The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1923-03-08
The Culture Of Tomatoes
By T. H. Abel, Assistant Horticultural, Experiment
Station, Utah Agricultural College

The tomato IL one OF the most prof
liable and dependable crops in Utah.
In 1922 there were over 5000 acres
grown for canning factory and mar
ket, besides untold numbers OF vines
In home gardens. Because Of it,
love of warmth. the tomato Is well
adapted to many Of our valleys,
where 1t 10 made to fruit abundantly
with an ample supply Of water. This
fact stands out In the U. 8. Census
Reports which show that Utah pro-
duces the highest yield per acre OF
tomatoes-ths figure being "a tons
when the national acreage 10 40 tons.
tons
The tomato tnrtves in any soil
which contains sufficient moisture.
for It f. not at all particular about
the percentage OF clay. sand and
gravel. The plant does. however. re-
spond to . high organic content, 30
for the highest yields II 10 best to
choose q loan with 4 mixture of both
clay and sand. The soil must be well
drained.
The exact treatment OF the soil var
les with the type. but since the to-
mato likes q moderate amount OF
fertility the treatment should include
the blowing under OF manure. either
stable or green. eastern growers
find the best results from blowing
under red or crimson clover and the
addition of q complete commercial
fertilizer high In phosphatss. Where
the clovers are Objectionable an an
nual legums could b used such Is
canning or field peas. Manure should
furnish the desired phosphates.
The quality of seed used will de-
eide whether the crop Ia to be profit
able or not Utmost pains should be
taken to secure the very best seed.
There are many good varieties; some
Of the commonest for canning are
stone. LAndreth. Greater baltimore.
Bonny Best: for early market. Ear
Llama and Chalks Enrly Jewel; for
main crop market. Matchless. Var
ious growers are enthusiastic for diff
ferent strains Of these varieties so II
is probable that each peculiar soil
and condition will demand . particu.
lar strain and variety.
Since the tomato has = longer
growing season than this climate af
fords, the plants must be started in q
hotbed. For the earliest market
seeds may DO sown In February %
that the plants can be set In the
fields In May; for the cannery. seed
may be set In the field about May 10
There are many methods Of raising
tomato plants. but to he q success,
the process must produce . large,
stocky. hardy plant Just ready to
bloom. This may be accomplished
by sowing the seed broadcast or in
rows and thinning out the resultant
plants to stand 3 or 4 inches apart
Later soil II filled in around them to
induce roots to grow from the stems.
The same result may be secured ny
tSansplanting the seedlings. when the
nrst true leaves appear. to stand the
desired distance apart.
The best method for raising plants
q to SOW the seed or transplant the
young plants into pots. cans. straw
berry cups or paper cups called dirt
bands" This allows the roots to
grow undisturbed and when the
plants are set In the field the roots
are not injured. 20 the plants keep
right on growing. The experience OF
the Experiment station with dirt
bands has shown q usual loss OF less
than one per cent, and furthermore
the plants do not witt when set in
the field.
In setting In the field the plants
are set in mud at the side Of .
stream Of water or the water Is run
down the furrow Immediately after
the plants are set. The plant must
have plenty Of water when II 10 first
set In the field. The plants are US
ually set In check rows from by 4
feet to by feet, This allows for
cross cultivation which materially re.
duces the cost Of hoeing.
The field 10 irrigated often enough
to keep the soil moist 90 that the
plants may grow continuously. Cui-
tivation to conserve moisture. des.
troy weeds. and aid the bacterial
growth in the soil should he continu-
ed from the time OF setting out tn the
time when the plants spread 30 much
that they will be injured.
For distant market. tomatoes
should be picked just as they begin
to turn red and sometimes while
they are still white. For local mar
ket they may be nearly ripe, and for
the Gamer they are picked while
ripe but still firm. The picking
should be often so that the product
may be Of uniform ripeness. Large
quantities Of soft tomatoes are often
culled out at the factory just becnuse
growers are not careful ON this point
Yields may be expected varying
from 6 to 20 tons per acre. and cases
are known Of much higher yields. For
the early variety smaller yields may
be expected but the advantage should
come from the higher prices. For
the market. tomatoes are packed In
rows In flat boxes. care being taken
TO grade all Of one size into one box.