Tips For Growing Garden Tomatoes

To have the healthiest tomato plants that will produce the largest and juiciest tomatoes, there are a few gardening tips and tricks to know about regardless of the type of tomatoes being grown or whether they’re planted in-ground or in a container garden.

Feed Tomatoes Often

Tomato plants like consistent feeding and watering. Use a water soluble fertilizer mixed at half the recommended rate and feed them twice as often. A water soluble fertilizer allows a gardener to provide a consistent source of food and water in one step.

Prevent Blossom End Rot

Blossom end rot in garden tomatoes occurs when the soil moisture is not kept constant during the hot summer months and/or when there is a lack calcium in the garden soil.

Over watering or under watering can result in blossom end rot on tomatoes. Deep weekly watering with one-half the recommended rate of water soluble fertilizer and a layer of mulch will help to keep the garden soil moisture even.

A dose of Epsom salts will add calcium to the garden soil for the tomatoes and Epsom salts also promotes root growth. Once per month feed garden tomatoes a dose of Epsom by mixing one cup of Epsom salts into five gallons of water. Stir to dissolve the Epsom salts and water each tomato plant with ½ gallon of the mixture.

Wash Hands Before Touching Tomato Plants

Tomato plants are highly susceptible to disease; washing hands before touching tomato plants prevents the transfer of any disease causing bacteria. If any tomatoes develop black spots or if the tomato is misshapen, remove it from the tomato plant and discard to prevent disease spread.

Blossom Set Spray

Any gardener wants to grow as many tomatoes per plant as possible, and each blossom represents a potential tomato, if it sets. Using a blossom set spray (available at any garden supply center) to spray the blossom will ensure each blossom sets and produces a tomato.

Stake and Tie

Tomato plants will be healthier and stronger if they are staked and tied in an upright position. Use a wood or metal stake that is at least three feet long and drive it securely into the soil. Use one inch strips of cut-up pantyhose to loosely tie the tomato plants to the stakes. Strips of pantyhose are strong, flexible and will not cut into the tomato plant’s stalk when tied loosely.

Suckering and Pruning Tomato Plants

Suckers are side shoots that develop on tomato plans and will rob plants of energy and produce inferior tomatoes. The suckers grow in the V formation between the main plant stalk and the branch. Pinch off all suckers that develop below the first blossoms on the tomato plants.

Tomato plants can be pruned if they are getting too tall for their space. Just pinch out the tops of the plant to halt the top growth.

Home grown garden tomatoes are a favorite and anyone can grow a successful crop in their garden with these tips for consistent feeding, watering, hand washing, setting the blossoms, suckering and pruning.