Tomato Growing Guide

Tomatoes are one of the most beloved and popular crops for gardeners. These leafy annuals produce juicy, flavorful fruits in red, orange, green, purple, and yellow colors. Tomatoes are warm-season, sun-loving crops that cannot tolerate frost. They can be started indoors from seeds or bought as young plants to grow outdoors or in the greenhouse. Tomato plants, also known as Solanum lycopersicum, are closely related to potatoes, and like them, they are susceptible to blight disease when grown outdoors but rarely in a greenhouse. Although tomatoes need attention to grow properly, it is worth the effort. Nothing can match the taste of eating home-grown, freshly picked, sweetest tomatoes all summer.

If you plan to grow tomatoes in your garden this season, this complete guide on growing garden-fresh tomatoes will help you start.

Types of Tomatoes

The first step is determining what tomato variety to grow, and there is a huge array of tomato varieties available to choose from, including cherry tomatoes, heirloom varieties, chunky beefsteak tomatoes, Roma tomatoes, paste varieties, and varieties with round fruits. Whatever type you grow, they will fall into one of the following two categories:

Determinate Tomatoes (Bush varieties): These tomatoes are compact plants, ideal for containers and smaller spaces. They can grow around 3 feet tall. Trailing varieties can also be planted in window boxes and hanging baskets. Determinate tomatoes need minimal maintenance other than watering and feeding. They produce many ripe tomatoes at one time. Most paste tomato types are determinate, which is great for preparing sauce and canning.

Indeterminate Tomatoes (Cordon or Vining varieties): These tomato varieties are fast-growing, robust plants that grow very tall. Indeterminate tomatoes need staking, both in greenhouses and outdoors. They take little ground space because they grow vertically. However, they require regular maintenance, such as proper watering, feeding, attaching to tall supports, and pruning side shoots. These vining types produce the largest mid- to late season slicing tomatoes throughout the summer and until the first frost. Most cherry and beefsteak tomatoes are indeterminate.

Many tomato varieties offer delicious fruits of various shapes, sizes, flavors, and sweetness. Check the seed packet or plant tag before buying to get the type that suits your location and growing space.

Spacing Tomato Plants

Proper tomato spacing is crucial because this crop needs good spacing, sunlight, and air circulation to grow well. Plant tomatoes 18 to 24 inches apart, 3 to 4 feet between rows, for enough airflow. If the plants become overcrowded, they will block the light and air from accessing other plants.

Indeterminate or vining varieties need more space than determinate because they keep growing until the frost. Plant these varieties at least 36 inches apart and keep the rows 4 to 5 feet apart. Check seed packets or seedling labels for spacing guidelines.

Soil Needs

Tomatoes prefer rich, well-drained soil. Choose a site with soil that is a bit acidic loam or sandy loam, around 6.2-6.8 pH. In addition, tomato plants thrive in full sun, so choose a sunny location in your garden or container where the plants will get at least six to eight hours of sunlight daily. Add organic matter to the soil a few weeks before planting to improve soil health.

Growing Zones and When to Plant Tomatoes

Tomato plants are best suited for zones 5 to 11. Mid-season tomato varieties are ideal for garden zones 5 to 8, while late-season varieties are best grown in zones 8 to 11. Early-weather varieties need extra protection for growing in USDA zones five and below. Tomatoes are heat-loving, long-season plants that can't tolerate frost. Plant seedlings outdoors when all danger of frost has passed, and night temperatures reach above 50° Fahrenheit. To start tomatoes from seed, sow seeds indoors at least six weeks before the last spring frost date in your location. Plant seedlings outside about two weeks after the frost date or when temperatures stay in the mid-50 range.

Harden off both store-bought and home-grown tomato seedlings before planting them outdoors. When the weather gets warm, start hardening off the seedlings by taking them outdoors for a few hours daily and slowly increasing the light and time they receive. Once temperatures are consistently above 50 degrees, transplant seedlings outdoors.

How to Plant Tomatoes

Dig a planting hole deep enough to transplant seedlings that 2/3 of the main stem is underground. Only 1/3 of the plant should remain above ground. The stem will produce roots from any part of the soil, resulting in extra-strong plants. A larger root system means the plant can absorb greater nutrients and water, making it healthier and less susceptible to disease and drought. Plant tomato seedlings according to the spacing recommended above. Give them enough space to spread out. Place stakes or cages in the soil during planting time. Staking or caging will support the plant, helping the plant stay upright and keep fruit off the ground to prevent disease. Water the seedlings at the base to reduce shock to the roots.

