Move over, red tomatoes. There’s a new tomato in town, and it’s promising to be even healthier than its already uber-healthy red counterpart: Meet the purple tomato.
28.06.2023 - 09:01 / southernliving.com
There’s absolutely nothing as amazing as a fresh-picked tomato still warm from the sun. In fact,tomatoes are one of the most popular plants in home gardens, alongsidebeans, summer squash, andherbs such as basil. But with hundreds and hundreds of tomato cultivars, or cultivated varieties, it’s tough to choose which ones you should plant to stand up to the heat and humidity of the South. Whether you’re a traditionalist and plant only heirloom types your Granddaddy grew or you’re all about experimenting with new types bred for improved disease resistance, you’ll get the highest yield when you grow a few different types. Just make sure to set plants out after all danger of frost has passed in your area, and give them at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight per day. Tomatoes do not do well in shade.
With top picks fromAll-America Selections (AAS), which trials seed performance for home gardeners,Burpee, and extension services at Alabama Cooperative Extension Services, Clemson University, North Carolina State University, Louisiana State University, University of Florida, and University of Georgia, here are the best types of tomatoes to grow in the South:
Determining What Tomatoes To Plant Types of TomatoesSlicing types weigh about 8 to 16 ounces and are ideal for eating fresh. Paste types weigh about 4 to 5 ounces, are meatier, and are ideal for paste. Grape and cherry typesare bite-sized for salads and snacking. They are typically the least fussy to grow. Many varieties, especially grape and cherry, grow well in containers on your deck, patio, or balcony.
Determinate vs. IndeterminateAnother consideration is the growth habit of different types of tomatoes. Determinate tomatoes grow 3 to 4 feet tall in a bushy form and produce
Move over, red tomatoes. There’s a new tomato in town, and it’s promising to be even healthier than its already uber-healthy red counterpart: Meet the purple tomato.
Tomatoes love and need a lot of sunlight and heat to grow. But too much of a good thing can cause the plant to get sunscald–the plant equivalent of a sunburn. “Sunscald in tomatoes can happen in all parts of the country, but it is more prominent in the South where the days are longer and the weather is hotter,” says Greg Key, gardener and CEO of Hosstools in Georgia.
As tomatoes grow tall and the yellow flowers slowly turn into small round tomatoes, another unexpected creature may appear: the Tomato Hornworm. You'll have to look closely as this chartreuse caterpillar with a pattern of several white V-shapes along its body blends in well when roaming along the green stems of tomato plants. Once you've spotted this pest, you'll want to take action before it harms your plant.
Some of the best tasting tomatoes grow from vines. These semi-determinate to indeterminate fruits have no stopping point at the ends of the stems. This leads to tangled drooping stems if they are not supported. One successful way to make sure the fruit is above the soil is by using the Florida weave trellis. The Florida weave is a common field technique for trellising tomatoes. This method keeps vines upright, and fruit away from ground contact.
Spanning 22 miles between the towns of Torquay and Brixham, the English Riviera in South Devon takes in secluded coves and sandy beaches, fishing villages with cobbled streets, and dramatic red sandstone cliffs and off-shore stacks. The mild climate here makes for some terrific gardens, too.
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Treehugger / Design by Amelia Manley
It’s hardly a meal in the South without green beans on the table! Fortunately, the common garden bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) is one of the easiest vegetables to grow, even if it’s your first garden. Sometimes called snap beans, garden beans are inexpensive seeds and fast growers, with some types ready in as little as 50 days. They’ll produce bumper crops so you’ll have plenty of green beans to cook fresh, freeze or pickle. With top picks fromAll-American Selections (AAS), which trials seed performance for home gardeners, Johnny’s Selected Seeds, extension services at Clemson University, North Carolina State University, Louisiana State University, University of Georgia, and University of Kentucky, here are the best types of beans to grow in the South:
There’s a reason it’s called the Mighty Oak: Oak trees are stately trees that can live for hundreds (yes, hundreds!) of years. “If you want to plant a tree your great-grandkids can enjoy, go with an oak,” says Greg Huber, a Georgia Registered Landscape Architect (RLA), and program coordinator of the certified landscape and plant professional programs at theGeorgia Center for Urban Agriculture, University of Georgia. “There’s tremendous variety, and oaks have a classic beauty that feels solid and unchanging.”
The growing season is long in USDA Zone 9, as in, it lasts almost all year thanks to mild winters. This hardiness region extends from parts of Florida, across the lower portion of Louisiana and into coastal Georgia and Southern Texas. In these locales, salty air, sandy soil, heat, and lots of sun are prevalent. You’ll want to look for choices that can stand up to drought and are resilient when it comes to both soil and weather conditions. Tropical florals like hibiscus and showy trees like the Southern magnolia will do well in Zone 9 as well as a variety of ground covers, textural shrubs, and herbs.
If you are not sure When to Plant Green Peppers in Mid-Florida, don’t worry. This article will give you a detailed insight into how to do it correctly to get the best harvest!
Looking to upgrade your garden with a durable evergreen shrub that provides year-round interest and doesn’t require the backbreaking labor of higher-maintenance plants, such as roses or hedges?Look no further than heavenly bamboo.We link to