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 Steps That Gardeners Take To Grow Tomatoes Successfully
Did you know that tomatoes are by far the most popular homegrown vegetable? Well, I have just called it a vegetable but in actual fact it is a fruit. But for the sake of this comparison it has been termed a 'vegetable' and gardeners just love to grow these plants which bear fruit in all sorts of shapes and sizes. Many have started and given up because they just did not know enough about how to do it successfully in the first place, so here is some starters information.
Growing tomatoes at home is quite easy, but there are steps to take that make it a successful venture. In saying that, the planting of the tomato in the first place is also critical. In the home environment it is quite easy to have organically grown tomatoes and this style of growing is gaining popularity all the time.
There are over 7,500 varieties of tomatoes, but don't be overwhelmed by that as many would not suit your purposes anyway. When looking for some varieties to grow, firstly consider the following as this will help you come up with a short list of varieties to research for your home environment:
- the climate that you live in as tomatoes like warm climates but will grow in cooler climates and that may affect the variety that you choose and also the timing of the planting
- the time you have available to tend your plants during the growing period
- how much fruit you want to harvest and for what length of time you want to harvest the fruit
- whether you want tall plants or smaller plants as each will require a different method of care
When planning on planting tomatoes take into consideration that the outdoor temperature needs to be between 65°F to 85°F during the day and no cooler than 60°F at night before you put the first plants in the ground. In most places this means that it is into the end of the first month of summer before seedlings are planted in the garden.
Seedlings should be planted about 18 inches apart so that they have air flow around them when they are mature. The large bush varieties will even need to be planted up to 36 inches apart. Air flow is important for strong tomato growth and this is why the space is needed between plants.
If planting into containers, use one large container for the larger plants, but if the smaller dwarf varieties are going to be grown, it is possible to set 2 or 3 in a large pot.
Supporting tomato plants during growth.
Tomatoes need support from the very early days. Leaves on tomato plants grow quite fast so it is a good idea to support them very early in the growing phase so that the stem of the plant will not bend. When the plants are initially chosen it is advisable to also decide on the style of support that is intended for them. Is it going to be:
- A teepee
- A cage
- A trellis
- A stake, or some other form of support
Knowing how you are going to support them will also influence how far apart you will plant them.
Maintaining tomato plants.
Tomato plants do need 6 hours of sunshine for good growth and they also need a consistant supply of water. A good system for the watering is to have an automated system set up so that you can be assured that they will get watered each and every day and early in the morning which is the best time to water.
Plants can be pruned, but it is best not to be too vicious with this. Trimming suckers that grow in the joint of the branches helps keep the plant sending vital nutrients to the fruit.
Harvesting the fruit from your own plants is a fantastic experience. There is no sweeter taste than fruit that is grown by your own hand. When you research how to grow tomatoes successfully and take the steps suggested you have a very good chance of picking the nicest, sweetest tomatoes around.
Author: Kaye Dennan
Check out the popular E-Book on growing great tomatoes
Vegetable Gardening Guide - Tricks to Help You Grow Tantalizing Tomatoes in Your Home Garden
Who does not appreciate a basketful of ripe, red, round, soft, succulent, organically bred and juicy mouthwatering homegrown tomatoes? Virtually everyone does. And oh! What joy!! If they come from your own kitchen garden! For years various big and small cultivators have been looking for the right recipe and vegetable gardening guide for the perfect produce, but this is one secret, which, till now was known to only a few.
Just like your children, your tomato plant requires your undivided attention if you aspire for an exceptional harvest. To be a successful tomato cultivator, you must know all that is there to know about growing good tomatoes. It is almost like deciphering the plant psychology and begins with choosing the right stems to place in your vegetable garden.
Cultivators must ensure that the stalks of their young tomato plants are perfectly healthy and have virtually no sign of any of those diseases that afflict the plants. Young plants need to be monitored to make sure that they get the right amount of moisture to flourish. These should be watered when their leaves show signs of wilting or when the soil is low on moisture, which can be judged by sticking your fingers into it.
