>> Click here for GREAT tips

If you dream of having a garden full of fresh fruit and vegetables you definitely want to think about having tomatoes in it so why not establish how to grow tomatoes. It is important to remember that the plant’s quality will affect the quantity of fruit and the early produce. If deciding to start your tomato plant with seeds rather than with seedlings you must allow enough time for the seedling to shoot its first real leaves before transplanting them and don’t forget their growth may be stunted if placed in a closed space. Tomatoes will grow best if you put them in direct sunlight or under grow lights for several hours so always opt for the sunniest spot in the garden or slightly away from artificial lights but never in the shade of buildings or trees.

It is ideal to place a fan on your tomatoes as they like the wind so 5-10 minutes will give them the required ventilation, a lack of which can cause both root and physical problems. The soil also needs to be heated as much as you can by covering it two weeks before planting with red or black plastic.  When assessing the soil, ensure it has reached at least 60 degrees F then the garden is ready for your tomatoes to be planted.

It is essential to think about spacing your plants correct and using 24-36 inch stakes between them is perfect as less space will lower the air circulation and could also trigger outbreaks of diseases.  If you are planting them in pots and containers make sure you bury them deep as the roots growing along the stem will encourage them to grow in the direction of the sun. Fortunately tomatoes will grow in any kind of soil so you can improve your garden by adding compost, peat mass, well-rooted manure or leaf mold and by using fertilizer once the soil is ready.  Fertilizers work well with the top 6 inches of soil but do not use fertilizer with ammonia and ensure that the soil is warmed up before you mulch. Mulching is the process of conserving water to avoid diseases caused from the soil. If the soil is mulched too soon it may get cool and shaded and mulching will limit the hand weeding and digging over required. Straw, grass, shavings, paper and compost are all regularly used by those who know how to grow tomatoes.

Any leaves that appear when the plant is 3 inches tall need to be plucked off as leaves that get less exposure to the sun may develop fungus. Pruning or pinching at the crotch joint of two branches will ensure you get rid of any suckers. Be gentle when pruning and earl-season varieties should not be pruned at all while the bushy kinds such as the late-season or late vine types should have any side shoots removed. It is important that your tomatoes get plenty of water so they require deep and frequent watering especially at the crucial growing stage. Failure to do so may result in cracking and rot however once the plant ripens it can rely on its sugar and needs less watering. Your tomato plants are also susceptible to diseases transmitted by both man and insects as well as other physical problems caused by other factors including the moisture and nutrients in the soil which may fight off the presence of weeds. So by following these basic tips on how to grow tomatoes you can be assured you have taken the right steps that will ensure the best outcome for your plant.

>> Click here for GREAT tips

This entry was posted on Wednesday, August 10th, 2011 at 5:58 pm and is filed under Growing Tomatoes. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.