Growing your own tomatoes offers a rewarding experience, providing fresh, flavorful produce. This guide covers essential steps to cultivate a thriving tomato patch, from choosing varieties to harvesting your bounty.
Selecting Tomato Varieties
Understanding tomato growth habits is key for successful cultivation. Determinate varieties, often called “bush” tomatoes, grow to a predetermined height (typically 3-4 feet) and produce most fruit within a short period. They are well-suited for containers or concentrated harvests for canning.
Indeterminate tomatoes are vining plants that continue to grow and produce fruit throughout the season until frost. They can reach heights of 6 feet or more and are ideal for continuous fresh eating. While offering a longer harvest, they generally require more support and pruning.
Beyond growth habit, consider heirloom or hybrid varieties. Heirloom tomatoes are open-pollinated; their seeds produce plants true to the parent. They offer diverse shapes, colors, and flavors, though they may exhibit less disease resistance. Hybrid tomatoes result from cross-pollinating two distinct parent plants to achieve specific traits like improved disease resistance, higher yields, or consistent fruit size. However, seeds saved from hybrid plants typically do not produce offspring identical to the parent.
Planting Tomatoes Successfully
Timing is crucial for planting tomatoes, as they are warm-season crops sensitive to frost. Plant outdoors after all danger of frost has passed, when nighttime temperatures consistently remain above 50°F (10°C) and daytime temperatures are above 60°F (15.5°C). Planting too early can stunt growth or kill the plants.
Tomatoes thrive in full sun, requiring at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight daily for optimal fruit production. Select a site that receives ample sun. Well-draining soil, rich in organic matter, is also necessary for healthy growth. Amending the planting area with compost improves soil structure and nutrient availability.
When transplanting seedlings, dig a hole large enough for the root ball. Tomatoes benefit from deep planting; remove lower leaves and bury a portion of the stem, as new roots will form along the buried section, leading to a stronger root system. Space plants 2 to 3 feet apart, depending on the variety’s mature size. After planting, water thoroughly to help them settle.
Essential Tomato Plant Care
Consistent watering is fundamental for healthy tomato plants and abundant fruit production. Tomatoes generally require 1 to 2 inches of water per week, varying by weather and soil type. Water deeply and slowly at the base, ensuring moisture penetrates 6 to 8 inches into the soil. Avoiding overhead watering helps prevent foliage diseases. Container-grown tomatoes often need more frequent watering, sometimes daily, due to faster soil drying.
Fertilizing supports vigorous growth and fruiting. Incorporate well-rotted compost into the soil before planting for nutrients. When plants are young, a balanced fertilizer or one slightly higher in nitrogen promotes leaf and stem development. Once flowers and fruits begin to set, switch to a fertilizer lower in nitrogen and higher in phosphorus and potassium (e.g., 5-10-10) to support fruit development and flavor. Apply fertilizers around the plant base, about 6 inches from the stem, and water thoroughly.
Providing adequate support is important for most tomato varieties, particularly indeterminate types. Staking, caging, or trellising keeps plants upright, prevents fruit from touching the ground, and improves air circulation, which reduces disease. Install supports at planting time to avoid disturbing the root system. For staking, drive a sturdy stake (at least 4 feet tall) near the plant and loosely tie the main stem as it grows. Cages encircle the plant for continuous support, while trellises offer a vertical structure for vining tomatoes to climb.
Pruning helps manage plant size and directs energy toward fruit production. For indeterminate varieties, regularly removing “suckers”—small shoots that emerge in the leaf axils—improves air circulation and concentrates energy into the main stem and fruit. Removing lower leaves, especially those touching the soil or showing signs of yellowing or disease, also enhances air circulation and reduces disease risk. Excessive pruning on determinate varieties can reduce overall yield, so limit it to removing diseased or damaged foliage.
Troubleshooting Common Tomato Issues
Tomato plants can encounter common issues. Pests like hornworms and aphids can damage foliage and fruit. Hornworms, large green caterpillars, are often controlled by hand-picking. Aphids can be dislodged with a strong spray of water or treated with insecticidal soap.
Fungal diseases, such as early blight or late blight, are common. Prevent these by ensuring good air circulation through proper spacing and pruning, avoiding overhead watering, and selecting disease-resistant varieties. Promptly remove and dispose of infected leaves to limit spread.
Physiological disorders, not caused by pests or pathogens, also affect tomatoes. Blossom end rot, a dark, sunken spot on the fruit’s bottom, typically results from inconsistent watering rather than a lack of calcium. Maintaining even soil moisture is the primary solution. Fruit cracking, where the skin splits, is often linked to inconsistent watering, particularly rapid fluctuations between dry and wet conditions. Consistent, deep watering helps prevent this issue.
Harvesting Your Tomatoes
Harvest when tomatoes have fully developed their mature color for the specific variety. A ripe tomato should feel slightly firm but yield gently to pressure, and detach easily from the vine with a gentle twist.
Harvest tomatoes by gently twisting the fruit until it snaps off the vine. For larger fruits or to avoid damaging the plant, use garden shears or a knife to cut the stem close to the fruit. Leaving a small part of the stem attached, especially for cherry tomatoes, can help them store longer.
Once harvested, store ripe tomatoes at room temperature, away from direct sunlight. Refrigerating ripe tomatoes can degrade their flavor and texture, making them mealy. If tomatoes are slightly unripe, store them at room temperature until they ripen fully. If refrigerated briefly, allow them to return to room temperature before eating for optimal flavor.