Tomato Gardening: Tips for Big Tomatoes

If you are gardening for big tomatoes, there are two things you need to keep in mind: growing conditions and variety. Keeping in mind the important parts of growing healthy tomatoes, like spacing, sunlight, and soil, as well as choosing the right variety will keep you knee-deep in huge, delicious tomatoes. Read on for more tips and learn how to be the newest big tomato competitor in your local county fair.

General Growing Conditions for Big Tomatoes

The first part of growing large tomatoes is creating the perfect growing conditions. There are many things to keep in mind. You have to start with a good soil mixture, keep plants well-watered and healthy with a 5-10-10 fertilizer and generous amounts of compost of organic material.

Spacing Seedlings for Big Tomatoes

When planting tomato seedlings, make sure to space them far enough apart to avoid overcrowding. Space all staked tomatoes at least one and a half feet apart, and at least two feet for plants not staked.

For some extra-large tomato varieties, you may need to space plants four feet apart, with six feet in between rows. Not only will this help in allowing room for you to harvest and care for your plants, but it will also allow the plants to produce more fruit and be less susceptible to pests and disease.

Location of Big Tomato Plants

Location is another important component of successful tomato gardening. Tomatoes need at least 7 hours of direct sunlight every day. If they do not receive enough sun, the plant will produce more leaves than fruit, in order to compensate. Tomatoes also need protection from wind. Make sure to check plants daily to ensure that they are getting enough water and they are free from pests or other problems.

Selecting Tomato Varieties for Big Tomatoes

The second most important aspect of growing big tomatoes is growing the right variety. There are two categories of tomatoes that will produce large red fruit: main-crop red tomatoes and extra-large red tomatoes. According to the University of Illinois Extension Office, main-crop reds bear medium-sized fruit, which have a good amount of foliage and are relatively free from deformities or other abnormalities. These varieties include: Celebrity, Mountain Delight, Fantastic, Better Boy, Mountain Pride, Burpee’s Big Girl, and Supersonic. These tomatoes range in size from 9-16 ounces.

If you really want to beat the socks off your competitors at the county fair, your best bet is to plant an extra-large red tomato variety. These tomatoes are ideal for local county fairs, as they are a late-maturing category. This type of tomatoes, however, may be misshapen or have scarred patches on the fruits, making the novelty of a perfect extra-large tomato even that much more spectacular.

Newer hybrid varieties of this variety are more consistently round with fewer abnormalities or scarred patches. These tomatoes include: Delicious (which holds the world record at 7 lbs 12 oz), Supersteak, and Beefmaster. These tomatoes generally grow in size from one to two pounds or more.

Trellis or Stake Plants When Growing Big Tomatoes

The last thing to consider when growing tomatoes for their size is your staking system. Large tomatoes especially need a sturdy trellis or cage for support. This cage should have holes that are big enough for you to harvest large tomatoes and be tall enough for large plants which may grow up to six feet in height. It should also be firmly anchored to the ground to keep the plant from uprooting and falling over.

Large tomatoes are within your grasp. All you need to do is create a healthy environment and choose the right variety and you will have large tomatoes all season long. Before you know it you will be the envy of all tomato gardeners at the county fair, displaying your record size produce!