TOMATOES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 75, Issue 13, 16 January 1932, Page 19 (Supplement)

TOMATOES

Early planted tomatoes and now . rapidly developing their fruit, and need all the assistance that can be given. At ’ this time an occasional application of , some stimulating manure, either applied in a liquid form, or applied to the soil just before rain, will greatly assist in the growth and development of the fruit. Later planting varieties, too, will need special attention as at this time the plants grow very rapidly and to obtain the best results, a proper system of stopping and training must be adopted. When tomatoes are trained to stakes • or trellises the best results are obtained when only one or at most two of the leading shoots are allowed to grow. If the plants are good cropping varieties these shoots will produce all the fruit the plants can carry and pr> perly ripen providing that all lateral growth is kept removed. The object of this method of pruning is to force the strength of the plants in the development of fruit, instead of useless growth and small immature fruit that rarely properly ripens. Spraying at this time is important, not only as a preventive from fungoids, but to prevent the fruit from the ravages of caterpillar. A little arsenate of lead added to the Bordeaux mixture, if properly applied so that the whole of the fruit is moistened w'ith the solution, will invariably protect the fruit from this pest.