For many gardeners, growing plump, juicy, vine-ripened tomatoes is a summer highlight. However, producing a bountiful tomato crop requires careful planning and preparation. From selecting suitable varieties to providing proper care throughout the season, several important factors go into successfully growing tomatoes. This comprehensive guide covers tomato growing basics for both beginning and experienced gardeners.
When Should I Plant My Tomatoes?
Knowing the optimal time to get your tomato plants in the ground is key to maximizing the growing season in your area. The ideal planting dates for tomatoes varies based on your local climate conditions. This section will overview when to plant tomatoes for both cool and hot regions.
Cool Climates
In areas with cooler summers, tomatoes need to be started indoors and hardened off before transplanting after the last expected frost date. This gives your tomatoes a head start on the short growing season. Time your seed starting, so plants will be about 6โ8 weeks old for transplanting in late spring, usually around early to mid-May in cooler zones. The soil and air should be sufficiently warmed by then to foster growth.
Aim to transplant tomatoes immediately after the average last frost date for your area, once overnight temperatures stay reliably above 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Planting too early while nights are still cool risks stunted growth and yield. Be prepared to cover transplants if cold snaps occur. With protection from frost and attentive hardening off, your early-started tomatoes will adapt well when moved to the garden. Just avoid transplanting them too early while soil is still cold.
Hot Summer Areas
In hot climates with extended summers, tomato growing seasons are much longer. Tomatoes can be started later and transplanted earlier without cold damage concerns. Time your seed starting, so plants are old enough about 4โ6 weeks prior to your expected transplant window. This is usually late winter to early spring for hot regions.
Aim to transplant tomatoes about 6โ8 weeks before the average first heat wave, typically around February or March for very warm climates. This allows plants to establish and start producing before the most intense summer heat hits. Tomatoes will stop setting fruit over 90 F. You can also do a second planting in early fall for a winter crop. Determine the optimal spring and fall planting dates for your growing season. The longer season allows two plantings per year.
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Equipment for Growing Tomatoes
Caring for tomato plants requires various supplies beyond seeds and transplants. Invest in quality tools and equipment to tend, support, and maintain your tomato crop. Make sure to have these important tomato growing aids ready for use before the season starts:
- Cages or trellises. Tomato vines need support to keep fruits off the ground and prevent disease. Use sturdy cages, stakes, or trellises appropriate for tomato size. Place supports at transplanting or when vines reach about 1 foot tall. Securing plants also saves space and improves air circulation and sun exposure. Properly supported tomato vines yield more and higher quality fruits.
- Pruning shears. Regular pruning improves tomato plant health and productivity. Invest in quality bypass hand pruners that make clean cuts. Disinfect blades between plants to prevent disease spread. Sharp tools make quick work of removing suckers, older growth, and damaged areas. Proper pruning done consistently with the right shear provides vital maintenance.
- Soil testing kit. Before planting, test garden soil to determine pH and nutrient levels. Home test kits are inexpensive and provide valuable data to optimize soil conditions. Adjust pH based on tomato needs. Amend soils as required to supply sufficient but not excessive nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium. Ideal soil gets plants off to a vigorous start.
- Tomatoes are heavy feeders, requiring consistent nutrients and micronutrients. Choose a soluble fertilizer formulated specifically for tomatoes to apply during the growing season. Follow label rates and regularly fertilize every few weeks once fruits start forming. Adequate fertilization prevents deficiency issues and fuels plant growth and production.
- Row covers. Floating row covers protect young tomato transplants from cold and pests. Use fabric covers to shield plants until they become established. Check that covers don’t overheat plants during sunny days. Row covers improve early season growth and help extend the harvest.
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Tomato Varieties
There are two main types of tomato plants โ determinate (bush) and indeterminate (cordon). Each has its own growth habit, fruiting pattern, and best uses.
