Californian Tomatoes

California tomatoes make up approximately ninety percent of the United States tomato crop used in canned tomatoes and are also the second largest crop of tomatoes behind Florida. If you go to the store and buy tomatoes approximately fifty percent of the tomatoes are from California. More than fifty percent of the green tomatoes from California will be sold in the western part of the United States. There are many different types of tomatoes which include Roma, Sun Dried, Ace and of course Beef Steak.

Along with the different named tomatoes, they are also categorized by the type of plant such as the bush type or the pole type. Bush tomatoes usually consist of only one harvest and pole tomatoes will have several harvest times. Most bush tomatoes are planted on raised beds because it is easier to irrigate and the drainage is much better. With pole tomatoes most are transplanted and because of this they are more prone to viruses. With transplanting you don't have to worry about thinning the plants out after they begin to grow like you would with seed plants. Greenhouses provide most of the transplants to the farmers. Most of the growers have around 55 acres to plant and they plant at different times in order for the crops to have a longer producing time.

With pole tomatoes you will have to worry about staking but not with bush plants. Even though the method is different, both types of plants need to be fertilized and have an irrigation system. Harvest of California tomatoes is mostly done by hand.