Tips on How to Grow Amazing Tomatoes | Walking on Sunshine Recipes (2024)

FAQs

How often do you water tomatoes in full sun? ›

Mature Plants: 2 to 3 Times a Week

"Consistency is key here because you don't want to allow the soil to completely dry out or become overly soggy." Expect to give the plants between 1 and 1-1/2 gallons of water each week, in total, distributed over two to three watering sessions.

Tomatoes are prone to magnesium deficiency later in the growing season, which can show with yellowing leaves and diminished production. Ultra Epsom Salt treatments at the beginning of their planting and throughout their seasonal life can help to prevent and remedy magnesium deficiency in your tomato plants.

High quality compost—material that is well-decomposed, dark in color, and crumbly—is the best tomato fertilizer to use regardless of the soil you're working with. Not only does an annual application of compost boost the nutrients available in the soil, but it also improves soil structure.

It's true that a lot of salt can be bad for plants, but several studies and taste tests have shown that tomatoes grown with salty, brackish water end up tasting better. You don't have to live near the ocean to try it for yourself; SEA-90 is an organic fertilizer with sea salt that you can try adding to your plants.

Water and tend to your tomato plants as they grow. Sprinkle a little more ARM & HAMMER™ Baking Soda on the soil after the plan is half grown. Once tomatoes are ripe, put your taste buds to the test to see if the tomatoes planted with ARM & HAMMER™ Baking Soda are sweeter!

Basil (Ocimum basilicum)

This herb helps control aphids, spider mites, and thrips. It's also good for repelling mosquitoes because it contains eugenol oil in its leaves, which gives basil its distinctive smell. Many gardeners say that basil also makes your tomatoes more flavorful.

Tomatoes need plenty of sunlight to produce fruit, typically around six to eight hours a day. Too much sun and heat can cause tomatoes to get sunscald. “Sunscald happens when the tomatoes are hit with the direct waves of the sun without any protection, similar to sunburn on us humans,” says Key.

TOMATO WATERING TIPS

Water in the morning to the keep the soil moist through the heat of the day. Always water at the base of the plant — watering from above invites disease. Check tomatoes growing in pots often since they dry out quickly. Be consistent — fluctuations in water supply lead to cracking and blossom end ...

One sign of overwatered tomato plants is drooping stems and foliage. Wilting occurs when the soil holds more moisture than the roots can take up but it can also mean the soil is too dry and the plants need water.

Tomatoes LOVE sunshine! A position in full sun (that means an average of at least 6 hours a day) gives the best results in most areas. Sunshine is like water, and they'll soak it up and produce more fruit! Also, make sure your tomatoes aren't too crowded so the sunshine can reach their lower leaves.

Do coffee grounds help tomato plants? ›

Coffee grounds are packed with nutrients that tomato plants love, like nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus. They help improve soil structure and promote microbial activity, which can lead to healthier, more robust tomato plants. Plus, they may even help deter certain pests.

Most of us have heard that eggshells can help increase the calcium in our garden soil, and some of us may have even tried it in our own yards. The goal is to help prevent blossom end rot on tomatoes and other plants affected by calcium deficiency. As it turns out, using eggshells really doesn't fix anything.

Plant Stems Deep

Plant your tomato plants deeper by burying them up to the top few leaves. It's a hack used by many gardeners that helps tomatoes develop roots all along their stems for a stronger plant. Dig a deep hole or simply dig a shallow trench and lay the plant sideways.

Tomatoes prefer full sun. For the best growth and fruit production, choose an area of the garden where tomato plants will receive a minimum eight hours of direct sunlight per day. Provide proper spacing. Crowding tomato plants increases competition for needed resources, which can reduce fruit size.

To create a solution that prevents and treats disease, add a heaping tablespoon of baking soda, a teaspoon of vegetable oil, and a small amount of mild soap to a gallon of water and spray the tomato plants with this solution. This needs to be reapplied regularly to maintain its efficiency.