Determinate (bush)
Determinate, or bush tomato varieties, form short, compact plants up to 3 feet tall. They stop growing once flowers form on the terminal bud, directing energy into ripening the set fruit instead of continuous growth. Bush types produce earlier with a concentrated harvest period, making them a good choice for canning and preserving. Their shorter stature also suits them well to growing in containers. Popular determinant tomatoes include:
- Roma tomatoes. Also known as Italian or paste tomatoes, it is a determinate variety prized for their meaty, plump oval shape. They contain few seeds and have firm flesh with little juice, making them ideal for cooking down into thick, rich tomato sauce and paste. As determinates, Roma plants reach up to 3 feet tall and do not require pruning or staking support.
- A popular determinant variety, Celebrity tomatoes produce an early, bountiful crop of glossy bright red fruits averaging 8 to 10 ounces. Developed specifically for container gardening, Celebrity forms a tidy and compact bush with good foliage cover that helps suppress weeds. It also has resistance to common tomato diseases, ensuring a healthy and robust harvest suitable for sandwiches, salads, and slicing.
- Mountain Spring. Mountain Spring tomato plants yield clusters of 4 to 6 tasty tomatoes distinguished by their fine flavor and meaty texture. As a determinant variety, Mountain Spring forms short bushes only 1 to 2 feet high, making them suitable to grow in containers or small spaces. The tomatoes measure about 3 inches across on average and shine with vibrant red skin and flesh.
- Bush Steak. Living up to its name, Bush Steak tomato plants produce exceptionally large beefsteak-type tomatoes on compact, determinant bushes. The squat plants grow wider than they do tall, reaching around 3 feet in diameter. Each plant yields large, meaty, ribbed tomatoes averaging 1 pound each yet ripens concentrated sets of fruit without taking up excessive space. As a determinant variety, Bush Steak does not require pruning and works well grown in containers.
- Oregon Spring. Valued for its early maturity and cold hardy nature, Oregon Spring tomato plants start yielding ripe cherry-sized fruit earlier than most varieties. A compact determinate bush type, Oregon Spring only reaches 18โ24 inches tall at maturity, making it suitable for container growing. The petite plants continuously set clusters of sweet, red tomatoes averaging 4 ounces each all season long. Oregon Spring also exhibits good foliage cover for suppressing weeds.
- Red Deuce. These tomatoes were bred specifically for patio growing and container gardens. The dwarf bushes reach just 12โ18 inches tall yet produce very high yields of tennis ball-sized tomatoes all season long. Weighing 2 to 3 ounces each, the bright red globes offer a pleasing, well-balanced flavor. Red Deuceโs compact determinant habit also suits it nicely
Indeterminate (cordon)
Indeterminate tomatoes continue growing and producing fruit until killed by frost. They can become large, sprawling vines that need to be staked or caged for support. Indeterminates yield fruit throughout the season. Popular indeterminate tomatoes include:
- Known for their very large fruits averaging 1 pound each, beefsteak tomatoes require staking, their sprawling vines can reach up to 10 feet long. Popular heirlooms like Mortgage Lifter and Big Boy produce an abundance of huge, meaty red tomatoes with juicy texture perfect for slicing for burgers or sandwiches. Beefsteaks yield continuously all season.
- Cherokee Purple. This heirloom tomato displays dusky pink skin with dark green shoulders when young, developing a deep brick-red hue when mature. Its sweet, rich flavor and smooth texture make for great fresh eating. Cherokee Purple fruits average 12 ounces on spreading, indeterminate vines up to 6 feet long.
- Hailing from Amish country, Brandywine bears exceptionally flavorful, large pink-red heirloom tomatoes perfect for slicing. Expect high yields on fast-growing vines that can reach over 9 feet. Brandywine fruit measure up to 1 pound each with a sweet, well-balanced taste.
