Tomatoes are a tasty treat that many backyard growers love to grow in their garden. It’s a great crop that can produce an abundance of fruit if it’s grown right. Just in time for growing season, we have 10 great tips from The Rural Sprout that will ensure you will grow some giant juicy tomatoes this year!
1. Pruning
Although this technique may cut down the amount of fruit it will produce it will definitely enhance the quality of the crop and its overall health. If you decide to prune your tomatoes this can ensure they will have a lasting life through its growing season.
You’ll see that your plant grows these extra branches in the “V” which is between the main branch and the tomato branch. These are referred to as suckers. You can choose to let these grow out, but the risk of overcrowding and possibly lead to less sun exposure for other branches. It can also lead to less air circulation increasing the risk of fungal issues.
To prune your precious tomato plant cut off the suckers and remove all the dead or dying leaves and branches. This will ensure optimal health.
2. Sun Exposure
Full sun exposure is a must-have for these tasty fruits. Even partial sun probably won’t be enough. You’re going to want to grow them in a place where it gets all least 6 hours of full exposure a day.
3. Proper Food
Tomatoes are known to be big eaters. Giving them the proper nutrients is extremely essential to their survival. You’d be surprised but lack of nutrients is a very common reason why backyard growers run into problems with their plants. They particularly need a lot of nitrogen to grow healthy and strong!
Typically the soil in your backyard doesn’t contain the packed nutrients tomatoes need in order to grow. To ensure proper growth you can opt into a raised bed or no-dig garden to provide the best soil. They recommend using a 1:1 ratio of compost and soil. This will give the tomatoes a great foundation for growth.
4. Water
Although watering might seem like a simple task it’s something that can easily be missed. Make sure to keep an eye on when your plants need water. You can tell by looking at the plants and seeing if they are drooping or if the soil is dry. There’s a balance when it comes to watering you can also over water too!
5. Choose the tomato variety depending on your grow zone.
According to Quick Crop, there are 10,000 varieties of tomatoes! When opting to grow in your backyard, you should choose the varieties that best fit the environment you live in. Different varieties have different grow times so keep this in mind when choosing your seeds to ensure they will harvest this season before it gets cold.
6. Grow your tomatoes inside containers.
Certain varieties do really well growing in these conditions. This is a good option for those with less space or who don’t have a lot of access to full sun exposure. You can keep these on things like a patio or a balcony where the sunlight will hit it most. Keep in mind though these will need a significant increase in watering versus growing it in the ground.
7. Pest Control
There are many pests that can really cause some damage to your plants if left alone. You’re most likely to encounter hornworms, aphids, and slugs on your tomatoes. When it comes to hornworms and slugs you can easily pick them off the plants and kill them. In large numbers aphids can wreak havoc on your crop, releasing ladybugs into your garden can help get rid of this problem.
8. Transplanting
Make sure that you’re planting your tomatoes deep in the soil covering them up to their first leaves. Different from other backyard vegetables, tomatoes grow new roots from their stems. By buying it deeply, you’ll be able to grow a strong plant growing new roots to branch out in the buried stem.
9. Caging the tomatoes.
Growing in the right conditions, tomatoes can actually grow pretty tall and unruly. Almost too much for their own good. Using a tomato cage can ensure they stay upright and ensure they won’t fall over in harsh weather conditions.
10. Diagnose the problems.
Pay attention to your plants! Usually, they will tell you what the problem is. By identifying the issue you can usually find the root! Things like wilting mean you need to water it more frequently. Here’s a list of common problems you could run into and how to fix them.
With these tips, you’re well on your way to growing beautiful tomatoes. You’ll become a pro gardener in no time! I hope you get to enjoy some amazing meals with your own tasty backyard tomatoes.
Find what to plant with tomatoes to maximize yield and keep soil thriving in the video below!
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