Have you ever wondered why some people have such great success growing tomatoes while others can’t seem to ever get them to grow?
There are a few tomato-growing secrets that, once you know them, will help you finally achieve the homegrown tomatoes of your dreams.
Tomatoes love having warm roots. A well draining, loose soil that is rich with organic matter is ideal. Provide them with regular watering and lots of warm, sunny weather and you’ll be rewarded with plenty of great tomatoes.
Start with good quality seeds
This may seem like an obvious tip, but it’s worth repeating.
Not all tomato seeds are created equal.
If you start with poor quality seeds, you’ll likely end up with disappointing results.
Be sure to buy your seeds from a reputable source, and don’t be afraid to pay a little extra for good quality seeds.
Your local nursery or garden center is a great place to buy tomato seeds.
Pick the right variety
There are hundreds of different varieties of tomatoes, and not all of them are created equal.
If you want delicious, juicy tomatoes, do your research and pick a variety that is known for its flavor.
Some of our favorites include Brandywine, Cherokee Purple, and Sun Gold.
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Plant your seeds in well-drained soil.
Tomatoes need plenty of water, but they won’t do well if their roots are sitting in waterlogged soil.
Be sure to plant your seeds in soil that drains well and doesn’t stay soggy after a rainstorm.
If you’re not sure whether your soil drains well enough, you can always test it by digging a small hole and filling it with water.
If the water drains away within an hour or so, your soil is probably fine. If not, you may need to add some organic matter, such as compost, to improve its drainage.
Plant them in the right spot.
Tomatoes need full sun to thrive, so make sure to plant them in an area of your garden that gets at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day.
Provide adequate nutrients for your plants
Tomatoes are heavy feeders, so they need plenty of nutrients to produce big, juicy fruits.
Be sure to fertilize your plants regularly throughout the growing season with a good quality fertilizer formulated for vegetables.
Tomato plants also benefit from being fed with compost tea or fish emulsion every few weeks.
Water deeply and evenly
Tomatoes need at least 1 inch of water per week, so be sure to provide them with plenty of water during the growing season.
Watering deeply and evenly is especially important when fruits are starting to ripen on the vine.
Avoid getting water on the leaves of the plants, as this can promote fungal diseases such as leaf spot or early blight.
Water early in the day so that the leaves have time to dry off before nightfall.
Give them support.
As tomato plants grow they can get top-heavy and start to fall over, especially if they’re loaded with fruit.
To avoid this, give them some type of support like a tomato cage or stake when you plant them. This will help keep them upright as they grow and make it easier to harvest the fruit when it’s ripe.
Harvest regularly
When the fruits begin to ripen, be sure to harvested them regularly. This will encourage the plant to produce even more fruit.
Final Words
With these tips in mind, you should be well on your way to growing the best tomatoes of your life.
Just remember to start with good quality seeds, plant them in well-drained soil, water deeply and evenly, and give them some type of support.
And most importantly, don’t forget to enjoy the fruits of your labor.
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