Dos & Don’ts Tips for Growing Great Tomatoes

Growing great tomatoes doesn’t happen just by putting a few plants into the ground and turning on the hose. But anyone can master growing great tomatoes by following a few simple dos and don’ts.

In the world of vegetable gardening, there is nothing quite like the taste of fresh home grown tomatoes. The flavor of the ones you grow leaves the store bought variety far behind.

Home grown tomatoes are so plump and sweet, just full of flavor and freshness. They make an amazing homemade pasta sauce when you roast them to bring out their natural sweetness.

So get ready to choose your favorite variety, start them off in the right way and control common tomato problems before they start. 

Follow these tips and you will guarantee top bragging rights this year! There is no excuse to put it off, you can even grow tomatoes in pots. 

Follow these Simple Dos and Don’ts for Growing Great Tomatoes.

DOS

Do provide plenty of sunlight for tomatoes

Growing great tomatoes starts with good sun light. Tomato plants need sunlight and lots of it. They need about 10 hours of direct sunlight a day during the summer (and 10-14 hours of bright diffused light a day as seedlings.)

However, when the weather gets really hot the production of carotene and lycopene (needed for ripening) slows down. Find out what steps you can take at this time to spur the ripening of tomatoes on the vine.

Too much sunlight for too long a period of time can also cause tomato sunscald and tomato plant leaf curling. Giving some relief from the sunlight in the form of light tarps will help in this case.

This post talks about 3o common tomato plant problems and what to do about them.

Do start with healthy soil

A well amended soil is a must.  I like to add a scoop of compost to every hole that I dig for any plant, and tomatoes are no exception.  Soil that is full of rich compost is the secret weapon to any tomato grower and organic material is the best.

There is just on chemical substitute for well good, old fashioned compost.

Do Support the tomato stems

A common vegetable garden mistake is forgetting to give support to vegetables that need it.

Tomato branches can get very heavy.  Support the stems on stakes with some free tomato ties.  Cut nylon stockings into strips and use a figure 8 tie to support the stems as they grow.

They are flexible and won’t damage the stem and are readily available.

It is important to stake tomatoes early in order to prevent disturbing the roots, which can lead to blossom end rot and fungal diseases which cause black spots to form.

 

Do plant the right type for your area

Not all tomatoes will grow well in every gardening zone. Do some research before you plant to make sure that the type you choose is suited to your area.

Doing this will give you the highest yields and the sweetest tomatoes.

The deeper, the better!

Do plant seedlings deeply

Tomato plants do best with a healthy root system.  I like to choose a tall plant and pull of some of the lower leaves and plant it deeply into the hole.

Roots will form along the planted stem and this will make for a very healthy plant.

Do know your soil type

Tomatoes like soil that will hold water but not make them too soggy.   The wrong soil type an cause all sorts of problems from flower drop, blossom end rot and split fruit.

Do remove lower leaves

Growing great tomatoes means that you must prune the leaves a bit. These are the first leaves to grow on your plant and they are the easiest ones to develop fungus and other problems.

As they plant grows, they also get the least amount of light ans circulation so they are more vulnerable to disease.  Removing them also keeps them out of reach of the water.

Do Water Deeply from the roots

Tomato plants love water and they like a deep watering.  A soaker hose works best for tomato plants.  Also see my tutorial for a soda bottle drip feeder here.

Both over-watering and under-watering can produce yellow leaves on your tomato plant.  Water deeply a few times a week, rather than a little each day.

Tomato plant leaf curling, tomato blossom drop, and black spots on leaves are also problems caused by inconsistent watering techniques.

Staking is a must

Do stake your plants

Indeterminate tomato plants can grow to 10 feet or more and definitely need some staking. Even determinate plants will get to 3 feet.

If you don’t stake, the weight of fruit may break your stems.

Do Mulch

While we are on the topic of watering, be sure to add some composted leaf mulch, hay or straw around the plants.  Bring it to a few inches from the stem, right over a soaker hose. 

This conserves the water and helps to prevent soil born pathogens from getting on to the leaves.

Pinching Encourages a bushy tomato

Do pinch tomato suckers

Small suckers will grow at each leaf axil.   This can weaken the plant and won’t bear fruit. Pinch these out to encourage great plant growth.

