Survey Results

Page: Introduction

1. In what region of North America do you garden?
	answered question		2,177
	skipped question		10
		Response Percent	Response Count
Central/Midwest		26.4%	574
Gulf Coast		5.6%	123
Maritime Canada & New England		7.7%	168
Mid-Atlantic		17.1%	373
North Central & Rockies		8.1%	176
Pacific Northwest		9.1%	199
Southern Interior		15.0%	326
Southwest		8.1%	176
Alaska		0.1%	3
Hawaii		0.3%	6
Mexico		0.1%	3
Not in North America		2.3%	50

2. How extensively do you use organic methods in your garden?
	answered question		2,162
	skipped question		25
		Response Percent	Response Count
Beyond organic/sustainable		12.3%	265
Totally organic		53.3%	1,152
Occasionally use chemicals		30.2%	654
Often use non-organic methods		4.2%	91

3. How much experience do you have growing tomatoes?
	answered question		2,172
	skipped question		15
		Response Percent	Response Count
1 to 2 years		13.8%	299
3 to 5 years		20.6%	448
6 to 10 years		15.3%	333
10 to 20 years		18.4%	399
More than 20 years		30.5%	662
I don't grow a food garden.		1.4%	31

Page: Page 2

4. Over the years, about how many varieties of tomatoes have you grown?
	answered question		2,101
	skipped question		86
		Response Percent	Response Count
1 to 5		29.0%	610
6 to 20		51.0%	1,071
21 to 50		13.6%	285
More than 50		6.4%	135

5. How many tomato plants do you grow in a typical year?
	answered question		2,100
	skipped question		87
		Response Percent	Response Count
1 to 5		16.6%	349
6 to 20		51.6%	1,083
21 to 50		21.0%	441
More than 50		10.8%	227

6. How many tomato varieties do you grow in a typical year?
	answered question		2,098
	skipped question		89
		Response Percent	Response Count
1 or 2		16.0%	336
3 to 5		52.7%	1,106
6 to 10		19.5%	409
More than 10		11.8%	247

7. Please rate the following tomato characteristics in terms of how important they are to you.
	answered question						2,111
	skipped question						76
	Crucial	Very important	Somewhat important	Not important	No opinion	Rating Average	Rating Count
High yields	11.3% (234)	45.7% (950)	36.7% (762)	6.0% (125)	0.3% (7)	2.62	2,078
Cold tolerance	9.5% (194)	23.2% (476)	30.5% (626)	35.2% (722)	1.7% (34)	2.07	2,052
Heat tolerance	19.5% (403)	33.6% (692)	28.3% (583)	17.8% (367)	0.8% (17)	2.55	2,062
Color	5.0% (103)	26.7% (546)	42.0% (857)	25.3% (517)	0.9% (19)	2.12	2,042
Disease resistance	24.3% (503)	47.3% (979)	23.7% (491)	4.3% (90)	0.3% (7)	2.92	2,070
Flavor	65.6% (1,371)	32.1% (671)	1.9% (40)	0.3% (7)	0.0% (1)	3.63	2,090
Fruit size	7.8% (162)	29.6% (612)	47.9% (992)	14.4% (298)	0.3% (7)	2.31	2,071
Growth habit	7.3% (151)	34.2% (709)	40.1% (833)	16.3% (339)	2.1% (44)	2.33	2,076
Open-pollinated	18.7% (390)	34.4% (717)	28.2% (587)	12.2% (254)	6.5% (136)	2.64	2,084

Page: Page 3

8. Of the tomato types listed below, please name up to three varieties you would recommend to other gardeners in your area. If you don’t grow a certain type of tomato or wish to name only one or two varieties, just leave the other spaces blank.
	answered question		1,486
	skipped question		701
		Response Percent	Response Count
Cherry		67.2%	999
Slicers		76.1%	1,131
Paste/canning		61.3%	911
Saladette/pear		27.3%	405
Really big ones		46.7%	694
Non-reds		46.7%	694
Stuffing		7.8%	116
Other		17.2%	256

9. Comments:
	answered question	441
	skipped question	1,746
		Response Count
		441

Page: Page 4

10. In your region, how challenging is it to grow a good crop of tomatoes?
	answered question		1,814
	skipped question		373
		Response Percent	Response Count
Very easy		14.5%	263
Moderately easy		38.0%	689
About like other crops		24.4%	443
Moderately difficult		19.1%	347
Very difficult		4.0%	72
Additional comments (optional)			381

11. Do you grow your tomatoes from seed, or purchase them as seedlings?
	answered question		1,818
	skipped question		369
		Response Percent	Response Count
All from seed		31.0%	564
Most from seed, some purchased seedlings		26.0%	472
Most purchased seedlings, a few from seed		24.1%	439
All purchased seedlings		18.9%	343

12. What is the primary reason you grow tomatoes?
	answered question		1,813
	skipped question		374
		Response Percent	Response Count
Fresh tomatoes during the summer		25.5%	463
Grow enough to eat fresh and preserve		23.2%	421
Grow enough to eat fresh, preserve and share		44.1%	799
Grow enough to eat, preserve and sell		5.5%	100
Most of my tomatoes are grown to sell		1.7%	30

13. What fertilizers do you prefer for your tomatoes? (Check as many options as necessary.)
	answered question		1,784
	skipped question		403
		Response Percent	Response Count
Compost		84.1%	1,501
Aged manure		50.7%	904
Grass clippings		34.0%	606
Blended organic products		31.4%	561
Kelp or blended sea products		19.5%	347
Plant meal (soy, cottonseed, alfalfa)		7.7%	138
Synthetic/chemical products		9.6%	172
Other (please specify)			315

Page: Page 5

14. In a good year when you have plenty of tomatoes, how do you preserve them? Check all that apply in your household.
	answered question		1,686
	skipped question		501
		Response Percent	Response Count
Cool storage		19.2%	323
Can, waterbath		47.0%	792
Can, pressure canner		22.8%	384
Dry		27.9%	470
Freeze		54.9%	926
Other		9.1%	153

15. (Optional) Any tomato preservation tips you would like to share?
	answered question	384
	skipped question	1,803
		Response Count
		384

16. (Optional) Do you have any tips to share for preventing or minimizing tomato diseases?
	answered question	612
	skipped question	1,575
		Response Count
		612

17. Any additional comments?
	answered question	317
	skipped question	1,870
		Response Count
		317

18. E-mail address
	answered question	940
	skipped question	1,247
		Response Count
		940