Tomato Plant Growing Information

The success of tomato plants hinges most on proper watering techniques, nutrient rich soil and mulch, and correct pruning techniques. Charles H. Wilber, tomato plant expert and author of "How to Grow World Record Tomatoes," writes that lack of stress is the biggest key to successful tomatoes. Stressed plants (imbalanced nutrients or water), he argues, are prone to disease and rot.

Planting

One week after the final frost, tomato plants can be put in the ground or in an outdoor container. Plants should be deeply set (up to the bottom branches) into moist, nutrient-rich soil. A small shovelful of compost and a handful of clean, crushed eggshells will provide the plant with nourishment that not only may help the plant successfully grow, but may also help in keeping it stress-free and less prone to disease. After the hole is filled in, it should be watered to encourage root reach.

Watering

Improper watering can be the downfall of a tomato plant. Tomatoes need consistent moisture, but will die as easily from overwatering as they will from underwatering. Potted tomatoes should have excellent drainage, as should the soil for in-ground tomatoes. Plants in dry soil are more prone to insects and disease, so it shouldn't be allowed to dry out. The book "Brooklyn Botanical Garden's Tantalizing Tomatoes" recommends watering tomatoes for several minutes daily. A plant requires at least 1 inch of moisture per week to produce large tomatoes. If the soil always seems soaked, it may be indicative of a drainage problem.

Mulch and Fertilizer

Once the soil has fully warmed up, plants benefit from a 1-inch deep compost mulch. Not only does compost provide the plant's four essential nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium and calcium), but it also keeps weeds at bay and aids soil moisture retention. If a plant demonstrates nutrition deficiency (stunted growth, spotty yellow leaves, purple undersides of leaves), fertilizer can be sparingly applied. It's best to fertilize a tomato plant once the flowers bloom or when the fruit is small. Fertilizer is a last resort defense for tomato plants; most gardeners prefer to provide nutrition through a good soil mix or a layer of compost mulch.

Pruning

Determinate tomato plants are compact and bush-like. Once their fruit forms, they stop growing. These plants are typically placed inside tomato cages and don't require pruning. Indeterminate tomatoes are vine plants that reach and roam for as long as the season and weather permit. These plants need to be pruned or they'll take up a large amount of space. Large shoots off the main stem shouldn't be cut; rather, smaller offshoots should be removed. Even though the smaller shoots will eventually flower and fruit, they're often too small to mature fully within the season. Getting rid of them allows the plant to put its energy into producing fruit off the main shoots.

Supports

There are several ways to support a tomato plant. Single wooden stakes are inexpensive but require the plant to be tied, slightly inhibiting its growth while taking up less garden space. Cylindrical wire cages are commonly used for bushier plants and help keep tomatoes off the ground. Caged plants produce more fruit than staked ones. A trellis made from wire mesh is appropriate for vine tomatoes, which can be trained onto the trellis by weaving the vine in and out through the mesh. There are also bamboo trellises and permanent trellises such as fences.

References

• "Brooklyn Botanical Garden's Tantalizing Tomatoes"; Karen Davis Cutler, et. al.; 1997
• "How to Grow World Record Tomatoes; Charles H. Wilber; 1998