3 Basic Steps for Growing Disease Resistant Tomatoes

Let’s say you know all there is to know about tomato growing - except tomato diseases. You do everything by the book, prepare the soil, sow the seeds, water regularly and you get a poor harvest. Or even worse, you get a poor harvest of tomatoes stricken by some disease you’ve never heard of. That’s why, as a gardener, you constantly need to inform and educate yourself, which is why I propose you to spare a few minutes and learn more about 3 basic steps for growing disease resistant tomatoes.

Disease Resistant Tomato is a Happy Tomato

1.  Get to Know Your Region’s Weaknesses

Different climates create different sets of advantages and disadvantages for the most tomato varieties that can be grown outdoors. That’s why growing indoors can help you go around those nasty climate issues and focus on predictable and known growing conditions.

Nevertheless, if you made a firm decision to grow tomatoes outdoors, then you should consult your fellow gardeners, post a question on a local tomato forum (or my blog page), and contact your reliable seed supplier. And when you find out more about tomato diseases in your neighborhood, then you’ll know which tomato variety to grow.

2.  Learn More about Disease Resistant Codes

Each time when a tomato variety is tested for disease resistance, it gets a label or more precisely a code number in the form of a letter (N for Nematodes, F for Fusarium Wilt, etc). That letter indicates that a labeled tomato is disease resistant to a particular disease or several diseases. 

3.  Consult Your Seed Supplier

You’ll notice that step 1 and step 3 have something in common. It’s called starting an inquiry. Don’t be afraid to ask a question if you don’t know how to do something in your garden. In spite of what some growers might tell you, I believe that anyone canbecome a green thumb.

I have a great respect towards newbie gardeners who are willing to learn and extend their knowledge. In order to do that, it’s absolutely natural to ask questions. In terms of choosing the best disease resistant tomato variety for your region, a major advice for you is to consult your reliable, trustworthy seed supplier because it all starts with the seeds. 

If you have any question, feel brave to ask them! Happy gardening!