Tomato plants and eggplant plants!

[SableCollie]

My mother went to the farmer's market last week and went a little nuts. She came home with a little tomato plant and eggplant. We've never grown vegetables before! She was told that she didn't have to stake the tomato plant, and to water them, but that was all the advice she got. She did already plant them, even though she had no idea what she was doing. Soooo...any help? We prefer to avoid chemicals if possible. Would they like horse manure, because I have a good supply at work. Anything natural I can use to keep the bugs off of them?

[clm]

Do you know the variety of tomato, that will determine how big it'll get and whether or not you'll need to stake it. Both like full sun, the tomato can be suseptible to wilt, but usually later on in the season and won't affect the fruit. Eggplants I've only grown once and it was years ago, a lot like growing peppers I think, they like heat. Both will welcome some well rotted manure, nothing fresh.

Cindy

[Smiley14]

I'm afraid I don't know the answer either, but am eager to find out!

[rainbow]

I was told to plant marigolds around your tomato plants to keep the bugs away.

[rainbow]

Nasturtiums and marigolds planted in close proximity to your tomatoes and carrots will also makes your tomatoes more resistant to pests. White flies and aphids do not like nasturtiums. Nematodes and whiteflies do not like marigolds. However, tomatoes, carrots, nasturtiums, and marigolds are the best of friends. Besides ending up with a nice balance of healthy plants, you will also get beautiful flowers to enhance your landscaping. If you plant your tomatoes in containers, you can still use companion planting by simply planting your nasturtiums and marigolds in separate containers that are close to your tomato plants.

The above was taken from this website:

http://www.tomatogardeningtips.com/

[TeriM]

We planted our tomato plants in planters on our deck. They actually sit under the overhang and get totally baked by the sun. They loved it last year . I think you need to be careful to plant them where they won't get to wet otherwise some of the tomato will split.

[SableCollie]

The tomatoes are "Jet Star" I think...my mom asked for "regular tomatoes" and that is what they gave her. The rest were all heirloom varieties, but she just wanted "normal" ones. I've only ever seen tomatoes in wooden planters but my mom planted them right in the yard because she has no idea what she's doing. The tomatoes already had little green fruits when she bought them.

The manure I have access to is all at least one year old, it's broken down nicely. I told my mom I could get some for her and she freaked out at the idea of "Horse poop" touching her plants...I asked her how she thinks they grow the vegetables that she buys in the store!

It's been really hot and sunny out lately, hopefully the plants like the weather.

We could get marigolds no problem, I will try that out!