PHS’s Meadowbrook Farm, a free public garden, is participating in PHS Harvest, turning out hundreds of pounds of produce, including spring crops like lettuce, summer crops like beans, peas, squash, and tomatoes, and fall crops like garlic and onions. Marta and Abbey from PHS discuss how tomatoes should be planted, grown, maintained, and harvested. Tips include:
- Getting tomato plants in the ground by the end of May
- Preventing disease on the plants, including heavy mulch, frequent pruning, and trellising
Tomatoes make up a wonderful food source, with this produce item ranking as one of the most-requested from food banks. As Kathleen from Whole Foods points out, tomatoes are easy to keep, prepare, and eat. She suggests:
- Choosing a tomato that yields slightly to pressure
- Selecting tomatoes that are a bit heavier with juice
- Storing tomatoes in a cool place after any stems are remove
And who knew tomatoes have shoulders?
From April through late October, PHS Harvest welcomes produce donations to its network of food banks and other community organizations to provide access to fresh, healthy food to those in need. To sign up to grow as an individual gardener, or as part of a growing team, or to donate to the initiative, click the button below to learn more.
