How to Grow Tomatoes

Days to germination: 7 days
Days to harvest: 120 days
Light requirements: Full sun
Water requirements: Frequent and consistent
Soil: Well fertilized, loose, lots of organic matter
Container: yes, for some smaller varieties

Introduction

Tomatoes are one of the most popular plants to grow in the home garden for lots of reasons. They are fairly easy to grow, can produce a large harvest and come in many varieties to experiment with. You can grow big beefsteak tomatoes or tiny cherry tomatoes, or any size in between. Everyone is familiar with red tomatoes, but you can also grow varieties that are yellow, orange and even pink when ripe.

Even with all the varieties, tomatoes can be divided into two types: vining tomatoes and bush tomatoes. Vining tomatoes will require the most space, and you’ll need either a trellis or stakes to keep the plants secure. Bush tomatoes produce fewer fruits, but are great for smaller gardens or containers. This is generally the case, though some varieties of bush tomatoes will grow quite large.

Tomatoes are high in vitamins C and A, and also contain potassium. Technically, they are fruits (not vegetables) and related to bell peppers and eggplants. You can eat tomatoes either raw or cooked, and they are extremely versatile in the kitchen.

Starting From Seed

Tomatoes need a fairly long growing season with warm temperatures and full sun. Depending on your climate and location, it may not be advisable to start your tomato plants from seed directly outdoors. You can start your seeds indoors before the last frost, or buy seedlings after the threat of frost has passed.

Start your seeds about 6 weeks before the date of last frost in your area in order to have sturdy seedlings for transplanting. Plant your seeds in loose potting mix or vermiculite, close to the surface. Keep them warm (around 70F) and they should germinate and sprout in a week. Keep your seedlings in a warm place with as much sunlight as possible to prevent them from getting spindly. Your growing seedlings should be kept in separate pots so they aren’t crowded.

Transplanting

Once you are sure the threat of frost is past, you can either plant out the seedlings you have started yourself or purchase seedlings. If you are purchasing them, look for plants that are fairly compact and not too spindly or “leggy”.

Tomato plants need to be in a location that will get a full day’s sun throughout the growing season. Don’t plant them in your garden if they are going to get shaded by other plants or nearby buildings.

How you space out your seedlings depends on the type of tomatoes you are growing. Bush tomatoes need more space between them than vining tomatoes, so plan accordingly. Vining tomato seedlings should be around 1 1/2 to 2 feet apart. Bush tomatoes should be between 3 and 4 feet apart, unless you plan on using tomato cages to control the plants’ spread. In that case, you can get away with your seedlings being just 3 feet apart.

Make sure the soil is loose and well-dug before you do your transplanting. Add some good compost if you have it. Dig your holes deep enough to plant your seedlings so that 2 or 3 inches of stem is below the surface as well as the roots. The plant will produce new roots along the stem portion, giving your seedling a more secure anchor.

If you are going to cage your bush tomatoes, you can put the cages in place right after the seedlings are planted. The legs of the cage should be pushed as far as possible into the ground. A large plant will topple over a cage if they are not secure enough.

Growing Instructions

Once your seedlings are planted, you should ensure they are watered well and consistently. You can help keep the moisture in the soil with a heavy layer of mulch, but you should trim off the bottom leaves to prevent the spread of any fungus or mold.

A good soak 2 or 3 times a week is best, and you should water almost daily if the weather is hot and dry. When you water, direct it at the roots not the leaves. If you water the leaves too often, they are more likely to develop fungus problems.

Regular fertilizing is important for heavy-feeding plants like tomatoes. Add some 20-20-20 fertilizer with each watering is a good idea. There are various fertilizers and plant foods on the market designed specifically for tomatoes.

Vining tomatoes will soon grow tall enough to require support from a trellis or a stake. Letting the vines spread out on the ground will likely result in moldy leaves and insect-chewed tomatoes. As the plant grows, tie the main stem loosely to a sturdy and well-anchored stake.

Bush tomatoes need no pruning, but vining ones will produce more tomatoes if you keep the plant pruned and under control. Side branches should be trimmed off as they begin to grow. This keeps the central branch strong.

Containers

Some varieties of tomatoes are ideal for container gardening, though they still need lots of sun and warmth. In most cases, they will not be very fruitful if grown indoors unless you have large south-facing windows. Container tomatoes are best kept outside and you need to take extra care that the soil does not dry out between waterings.

Your best options for container tomatoes are varieties of cherry tomato like Tumblers or Tiny Tims.

Pests and Diseases

Tomatoes can be susceptible to fungus like Verticillium Wilt or Fusarium Wilt, and various forms of Blight and Leaf Spot. There are several modern varieties of tomato that have been bred to be resistant to many common diseases. If you have problems with your tomato crops, try planting resistant varieties next season.

Symptoms usually include moldy patches on the lower leaves, dark spots on the leaves, or yellowing leaves. Some Blights attack the stems rather than the leaves. These fungi live in the soil and can persist for several years. Rotate your tomato crop to other parts of the garden to help keep the fungus in check.

Since tomatoes are closely related to eggplants and peppers, don’t plant those vegetables in the same place as your tomatoes if you’ve had trouble with any of these molds or disease. They will be just as effected as your tomatoes.

Removing damaged leaves immediately can help stop the spread of fungus, and there are some treatments available for spraying. Fungicides will work best.

Insects like aphids, potato beetles and stink bugs can also attack tomato plants. Pick them off by hand as often as you can, and spray the plants with insecticide (chose one safe for vegetables). Pyrethrin sprays are natural and can be quite effective.

One last problem that gardeners have with tomatoes is blossom end rot. You will see a black and rotten spot form at the end of the fruit where the blossom dropped off. It’s usually caused by uneven watering, or a lack of calcium in the soil. Make sure to be consistent with watering to prevent this, and you can add a bit of powdered lime to the soil to help as well.

Harvest

Pick your tomatoes as soon as they are ripe, by gently twisting the fruit until the stem snaps. You risk damaging the plant if you pull too hard.

Some varieties of tomato turn yellow or orange when ripe, so don’t wait around for them to turn red. Bush tomatoes tend to have their fruit all ripen at the same time, whereas vining tomatoes will provide a more staggered harvest. So if you have bush tomatoes, be prepared for a lot of fruit at once.

Once picked, they should be used fairly quickly. Store your fresh tomatoes at room temperature to retain their color and flavor.

One Response to “How to Grow Tomatoes”

Clint Sidney Says:
May 12th, 2010 at 1:06 am
I really love tomatoes. I has so many benefits as well as very healthy. It is not only an anti cancer for its lycopene components, it also add flavor to the food we cook for it has a glutamate content. What is more exciting with tomatoes is the fact that we can grow them in our own backyard. This blog is really very helpful for those who want to grow tomatoes.