Tomato Gardening: Tips for Beginners

Tomato gardening is fun and tasty. Not only are big tomatoes easy to grow, but there are varieties for every living situation. Whether you live in an apartment, have a big outside vegetable garden, or only have container space on a patio, there are options for everyone, even the beginning gardener.

Tomato Garden Location

The first thing to keep in mind when growing tomatoes is their location. Where are you going to plant them? You can plant tomatoes just about anywhere, as long as they get enough sun, and they will thrive with the right amount of care. Once you have decided where you will plant them, the next step is to decide which variety of tomato is best suited for your space and needs.

Tomato Plant Categories

According to the University of Illinois Extension Office, there are two main categories of tomato plants. Determinate plants have a specific growing habit and stop growing in height once they have reached maturity. This is because of the formation of a flower cluster at the growing point. Indeterminate plants never grow a flower cluster at their growing point, and thus will keep growing laterally until the end of the season.

Determinate plants are generally smaller, produce smaller fruit, and reach maturity earlier (ideal for apartment tomato growing). These options are best suited to indoor gardening. Indeterminate plants are larger, grow large fruit, and reach maturity much later. Most heirloom tomatoes are indeterminate types, whereas most dwarf, bush, or container tomatoes are determinate. When buying your seeds, make sure you tomato variety matches the space for which you intend the plant. Tomatoes range in size from 1 ounce to over two pounds, so you also need to determine what you will be using the tomatoes for. Will you eat them in salads, slice them for sandwiches, or make them into marinara sauce?

Germinating Seeds for Tomato Gardening

Once you have chosen your variety and your location and purchased the seeds, you need to germinate the seeds indoors before you transplant them into the garden or their containers. Germinate the seeds in a seed starting mix, in individual pots or a seed starting tray. Continuously water your growing tomatoes until the seedlings are three inches high, making sure not to over water them. If the soil seems muddy or boggy, stop watering immediately. Transplant directly into the garden after all threat of frost has passed, or into individual containers for indoor gardening.

Tomato Gardening Soil Needs

Tomatoes love organic material in the gardening soil, so before you plant them, make sure you have added generous amounts of compost, peat, or sphagnum moss to the soil. This will not only make sure your tomatoes have enough nutrients to grow delicious fruit, but also allow air and water to penetrate the roots. Till the soil deeply, at least 12-inches, to ensure enough growing room for the tomato tap root. Fertilize your tomatoes two-weeks after transplanting with a 5-10-10 NPK (Nitrogen, Phosphorous, Potassium) fertilizer, making sure to avoid direct contact with the leaves.

Supporting Tomato Plants

All tomatoes need a support system, even in indoor gardening in containers. For the smaller varieties, you can use small cages or mesh. For the larger varieties, you will need a much sturdier trellis, cage, stake, or wire system, which is large enough for the plant. Some indeterminate varieties can grow as tall as six feet high, so make sure you don’t underestimate the needs of your plants. This support system also needs to be anchored solidly in the ground. If not, the plant may uproot and fall over.

Spacing Tomato Plants

When planting your tomatoes, make sure they have enough space to grow and for you to harvest them. Most plants need at least a foot and a half between plants. For the extra-large variety, plants may need up to four feet between plants, and up to six-feet between rows.

Water Needs for Tomato Garden

Water your plants at least two to three times a week. Depending on their growing conditions and weather, tomatoes may need more or less water, so it is essential to check them everyday. Container-grown tomatoes may need water every day. If it is hot and dry, water your tomatoes more often. If it is wet and rainy or humid, you will need to water your tomatoes less often. Check the first inch of soil with your finger. If it is dry, water the plant. If it is moist, wait one more day.

Lighting Requirements for Tomato Gardening

Tomatoes need at least 7 hours direct sunlight every day. If you are growing indoors, place your plants in a sunny windowsill. If you are growing outdoors, decide on a location which gets up to 10 hours of sunlight a day. The more sun your tomato plants get, the more fruit they will produce.

Finishing Touches for Tomato Gardening

Tomato gardening wouldn’t be complete without pinching and pruning. Although tomato plants will do fine without pruning, you can pinch or prune off the side shoots from the main stalk as the plant is growing. This will help control the size of the plant, but will result in fewer fruit. The fruit that do develop, however, will be larger. Steve Reiners, from Cornell University, recommends pruning your plants only as much as you are comfortable.

Ultimately, there are tomato varieties for every garden situation. With the right care and some careful planning, you can enjoy delicious tomatoes all year round. Tomato gardening is one of the most rewarding, and tasty, gardening experiences and should not deter even the beginning gardener.