Spring Gardening

Growing Tomatoes in Eugene

With the summer solstice upon us, it’s time to get your gardening rolling, if you haven’t already.  An easy crop to grow here in the lovely Willamette Valley is tomatoes. Here’s a brief guide for those new to the hobby.

First, there are two types of tomatoes, determinate and indeterminate.  The term determinate refers to tomatoes that go through one round of fruit production.  They tend to be bushier, as opposed to viney.  Indeterminate tomatoes, on the other hand, continue to produce fruit until frost (usually sometime between Halloween and Thanksgiving).

There are three main vartieties of tomatoes.  First are the slicers.  Those are the big, juicy ones you cut up for sandwiches.  Popular types include “Beefsteak,” “Celebrity,” “Early Girl,” and “Legend.”  Very specific to or region are “Willamette” and “Cascade.”  Depending on variety, about half the tomatoes in this category are determinate and the other half, indeterminate.  So, be sure to always check the tags when purchasing your tomato starts.

Next, are cherry or grape tomatoes.  A personal favorite, these are the smaller tomatoes that are sweeter and absolutely fantastic in salads.  “Sweet 100,” “Sweet Million,” and “Isis Candy” grow amazingly well and are incredibly prolific.  “Green Grape” will add not only flavor, but wonderful color to any homemade salsa.  Most cherry or grape tomatoes are indeterminate, so having at least one plant of cherry or grape tomatoes in your garden plot will guarantee a hearty, tasty supply of fruit.

Finally, there are the roma or paste tomatoes.  This is what the Prego or Ragu people use to make pasta sauce.  They are mid-sized and oval, and are recommended for canning. These are almost always determinate, so if you intend on canning a lot this season, you will want to have several plants.  Look for “La Roma” and “San Marzano” at your local nursery or garden center.

So where is a good place to pick up veggie starts- in particular, tomatoes?  The Farmer’s Market that occurs in the downtown park blocks on Saturdays and Tuesdays has a great selection of locally grown, organic tomatoes that, this year, cost around $2/ each.  You can buy larger plants for more money, but a small 4 inch starter is all you need.  Tomato starts generally cost about the same amount, give or take a quarter, regardless of where you shop.  Gray’s Garden Center at 6th and Monroe and Down to Earth at 5th and Olive also feature a good selection of locally grown plants, from places such as Hayhurst, Territorial, and Log House.  Your local Fred Meyer or Home Depot also carries plants, but their quality and selection are often less desirable.  When feasible, always purchase organic starts;  tomatoes, corn, and potatoes are heavily sprayed- more so than other vegetables- and the pesticides have a tendency to diminish flavor.  Also, avoid using herbicides like Round-Up if possible.  And opt for natural garden solutions;  for example, planting edible flowers like marigolds and nastertiums around the perimeter of your tomato patch will repel many pests, not to mention add color and flair to your vegetable garden.

Don’t forget to cage your pretty tomatoes so the fruit doesn’t rot on the ground!  Those are available for very little at all garden supply stores and centers.

Good luck, and happy gardening!

Written by Sabrina McNamara for DiscoverEugene.com