Once they take root, your tomato plants require sufficient amount of water to help them bloom properly. While administering organically prepared compost and fertilizers can help your crop to grow well, your tomatoes require a good diet of sunlight and air, which is often denied to them due to lack of knowledge.
Shearing off unnecessary leaves on the plant can help attain this target. Yes, leaves block the adequate supply of sunlight and air to your tomato blooms, which has an adverse impact on the crop. These leaves, which may appear comely to an untrained eye, are nothing but harbingers of death and disease for your plant as they also tend to block the flow of carbon, which is another ingredient that tomatoes require.
Protecting your produce from insects is another important aspect of growing tomatoes. It is advisable to use organically prepared insect repellents for this purpose as these give sure and lasting results, without having any adverse impact on the yield. Planning to plant tomatoes in your vegetable garden? Be sure to employ these tricks, which are now being widely discussed in each and every vegetable gardening guide. You will be amazed with the results.
Clint Sidney
Tomato facts and information.
Introduction
Tomatoes are sub-tropical plants originating in South America and hence are partial to fairly hot dry conditions. However, many varieties, particular bush varieties, are now suitable for growing outdoors in Ireland although you will need to protect them from frosts in mid to late spring.
If you have a greenhouse then this is the place to grow your tomatoes - they will be protected from frosts during the early growing season and from damaging winds throughout their lives. You will also be able to regulate the amount of water and food they are given more easily than if growing them outdoors.
Selecting Plants
The easiest way to get started is to buy young plants - you should look for compact, sturdy looking plants which should be dark green in colour with no yellowing of the leaves at all. Reject any 'leggy' plants, i.e. tall plants with long stems and relatively few leaves as these plants have had insufficient light during their early growing phase.
Also look for pots with moist compost as young plants which have been allowed to dry out will be under stress and less likely to produce good quality crops. See the end of this article for growing from seed.
Location
Greenhouse grown tomatoes can either be grown direct in the ground if your greenhouse has a border or in pots (or possibly grow bags). Growing directly in the ground will probably produce the best results initially - mainly due to the larger soil mass-producing more constant conditions for the roots (temperature and moisture). However, perfectly good results can be had by growing in pots and there are advantages to pot growing, principally that the compost can easily be changed each year to prevent the build up of disease organisms and to provide a known balance of nutrition.
Tomato plants will grow outdoors in almost any soil conditions - I have experienced success in hard compacted clay soils as well as peat based bought composts. However, a good water retentive soil, rich in organic matter, will produce the best results for the least effort. If growing outdoors, choose a bush variety and plant in a sheltered, preferably south facing, position.
Growing From Seed
The beauty of growing from seed is the vast array of varieties you can choose from, unlike the local garden centre where you will be lucky to find more than four varieties on offer. Having decided which variety or varieties to grow, getting started is really simple you sow the seeds in a pot and in about eight weeks you will have small plants which will be large enough to plant out. By mid-summer the first naturally sun-ripened fruits will be ready to harvest and the treat will begin and continue throughout the summer.
Start your tomatoes off by sowing seeds in pots something like 8 weeks before you expect the final frosts of the year - so you will need to think about sowing between mid February and early April depending on where you live. Leave them to germinate on a windowsill or in a propagator somewhere that is warm and frost-free and with absolutely as much light as possible.
How to sow:
Fill several 7.5cm (3in) pots with seed compost, lightly firm the surface and water. Put a single seed in the centre of each pot - tomato seeds are very good germinators and you will almost certainly have 100% of the seeds you plant germinate. Cover with a small amount of compost and clearly label the pot - keep the compost moist but not wet.
Growing on:
when the roots start to come through the drainage holes in the bottom of the pot, transfer the plant into a 12.5cm (5in) pot, taking care not to damage the roots, and water in well. If the plant is getting tall, tie it to a small cane for support.
If planting outside harden off the plants by placing them outdoors during the day for a few days. If you are going to grow them in a greenhouse then the plants will be big enough to be transplanted to their final growing position approximately eight weeks after germination.
