Ciscoe Morris answers questions submitted via the KING 5 Facebook page
Carol Bell: Ooh! La la! I grow my tomatoes in pots. Could you talk about the best small & large tomatoes to grow in pots. Recommendations for soil, size pot, addtl info for growing in containers. Thank You!
Ciscoe: It's best to plant a determinant tomato in pots. Determinant tomatoes all ripen up at about the same time and the tomato plant stops growing at that point so it doesn't need staking. A famous one is called "Legend" and there's also patio but there are lots of new ones coming out all the time. The tomato that wins the blind taste test every time is called "Sun Gold." It's an orange cherry tomato that tastes so good when you bit into one your sideburns begin to curl. A good large one is called "Brandywine" but they only ripen up if we get a hot summer. My personal favorite is called "Stupice." It's meaty and delicious but not too big. ~Ciscoe
Robin Pichler: Is it true that tomatoes love fireplace ashes mixed in with the soil?
Ciscoe: You're better off just using organic tomato food but adding a little bone meal never hurts, just make sure your dog doesn't get into it right after you add the bone meal or you'll never see your tomato again.
Stephanie G. Benson-Greer: Last year my tomatoes developed a white powder substance all over them. I have a small green house and they were planted directly into the dirt, not a pot. Is this a dirt disease or airborne? What should I do?
Ciscoe: It's powdery mildew, which is a fungus, probably caused by not watering enough. At first sign of the disease, spray with a mix of two teaspoons of baking soda, and four drops of dish detergent in a quart of water. Repeat sprays may be needed but it should keep your tomato disease-free.
JoAnne Folsom: I do patio tomatoes every year, how often should I be watering & fertilizing them? Should I be using a "tomato fertilizer?"
Ciscoe: Probably best off using an organic tomato food. Fertilize with one cup when planting and follow up six weeks later. Keep the soil evenly moist and that will help prevent the tomatoes from cracking.
Toni Boone Nalley: Do tomato plants really need direct sunlight to grow?
Ciscoe: Yes - the more the better.
Jean Burk: I want to put some tomatoes in a pot on my deck...will they do best in clay or plastic!?
Ciscoe: Much better to plant in plastic or wood containers because clay pots can have been made from polluted soil. Half whiskey barrel size is big enough for the average tomato.
Michael Sargent: When is it too late to prune fruit trees?
Ciscoe: I'd say in theory it's too late right now but hey it's better to get the job done than wait another year. So do it the first chance you get. If you wait too long you're not going to be eating too many apple pies this year!
