There are a few tomato planting tips you should follow to make sure your plants grow well and produce ripe fruit. These tips include soil, sunlight, water and fertilization.
Tomatoes thrive in rich, well-draining, slightly acidic soil with a pH of 6.5 to 6.8. For best results, dig your soil about 1 foot deep and mix in aged manure or compost.
Soil
The soil you plant your tomatoes in is one of the most important aspects of tomato gardening. It has a direct impact on the quality and size of your fruits.
Tomatoes prefer a deep, well-drained, fertile soil that is amply supplied with organic matter. It should be slightly acidic (pH of 6.5 to 6.8), but not too alkaline.
Gardeners can improve the quality of soil by adding rotted manure, leaf mold, peat moss, or other organic materials. Fertilizer needs can also be determined by a soil test.
Mulch can help retain moisture and control weeds. It can be made of straw, salt hay, or dried grass clippings. It should be applied up to 8 inches around the plants.
Sunlight
When planting tomatoes, sunlight is a crucial factor for healthy growth and fruit production. If the plant doesn’t receive enough light, it will produce smaller crops with less sweet, juicy fruit.
Sunlight also helps plants produce lycopene, which is a red pigment that gives tomatoes their characteristic color. Unripe fruits are generally green, while ripe ones are typically red or orange (depending on the variety).
Tomatoes and roses always want morning sun; it accelerates dew evaporation and keeps them healthier than shaded plants.
Tomatoes grow best in locations that receive at least six hours of direct sunlight each day. However, they can tolerate dappled or indirect sunlight as long as it’s intense enough to stimulate leaf development and fruit production.
Water
Water is critical to the health of tomato plants and their production of fruit. Overwatering or underwatering can result in stunted growth, wilted leaves, and reduced fruit production.
Keeping the soil and tomato plant properly moist can also help prevent blossom-end rot and other common diseases. In addition, adding compost or mulch can improve poor soil structures and increase moisture retention.
Watering tomato plants should be done slowly and deeply, which allows the water to soak in before running off. This helps ensure that the water is getting to the roots of the plant where it is needed most.
Fertilization
Tomato plants are heavy feeders, and they need the right amount of fertilizer to grow strong and produce fruit. But too much is a bad idea – overfeeding tomato plants can burn their roots and cause them to concentrate on leaf growth instead of fruit production.
During their first 4 to 8 weeks in the ground, tomatoes need a slow release of nutrients to develop a strong root system and healthy stems. Fill each planting hole with compost or worm castings, which provide an even mix of long-term, slow-release nutrients.
Once the plants have established a strong root structure, they can be fed a more concentrated nitrogen-based fertilizer. Calcium nitrate is a good choice for this time, because it reduces blossom end rot. It also helps to improve fruit quality.
Pruning
Pruning your tomato plants will improve their form and eliminate conditions that can promote the growth of fungal or bacterial disease. It can also help prolong the harvest season and increase fruit quality.
Pruning is recommended for both vining and bush types of tomatoes. Determinate varieties, which stop growing when they set fruit, do not need pruning.
Unpruned plant growth can cause plants to sprawl and get out of control. It can also be a source of competition for nutrients and resources.
Suckers, which grow between a main stem and a side stem, are a common culprit. They can rob the plant of energy that could be used to make larger, better-quality fruit.