Tomatoes are grown by more gardeners than any other vegetable. The taste of a ripe, homegrown tomato is second to none.
To ensure you get the best tomato from your garden, try some of these easy growing tips:
Many people do not grow the right variety. Ordering seeds from a catalog can be hit or miss and can lead to disappointment. Going to your local nursery and asking which varieties work best in your area is often the best way to find the tastiest tomato.
Amend the ground. Tomatoes are heavy eaters. Add fertilizer and bone meal and mix it in about six to eight inches deep. Watering your plants will help carry the mixture through the soil. Finally, at the top of the bed add a little calcium as this helps prevent blossom end rot.
Dig and plant deep. When planting pony seedling packs, dig and pack your plants an inch or two deeper than the pack they came in. This will give your plants a head start in the race to develop healthy, deep roots. You can also dig a trench about 2 inches deep, lay the entire plant on its side, and cover with soil by turning just the tip of the plant so that it rises above ground level. This method encourages root growth along the stem of the plant and promotes a healthy, well-rooted plant.
Stake the plants. Growing tomatoes on stakes, trellises, or cages helps expose the leaves to air and sunlight. This in turn helps prevent disease. Supporting fruit-laden branches helps prevent branches from breaking.
Water them. Tomatoes are best watered with drip irrigation or soaker hoses, which prevent water from splashing onto the leaves and causing diseases, such as mildew and late blight. Do not water excessively. A good soak once a week is enough. Too much water discourages production, and overwatered tomatoes can taste watery.
Cover them. Tomatoes will not set fruit until night temperatures stay above 55 degrees. To protect new plants from frost, place two-liter bottles with the bottoms cut off over the seedlings. In very cold climates, it is best to maintain a row cover on the plants. You can make a simple cover by placing row cover material on stakes around your plants. Some gardeners use old tires to surround growing tomatoes to duplicate this idea.