CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARBULLETIN.COM Cherry tomatoes at the Urban Garden Center in Pearl City.

Tomato trauma

The luscious red fruit is a
favorite of home gardeners,
but it is not easy to grow

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By Nancy Arcayna
narcayna@starbulletin.com

Yikes, the slugs are on the prowl! The slimy creatures sneak about in the night, chomping on the most beautiful garden plants, including the ones we intend to turn into dinner.

Tomatoes are one of the most popular back yard-grown plants in the United States and probably in Hawaii, according to Jan McEwen, an urban horticulturist. Unfortunately, tomatoes also attract a variety of pests including fruit flies, aphids and slugs.

It's bad enough that tomatoes are already misunderstood. The poor orbs are often called vegetables when they are actually fruit. And, although the tomato originated in Central and South America, it's most often associated with Italian sauces and pasta dishes (thank goodness this treasure made its way to Italy!).

Yet tomatoes regularly turn up at the grocery store, so one would imagine that harvesting big juicy tomatoes would be an achievable feat for the home gardener, especially in Hawaii, where we have good growing temperatures year-round. Just plant a few seeds, water the plant -- maybe even have a few chats with your plant in order to keep it happy.

If you think it's that easy, think again! Even under ideal conditions, tomatoes can still deteriorate before your very eyes.

CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARBULLETIN.COM Toshi Odagiri shows off his green peppers at the Urban Garden Center in Pearl City.

"Tomatoes are actually one of the hardest things to grow," said McEwen during a recent gardening class at the Urban Garden Center in Pearl City, although she says cherry tomatoes may fare better than their larger counterparts. Apparently, pests prefer to compete with humans for the biggest, juiciest fruit.

While slugs can be easily dispatched with a simple sprinkling of salt, they are not the only unwelcome pests.

"No tomato is resistant to fruit flies," McEwen said, "and there is nothing that you can spray on them, so it's a really big problem. Sometimes, when the (damaged) tomato is opened, you will find maggots."

Aphids also lurk about, waiting to suck the sap right out of the tomato. McEwen considers aphids "the mosquitoes of the plant world," responsible for many plant diseases. And then there are thrips, leaf miners, whiteflies, mites, flea beetles, pinworms, fruit worms, cut worms and melon flies.

Once a tomato plant is infected by a bacterial or viral infection, it is best to get rid of the plant There is no cure, and some infections may be transferred to the soil, contaminating it for several years.

Before getting started, consider your growing site.

"Tomato plants need at least eight to 12 hours of sunlight," said McEwen. Summer conditions are best. "That is why some plants on a lanai don't do so well."

Three- to 5-gallon plastic containers may be used to grow plants if a yard is not an option. "Plants in containers need to be watered more often. It's also best to support plants with either stakes or circular cages," added McEwen.

If transferring plants from a container into your yard, note that the plants need to be weed-free for 25 to 30 days after they are transplanted because weeds can rob the growing plants of nutrients. Even after the plants take root, be sure to keep weeds at bay, as they can overtake and shade the plants.

McEwen said those who need to grow vegetables on their lanais may find there is not enough sunlight to grow tomatoes effectively. In that case, she suggests it would be less frustrating to choose another edible. "Lettuce or something that grows well without sunlight might be a better choice."

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Growing tips

>>	Starting tomatoes from seeds: Soak seeds overnight. Sow two to three seeds in a small pot. Plant the seeds one-quarter to one-half inch deep. Water immediately and continue to keep soil moist. Seeds should germinate in five to 14 days. Once the seedlings come into view, make sure adequate light and water are provided.
>>	Transplanting: Before transplanting the seedlings, add organic matter to the soil. Tomatoes grow best in soil that has a pH of 6 or 6.5. Add one tablespoon of fertilizer. When planted, tomatoes may be buried up to the first set of leaves. Seedlings may be transplanted three to five weeks after sowing the seeds.
>>	Staking and caging: For staking, drive a 5- to 7-foot stake in the ground. The classic method is to prune the tomato plant to one stem. Continue to remove the side shoots as they develop. Soft twine or nylons may be used to tie the tomatoes.
Cages can be made by using an 8-foot piece of steel mesh. Form a cylinder, tie it and place it over the plant. The plant is supported by the cylinder as it grows.
>>	Watering: Water deeply one to three times a week, depending on weather. Avoid getting water on the leaves, as it encourages disease. Watering the fruit directly may lead to cracking.
>>	Fertilizing: Use a quarter-cup of fertilizer once the first fruit appears. Avoid using fertilizers high in nitrogen during this growing stage.
>>	Harvesting: Tomatoes may be picked when the fruit starts to turn pink. A fully ripe fruit has better flavor than one picked early. Be careful not to injure the fruit while picking.

Gardening classes At Urban Garden Center, 962 2nd St., Pearl City Wednesday: Herbs and Edible Flowers, 9:30 a.m. to noon; $10 July 3: Cucumbers, Melons and Squashes, 9:30 to 11 a.m.; $5 July 17: Mangoes, a Favorite Backyard Fruit Tree, 9:30 to 11 a.m.; $5

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