GROWING TOMATOES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 77, 27 November 1942, Page 3

GROWING TOMATOES

To-day a very strong wind is blowing, and though it is warm it is very tiring. When a strong wind is blowing, like to-day, directly on one side of the glass-houses, the windows or ventilators on this particular side of the glasshouses have to be closed, while the windows on the other side, which are not facing the wind, are allowed to remain open. Someone really has to be at home most of the time, to open or close the windows as the wind changes. As it is too hot to work in the glasshouses during the day, we get up early in the morning and work in them then, and also in the cool of the evening, when the heat is less intense. The tomato plants must be watered about every five days, and perhaps every four days in hot weather, and manured every ten days with artificial manure. The laterals must be taken off. The plants must not be allowed to touch the glass, or otherwise the tomatoes would be scorched by the tremendous heat of the sun. As the tomatoes grow, the leaves spread outwards and, unless checked, touch the leaves in the opposite row. The other night I armed myself with a pair of scissors and set to work to snip off those leaves that were nearly touching the leaves in the opposite rows. Unless this is done the tomatoes cannot breathe and soon die. It is very interesting work, as you can imagine.

It has been very hot to-day, although here the weather is much different from Nelson. This climate is sultry, I always think. Fay Baynes, Christchurch.