Grow Lots of Tomatoes | 12 Tips | Complete Growing Guide
I have put together 12 tomato-growing secrets that you can use in your home garden for healthier plants and bigger produce.
TIP 1 - CONTAINER SIZE:
When it comes to tomato containers, bigger ones are better. The bigger your container, the more soil it will hold. Diameter 22 inches, Depth 15 inches. Containers should be at least 12 to 15 inches deep and make sure they have some holes at the bottom for drainage. You can also use grow bags for tomato planting, 18 to 20 inches diameter bags can easily accommodate 2 plants for healthy growth.
TIP 2 - SOIL:
Tomatoes grow in most types of soil except on heavy clayey soils which greatly obstruct the root growth. Tomatoes thrive in rich and well-draining soil.
60% GARDEN SOIL, 40% COMPOST.
FOR HOT CLIMATE: 50% GARDEN SOIL, 30% COMPOST, 20% COCOPEAT.
TIP 3 - PLANT DEEP:
Tomatoes are one of the few vegetable plants that like to bury their stems in the soil. Snip or pinch off the lower leaves and cover with soil up to the first set of leaves. Remove bottom leaves before planting. Planting as Deep as possible. You can see the tomato stem has hundreds of tiny hairs and these when come in contact with soil form stronger roots. This will form a robust root system which in turn will produce a high-yielding disease-resistant tomato plant. This in turn means stronger, healthier plants that need less irrigation and fertilization because their extensive root system can reach deeper into the soil. Pulling up moisture and nutrients.
TIP 4 - SUNLIGHT:
Tomatoes need sunlight and a lot of it. Make sure they get at least six hours of full sunlight every day. Eight hours is better, though, and will ensure adequate flowering and increase the yield of your plant. So, whether you are growing on the ground or in containers, you have to choose a location that receives a maximum amount of sunlight.
TIP 5 - REMOVE SUCKERS:
AS tomato plants grow pinch and remove suckers that develop in the crotch joint of two branches. They won’t bear fruit and will take energy away from the rest of the plant. Removing suckers at the right time directs energy toward creating and ripening fruit instead of making more leaves. Try to remove suckers when they’re small enough to pinch with your finger so you don’t leave a gaping wound on the stem.
TIP 6 - POLLINATION:
Tomatoes are self-pollinating plants that have the perfect flowers for the task. That is, each flower contains both the male and female reproductive organs (i.e. the stamen and stigma).
This makes pollination easy because each blossom releases pollen from the stamen to land on its stigma and once fertilized fruit develops. Tickle every open blossom and repeat every couple of days until the plants stop flowering to ensure every blossom on the plant is fertilized. Typically, tomato fertilization is achieved through buzz or wind pollination. To mimic the conditions of either wind or buzzing insects. Simply shake or tickle the flower. When a pollinator visits a tomato flower, they use vibration to make the pollen fall from the male flower part to the female part. Duplicating the vibration is a great way to encourage pollination. Repeat every couple of days until the plants stop flowering to ensure every blossom on the plant is fertilized.
TIP 7 - REMOVE WEEDS:
Dig up unwanted plants and weeds from the growing space as they suck out essential nutrients from the soil and spread diseases. Dig up weeds from the soil. Carefully remove as much of the roots as possible and do not allow them to flower. Work the soil only deep enough to kill the weeds, being careful not to damage the plant’s root system. You must dispose of your weeds and unwanted plants far away from your compost pile and garden, or they will regenerate themselves in full force.
TIP 8 - PROVIDE SUPPORT:
As tomato plants grow 1.5 to 2 feet tall add some support to keep the plant upright. Use whatever stakes you have on hand – wooden stakes, bamboo, metal – just be sure that they’re at least 4 feet high. When tomato plants get large, they’ll naturally fall to the ground, leaving them more susceptible to disease, pests, and rotten fruit. Tie the stem with the stake with the help of a thread or twine. Your tomato plants will grow healthier if they are offered support to keep the plants upright.
TIP 9 - ORGANIC PESTICIDE:
Tomatoes are typically early to grow vegetables, however, they can suffer from attacks and infestation by a wide range of pests. To ensure a healthy tomato crop you can make an organic homemade spray. Take Neem oil/ Neem Fertilizer, Raw Turmeric / Turmeric powder, hole Garlic bulb, 1 litre water. Crush turmeric and garlic into small pieces and put them into a bowl. Add 1 liter of water. Add 10-15 ml neem oil and let it boil for 10 minutes. So, that the garlic can infuse the liquid with its potent sulphur compounds. Once the mixture cools down, strain it to remove the chunks of turmeric and garlic. Spray plants to deter pests and diseases. This mix has antibacterial, antifungal insect repellent properties. It will eliminate many common garden problems. Spray after every 5 to 7 days for effective results. Garlic and Neem will repel aphids, slugs, caterpillars, ladybugs, and other insects and will deter deer, rabbits, and other animals that could eat your plants.
TIP 10 - WATERING:
There’s no need to guess when to water your plants. Just touch the soil with your hand, if it feels dry, it’s time to water. Ideally, your soil should remain a little moist at all times for constant growth. The goal is to try to keep the soil evenly moist. Water your tomatoes when the soil feels dry to the touch. Water deeply, at the base of the plant, Do not water on the foliage as it will attract fungus and other diseases.
TIP 11- FERTILIZER:
Tomatoes are amongst the hungriest of vegetables. They absolutely must have an abundance of soil nutrients to thrive. For healthy growth add compost such as vermicompost, cattle manure, or leaf mold after every 12-15 days. Lack of nutrients in the soil is the second reason most people fail at growing tomatoes. Tomatoes particularly need a lot of nitrogen to grow strong and tall, and more importantly, to develop delicious fruits. Compost has all the basic nutrients, both macronutrients and micronutrients that are usually absent in synthetic fertilizers.
TIP 12- REMOVE BOTTOM LEAVES:
After your tomato plants reach about 3 feet tall, remove the oldest leaves from the bottom foot of the stem. This reduces fungus problems because the leaves are usually shaded by the rest of the plant and this will also keep the plant open, airy, and free of pests and diseases.
