Planter’s Row: Fall Tomatoes

Prepared by  Grady Sampson
There are things to watch out for in your fall tomatoes. Check your late tomatoes for blossom end rot on the fruit as it begins to form.  This is usually an indication of a calcium deficiency.  Place a handful of gypsum (land plaster) in the soil beside the tomato at planting (or later) to prevent this.  Foliar sprays such as blossom end rot spray will also help alleviate the problem.  Nothing will “heal” the fruit with rot on it, so remove and discard them.  
Also we have things we need to do in our fall tomato garden. Half the tomato disease battle in a vegetable garden is sanitation.  As tomatoes end their production remove them from the garden and take them to a landfill.  
Many diseases will over-winter on old infected leaves and stems.  
(A good practice for any plants you have had disease problems with this year). Sketch out where you planted various vegetables in your garden.  This will come in handy next spring when you plant, so you can rotate your crops to help prevent disease.
Some planting times for more common vegetables for a full list and planting depths and spacing are available at your Clemson Extension office.

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