Cost and Ordering Details:

Cost is $2.50 a plant or $20 for 10 plants.
Place an order by emailing info@knowlesvillenature.ca with your wish list. Please include in the subject of your email “Tomatomania order”.
We are accepting orders up until May 30th. Pick-up will be from May 27th to May 30th (last day for pick-up and purchases).
This is a fundraiser event! All funds raised goes back into our school to make our programs and more events like this possible.

How to Plant and Care for your Tomatoes:

Before planting please check for your final spring frost date. This can vary depending on where you are located. For Carleton Country this is often at the end of May. Do not plant outdoors before this day, or be prepared to cover your plants during the night.

An ideal day for planting is overcast or partially cloudy and mild temperatures. Low winds and a forecast of rain is ideal.

When planting in a garden you will need; a trowel or shovel to dig a hole, garden gloves (optional), watering can/water, organic manure or compost and optional mulch (straw recommended)

1) Prepare the soil; your garden bed should be weed free and the soil should should be turned over/loosened.

2) Dig a hole; dig a hole deep enough that you can place the whole plant into without the pot sticking up past ground level.

3) Add a scoop of manure or compost to the hole: depending on what you use, fresh manure will burn the roots. Choose a well-aged manure (horse, cow, chicken, rabbit) or compost.

4) Carefully remove tomato plant from the pot: Ensure your tomato was well water prior and remove by carefully holding plant upside down (supporting the bottom of the plant) and lightly squeeze and pull off the container (careful not to pull and squeeze the plant).
If rootbound: carefully massage and loosen the roots with your hands. Avoid keeping roots exposed for too long (30 seconds max).

5) Place Tomato in hole making sure not to wrap the roots around the plant. Cover roots fully with soil, up to the first leaves of the plant. Water and mulch with straw if available and desire (helps keep ground moist and the weeds down).

As your plant grows, you can stake it up with an wooden stake and loosely tied string (do not tighten the plant to the stake) or a tomato cage. On dry and hot days, keep it watered. Water in the early mornings or evenings to avoid wet leaves from burning due to sun exposure.

Manure/compost can be applied once more around the base of the plant as it matures.

Trim your maturing plants; trim low hanging leaves. Removing leaves touching the ground will help prevent diseases. New shoots (suckers) on mature plants can be removed to encourage growth of existing fruit instead of putting energy towards new blossoms.

Watch the magic of your tomato plant as it grows into a beautiful, bountiful and delicious harvest!