Agriculturally
Speaking
By RUSSELL C. KING
County Extension Director
Tomato plants have two general growth habits. To space and train
them properly, it is important to know what type of plants you have.
Indeterminate Tomato Plants
Indeterminate varieties of tomato plants are tall-growing plants,
normally ranging in height from five to eight feet, which produce a
fruit cluster on their stems between every third leaf. Plant terminals
continue to grow as long as the plant is healthy. Most of our home
garden varieties in North Carolina belong to this group. Some of the
varieties are : Manapal, Better Boy, Big Boy, Fantastic and Cherokee.
Indeterminate types produce a shoot or "sucker" at each leaf axil.
These suckers, if left undisturbed, grow into larger stems and pro
duce fruit. The plant is usually supported above ground with a stake
or trellis. A five-to-seven-foot stake may be driven into the ground
and the stems should be tied loosely to the stake with soft twine or
cloth. Trellised tomatoes may be handled in a similar manner, leav
ing one stem for each eight-to-12 inches of space in the row. For ex
ample, if the plants are spaced three feet apart, leave three stems
per plant. If plants are spaced two feet apart, leave two stems per
plant. Break out all other suckers before they become three inches
in length.
Determinate Tomato Plants
Determinate varieties of tomato plants are shorter-growing plants,
normally growing one-and-one-half to five feet tall and producing a
fruit cluster on stems between each leaf. Because each stem termi
nates in a fruit cluster, determinate types are often called "self
pruning." Some varieties in this group are Pik Red, Patio, Duke,
Mountain Pride and Sunny.
Determinate types are usually pruned only once. They are normally
spaced one-and-one-half to two feet apart in the row. Determinate
plants are sometimes tied to a stake, but more often, the plants are
supported in a weave of strings. This weaving system may be
developed by placing stakes between every other plant, along with
two stakes placed side-by-side at each end of a section. Sections are
usually about 100 feet in length. This break provides a path to carry
fruit out of the field. When plants are about 12 inches tall, the first
string is tied to the stalks at one end of a section. Then, pulling the
string as tightly as possible, the cord is wrapped around each stake,
making sure to keep in tight. (This procedure takes practice.) The
string should be stretched down one side of the row and then back
up the other. When one has returned to the starting point, the string
is tied again. A second string is added in a week or two, when the
tops are eight-to-10 inches above the first string, but before the plants
begin to flop over. Usually, only four strings are needed to support
a crop. Many persons use a 12- to 36 inch stick with a hole at its end to
guide the string around the stakes. Usually, nylon "baler's string"
is used, since it does not stretch like "binder's twine."
Caging Tomato Plants
Occasionally, wire cages are used to support tomato plants. A
cylinder, about two feet in diameter and three-to-five feet high, is
made from strong hog fence or wire which is used for reinforcing con
crete. The cylinder is placed over the plant and anchored to the
ground. Plants growing in cylinders are normally spaced three-to
four feet apart in the row and are not pruned. Instead, the suckers
are pushed back into the cage to force them to grow upward. This
is a good system to use, if only a small number of plants can be grown
because the per-plant-yield is generally higher than from other
systems of training.
Lawn & Garden
Show
March 30th, 31st
& April 1st
Franklin Brothers Nursery "
Brewer Yamaha 4
E&E Farm Equipment 4
Roses i
J. C. Penny
Perry Brother's Tire Service
Vance Agricultural Extension Service
Dabney Drive ? Henderson. N.C.
Livestock Theft
Charges Drawn
Two area men have been
scheduled to appear today in
Warren County District Court
before Judge Larry Senter, of Ox
ford, to answer to felony-grade
charges of larceny of livestock
valued at nearly $2,000.
Robert Lee Pitchford, 21, of
Henderson, and Redmond Keith
Taylor, 19, whose recorded ad
dresses are in both Warrenton
and Henderson, were arrested
following investigations of the
alleged theft of 37 pigs valued at
$1,850 from Dorsey Capps, of
Norlina.
Pitchford was arrested on Jan.
23 and placed under $2,500 bond.
He has also been charged with
breaking and entering and/or
larceny in the Capps matter, and,
in an unrelated nu.tter, will
answer to charges of disposal of
secured personal property.
Taylor was arrested on March
24 and was confined in the War
ren County Jail under a $500
bond.
According to literature pre
pared by UNC's Institute of
Government, larceny of horses,
mules, swine or cattle is a Class
H felony, punishable by imprison
ment up to 10 years, a fine of not
less than the amount of loss or
damages, or both.
Local Merchants
To Have Dinner
The Warrenton Merchants'
Association will hold their annual
dinner meeting Thursday, March
30 at The Rafters, downstairs.
The reception will begin at 6 : 30
p.m., with dinner following at
7:30 p.m.
All merchants have been
notified and are invited to attend.
Warrenton Girl
Baptized Easter
Jan Boyd Harris, 9, daughter of
Mr. and Mrs. James C. Harris,
Jr., of Warrenton, was baptized
Easter Sunday at Warrenton
Baptist Church by the Rev. Ed
Beddingfield.
Jan is the granddaughter of
James C. Harris, Sr. of Inez and
the late Frances Reams Harris,
and of Mrs. Florence W. Joyner
of Rocky Mount and the late W.
Donley Joyner.
i i >
ARRIVALS
White Hot
Mac & Me
Big
Platoon Leader
Betrayed
Now Renting
Nintendo Consoles
& Games
HAITHCOCK
Electronics
138 S. Main St. Warrantor
There's a new sign
In Warrenton!
It spells savings for you.
Lee Roy West Plumbing and Heating has added the
Trust Worthy hardware line to its stock. Trust
Worthy means quality, Trust Worthy means
savings. Come see for yourself.
LEE ROY WEST
PLUMBING & HEATING
Your Luxalre and Carrier Dealer
S. Main Street ? Phone 2S7-4779 ? Warrenton
BACK SUPPORTER CLASSIC CARESS
WARRENTON FURNITURE
EXCHANGE INC.
115 E. Franklin St. War