Growing Tomatoes at Home with High Yields
If your first attempt of growing tomatoes at home was a bit of a flop, you're not the only one.
Tomatoes are one of the most planted fruits for first-timers, but they're not always easy to grow by yourself. If not properly cared for, you might find yourself fighting off blight. If they're not planted properly, you might not have even received much of a turn out for all your hard work.
Luckily, there is some simple tomato growing tips to getting your crop to turn out like you've been dreaming. With a few simple steps, you can make sure your tomatoes get off on the right foot.
Our Top Tomato Growing Tips
Rotate Your Tomato Crop
If left in the same soil too long, your tomatoes will be susceptible to soil-borne diseases such as southern blight.
An important tomato growing tip is to make sure you rotate your crop regularly. Experts recommend rotating your crop every year for a minimum of three years.
Bury Your Tomato Seedlings up to the Leaves
When planting your tomatoes, be sure to try to bury the stem deeply — right up to the first few leaves.
This is an age-old tomato growing tip used to promote stronger roots. When planted deeply, new roots will begin to grow from the stem.
Water Deeply Help with Growing Tomatoes at Home
Watering your tomato plants deeply will encourage roots to grow deeper, creating a much hardier plant.
To encourage root growth, a great tomato growing tip is to avoid watering the leaves and try to soak the soil to a depth of six to eight inches.
Remember not to over water your tomatoes. Once a week — or every two to five days when it's at its hottest — is plenty when trying to grow tomatoes at home.
Stake Them High
Properly staking and supporting your tomatoes is important to help avoid diseases, keep your fruit clean, and will simplify the process growing and harvesting tomatoes at home.
Keep stakes for indeterminate varieties between six and eight feet tall. Tomato cages like these are a fantastic alternative for those who are worried about having to tie their plants properly.
Keep Promoting New Growth
For an added boost to your crop, add your compost around the stem when the first fruit of the season is ripening. While you're at it, another tomato growing tip is to trim some of the upper leaves to encourage new growth.
Also, remember that tomatoes will want lots of light for new growth. When you're growing tomatoes at home, plan for them to have an average of 6-8 hours of direct light during the summer months.
Use Different Tomato Growing Tips and Keep Trying
The most important lesson to take home is to keep trying. When you're trying to grow tomatoes at home, sometimes the smallest change has the biggest impact.
Try a few of our tomato growing tips and let us know how your crop turns out by commenting below! Or if you have any questions about your plants or some extra advice, we would love to hear your comments as well.