TOMATOES: Gallery
TOMATOES need warm soil and plenty of sunshine. If six hours + of direct sunlight is not available in your garden, then consider growing plants in pots/containers (size appropriate!) and place/move them around in the sunniest part of your yard. As a side note, cherry tomatoes will produce in less than ideal circumstances but larger types will not.
How much water do tomatoes need? Far less than you would think (unless grown in containers and then this statement does not apply). How much? Well, that depends on how deep you've mulched your plants ( hint: between 2 and 6 inches! ). My practice is to water when the seedlings are first set out into the garden and maybe once or twice afterwards within the first month. As a rule, I do not irrigate again. Why? Because I truly believe that more water equates to more flavor dilution and more disease (all disease pathogens require moisture to take foot).
NEVER, NEVER, EVER OVERHEAD WATER YOUR TOMATOES. Was I clear enough?
What do I fertilize my tomatoes with? In an ideal world (mine, is not) your soil would be so full of organic matter and nutrient dense that you wouldn't have to. That said, there are many commercial brands of fertilizers on the market and while some may be better than others, they are all basically the same. I have two brands that I prefer and are both easily obtained at any of the big box stores. My first and go to choice is Espoma Tomato-tone as well as Espoma Garden-tone. My second favorite is pretty much anything by Fox Farm. If I'm using a dry fertilizer then I use Fox Farm Happy Frog. However, I do tend to use their liquid fertilizers far more and I find them more economical as well as fast acting. Oh, and to answer the question of how often just follow the manufacturer's recommendations.
One more thing with regards to fertilization and this is important - you really must include Cal-Mag to your fertilization routine. in short form, almost all plant "issues" can be traced back to lack of calcium (especially BER - Blossom End Rot). Just do yourself a favor and add this nutrient to you fertilization routine. You can thank me later.
​
Let's get the spacing correct, once and for all. I've seen your gardens - I know how tight you're packing them in - just quit it. Tomatoes should be planted 3 foot ON CENTER. With at least 3 foot in between rows. Why? Because you're (nor, am I) not going to be judicious in pruning and the plants are going to go crazy and there will be lack of airflow which will invite and promote disease.
​
To stake or not to stake/cage? That's up to you, really. Tomatoes are perennial vines and they really don't need to be staked or caged. What I can say is don't waste your money on those cheap tomato cages of the past - my tomatoes will destroy them within weeks.
