Crawford’s Contianer Gardening) (will be planting a container today).

Well, one of my tomato plants has given up and I am to blame. I used a root stimulator (according to the instructions) and some of the formula got on the leaves of my plants. I used a watering can that had a shower head which dispersed the mixture over the pot. It was difficult to keep the water from getting on the leaves because of “the way one should plant the tomatoes” (that is a link to a “tomato growing tips” article I wrote) –deep, with just the top leaves above the dirt.

The next morning I noticed dark spots on the leaves. The only thing that could have caused this was the root stimulator. I immediately showered the plants with clean water from the tap–hoping that any stimulator on the leaves would be washed off. That appeared to work because no more spots or leaf damage appeared.

Well, one week later, my brandywine tomato is wilting big time. The other plant is still upright and showing signs of new growth.

Lesson learned: do not let the root stimulator mixture get on the leaves of your transplants.

I will replace the dying brandywine with “sweet 100”.  I have heard good things about this variety. Or maybe a “lemon boy” tomato. It is one of my favorites.

Stay tuned.