- San Marzano. Indigenous to Italy, the San Marzano tomato variety bears slender, pointed red fruits 3โ5 inches long distinguished by a bittersweet flavor, dense texture, and few seeds. An indeterminate variety requiring staking, San Marzanos excel for making sauce and paste, retaining their shape when canned or cooked.
- Mortgage Lifter. This family heirloom beefsteak tomato was named for its original cultivator, who sold plants to help pay off his mortgage. Mortgage Lifter yields abundant large pink-red tomatoes averaging 2 to 3 pounds each on vigorous, indeterminate vines nearly 10 feet long.
- Black Krim. Hailing from the Crimea region, Black Krim displays stunning, deep reddish-black skin with forest green interiors. The large, juicy tomatoes with a sweet yet tangy flavor grow on spreading indeterminate vines. Black Krim mix wonderfully with other heirlooms for a colorful tomato salad.
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A Guide for Growing Tomatoes in Pots
Growing tomatoes in containers opens up gardening possibilities for those with limited space. With the right potting mix, cages or stakes, and pruning, container tomatoes can yield abundant fruit on compact plants. Follow these key tips for success with potted tomatoes.
Choose the Soil
The foundation of healthy container tomatoes begins with the soil. Be sure to use a commercial potting mix, not garden soil, which can compact and drain poorly. Look for mixes containing compost along with perlite or vermiculite to hold moisture while still permitting excess water to drain. Pre-moistened potting mixes make planting fast and easy.
For best results, choose a mix tailored for vegetables. These contain slow-release fertilizers to fuel plants without constant feeding, plus calcium and magnesium that tomatoes need. Container plants have limited soil to draw nutrients from, so starting with a fortified mix prevents deficiencies down the road.
Plant Seedlings
Give tomato plants a head start by beginning with nursery-raised seedlings rather than seeds. Look for stocky plants about 6 to 12 inches tall with healthy green leaves and established root systems. This allows tomatoes to focus energy on fruit production instead of initial leaf establishment after planting.
When transplanting tomatoes outside, wait 2โ3 weeks after your last expected frost date to ensure cold nights wonโt shock them. Bury seedlings right up to the lowest leaves when planting. Container tomatoes often outgrow pint-sized starter pots quickly once settled in. Switch to 5+ gallon containers as the tomatoes grow.
Install Plant Supports
Uncaged container tomato plants often bend, split, or topple from fruit weight as they grow taller. Installing supports helps keep container plants tidy, protects them from breaking, and prevents pest and disease issues.
For determinate tomatoes, simple 4-5 foot stakes pounded into the potting mix work well. Use plant tape to loosely secure main stems to supports. Indeterminates, which grow taller and longer with more foliage, do best with tomato cages at least 4 feet tall. Ensure cages have openings wide enough for your hand to fit when pruning inside denser vines.
Add Sunlight
Tomatoes need lots of light to thrive. Place container tomatoes where theyโll receive at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily โ the more, the better. Southern or western exposures often provide the most sunlight throughout the day. Watch out for shade cast by buildings, trees, fences and other plants as the sunlight angles change in spring and fall. Rotate pots occasionally, so all sides receive equal sunlight for even ripening.
Water Regularly
Tomatoes demand consistent moisture through their growing season. Check container plants daily for water needs. Add enough so that excess trickles from container drainage holes.
Plants in dark containers dry out faster than those in light colors, since the soil absorbs more heat. Hot spots like driveways or patios necessitate more frequent watering too. Never let potting mix totally dry out. Inconsistent water stunts fruit production and causes blossom end rot.
Control the Leaves
Pruning away old leaves and stems promotes better air circulation while removing pest and disease hideouts. Cut leaves in half instead of fully removing to avoid sunscalding fruit.
Pinch off suckers โ new shoots emerging where leaf stems meet main branches. These channels plant energy into existing fruit, rather than excessive foliage or unnecessary offshoots. Guide vines back inside cages or stakes to prevent breakage and support fuller tomato heads.