If the young plants have been raised on a windowsill in the house they may be a bit taller and thinner than is ideal due to lack of good light. In this case do not be afraid to plant the young plants deeper in their final growing position than they were in the pots - this will help support the plant and new roots will form on the buried stems. Keep an eye out for late frosts and put a little heat in the greenhouse if necessary.
Planting and Care
When planting your tomatoes into their final growing position, water the area well before planting and put the plant slightly lower in the ground than it was in the pot. If growing a bush variety then support is not strictly necessary although if it is outside and exposed to any sort of winds then it is probably best to provide some support to avoid disappointment.
Cordon varieties with a single tall vertical stem will always need a cane or stake for support and will need to be tied into the stake as it grows. After that it is just a case of watering the plants to maintain a moist (but not permanently wet) compost and feeding regularly with a tomato fertiliser. Avoid high nitrogen based fertilisers as this will result in a very healthy, leafy plant but not much fruit.
Cordon varieties will need side shoots removing throughout the growing season to limit the amount of energy the plant spends on producing leaves and encourage the production of fruit. Towards the end of the growing season (late July or August) the plants will be as tall as you want them to be and hopefully have six or seven good fruit trusses.
At this point the growing tip can be pinched out to encourage the ripening of the fruit. Remove any brown leaves immediately and dispose of them.
Ventilation and Temperature Control
Although tomatoes enjoy hot conditions - they can get too much of a good thing! The best method of ventilation in the greenhouse is an automatic opening roof vent - if you haven't got one it would make a good birthday present.
Failing that take note of any particularly hot days and make sure you open up the windows and/or doors in the morning and close down again at night. Damping down at the end of a hot day will be much appreciated by your tomatoes - just spray the greenhouse floor and windows with water (and the plants) to cool everything down and create a nice humid atmosphere.
Harvesting
The best bit - make sure you get the first fully ripened tomato and eat it straight from the plant while it is still warm and taste that incomparable flavour of summer. After that if you have done your job correctly there will be more tomatoes than you can sensibly eat and your family, friends and neighbours will appreciate your glut of home grown fruit as much as you do.
Peter Turner from Gardenplansireland
We need your help with these versitile fruit.......
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Location: Give the plants as much light as you can. Ideally no less than 6 hours of sunshine per day, 10 hours if you can. (We can dream).
Soil: Use a rich mixture of high nitrogen compost, this applies to pot grown or ground planted tomatoes.
Variety: There are 2 general groups of tomatoes:
Indeterminate tomatoes: these are upright vine or cordon plants
Determinate tomatoes: These grow bushy and the miniature ones are ideal for baskets and don’t need pruning.
Care: Regular watering keeps the plants healthy and also stops the fruit splitting. Regular watering times reduces this problem significantly. Ideally the water will be slightly tepid. This will prevent any shocking of the plants or cooling of the soil.
Pinch out: As the upright plants grow it is a good idea to pinch out the side shoots that you find growing from the main stem at the base of the leaf. Once the plant has the required number of trusses, (four in my case, but 5 would be ideal too) the main stem can be pinched out to top the plant and prevent further tomato production. That way the energy will be channelled to fruit growth. Keep an eye out for the side shoots though, as the plant will throw more of those out to compensate for loosing the growing tip.
Feeding: Once fruit starts to appear, the plants can be given a bi-weekly supplement of a suitable tomato feed.
Pests and disease: check for pests and disease, removing any dead or discoloured leaves. Removing the old leaves at the base could also prevent soil borne infections getting into the plant. Insects can usually be picked off if you catch them early, if not you could use a natural organic pesticide, washing up liquid usually does the trick. There are a lot of things that could go wrong with the plants, like blight (as in potatoes) mould, fusarium wilt, leaf miners, aphids, whitefly and cutworm attack.
Let’s stay positive though. If the soil is good, the water is regular and there is plenty of fresh air circulating, you probably won’t have to bother looking for ways of coping with pests and diseases. What you will have to look forward too is a healthy crop of delicious tomatoes, ready to compliment the salad bowl