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Plant Shop & Nursery in Dallas, TX

Spring/Summer Hours Daily 9am-6pm. Winter Hours: Daily 9am-5pm.

Come and visit North Haven Gardens, your destination for all your gardening needs in Dallas. As you step inside, you'll find a comprehensive selection of quality gardening equipment and a diverse plant nursery with a stunning array of indoor plants, outdoor plants, and a variety of fresh vegetables. Our expert garden coaches are dedicated to helping you turn your gardening dreams into reality. Plus, we now have delivery services available in Dallas (within our service area, call for details). Now you can ensure that your gardening essentials are conveniently brought to your doorstep. You can even sign up for a grow card membership to earn points and save on your purchases.

Here at North Haven Gardens, we take pride in offering a curated selection that caters to all levels of expertise. Whether you're a seasoned gardener or a beginner, our friendly and professional staff is here to help. Visit our nursery in Dallas an experience the difference.

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Tomato Season Tips: The Best Way to Plant Tomatoes

 

Tomatoes are everyone’s favorite thing to grow. Here, we have two seasons to get a crop, one in summer, and one in fall. Follow these suggestions for great fruit!

  • Compost—Add more compost to your garden seasonally before every planting.
  • Fertilizer—Foods made for edibles are best. Try Espoma’s Tomato-tone or Garden-tone.
  • Liquid Seaweed—An organic extract that strengthens plants for better resistance to temperature fluctuations, stress, and disease. Good as a drench or foliar spray.
  • Tomato Cages—Tomatoes need support to thrive and produce well.
  • Mulch—Apply at least 2-3 inches of a mulch such as pinestraw after planting to conserve moisture, protect your investment in the soil, moderate temperatures, and deter weeds.

This is a basic list to get you started. Speak with a Garden Advisor for specific recommendations.

TIMING FOR TOMATO SEASON:

Tomatoes are most popularly planted by 4” transplants, and generally available in a longer spring planting window of late February through March for a summer harvest. Summer plantings yield fall tomatoes when planted in a narrower window, late June through mid-July.

SELECTION OF TOMATOES:

Plants fall into two main categories:

  • Hybrids are those bred for specific size, flavor, or other characteristics, and can be the best choices for disease resistance. Heirlooms are usually viewed as those that are 50 years or older varieties. These can produce less fruit, but they have unusual forms or colors and distinctive flavor qualities that many prefer.
  • Then, choose between two major plant types: Determinates are bush-type growers, and generally produce larger fruits that ripen all at once. These can be good for container culture. Indeterminates usually have smaller-sized fruit, but these are produced over a much longer time on larger, vining-type plants.

SITE OF TOMATO GARDEN:

  • Tomatoes must have full sun; at least 6 hours or more of direct sunlight daily is best.
  • Plants will require consistent moisture; make sure they’re in a spot that is easy to water. Good drainage, air circulation and consistent moisture will help reduce disease problems.
  • Raised beds are excellent for growing tomatoes because they provide improved drainage and soil aeration. Beds should be a minimum of 4’x 4’ x 1’deep. This will make temperature and moisture levels more consistent

PREPPING THE BEDS:

  • Try Mayer’s Raised Bed Mix for an all-in-one soil. Or, amend beds with the Organic Compost, and add on Garden Soil Builder, a well-composted manure, and worm castings before each planting. In containers, try NHG’s Organic Potting Soil, and amend. See the Vegetable Project List handout for details.
  • Work the organic vegetable fertilizer into the soil when you’re prepping the area at 1 to 2 lbs per 100 sq. ft.

PLANT YOUR TOMATOES:

  • At planting, water the transplants with liquid seaweed or root stimulator.
  • Make the hole. Fertilizer can be applied now at the bottom with soil added on top, or done after planting. Carefully clip any lower leaves of taller plants, and bury a couple of inches of the main stem under the soil. Additional roots will grow from the stem.
  • Thoroughly water the plant in. Apply fertilizer in a ring around plant now if not done in the hole.
  • Apply 2-3 inches of a shredded bark or pine needle mulch after planting to conserve moisture on the new planting.

CULTURE:

  • Cage your tomatoes right after planting to provide necessary support. Make sure any support you select is tall enough for the chosen variety.
  • Water in the morning to reduce fungal diseases. Drip irrigation works well as it keeps water off the leaves. Work around leaves only when they are dry. Keep tools clean.
  • Do not fertilize again until the first fruits have started to develop, and reapply every two weeks thereafter. Remember containers will need additional watering and fertilization.
  • Carefully monitor your plants daily for any appearance of pests or diseases.

HARVEST:

  • Gently twist to remove fruit that has reached its deepest color, and store upside-down unrefrigerated until needed. Green fruits can be harvested as well, and if desired can be allowed to ripen indoors on a warm windowsill.

Get Help on the Best Way to Plant Tomatoes in North Texas

See a Garden Advisor or visit us at North Haven Gardens in Dallas, TX for additional help to be the most successful with tomatoes.

Call North Haven Gardens!

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