Harvesting Tomatoes
Img: Tomato development stages detail schema
Allow tomatoes to fully ripen on vines for peak flavor development. Gently twist fruit when harvesting rather than pulling to avoid damaging plants. Store picked tomatoes at room temperature out of direct sunlight. Never refrigerate fresh tomatoes, as cold damages texture and taste.
To slow ripening after heavy harvests, reduce water and fertilizer, stop pruning, and limit fruit sets with more blossom removal. Once cooler weather halts production, pull spent plants to add to compost piles.
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Caring for Tomato Plants
Growing healthy, productive tomato plants requires paying attention to their basic needs โ ample sunlight, moderate temperatures, even moisture and good air circulation. Meeting these core requirements rewards gardeners with vigorous vines and bountiful harvests.
Selecting the Right Location
When choosing where to plant tomatoes, full sun exposure is essential – aim for at least 6 hours of direct sun. Morning light allows dew to dry off the plants, helping reduce disease. Areas that receive sunlight on all sides of the plant, especially the south or west, produce higher yields.
Ensure the site has fertile, well-drained soil to prevent waterlogged roots. While tomatoes need consistent moisture, standing water promotes fungal issues. Adding compost enriches the soil and improves drainage. Rotate planting sites yearly to control disease and prevent nutrient deficiencies that can build up in the same location.
Light Requirements
As fruiting plants, tomatoes require lots of sunlight to yield their best crop. At minimum, tomato plants need 6โ8 hours of full sun every day throughout the growing season. More sun exposure results in sweeter fruit with richer flavor compounds and allows the plant to produce flowers and set fruit continuously.
South or west-facing sites offer the most sunlight overall, as they receive direct rays for more hours per day. Ensure tall buildings, trees and other structures do not cast shade on the planting area, especially as sunlight angles change into fall. Supplement with grow lights if adequate natural light isn’t available.
Temperature and Humidity Needs
Tomatoes thrive in warm conditions, ideally with daytime temperatures between 70-85ยฐF and nights staying above 60ยฐF. Exposure to temps lower than 50ยฐ causes plants stress, stunting growth. Humid conditions between 40-70% humidity correlate with optimal growth and disease resistance.
Monitor forecasts and be ready to take protective measures if cold snaps or heat waves occur. Use fabric row covers, tunnels, or individual plant cages to boost warmth in spring and fall. During hot midsummer heat, provide shade cloth or switch to morning irrigation to conserve moisture. Pay attention to humidity as well, which affects transpiration and disease susceptibility.
Watering Tomatoes
Tomatoes have deep root systems yet require consistent moisture in the top layers where feeder roots grow. Allow the top few inches of soil to dry between watering, while avoiding severe wilting. Deep watering encourages roots to grow downwards, preventing water deficiencies.
Give plants 1โ2 inches of water per week from rain and irrigation combined, adjusting for rainfall shortages or extreme summer heat. Soak the entire root zone, then let excess drain fully. Using soaker hoses or drip irrigation directly to the soil surface avoids leaf wetness, which spreads disease. Never water from overhead.
Fertilizing Tomato Plants
Tomatoes benefit from regular feeding to fuel plant processes and fruit production. Apply a balanced vegetable fertilizer before planting, then side dress plants again when the first flowers appear. Target key stages in early vegetative growth and the onset of fruiting.
For container tomatoes, supplementing the potting mix with slow-release pellets feeds plants gradually without risk of root burn. Look for organic formulas listing nitrogen from plant or animal sources instead of synthetic for optimal flavor. Excess nitrogen leads to more foliage, over ripe fruit. Cut back on fertilizer as plants slow in fall to channel energy into existing fruit.
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Best Tips for Growing Tomatoes
Achieving a thriving tomato crop that yields abundant ripe fruit takes attention to key details at all growth stages. Follow these prime tomato gardening tips for your best harvests ever:
- Start with disease-resistant varieties. Choosing tomatoes bred with immunities to common wilts, blights, spots and more avoids disappointment. Some resistant cultivars like Juliet and Totem still offer great flavor. Building disease tolerance into your tomato garden prevents headaches.
