Growing great tomatoes is easy as long as you know how to grow tomatoes.
The articles below are intended to help you stop worrying about success and enjoy the experience of growing fresh tomatoes in a container or in your own backyard.
After all, many gardeners want to grow the biggest and healthiest tomato crop on the block!
Before I share links to some the most popular articles on growing tomatoes on the site, I wanted to share these six basic tips for getting started growing tomatoes.
Tomatoes are one of the most popular plants grown in home gardens.
Did you know there are more than 7,500 different varieties of tomatoes - and that number keeps increasing.
Amazing, isn't it?
If you've always wanted to try your hand at growing this tasty fruit - yes, tomatoes are technically a fruit - or if you haven't had much success growing them, this information is for you.
Here are six quick tips to help you grow the best tomatoes you've ever grown!
Warm The Soil
This is an awesome tip that many people don't know about.
Approximately two weeks before you plant your seeds or seedlings in the ground, preheat the dirt in your garden.
Cover the area with a large trap, plastic bag or plastic mulch.
Red or black works best.
I personally use red plastic mulch on the ground under my tomato plants.
The reason for doing this is it increases the heat in the soil and guess what?
Tomato plants thrive in the heat.
Another advantage is it keeps the weeds down and the red mulch reflects the right color of light back up towards the tomatoes which helps them ripen a little faster.
Train Your Seedlings
If you're starting the seedlings inside, you can train them to withstand windy weather using one of these three techniques.
- Set them in front of a small fan for up to 10 minutes, twice a day.
- Another strengthening method is to rub your hand gently, back and forth, across each one for a few minutes.
- On warm, calm days sit them outside in a protected place for 30 minutes. Increase the amount of time they are outside each day until they are used to being outside all day in an unprotected area.
Your plants will be ready to withstand a strong breeze in no time at all.
Don't Overcrowd
Don't overcrowd your plants.
Tomatoes need room to grow.
As a general rule, plant three seeds per container if you are unsure if the seeds you have are viable.
Seeds that are viable have the ability to germinate.
Sometimes older seeds do not have a high germination rate, however many factors such as the type of seed, how they were stored, etc. play into this.
Transfer the seedlings to the garden or in individual four-inch pots, as soon as each plant begins to get its own leaves.
I prefer to wait until the plant is large enough to easily see.
The more roots the tomato plant has the better it seems to adapt to being grown outside in my experience.
Bury Plants Deeper
Bury plants deeper in the garden than they were in the pot.
This allows them to develop roots along more of the stem and produces a much stronger plant.
Stronger plants are better able to withstand strong winds, heavy rain and other less than ideal weather conditions.
Let There Be Light
Tomato plants love sunlight.
The more direct, the better.
If you choose to grow tomatoes indoors, you'll generally need to purchase an artificial LED grow light to shine on the plants 12 to 14 hours a day especially during fruiting.
Pinch Off Suckers
Pinch and discard any small "suckers" that you find growing in the joint of connecting branches.
Leaving them alone just saps energy from the plant.
As the tomato plant grows, remove any leaves that start to turn yellow.
For best results, water tomato plants on a regular basis.
Now that you're privy to some of the secrets of growing delicious tomatoes, there's nothing holding you back.
Whether you grow them outside in a traditional garden, or inside with or without using a hydroponic system, there's no better time to get started.
You may not grow the world's biggest tomato, but, you'll be well on your way to growing yummy tomatoes in your own home or backyard.
And now on to other articles on the site that discuss growing tomatoes!
Starting Tomatoes From Seed
Tomato Seed Starting Tips - These tomato seed starting tips are sure to have you successfully raising tomatoes from seed. Growing from seed lets you to grow unique, heirloom varieties.
How Long Does It Take To Grow Tomatoes From Seed - Learn the real answer to how long does it take to grow tomatoes from seed. Plus learn what factors can affect the germination process.
Choosing The Right Tomato Variety
Heirloom Tomatoes – Varieties For Every Palate, But Where Do You Start? - Do you want to grow non gmo tomatoes in your garden? Choose your color and taste preference then grow your own organic heirloom tomato plants.
Growing Tomatoes In Containers
Easy To Grow Tomatoes Ideal For Container Gardens - Ever wonder how to grow tomatoes in pots outside? Start with these easy to grow tomatoes that perform well when grown in containers indoors or out!
Tips For A Bigger, Better Harvest
Grow More Tomatoes With These 8 Organic Gardening Tips - Learn how to grow organic tomatoes with these 8 tips. Then grow more tomatoes that are healthy and delicious right in your own backyard!
Tips For Growing An Abundance Of Heirloom Tomatoes - Non gmo tomatoes started from seed at home are the choice for many gardeners. Learn tips for growing great tomatoes in your own garden.
Tips For Dealing With Tomato Problems
Growing Tomatoes
How Long Does It Take To Grow Tomatoes From Seed
Learn the real answer to how long does it take to grow tomatoes from seed. Plus learn what factors can affect the germination process.
Tomato Seed Starting Tips
These tomato seed starting tips are sure to have you successfully raising tomatoes from seed. Growing from seed lets you to grow unique, heirloom varieties.
Heirloom Tomatoes – Varieties For Every Palate, But Where Do You Start?
Do you want to grow non gmo tomatoes in your garden? Choose your color and taste preference then grow your own organic heirloom tomato plants.
Tips For Growing An Abundance Of Heirloom Tomatoes
Non gmo tomatoes started from seed at home are the choice for many gardeners. Learn tips for growing great tomatoes in your own garden.
Grow More Tomatoes With These 8 Organic Gardening Tips
Learn how to grow organic tomatoes with these 8 tips. Then grow more tomatoes that are healthy and delicious right in your own backyard!
Easy To Grow Tomatoes Ideal For Container Gardens
Ever wonder how to grow tomatoes in pots outside? Start with these easy to grow tomatoes that perform well when grown in containers indoors or out!
Control Tomato Pests With These Organic Gardening Tips
These organic gardening tips for controlling pests on tomato plants help you identify, control and get rid of the problem without the use of organic pesticides in most cases.
The Bottom Line On The 3 Tomato Sampler Challenge
The tomato sampler challenge shares my thoughts on how three tomatoes taste and how fast they ripen, plus my thoughts on a fourth one.
Ella Wilson
Monday 5th of February 2018
There'a nursery worker in each one of us and growing our own tomatoes is one of the most straightforward to start. Growing hanging tomato plant is easy to do and can fit around even the busiest of the way of life. In the event that restricted space is an issue, at the point growing your plant topsy-turvy in a hanging grower is the ideal answer
Sheri Ann Richerson
Friday 9th of February 2018
I will agree the topsy-turvy planter is awesome once you get the plant established in it. There are so many varieties of tomatoes suited for containers too. I am currently trialing a brand new one called Tasmanian Chocolate from Renee's Garden and am excited to see how well it does.