Do rotate your tomato plants

If you plant your tomatoes in the same spot each year, you encourage soil borne pests and diseases to take hold.  Move the area where you plant to another spot in your garden every three years or so.

Do check the roots 

When you are buying tomato plants, be sure to check the roots.  Beware of seedlings that look great on top but have week root systems. They plants will just languish in the garden for weeks before they start to grow.

Do know your tomato type. Indeterminate vs determinate? Indeterminate will grow and produce all season long, determinate will produce all at once.

Know which one you are planting to avoid discouragement. This article gives a bit of information on both types of plants.

Do choose a spot with good air circulation

Making sure there is plenty of air around the plants keeps the risk of many diseases at bay. 

Do watch out for caterpillars

Horn worm caterpillars can devastate a tomato crop. Be on the look out and remove if you find them.

Do plant every few weeks

If you live in a sunny growing zone, be sure to practice succession planting.  Add another crop a few weeks after you plant the first one to ensure luscious tomatoes all summer long.

And Now for the Dont’s!

DON’TS

Don’t water from above

Doing so encourages water born pathogens and spreads disease.  Deep watering around the roots is the way to go.

Don’t water too often

More is not always better, especially with tomato plants. Instead of watering daily, water deeply but infrequently. Soak the plant well about once a week.

This will develop stronger root systems.

Don’t forget that tomatoes are heavy

The branches will break if they are not supported. Tomatoes can be very heavy on branches without support.

Don’t Overcrowd

Tomato seedlings need plenty of room to grow and will be stunted if they are over crowded.  The same is true for mature plants.

The size of a mature tomato plant is about 3 feet in diameter, so don’t plant young plants a foot apart.

Don’t forget tomato cages

While a tall stake will work okay, tomato plants can get very large and will benefit from having a tomato cage around them to keep sprawling stems off the ground.

 

Don’t wait too long to stake

I place my stakes in at the time that I plant the seedlings.  I won’t damage the roots if I do this and the stems will be ready to tie up as the plant grows.

Don’t forget that critters like tomatoes too

If you have followed my blog, you will know of my exploits with the squirrels and chipmunks.  Nothing is worse than seeing a dozen half ripe tomatoes on the ground with a bite out of each one.

See my tips for natural squirrel-repellent ideas.

Don’t over-fertilize

Doing so will often result in bushy tomato plants with few flowers and flowers are what makes tomatoes later.

Healthy seedlings.

Don’t go for seedlings with flowers

You may think this will give you a head start on the growing season but the opposite is the case. Go for strong root systems and healthy looking stems. The flowers will come soon enough.

(The same goes for flowering plants – why buy those already in flower? Enjoy them in your garden, not at the garden center!)

Don’t plant too early

Tomatoes are best if the soil temperature is consistently above 50º F outside. And make sure to measure the temp down a ways into the soil. 6 inches doesn’t sound like a lot, but think of where the roots are!

Don’t be impatient

The sweetest tomatoes are those that grow on the vine as long as possible.  Don’t be in a hurry to take them off too early.

If any fall off the vine, see my tips for ripening green tomatoes.

Don’t panic at the end of the season

If you have plants left and a frost is threatening at season end, pull up the whole plant, tomatoes and all and hang upside down in a garage or basement. The fruit will continue to ripen.

Don’t store tomatoes in the fridge

Doing so will spoil the taste and take away much of the sweetness that you are looking for.  See this tip for sweet tomatoes.

Sun-ripened tomatoes deliver the taste of summer in every bite all summer long. Plant just a few healthy plants and you will ensure the production of buckets of this delicious fruit.

Using Fresh Tomatoes in recipes

The process doesn’t stop with just growing great tomatoes.  Now it’s time to use them in recipes!!

Want to learn more about using fresh tomatoes?  See these articles:

How to roast Fresh Tomatoes.

Home Made Marinara sauce with freshly roasted tomatoes.

Fried Green Tomato Recipe.

Chunky Vegetable Marinara with Fresh Tomatoes

Caprese Basil Mozzarella Salad

Snow peas, baby tomatoes and potatoes

Do you have some tomato dos and don’ts to share for growing great tomatoes?  Please leave your comments below!

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