Planting Tomatoes
In our opinion, the perfect garden salad always contains beautiful, ripe, and refreshing tomatoes. Tomatoes are an essential staple in the garden and they're so fun to grow! The amazing Erin (@newcastlefarmgirl) is back to help us grow the juiciest tomatoes of the season with her insightful growing tips – all while wearing our Tranquil Floral Chelsea Boots!
Not only will we share some of her great gardening tips, but we also have the best garden salad recipe for you that's simple, delicious, and can all be pulled straight from those garden beds you work so hard on.
Where To Plant:
For early season cold crop tomatoes, grow in USDA Hardiness Zones 5 and below (make sure you give your plants extra cold weather protection).
For mid season tomatoes, grow in zones 5-8. Tomatoes love full sun, at least 6 hours.
For mid season tomatoes, grow in zones 5-8. Tomatoes love full sun, at least 6 hours.
Soil Conditions:
Plant tomatoes in loose, well-drained soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0. For early tomatoes, it's best to plant them in sandy loam, for late tomatoes, plant in heavy clay loam.
When To Plant:
Tomatoes are easiest to plant as seedlings rather than seeds. Transplant your tomato seedling when the soil is warmer, usually best planted in late spring, early summer.
Watering:
Water in the morning so your plant can last the day, and water your seedling generously the first few days and 1.2 gallons per square foot a week during growing season.
Harvesting:
Leave on the vine as long as possible and harvest when they are very red in color and firm, regardless of their size.
Companion Plants Include:
Basil, Marigolds, Carrots, Celery, Garlic, Onion, Celery, Cucumber, Lettuce, Peas, Mint, Chives, Lemon Balm, and Squash. Avoid planting with Eggplant, Peppers, Tomatoes, Dill, Corn, and Cabbage.
Square Foot Planting:
1 plant per 2'x2' block
*Extra Tip from @newcastlefarmgirl
"When transplanting your tomato seedlings, remember to bury the plant all the way up to its first leaves. Roots will actually grow out of any part of the stem that's buried, giving you a healthier, stronger tomato plant."
Tomato Garden Salad
3 Large Tomatoes (sliced)
1 Large Sweet Onion (sliced)
1 Large Cucumber (sliced)
1/4 cup Olive Oil
2 tablespoons Cider Vinegar
1 Garlic Clove (minced)
1 teaspoon Fresh Basil (minced)
1 teaspoon Chives (minced)
1/2 teaspoon Salt
Just toss and enjoy!
For those little tromps into the garden for a few tomatoes, Western Chief has you covered with easy to wear footwear. Try our Western Chief Women's Top Pop Mid Rain Boots. Not only are they convenient to slip on/off but they're cute to boot!
When your backyard tomatoes are ripe on the vine, slip out the kitchen door with a pair of our Western Chief Women's Tranquil Floral Chelsea Rain Boots. Trust us, there's nothing easier to wash the mud off of!
We love seeing you show off the amazing plants your gardens have produced, so please be sure to use our #WesternChief and #WearABigSmile hashtags to show us pictures of your gardens on our Instagram and be featured on our website!