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Growing Tomatoes

There is nothing better than the taste of homegrown tomatoes, and the good news is that they’re surprisingly easy to grow.  Here is our guide with everything you need to know about growing tomatoes.

Choosing and Preparing the Tomato Site

It is important that you choose a spot that gets full sun for at least five hours of the day, although full sun for the whole day is preferable.  Ensure that the spot is not too windy.  The soil should be well-drained and not have had any of the tomato family of plants in it the year before (such as tomatoes, potatoes, chillies or eggplants).

Before you plant your tomatoes, you need to prepare the site. This can be done by digging in generous amounts of cow manure, as well as adding a light sprinkle of potash and a handful of lime for every square metre.  If you choose to use mushroom compost, this will do the same thing as the manure and the lime does.  Well-drained soil is vital, and if necessary, you can raise the garden bed.  The soil needs sufficient amounts of calcium, which is why you add lime to the soil, however, if you already have quite alkaline soil, add some gypsum.

Planting the Tomatoes

It is ok to plant your tomatoes deeply.  Once planted, water the tomatoes with a seaweed solution.  When planting, this is the best time to add stakes, as this will stop the roots from being disturbed later on.  Most tomatoes are best grown against stakes, as the stakes provide support as they grow, and stakes should be put in before the seedlings.

If you encourage the seedlings to produce a larger root system, you will get healthier and more tomatoes from your plants.  To do this, plant the seedlings up to the first set of leaves.  As the tomato grows, it is best that the conditions remain constant.  Don’t let the tomatoes wilt and start to dry out before watering them.  Regularly water the tomatoes so that the soil moisture remain constant.  Resist the urge to prune back the foliage so that the fruit ripens faster.  This will increase the risk of the fruit being burnt by the sun.

Mulching the Tomatoes

It is best to mulch the tomatoes in late spring or early summer so that the soil is already warmed by the sun.  however, do not do it any later or you will lose water.  With tomatoes, it is ok to put the mulch right up to the stalks.  Use mulches that break down quickly, so that they feed the soil as they decay.

Watering the Tomatoes

You should never let the soil around the tomatoes dry out, especially when they are flowering or fruiting.  A lack of water can cause flowers or fruit to drop from the plant, a disease known as blossom end rot, and a stressed plant.  To avoid fungal problems, water the soil, not the plant, and never allow the soil to become waterlogged.  Always check the soil before you water to ensure that you are not overwatering.

Feeding the Tomatoes

Tomatoes need a lot of nutrition and the best way to feed them is to use a seaweed solution at least once a fortnight.  This will help the plant to resist disease, and also aid with the formation of flowers and fruit.  When the first flowers appear on your plant, add a handful of potash to the soil. 

If you feed the plant too much when you put it in, it can actually be counterproductive – producing plenty of lush foliage but delaying fruiting.  Water and fertilise it minimally at the early stages, before really ramping it up when the flowers appear.  As the plants grow, use a slow release fertiliser.

Pollinating Tomatoes

It is essential that the tomato flowers are pollinated to ensure that you get plenty of tomatoes.  This is normally done by bees, so do not use chemicals that can harm them.  It is a good idea to plant bee-attracting plants near your tomatoes.  If you don’t see any bees, or you are not getting tomatoes, you may have to pollinate the flowers yourself, and this can be done using a small brush or feather.

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