Tomato Pepper and Eggplant
Tomatoes are grown on over 400 acres in Mississippi, peppers are grown on 265 acres, and eggplants are grown on less than 50 acres. Tomatoes are also grown in over 150 greenhouses (see greenhouse tomato section for more information). All of these crops are consumed in Mississippi and surrounding states. About one-half of the tomatoes and one-fourth of the other crops were grown using plastic mulch and drip irrigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Why are tomatoes and peppers grown using plastic mulch?
- What causes the heat in hot peppers?
- Why don't tomatoes produce fruit in late summer?
- Why are tomatoes staked?
- What is the Florida weave system of staking?
- How can I prevent blossom end rot?
- Which producers more-Oriental or American Eggplant?
- Do tomatoes have to be pruned?
- When should peppers be sidedressed with nitrogen?
- Can red bell peppers be grown in Mississippi?
- Why do the plants produce fruit that are too small?
Research Publications (pdf format):
- Pepper: Plant Population Affects Bell Pepper Yield (2000 North Mississippi Research Report, Verona)
- Tomato: Thrips Populations, but not Yield, Affected by Plastic Mulch, but not Cultivar, in Summer Tomatoes (2001 North Mississippi Research Report, Verona)
- Tomato: Heat-tolerant Tomato Cultivar Evaluation (1998 North Mississippi Research Report, Verona).
Other Tomato/Pepper/Eggplant Information
There are also two hydroponics mailing lists (email) that you can subscribe to for free. This will allow you to learn and discuss hydroponics with other growers. To subscribe to the Hydro Mailing List, send the online command "subscribe" to this email address: hydro-request@lists.best.com or, to subscribe to HGA-L, the Discussion list for Hobby Greenhouses, send the command "subscribe" to this address: listserv@ulkyvm.louisville.edu.
Publications
News
Common Diseases of TomatoesCRYSTAL SPRINGS, Miss. -- Conditions have been ideal this summer for a disease outbreak that makes tomatoes wilt and look like they are just too dry.
Southern blight is a fungal disease of tomatoes commonly characterized by white, thread-like growth and brown or tan, round structures known as sclerotia at the base of the stem.
Greenhouse tomato growers and other interested individuals are invited to attend the 28th annual Mississippi Greenhouse Tomato Short Course March 6-7.
MISSISSIPPI STATE – While nothing may beat the fresh taste of a home-grown tomato, a lot of things can go wrong in the garden to prevent the fruit from ever making it to the table.
Garden experts say tomato plants should be watered well, fertilized correctly, grown in direct sunlight and spaced properly so their leaves stay as dry as possible.
David Nagel, vegetable and home garden specialist with the Mississippi State University Extension Service, listed three common problems that can plague tomato plants.
By Norman Winter
MSU Horticulturist
Central Mississippi Research & Extension Center
If you would like to give your garden a festive fall atmosphere, then find a prominent place to put in ornamental peppers. Their blooms are not noteworthy, but varieties like Sweet Pickle and Garda Tricolore have fruit that will show off like Christmas lights.
Ornamental peppers are one of the plants that leap off the garden center shelves this time of the year. If you love them in the fall, try growing them all season.
By Norman Winter
MSU Horticulturist
Central Mississippi Research & Extension Center
Winter's coldest days drive most of us deep into the cushions of our easy chairs, and gardening is largely in the form of dreams about spring and summer plantings.
Permit me to do a little armchair quarterbacking by encouraging gardeners to consider growing an incredible sweet bell pepper called Tequila. The Mississippi Plant Selections Committee recently introduced it as a 2007 Mississippi Medallion award winner.