You can enjoy great home-grown tomatoes all summer long by following a few simple steps to growing tomatoes.
Location matters with tomatoes. Choose a place where they will get full sunshine, yet be sheltered from high winds, traffic, and hungry herbivores. If you don’t have enough space, many varieties of tomatoes can thrive in large patio pots.
When growing tomatoes, the soil is important.
Before planting, make sure the soil has the proper acidity and that it drains well. Digging in some well-aged compost will provide slow release of nutrients and add more organic material to sandy soil. On the other hand, if the soil has too much clay to drain well, digging in a little sand along with the compost will lighten it up. The people at your local nursery can help you adjust your particular soil so it is ideal for growing tomatoes.
Do some homework online or ask your neighbors which varieties of tomatoes do best in your area. If you plan on growing tomatoes from seed, start them early indoors and transplant them when the chance of frost is over. Choose healthy looking plants from your nursery if you prefer, but remember to select a type that grows well in local conditions. Plant them early in the morning or in the evening so they have time to adjust to the heat of the day, or cover the new plants with shade cloth for a few days.
Maintenance when growing tomatoes.
Continuing care for tomato plants is pretty basic. Water them thoroughly, using a metal rod to check that the water is reaching the roots. Fertilize as needed, but don’t over do it and burn the plants. Many types of tomatoes require a wire cage to support them as they grow to keep the heavy fruit from drooping to the ground.
Check for pests daily, looking under the leaves and along the stems. If you find a few aphids or worms, you can just pick them off by hand. Larger infestations require dousing with soapy water or knocking off with a jet from the hose. If you have to resort to chemical pesticides, choose one which is safe for food crops and follow all directions carefully.
Enjoy the results of growing tomatoes at home.
Keep up with the harvest. It’s fine to pick tomatoes a little green because they will finish ripening on a kitchen counter, but they are at their best when picked at the peak of perfection. If your plants are especially leafy, be sure to peek under the leaves so you don’t miss any. Remove any bad tomatoes right away to avoid diseases. The more fruit you pick, the more the plants will produce.
To enjoy delicious tomatoes fresh from your own garden, prepare your soil carefully and choose an appropriate variety. Once you have tasted home-grown tomatoes, you will never want to rely on the store-bought kind again. Simple watering, fertilizing, and pest control should make growing tomatoes a not-so-difficult task to do.