- Give tomato seedlings a heat boost. Indoors, use heating mats and grow lights to strengthen young plants, allowing earlier transplant dates. Gradually introduce outdoor conditions over two weeks or so, called ยซhardening offยป. Let seedlings mature until showing first buds for the highest survival rates. Robust transplants yield faster.
- Use row covers for extra warmth. Drape fabric row covers over plants at transplant for a few degrees of frost and wind protection. Covers also keep insect pests off until flowers appear needing pollination. Just secure edges well, so the blankets don’t blow away in spring gusts. Some gardeners leave covers on until fruit starts coloring.
- Support plants properly. Insert tall, sturdy cages or stakes at transplant time, allowing indeterminate vines to grow right into supports. Loose ties at 12 inch intervals prevent stem damage while keeping fruit lifted off the ground. Air circulation is also improved through consistent plant tending. Determinates need shorter supports still to prevent toppling under fruit weight.
- Feed plants regularly. Tomato growth and production rely on adequate nutrition being steadily available. Use balanced organic fertilizers to fuel plants without contaminants. Side dress growing tomatoes monthly and again when flowers appear. Container plants often need more frequent feeding. Establish healthy roots with mycorrhizae fungi to maximize nutrient absorption.
- Water at ground level. Tomato foliage staying damp promotes blights and other disease. Instead, use soaker hoses, drip lines or regularly moved sprinklers hitting just the soil. Soil moisture meters help gauge exactly how dry deeper layers get between watering. Aim to keep the top few inches slightly moist. Deep weekly soakings encourage extensive rooting.
- Trim selectively. While some leaves can be removed to aid air flow, never defoliate tomato plants entirely. Leaf canopy protection prevents sunscald damage to fruit. Cut older leaves showing disease in half instead, to balance ventilation and shade. Keep any diseased foliage off the ground after cutting to avoid spreading issues.
- Harvest for peak flavor. Allow tomatoes ripening on vines to fully develop sugars and flavor compounds. Gently lift and twist ripe fruit instead of pulling to avoid stem damage. Check plants daily once red varieties start coloring up. Store freshly picked tomatoes at room temp away from sunlight rather than refrigerating.
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Common Issues When Growing Tomatoes
Even experienced tomato growers encounter some problems occasionally. Identifying key symptoms helps diagnose common tomato fruit and foliage ailments stemming from environmental, pest or disease factors. Catching issues early makes treatment easier in most cases.
Splitting and Cracking Tomatoes
Cracks in ripening tomatoes result from fluctuating soil moisture levels. Split skin allows decay organisms entry, hastening spoilage. Prevent splits by growing resistant varieties and maintaining even soil moisture.
Cracks radiating from the stem end signal uneven watering, typically. Minimize water fluctuations through mulching and sub-surface irrigation via drip lines or soaker hoses. Cracks circling around the middle point to rapid moisture uptake after dry periods. Avoid drought stress through vigilance.
White or Brown Blemishes on Fruit
White tissue under skin indicates sunscald, while dark leathery spots signal blossom end rot. Both stem from moisture stress – overexposure and underwatering respectively. Control sunscald by not removing foliage above developing fruit.
New varieties with heavy leaf canopies resist burning better. Eliminate blossom end rot through consistent soil moisture control, especially during flowering and fruit set when demand peaks.
Curled Leaves
Leaf roll or curl results from processes disrupted by cold shock, disease, compacted roots, drought stress or herbicide damage. Confirm curling leaves are otherwise green and healthy before taking action.
If vigorous new growth emerges normally, curled mature leaves often strengthen plants against weather shifts. But if curling rapidly spreads, identify and mitigate causal factors immediately to avoid lasting damage to plants.
