How to Grow Great Tomatoes

Deep Roots Make for Happy Tomatoes!

The Right Start Can Result in Higher Quality and Quantity at Harvest Time. By taking time to develop the part of the plant that is underground, a root powerhouse can be created to supply explosive growth and production to tomato plants.

Things You'll Need

• Tomato Plants
• Five Gallon Planting Containers
• Premium Potting Soil
• Horticultural Paralite
• Time Release Fertilizer or Crab Shell Meal
• High Nitrogen Fertilizer
• Blooming Fertilizer

Instructions

1. Select a sunny growing location and begin with small tomato plants at the recommended time for the climate zone. Planting calendars can generally be obtained on the internet by doing a search under the county name and "planting calendar" Such a search for "Maricopa planting calendar" for example, provides a link to the following document: Vegetable Planting Calendar for Maricopa County. Alternatively, reputable garden centers in the area can offer advice on when to start.

2. Add an inch or so of gravel to the bottom of a five gallon growing container. The container can be a plastic grow bag or bucket, but must have adequate drainage holes in the bottom. Follow the gravel with three inches of a 50/50 mixture of premium potting soil and horticultural paralite which has been enriched with time release fertilizer. Make enough of this mixture to eventually fill the planting containers. Follow directions on the fertilizer for application rates. Crab shell meal can be used instead of the time release fertilizer for an organic time release option.

3. Plant one plant in each container and water well.

4. Every two weeks add sufficient potting mixture to cover 75% of the growing plant and water well with a quality growth fertilizer. Most tomato blends will have a higher first number, 4-2-2 for example which denotes a higher nitrogen level. For an organic alternative fish emulsion growth formula works well.

5. When the containers are full to within one inch of the top, the process of developing the root system is complete. Continue with growth fertilizer every two weeks until the plants start to develop flowers.

6. Fertilizers high in nitrogen are desirable during the growth cycle, but once the plants are ready to flower it is important to switch to a fertilizer higher in phosphorus and potassium. These fertilizers generally have the word "bloom" in their name and should have a ratio that favors the last two numbers over the first, a fertilizer with a 1-2-2 ratio, for example.

7. Once fruit production has stopped, cut the plants back severely and switch back to growth fertilizer. Tomatoes can often have a nice bumper crop in the fall.

8. Prepare for next season by transferring the potting mix from the planting containers into a holding container and adding 20 % quality compost and time release fertilizer.

Tips & Warnings

• If starting tomato plants from seed, start them inside two to three weeks before the outdoor growing season.

• With potting soil higher price generally means higher quality, but seek the advice of a reputable garden center. Invest in the best potting soil available. It will pay off in healthier plants and higher yields.

• Branches that start at the base of existing leaves may be removed which may result in higher yields. Experiment by removing these on half of the plants.

• As tomato plants begin to grow tall use appropriate cages or supports.

• Sprays are available to encourage fruit set and discourage blossom end rot. These are used during the flowering cycle. Experiment with them on some plants to see if they improve yield and/or quality.

• Do not attempt to get a head start by sowing plants too early. This can result in week starts that will not achieve full potential as adult plants.

• Tomatoes like to have moist, adequately drained soil. Planting in 50% perilite will help in this regard, but make sure to have drainage holes in the potting container. Water regularly and do not allow tomato plants to dry between watering, better yet, use an automatic drip irrigation system.

• Make sure to use horticultural peralite. It is more expensive, but is developed to maintain stable pH which is necessary for healthy plants.