AD|6 Tips for Growing Healthy Tomato Plants

If you’re planning to create an edible garden, tomatoes should be at the top of your list. Tomatoes are a great addition whenever you want to make savoury dishes. They are also a great commercial product that you can grow to sell!

While growing tomatoes is relatively easy, you could face some challenges ranging from disease to pest attacks. Read on to learn how you can grow healthy tomatoes to add to your family’s meals.

1) Select the Ideal Variety for Your Situation

There are hundreds of tomato varieties to choose from, but not all will grow well in your particular circumstance. For instance, some prefer to grow in greenhouses, so won’t do well if you plan to grow them in a balcony planter outside. Go to your local garden centre to ask what they’d recommend.

2) Apply the Right Amount of Fertilizer

Adding the wrong amount of fertilizer to your soil could affect the quality of your tomatoes. If you notice cracks on the fruit, there’s a high possibility you used too much fertilizer. Another cause of cracking is watering your plants too much.

According to experts, you should apply a high phosphorous fertilizer every three weeks once the fruit has set. This enhances its resistance to diseases and improves the health of your tomatoes. Follow this link to see a list of the best tomato fertilizer.

3) Preheat the Garden Soil Before Planting

Heat is a major catalyst for the growth of tomatoes. The soil and air must be warm enough to create the right condition for growth. You can improve the heat levels by covering the planting area with red or black plastic a few weeks before planting. This will increase temperature levels, which will enhance the growth of your plants.

4) Remove the Bottom Leaves

Once your tomato plants grow up to 3 feet, remove the old leaves growing at the bottom of the stem. If left on the plant, old leaves can lead to the development of fungus. This is due to the limited airflow and sun reaching the bottom leaves when plants fill out. Since these leaves are close to the ground, they are likely to come into contact with soil-borne pathogens.

5) Water Your Plants Regularly

Irregular watering leads to cracking, splitting and blossom end rot (calcium deficiency). If you go a whole week without watering your plants, making up for it won’t salvage the situation. You should water regularly and deeply to ensure the plants get at least 1 inch of water every week.

If you’re planting inside a greenhouse (which will experience higher temperatures), increase the amount of water you add. The same goes for watering in the summer or during a heatwave.

Reduce your watering levels once the fruit begins to ripen. This helps the plant to concentrate its sugars for better flavour.

6) Ensure Your Plant Gets Enough Light

Light is important for the better growth of tomato seedlings. You might need to use artificial lighting if you are planting during the winter season when the days are
shorter. Keep your young plants a few inches from fluorescent light to ensure they grow stocky. When they are ready for planting, make sure the location you select has enough exposure to sunlight.

The Bottom Line

Tomato plants are relatively easy to grow, and your kids will love watching them and then eating the results! However, like all plants, they require specific conditions to yield the best fruits.

Regular watering and applying the right amount of fertilizer will ensure you get the best flavour from your plant. Prepare the soil in advance and take the right measures to prevent pests and diseases, and you’ll have delicious, home-grown tomatoes in no time!

This is a collaborative post.