Yellow Leaves Near Stem
Leaf yellowing starting near the main stem bottom signals nitrogen deficiencies, disrupting chlorophyll production. Ensure adequate but not excessive nitrogen all season by testing soil and monitoring plant needs.
While miracles grow additives appear promising for reversing yellowing leaves, they often only temporarily mask a fundamental soil imbalance. Have soil analyzed to identify specific nutrient deficits, then address those needs for a lasting solution. Focus on building organic matter through yearly additions of finished compost.
Dealing with Pests
Common tomato pests include aphids, white flies, cutworms, flea beetles and hornworm caterpillars. These insects stunt plants by chewing leaves and transmitting diseases. Identify culprits by their signs, then apply integrated treatment.
Start with insecticidal soap or neem oil for low to moderate infestations or as a preventative barrier. Remove pests by hand and immerse in soapy water or alcohol solution. Avoid broad spectrum pesticides that also kill pollinators and predatory beneficial insects, which naturally control pests.
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FAQs
What are the ideal spacing requirements for sowing tomato seeds indoors?
When starting tomatoes from seed, sow seeds into cell packs or containers spaced at least 2โ3 inches apart to allow for stocky, healthy seedling growth. Crowded tomato seeds compete for light and nutrients, becoming elongated and weak. Thin seedlings to the strongest one per cell or pot. Give plants ample growing room before transplant.
How deeply should you plant tomato seedlings in the garden?
Set tomato seedlings in the ground deep enough to bury up to the lowest set of leaves. This allows plants to develop extra root tissue along the buried stem section, anchoring them for sturdier support and better access to soil moisture and nutrients. However, don't plant seedlings deeper than this, or you may encourage soil-born disease issues in the buried
What causes the ends of tomatoes to turn black and rot?
Blossom end rot stem from intermittent soil moisture, especially deficiency of calcium, during fruit formation. Prevent it through consistent, deep weekly watering to stabilize moisture availability and increase calcium uptake. Mulch also buffers soil moisture. It isn't a disease but rather a physiological disorder.
How many hours of sunlight should tomato plants receive each day?
For best growth and maximum fruit production, tomato plants need at least 6โ8 hours of full, direct sunlight daily throughout the growing season. South or west facing sites are ideal. With less light than this threshold, plants invest more energy into foliage over fruit or ripen significantly fewer tomatoes.
What is the typical growth timeline of a tomato plant?
The average tomato plant growth timeline spans about 4 months from transplanting outside in late spring through finishing fruiting in fall. Starting seeds indoors extends the overall timeline by 6โ8 weeks over direct seeding.
Most gardeners start seeds in March-April, harden off and transplant seedlings in May-June once soil/air temperatures warm. Plants set flowers and fruit through summer, wrapping up production in September/October with cooler weather and frosts.
Are there tomato varieties resistant to parasitic nematodes in the soil?
Yes, tomato breeders have developed nematode-resistant varieties by introducing genes from wild tomato relatives. Recommended nematode-resistant tomatoes include Defiant PHR, Mountain Merit, Scarlet Red, and Mountain Majesty, all showing resistance to common root knot and other species. Planting this avoids stunting and supports heavier fruiting.
What size container is best for growing patio tomatoes?
For container tomatoes, gardeners often start plants in 1-2 gallon pots but need to shift them into larger 5-10+ gallon buckets as the plants grow and fruit. Standard 5-gallon containers are usually the minimum recommended size for a healthy patio tomato crop. High yielding, determinate varieties can be kept to this size through an entire season if sufficiently fed and watered.
Are tomato plants annuals or perennials?
Botanically, tomatoes are tender perennials, meaning the vines can continue living through multiple years in tropical climates but cannot withstand freezing winter temperatures. Therefore, in temperate locations, tomatoes are grown as annuals โ planted new each successive growing season. The vines and root systems will not overwinter in most regions.
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