Read More: How to Grow Tomatoes in a Raised Garden Bed

Fertilization Needs and Type of Fertilizers

Tomatoes need nutrient-rich soil to produce healthy fruit. To grow the juiciest and flavorful tomatoes, your plants need a supply of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. However, you cannot just throw fertilizer on tomato plants and expect excellent results. First, test the soil to determine the lacking nutrients and fertilizer type your soil needs for optimal growth. Feed the plants every 10-15 days with high potassium liquid fertilizer until the fruits swell. If the soil is fertile and has rich organic matter before planting, your plants might not need additional fertilizer in the growing season. However, tomatoes benefit from fertilizing at different stages of their lifecycle.

High-quality compost that is well-decomposed and dark in color is the best tomato fertilizer, regardless of your working soil. When tomato seedlings emerge, tomatoes can benefit from fertilizer rich in phosphorus, essential for new tissue formation. So, give seedlings a water-soluble fertilizer with high phosphorus content. Choose a fertilizer with a high middle number that denotes phosphorus in N-P-K. Some commonly available fertilizers for tomato seedlings are 8-32-16 and 12-24-12 ratio fertilizers.

Watering Tomatoes

Water tomatoes regularly to keep the soil and compost moist. Inadequate watering and fluctuating moisture levels can lead to fruit problems such as tomato splitting or diseases. Container plants dry quickly, so they may need daily watering in hot summers. Curling leaves are a significant sign of a thirsty plant. During the growing season, water plants around 2 inches per square foot per week. It is best to water early in the morning, so plants have enough moisture to survive a hot day. Apply 2-4 inches of organic mulch layer five weeks after transplanting to retain soil moisture and deter weeds.

Use a drip irrigation system to precisely, efficiently, and deeply water tomato plants. A drip system keeps the soil moist by slowly dripping water into the plant's root zone. Deep watering promotes a strong root system. Avoid overhead watering or splashing water on leaves, as this can lead to disease.

Related Post: Why Tomatoes Split and How to Prevent It

Harvesting Tomatoes

Tomatoes take 60 to 100 days to harvest, depending on the type. The harvesting time of tomatoes is usually late summer. Harvest tomatoes when firm and fully colored with a supple texture and appropriate size for their type. Ripe tomatoes will have shiny, smooth skin once they are ready to harvest. Use sharp pruners or garden scissors to cut stems during harvest, as pulling fruits from the vine can damage the plant. When a frost is predicted, remove all fruits from outdoor plants. Never put tomatoes on a sunny windowsill to ripen, or they will rot before they are ripe.

Never refrigerate freshly picked tomatoes. This will ruin the texture and flavor of garden tomatoes. Core fresh tomatoes and store them in bags or containers in a refrigerator. Seal the bag and freeze.

Life Cycle of the Tomato Plant

The lifecycle of a tomato plant consists of six growth stages, including germination (6 to 8 days), early growth (25 to 35 days), vegetative growth (20 to 25 days), flowering (around 20 days), fruit formation (20 to 30 days), and ripening (15 to 20 days). The first two growth stages occur indoors. The third stage of plant growth occurs when the soil temperature reaches above 50° Fahrenheit, allowing seedlings to transplant outdoors. The yellow flowers start appearing in the fourth stage. Then, the fruit starts appearing and growing in the fifth stage. Determinate tomatoes go through growth stages faster than indeterminate tomatoes.

Common Tomato Diseases and Care

Tomato plants can fall prey to garden pests and diseases. These problems occur when growing conditions are not ideal. The common tomato problems include:

Early Blight: This is a fungal disease that causes leaf drop. The risk of blight increases in July due to warmer temperatures and high humidity. It starts with dark, brown to black spots on lower leaves and stems. If you catch this disease early, destroy infected leaves immediately for plant survival.

Late Blight: This is also a fungal disease that produces gray, moldy spots on plant leaves and fruit that turn brown later. It is spread by moist weather.

Mosaic Virus: This virus causes deformed leaves and narrow, twisted young growth, causing the leaves to become mottled yellow. Destroy infected plants immediately.

Powdery Mildew: This is also a fungal disease that causes white spots or dusting of white on leaves.

Fusarium Wilt: This disease causes yellowing and wilting on one side of the plant, which moves upward as the fungus spreads. Once fusarium wilt strikes a plant, destroy it completely.

The Bottom Line

Growing tomatoes in your home garden is a rewarding task that provides an abundance of fresh, flavorful, juiciest, and nutritious tomatoes that taste better than store-bought ones. In a warm summer, they will grow and fruit easily if watered regularly and in full sun. Choose tomato varieties suitable for your climate and grow a range of varieties, including disease-resistant types, since tomatoes are most susceptible to diseases.

So, get your favorite tomato varieties, find a sunny spot in your garden, wear your garden gloves, and start growing delicious tomatoes.