How to Grow Tomato Plants

Learn how to grow healthy tomato plants that produce plentiful fruit.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Tomato Plants
• Shovel
• Water
• Plant Supports

1. Find a sunny spot. Tomato plants do best when grown in full sun. They will grow in partial sun areas, but the size of the plant and the tomatoes themselves will be smaller.

2. Clear your spot of grass, weeds and rocks.

3. Plant your tomato plants at least 18" apart in the Spring after the risk of frost has passed. If you plant them any closer together, they will be competing for the sun. If you plant them while there is still a risk of frost, the plants may die.

4. Set a plant support (plant cage) around your tomato plants. You will need this as your plants get larger. You can usually find plant supports at any store that sells tomato plants.

5. Give your plants plenty of water. The soil should be wet all around your plant when your are finished watering.

6. Check your plants at least 3 times a week. During this time you should clear any weeds/grass and water your plants. If it has rained in the last 2 days, it's safe to say the plants don't need water.

7. As your plants start getting larger, gently move the limbs so they rest on the plant supports. This will allow the plant to grow taller and spread out allowing it to soak in more sun.

8. Eventually, your tomato plants will start to flower. Different tomato plants flower at different times. Continue to check your plants and make sure they been watered.

9. Once your plants begin producing tomatoes, wait until the tomatoes are ready to be picked. For roma tomatoes, I pick them 1 day after they turn red. Some people like to leave the tomatoes on the plant longer to ripen. To pick a tomato, gently grab the tomato and twist it off as if you are taking the cap off of a plastic soda pop bottle.

10. Keep checking in on your tomato plants. If you keep them watered, they will continue to produce tomatoes through the rest of your summer. Remove any tomatoes that appear to be rotten. Trim any limbs that are completely dead.

Tips & Warnings

• The best time to water your plants is from sunrise to 10:00 AM or 6:00 PM to sunset.
• The plant enjoys water too. Don't just water the soil around the plant.
• Wash picked fruit immediately and place them in your kitchen for immediate use.
• Avoid watering your plants during the hottest part of the day (12:00 PM - 2:00 PM).
• Discard any unused fruit that begins to rot. The tomatoes will appear darker in color and become very squishy feeling when they are starting to go bad.

[donotko]

on 4/9/2009 the tomato plants that I have planted upside downhave beengrowing fine,but they don`t hang down long,but start turning up to the top of my planter.Is this natural or what?