RickHarrison.com presents...
A Guide to Growing Tomatoes in Florida

harvest

Most tomato varieties change from green to red (or some other color) when they are ripe. Not all tomatoes ripen uniformly, though; some will have ripe bottoms and unripe tops. Pick any that have very ripe spots.

If you are having problems with birds, slugs or stinkbugs attacking your ripening fruit, you can pick some when they first begin to change color and bring them inside to finish ripening indoors. Don't pile them up; spread them out so they are not touching each other, and keep them in a well-ventilated area with a temperature of 70 to 75 degrees. There is no benefit to putting the tomatoes in a sunny windowsill, and doing so may cause them to be heat-damaged.

saving seed

If you come across an open pollinated (non-hybrid) tomato variety that you are especially fond of, you may want to save some seed for next year's planting. If it's a hard-to-find variety, such as a family heirloom given to you by a friend or neighbor, saving seed is the only way to guarantee that you'll have access to the variety in the future.

Tomato seed needs to go through a brief fermentation process. During this process, beneficial bacteria remove the germination- inhibiting gel from the seeds and also destroy many of the seed-borne diseases that can affect the next generation.

Start by selecting ripe (not over-ripe) fruits from the most vigorous plants. Scoop out the seeds and gel into a big jar and stir in a little water. Cover the jar's top with some screen or cheesecloth. If you're doing more than one variety, label the jar. Let the mixture ferment at room temperature for 3 to 4 days, stirring once a day, until a white or grey mold forms on top. Immature seed will float to the top; viable seed sink to the bottom. Remove the cover, pour off the scum, add fresh water, and swirl the contents around a bit; repeat until only clean water and clean seed remain at the bottom of the container.

Drain off the water and lay the clean seed out to dry in a thin layer on a plate or screen. Dry in an area where the humidity is low and the temperature is in the 80 to 85 degree range; use a fan to keep the air circulating. Seed will mold or germinate if dried too slowly, and will be damaged by shrinkage if dried too quickly.

After the seed is thoroughly dry, label the date and variety name on a plastic zip-loc bag or other airtight container, insert the seed, seal the container. Several small containers can be placed in one large airtight container with some oven-dried silica gel. Seed should be stored in a cool, dry place. Depending on conditions, tomato seed can remain viable for 3 to 5 years.

varieties

Tomatoes come in a wide spectrum of colors, shapes, sizes, flavors, and ability to withstand various climates. Selecting the right varieties for your needs is an important step on the path to tomato nirvana. Here are my suggestions for Florida gardeners.

for beginners:

• Celebrity
• Better Boy
• any cherry tomato

medium-to-large red tomatoes:

• Gulf State Market
• Walter Villemaire
• Flora Dade

paste tomatoes:

• Martino's Roma

for growing during Summer:

• Porter's Pride
• Heatwave
• Solar Set

unusual colors:

• Tangerine
• Green Grape
• Cherokee Purple

Most of these varities can be obtained from Tomato Growers Supply Company.