{"product_id":"mountain-merit-tomato","title":"Mountain Merit Tomato","description":"\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cb data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eFlavorful, determinate red slicer for the field with exceptional disease resistance.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eHigh performing, outdoor slicer with large disease package and regional adaptability. An All American Selections Winner for superior productivity and flavor, fruit is deep red with firm flesh. Excellent field holding quality and very reliable in variable conditions. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\n\u003cli data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eDeterminate\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eAAS Winner\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e8-10 oz\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eHybrid\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eDays to Maturity: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e75 DAYS\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eDisease Resistance Details\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003eHigh Resistance: Fusarium Wilt (1-3), Late Blight, Root Knot Nematodes, Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus, Verticillium Wilt\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eCULTURAL INFO\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTomatoes\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e(Lycopersicon esculentum)\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eare warm season tender annuals in the\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eSolanaceae\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003efamily which includes eggplants, peppers, tomatillos, potatoes and ground cherries.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIndeterminate varieties bear fruit over a long period of time and typically require trellising or staking.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDeterminate types have a concentrated fruit set and a shorter growth habit, therefore don't require trellising.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSoil Nutrients and Requirements\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTomatoes yield best in clay or loam soils that are well drained and high in organic matter. They can tolerate acid soil as low as 5.5, but they prefer to grow in 6.0-6.8 range. Using calcitic lime or gypsum can help to maintain a base saturation for calcium or 65-80 percent. Use a high phosphorus fertilizer for transplants. Take care not to over-fertilize with Nitrogen as this can result in more foliage but lower yields.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSeeding Depth\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlanting depth: 1\/8-1\/4\".\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePlant Spacing\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlant spacing: for determinate varieties 12-18\", for indeterminate 24-36\".\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRow Spacing\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e4-6' centers. Greenhouse Tomatoes - maintain 4 square ft\/plant.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhen to Sow\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDays to maturity are from transplants. Start seeds 6-8 weeks before planting date. Optimal soil temperature for germination is 75-85'F; seeds in colder situations will germinate very slowly. Do not start too early; transplants will suffer if allowed to become root bound and leggy. Harden off transplants by reducing water and nitrogen fertilizer.?Transplant outdoors after danger of frost has passed.?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOther Considerations\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBlack plastic is recommended is cool climates especially to help warm the soil, keep moisture even and cut down on weed pressure and soil borne diseases.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFloating row covers can provide extra warmth in the early season, but be sure to remove when temps are warmer than 85 degrees.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFor varieties requiring staking, place stake in row every two or three plants, tie twine to end stake and walk down one side of the row, looping twine around each stake until the end. Return down the other side of row, again looping twine around each stake, so that plants are sandwiched between two sides of twine.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHarvest\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHarvest tomatoes fully ripe for best flavor. Tomatoes can also be harvested green or at first blush and ripened off the vine at temperatures above 70'F.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eStorage\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStore between 55' - 70'F at 95% relative humidity. Storing below 50'F can result in chilling damage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePest Info\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHornworms - Hand pick larvae. Populations are usually controlled naturally.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAphids can be washed off plants with a hard stream of water. They have several natural predators that control populations including parasites (aphids appear grey or bloated), lady beetle larvae and lacewings.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWhiteflies - Check any purchased plants for signs before bringing them home. Eggs are laid on the underside of leaves in a crescent or circle. Insecticidal soap can help. Lady beetle larvae, lacewing, parasitic wasps and songbirds all feed on whiteflies. A hard freeze will also kill them.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eColorado potato beetle (CPB) - While Bacillus thuringiensis var. tenenbrionis. is effective against CPB and was formerly the easiest insecticide to use, the current formulations have been removed from OMRI-A status due to difficulties with assessing inert ingredients. Luckily there is a new addition to the arsenal in the form of spinosad (such as EntrustTM). Spinosad works rapidly and effectively against CPB, as well as against corn earworm, imported cabbage worm, codling moth, and several other difficult lepidopterous pests. Ideally we will regain access to Bt so that these two formulas can be used in rotation with one another to prevent selection of resistant insects. Crop rotation, control of solanaceous weeds, barrier trenches between old and new plantings, trap cropping, use of straw mulch or row cover can delay or reduce CPB pressure.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCutworms- Usually only a problem for young transplants, placing a collar around the stem when plants are set out will protect them.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFlea beetles- Floating row cover can protect plants. Be sure to remove when temps are warmer than 85 degrees.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDisease Info\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe most problematic disease for tomato growers in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Midwest is early blight, caused by\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eAlternaria solani\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eand\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eAlternaria alternata\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ein cooperation with\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eSeptoria lycopersici.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eEarly blight is best treated early with regular applications of fungicidal sprays such as oxidate and\/or copper hydroxide.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eField tomatoes are also subject to several common diseases that affect fruit quality, such as bacterial speck\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e(Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato)\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eand anthracnose\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e(Colletotrichum coccodes)\u003c\/em\u003e. Symptoms include black spots on the fruit; the size (less than 2 mm) distinguishes bacterial spec from bacterial canker and bacterial spot, two other bacterial diseases which case larger fruit spots. The best prevention for all bacterial diseases is to use disease-free seed and to avoid contact with plants during moist conditions.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBacterial canker\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e(Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis)\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ehas become more common in recent years with the increase in greenhouse tomato operations. The most distinctive symptom of are raised, light tan, ?birds-eye? cankers, no more than 3 mm in size. Diseased plants should immediately be removed and destroyed to prevent spread. Most sprays are largely ineffective and can serve to spread the disease.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"The Bloomery LLC","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40984083365911,"sku":null,"price":1.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0586\/9338\/6263\/files\/MountainMeritTomato.jpg?v=1710439530","url":"https:\/\/www.thebloomeryky.org\/products\/mountain-merit-tomato","provider":"The Bloomery","version":"1.0","type":"link"}