A Basic Guide for Growing Tomatoes in Your Home Garden

Tomatoes can be one of the most bountiful plants you can cultivate in your home garden, and if you follow a few proven techniques, you will get some real production. 

On the other hand, inconsistent care will leave you with root rot, unruly plants that bear little fruit, and unstoppable infestation. 

Follow this basic guide for planting, nurturing, and protecting your tomato plants, then ready your favorite tomato recipes!  

Soil

Prepare the best possible soil for your tomato plants.  If you have sandy soil or clay, work a three inch layer of organic material (compost or peat moss) into the top foot of soil.  If you test your soil for pH levels, try to get it in the area of 5.8-6.3 for tomatoes.  Use lime will help control nutrient imbalances as well as root and blossom rot, which are common problems with tomatoes.

Planting

Tomato plants need to be buried deep.  In fact, the stem will sprout new roots when buried.  Bury new plants so that the peat pot is covered with at least one inch of soil.  If the peat pot gets exposed, moisture will be drawn out and the root ball will dry, which stunts growth or kills the plant. 

With multiple plants, allow about 2 feet between plants and 4 feet between rows.

If a transplant is tall and thin, bury it in a trench rather than a hole.  For this method, dig a horizontal trench and lay the plant in it with extra leaves removed.  Then, bury the stem and root system leaving only the top leaf cluster exposed.   Gently firm the soil, making sure not to break the stem. 

Tomatoes need full and sun and like heat, so choose an appropriate area in your garden.  If there is an area that radiates heat from something like a concrete, your tomato plants will benefit from it.

Starter Solutions

Use a starter solution to properly fertilize new and young plants.  Buy a commercial solution with high phosphorus content at your local garden center, or you can make your own solution by adding 3 tablespoons of complete fertilizer per gallon of water.  Either way, never use more than one cup per plant or you risk burning the root ball.

Staking and Cages

Place a stake or cage to support your tomato plants as they grow.  Go with a 6 foot stake driven about 1 foot deep and 3-to-5 inches from the plant. 

For a cage, get one that is about 20 inches in diameter across the top.  It will narrow towards the bottom and have base wires that you push into the ground.  Center the cage as much as possible and make sure that it’s straight so that as the plant grows, it doesn’t lean to one side and grow out of the support.

Watering

Proper watering of tomato plants is critical.  The amount you water will depend on climate and weather factors in your area, but for normal summer conditions water plants so that the soil is wet 6 to 8 inches deep, once a week.

As the hottest part of the summer wears on, use mulch to help keep the soil from getting too dry.   

Fighting Insects

There is nothing worse than laying the groundwork for a healthy tomato crop only to see it overcome by insects.   If insects get established in you plants, you will probably have to use insecticide spay or soap to remove them.

·         Hornworms are the familiar and sometimes huge caterpillars that are actually hard to find because they blend in well with green plants.  If you see a rapid loss of leaves or green droppings at the base of the plant, it’s a sign of hornworms.  They can be controlled with commercial biological insecticide, or you can pluck them off as you find them.   They are easier to spot in the morning when they’re on the plant’s exterior. 

·         Greenhouse Whiteflies are a common insect on tomatoes that once established are difficult to control.  Look for the nymphs that remain still on the underside of leaves.  If they are present, carefully spray effected areas to remove them.

·         Psyllids can be one of the most damaging problems for tomato plants.  They feed on the underside of leaves and drain the plants energy and productivity.  Plants that are infested with psyllids will wilt and produce subpar fruit.  Thoroughly treat the underside of leaves and other infested areas.

·         Flea Beetles can retard the growth of young plants and eat away at fruit, leaving pits and discoloration.  Insecticides may not be effective against flea beetles, requiring the use of repellants like horticulture oils.  Well established plants will not be greatly impacted by flea beetles. 

As you move from season to season, try different varieties of tomatoes to find what does well in your area and suits your tastes.  You can combine different sizes, colors, shapes, and flavors so that tomatoes become a highlight of your summer garden.