Now we’re aware that there’s been a lot and currently still heated debate on the whether they’re vegetables or fruits, but we can all agree that tomatoes are delicious and can make a great addition to all kinds of meals.
We hope you’d also agree that knowing how to plant and grow tomatoes on your own can not only be rewarding but also much more tastier. Below you’ll find useful information and tips on growing and taking care of your tomato plants that you’ll find most handy!
How To Plant And Grow Tomatoes
Among the most common things tomato growers want to know is how to plant tomatoes in a pot as well as wanting to know how to plant tomatoes in containers. Whatever the planting vessel you decide on using, the planting processes and requirements for tomatoes are all quite similar when it comes to knowing how to plant tomatoes in a garden.
At least 8-10 hours of sunlight a day is a must for most varieties as well as high quality well-draining soil so holes at the bottom of your containers and pots is essential. Also, it’s very important to plant your tomatoes in a wide container because the young roots that sprout out of the stems of the tomato plant stem will grow abundantly at a surprising rate!
You may also consider growing them around pest repelling plants such as alliums for added future protection. As for the timing of planting your tomatoes, you will want to start them after any frost has passed and with at least 8 weeks of time before the next frost. Now let’s get into the planting steps!
Step 1. Decide the varieties you will want to be growing. There are many to choose from and we recommend choosing varieties with different maturity dates so you can have a continuous harvest. Visiting or getting in contact with your local nursery is highly recommended to find out the best varieties for planting tomatoes in your area.
Step 2. Prepare your soil by removing any weeds within the planting spot and mix in some organic manure for proper nutrition for your tomato which is the key to their growth and yield.
Step 3. This is where tomato plants separate themselves from most other vegetable plants and ornamentals. Their growing habit is somewhat unique in that their roots grow all around and high up on the stem from little fibrous hairs and will start sprouting when they come in contact with soil.
So when it comes to how deep to plant tomatoes, we recommend planting at least halfway up it’s stem and up to it’s first set of leaves. As extreme as this may sound, it will give much benefit to your tomato plant. Also, be sure to cut away the side branches of the plant’s stems before planting.
Step 4. Spread some more organic mix around the roots, fill in the soil, and firmly amend the plant into the ground. Mulching is an option to help retain moisture and give some added protection however it is not necessary at all.
Step 5. Put a staking system such as a round trellis in place with the plant in the center as they vine aggressively as mandevilla plants. Make sure your staking system is large and sturdy enough as we have found it is a common problem that gardeners start off selecting too small of a trellis system and they aren’t able to support the abundant vining of the tomato plant.
Step 6. Label your plant variety so you do not get confused in the future when harvesting about which is which and what colors the tomatoes should be.
If you were wondering how to plant tomatoes from seed, the process is still similar in that you will need well-drained soil and adequate lighting. As for the planting, simply place your seeds in batches of two on each side of your containers and label them after.
When they grow their own leaves, transplant them to their own growing container or spot to give them space to branch out and grow them as you would normally.
Click here to check out some tomato seeds!
Tomato Plant Care And Harvesting
In their younger growing stages, water your tomatoes about twice a week and use some slow releasing fertilizer after about 6-8 weeks. A common pest for the plant is the tomato hornworm and can be simply plucked away or repelled with an organic spray.
Once your tomato plant matures to about 3-4 feet tall, remove the first set of leaves because they are prone to disease and blight. As your fruits start developing continue to water and feed them with manure for nutrition benefits. You’ll be able to tell when to harvest your tomatoes when they reach their designated ripening color. Also, be careful to not let them ripen for too long as tomatoes can over-ripen quite rapidly.
We hope you found this guide to be useful and informative and would appreciate hearing your feedback or any further questions you may have concerning the tomato plant. We love hearing from our readers!