[Arid_gardener] tomato plant question

[Carolyn Hills]

Jean -- 

Just a guess, but it sounds like you have a Yellow Pear tomato. The fruits are 1-2 inches long and look just like little yellow pears. 

If you make your own compost for the rosebed, it could have been introduced that way. Tomato seeds don't break down very well in a compost pile. It also could have been introduced from a transplant you got from a nursery that had an accidental tomato seed in the pot, or if someone tossed a tomato into your rosebed. Any way you look at it, it's a bonus! Your tomato plant may need some shade cloth during the summer if it is getting full sun all day (available at home improvement stores and nurseries).

Good luck with your bonus tomato!

Carolyn Hills
Maricopa County Master Gardener Volunteer
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Janet Howe 
  To: Jean Pahlke 
  Cc: arid_gardener at cals.arizona.edu 
  Sent: Thursday, July 13, 2006 9:20 AM
  Subject: [Arid_gardener] tomato plant question


  Original Question:
  Greetings,

  It appears that that I have a tomato plant that has found a home in an area between two rose bushes. I did not plant the tomato plant and have no idea where it came from. It started growing a few weeks and I wasn't sure what it was so I let it grow. The plant has small, bell shaped yellow tomatoes on it. Can anyone tell me what type of tomato this is? Also, when do these plants typically grow in the AZ desert? I almost hate to ask if there is anything special I should do since all I have done is water it and it appears to be doing quite well. I have attached a picture of the plant. It gets full sun.

  Thanks,
  Jean
  Jean Pahlke [jpahaz at hotmail.com]


  Answer:

  Jean, I can't tell from your photo what type of tomato plant you have, maybe someone else on the list serve can help with that.  Tomatoes in the desert have two growing seasons, basically spring and fall.  Obviously, the plant is very happy where it's at.  Don't expect it to set fruit this summer, but if you let it grow, you should have a bumper crop this fall.  One year I started my tomato seeds and got them in the ground too late for them to set fruit that spring, I left them alone, kept them well mulched (3-4", not touching the stems), fed and watered all summer long and was amazed at how many wonderful tomatoes I had that fall.  Good luck!


  Janet Howe
  Master Gardener volunteer
  University of Arizona Cooperative Extension





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