For those of us living in Dallas / Fort Worth , we are lucky enough to enjoy homegrown produce yr - round . Even better , we can grow some crops twice . Tomatoes are one of those special North Texas crop that we can glean in early summer , and again in the gloaming . And when in good order managed , fall tomatoes often outperform the spring harvest .
Here are five central steps to grow fall tomatoes in your North Texas garden .
1. Plan ahead.
By May 1st , you will need to decide whether to set out fall tomatoes by come or buy a transplant . Here are the benefits of both :
Benefits of growing fall tomatoes from seed:
Benefits of growing fall tomatoes from transplants:
If you determine to initiate by seed , fall tomato seeds should be start in May . ( Learnhow to start hang Lycopersicon esculentum seeds here . )
2. Select the right varieties.
buy your fall transplants from local garden centers can take some of the shot out of selecting fall - appropriate miscellanea , but what if you want to start your own ?
When take tomato varieties to bug out by seed for fall develop , here is what to front for :
Need some trace ? Here is a list of mixture that fall into the categories above :
Small - fruited heirloom
Chocolate Cherry
Purple Bumble Bee
Cream Sausage
Small - fruited hybrid
Sun Gold Cherry
Super Sweet 100
Supremo Bush Roma
rut - Tolerant Heirlooms
Beam ’s Yellow Pear
ChocolateStripes
Atkinson
oestrus - Tolerant Hybrids
Sunmaster
Sungold
quaternary ofJuly
Celebrity
Early - Maturing Heirlooms
Marmande
Northern Lights
Moskovich
Early - mature Hybrids
Green Envy
Tomatoberry
Mighty Sweet
3. Plant fall tomatoes in the first half of July.
Fruiting and flowering is a function of temperature and daylength . So , fall tomatoes must be planted early enough in the summertime so that there is still enough daylength left when they start to set fruit .
Planting crepuscle tomatoes in the first one-half of July ( July 1st – July 15th ) present the flora enough metre to rise into the right size of it for farm and lay fruit .
4. Protect tomatoes from the intense sun and heat.
Fall Lycopersicon esculentum crops are sometimes even heavy than tomatoes grown in spring . The challenge is keeping the young tomato plant plants sizeable through the blistering North Texas summer .
After transplanting gloam tomato seedlings , protect them from intense sun and warmth with some shade . Shade clothworks well for this . Removeshade clothafter a week or two once the plant are acclimated .
Shade cloth is an of the essence supply in our garden shed . We utilize it to protect tender seedlings while hardening off , and to protect plant life from the brute Texas summertime heat . Shade cloth can slim down ambient temperature by as much as 15 degree .
5. Water daily by hand.
During the first two months of growth , Lycopersicon esculentum call for a big amount of water . After transplant your fall tomatoes , irrigate them deeply every day .
It is also significant to always water supply tomatoes by manus – if possible – so that the water can be calculate at the soil and origin , not the leaves . Water droplets on love apple leave-taking can carry disease . Tomato plants are more prone to disease during hot summertime months when plant are stressed .
6. Harvest tomatoes at the very first signs of ripening.
Scientists have proventhat tomatoes harvest at the very first signs of ripening taste just as adept as tomatoes left to ripen on the vine .
As soon as tomato bulge to deepen colour from green to red ( or yellow or orange ) it is time to clean them off the vine and have mature indoors . This is the respectable way to protect tomato from squirrel , razzing , gnawer , and thieves .
Once harvested , leave tomatoes in a cool lieu until ripen amply . Never put tomato in the refrigerator .
7. Save seeds to plant in the spring.
The good part about growing tomatoes doubly ? The chance to re - test varieties that you make love in the spring to see if they can really do by all North Texas conditions . If a love apple grows well in both give and fall , then you know it ’s a clear victor in your North Texas garden , and it ’s a good idea to bring through some cum for planting again the next spring .
How to redeem tomato seeds :
Summary
With just a little extra planning , you ’ll be eating homegrown love apple well into December by planting a fall crop of tomatoes in your North Texas backyard . The winder is planning ahead and assume good guardianship of your plants .
Free Weekly Garden Planner
Our printable , binder - ready weekly garden contriver celebrate you on track . It ’s our gift to you .
Includes labor leaning , shopping list , harvest log , and natural action log .
