Planting Tomato Plants
SOUTH SHORE ENTREPRENEUR: Peter and Lynn Reading
Billingsgate Farm in Plympton may be more than 200 years old, but that doesn’t mean its current owners are willing to simply rest on the farm’s extensive history. Starting last season, Billingsgate Farm owner Peter Reading and his wife Lynn made some updates to the farm to ensure it passes the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s “Good Agricultural Practices” audit.
Billingsgate also gained approval in the state’s newly-launched “Quality Seal Program.” The state program, launched this year, is aimed at taking the guesswork out of determining if a product was grown locally.
The farm installed new outdoor sinks and wash stations and a dry well for drainage.
About 75 percent of what is grown at Billingsgate Farm is sold at off-site retail locations, including the Whole Foods Market in Hingham and Foodie’s market in Duxbury.
“Foodie’s sells 70 percent more of our product that any other farm they have ever done business with,” Pete Reading said.
The other 25 percent of produce and vegetables is sold on location in Plympton. Any produce purchased on location is picked fresh that day.
Other changes at the farm, which employs eight or nine people at a time, include a community-supported agriculture program that allows consumers to buy farm shares in return for a weekly allotment of fruits and vegetables.
In addition, the farm hosts a “meet the beekeeper” program. The next event is scheduled for noon on July 3. Customers will have an opportunity to meet with the farm’s beekeeper and learn about the honey that is produced on the farm.
This year, Pete Reading looks to pick 6,000 ears of corn per day. But he said the rains in May set back their planting schedule.
“We lost two acres of corn because there was so much rain, we had to replant,” Pete Reading said. “We went 10 to 12 days we didn’t plant anything we could get into the field. So that was tough. We’ll lose probably $10,000 by opening so late.”
Shaunna Gately may be reached at sgately@ledger.com .
Planting Tomato Plants - News
Billingsgate Farm owner Peter Reading looks over his tomato plants on Tuesday, June 21, 2011, in Plympton. Reading and his wife, Lynn, have undertaken updates at the Plympton farm and recently gained approval from the state's new “Quality Seal Program.
We track every tomato plant.” “But we're not a single commodity farmer,” he said. “We plant and harvest continually, so we'll be planting late season crops. We'll plant some tomatoes, and if we have an Indian summer, we may be harvesting spinach at
Earl Robinson, founder of Meadow View Growers, said he gave at least 500 pepper and tomato plants and isn't surprised the trend is growing. Robinson estimated that a single tomato plant (he sells three for $1.99) can produce about 30 pounds of fruit,
Here, he places a tomato plant in a hole he dug at the DTE Energy garden in Farmington Hills. If all goes well this growing season, a community garden in Farmington Hills sponsored by DTE Energy will turn out several thousand pounds of food for local
This can also be important towards the end of the growing season when you would prefer to see the plant put its energy into ripening tomatoes that are already on the vine. Mulching is another way to help increase yields from your tomato plants.
Tomato Casual » Simple Solutions to Tomato Problems
By Mindy McIntosh-Shetter
Tomato problems can be vast, confusing, and a pain for many gardeners.
All gardeners experience the heart stopping moment when one discovers a problem with their prized tomato plants.
And we all have experienced the telltale signs of chewed leaves, stems and huge green caterpillars that seem to appear out of nowhere.
But solutions are insight if you follow a few time-tested preventative measures.
Cleanliness is the Key
Keeping the garden clean year round is a key to reducing problems. When the season is over, remove all the material and destroy the tomato plants or any plant in the nightshade family. Many plant diseases remain on these plants and will be transferred into the compost pile.
Keep weeds at bay, not only, in the garden space but also around it. Several insects, such as stinkbugs, love the cover of weeds and thrive in them year round. Also, consider covering the garden space with plastic when not in use. This will reduce the need to weed come spring and will aid in sterilizing the soil through solar sterilization.
Rotate Crops Every 2 Years
To reduce plant disease and insect problems, rotate anything in the nightshade family every 2 years. This includes potatoes, eggplant, and tomatoes. Simply growing them in a different location in the garden is enough to break an insect cycle and gives the soil a break.
Plant Only Disease and/or Pest Resistant Varieties
Many problems can be prevented before they start by simply planting the correct type of plant. There are tomatoes that are resistant to many types of diseases, such as tomato mosaic virus and varies types of wilt. Also, there are varieties that prevent problems that are caused by nutrient deficiencies, such as bottom rot.
Create a Collar for Protection
The easiest solution to a problem is very often the simplest and tomatoes are no exception. Cutworms are easily controlled by creating a paper collar that is wrapped around the bottom of the stem before planting. This solution creates a barrier between the cutworm and the tomato stem.
Plant Correctly
Planting the tomato plants the correct distance apart reduces the chances of many plant diseases. The space between the plants allows sunlight and air to circulate around them. This is very important when it comes to controlling fungal problems.
Before Planting Your Tomato Plants read
Before Planting Your Tomato Plants read 
New post: I bought tomato plants at the nursery, Question about planting in garden.? 
Finished planting my tomato plants outside (they should be safe now) & mowed my lawn. Time for a nice long bubble bath.
Before Planting Your Tomato Plants read Planting Tomato Plants - Bookshelf
TOMATO PLANT CULTURE, IN THE FIELD, GREENHOUSE, AND HOME GARDEN
A float device is provided for determining the water level in the base of the box. The box is of sufficient size to accommodate four to six tomato plants. ...Plant pathology
Disease development and changes in the natural Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato populations on field tomato plants. Plant Dis. 83, 759–764. ...Organic Gardening
It's a Fact Tomato plants have self-fertile, perfect flowers, meaning that each flower has both male and female parts and only one plant is needed for fruit ...The New Self-Sufficient Gardener
Do this two weeks before you plant out, and try to retain that soil intact when you plant. RING CULTURE Ring culture is another way of growing tomato plants ...The standard cyclopedia of horticulture, a discussion for the amateur, and the professional and commercial grower, of the kinds, characteristics and methods of cultivation of the species of plants grown in the regions of the United States and Canada for ornament, for fancy, for fruit and for vegetables; with keys to the natural families and genera, descriptions of the horticultural capabilities of the states and provinces and dependent islands, and sketches of eminent horticulturists
Two methods of growing plants for selection are in general use, ... As an illustration, suppose that the breeder is growing the Stone tomato and desires to ...Day-by-day Information Directory
How to Plant Tomatoes
Planting Tomatoes. To get a bumper crop, stagger planting dates to extend the tomato ... Before you put your tomato plants in the soil, put one cup of kelp meal and one cup of ...
How to Grow a Tomato Plant - wikiHow
wikiHow article about How to Grow a Tomato Plant. ... Buy small tomato plants from a near by nursery and transplant them to your garden for the first-time grower. ...
Planting Tomato Plants: How To Plant Tomatoes
When planting tomato plants for family consumption, here's a helpful tip. ... Tomato plants should be straight and sturdy and six to eight inches high. ...
Planting Tomato Plants | eHow.com
Learn about Planting Tomato Plants on eHow.com. Find info and videos including: How to Plant a Tomato Plant, Can Tomato Plants Be Planted Beside Potato Plants? ...
tomato plants
Here you'll learn to minimize plant stress for healthy tomato plants.