How to Grow Tomatoes
Instruction & Advice for Growing Tomato Plants
in Your Vegetable Garden
| Nutrition | Watering Instructions | Harvesting |
| Climate | Fertilizing Instructions | Storage |
| Soil | Challenges | Tips |
| Planting |
Tomato fruits come in a wide variety of shapes and colors for your garden. Smaller varieties of tomatoes are very well suited for growing in pots, planters, and even hanging baskets. (For more information, review: container gardening)
Tomatoes are an important plant in companiong gardening practices. Consider reviewing the companion planting guide when picking a location for the tomato patch in your garden.
Be prepared with 6’ posts, cages, or trellises and the means to secure the vines to them. (Drive the posts, etc. into the ground such that they’re sturdy to the touch and a good wind won’t blow them over.) To secure your vines to the supports, use soft cotton cloth strips (from an old bed sheet, etc.). Tie the vines gently and not so tightly as to hinder future growth or damage the plant. Secure the vines at 1 foot intervals.
Nutrition Information: (back to top)
Under optimal growing conditions, tomatoes offer: Dietary Fiber, Chromium, Potassium, Copper, Manganese, Vitamin C, A, E, B6, K, Niacin, Folate, Thiamin, Phosphorus, Magnesium
Climate & Growing Conditions: (back to top)
There are varieties of tomatoes that can grow in nearly any climate. That being said, tomatoes are primarily a warm weather crop.
Note: Tomatoes do not tolerate frost at all. If you experience a sudden frost, cover your plants temporarily that night (as best as you can with what you have on hand... ex. old bed sheets, etc.) to protect them from the frost. Remove the coverings in the morning.
How to Prepare the Garden Soil: (back to top)
One month ahead of planting, dig in compost and/or well-rotted manure into your tomato garden bed. Till or dig it in about 6” deep. The pH of your tomato bed's garden soil should be between 5.5 and 7.5 for best success in growing tomatoes. (Instructions on testing your garden soil pH)
Drive in your supports (stakes, posts, cage, etc.) shortly after planting your seedlings. If you wait until later when they need the support, you may damage the root structure in the process.
How to Plant Tomatoes: (back to top)
If you have a long gardening season, you can plant the tomato seeds directly in the garden soil. However, most of us are so anxious to get our first garden tomatoes (so much tastier than the grocery store varieties!) that it's more common to start your plants indoors to hasten the season. (Note: you can also buy seedlings from your local nurseries, if you're not able to start your own.)
To start your seedlings: plant your tomato seeds in seed starter trays indoors, about ¼” deep. Keep moist (but not soggy). (I like to use a spray bottle to water the seed starter mix). Seedlings normally immerge within two weeks. For more information on starting seeds indoors, click here.
When the seedlings are 4” tall, transplant into peat containers (or you can sow the seeds directly into the peat containers). The entire peat container can be placed right in the garden. It will eventually dissolve into your garden soil.
Transplant into the garden when about 10” tall, but harden the plants for two weeks before planting into the garden soil. Plant the tomato plants 2 feet apart in rows that are 2 feet apart.
When planting tomato plants in your garden, you can add a little bit of fertilizer to the bottom of your hole. Then add a little soil, then the seedling, and fill in the rest with garden soil.
Gardening Advice Tip: Plant your tomato plants deeply - the first set of leaves should be near ground level. The tomato plant will use the planted stem to sprout additional roots, giving the plant a stronger root support system.
How to Water: (back to top)
During the growth cycle, do not let the soil dry out. Keep the gardening soil moist, but not soggy.
Gardening Advice Tip: Uneven watering can cause blossom-end rot. Do not water with sprinklers or from above. Instead, use irrigation hoses or dig troughs among the plants for irrigation.
How to Fertilize: (back to top)
Make sure your tomato garden has phosphorus in the soil. If there’s not enough phosphorus, you will have low yields.
Do not fertilize between planting when the the first fruit sets.
You can apply fertilizer (watered into the soil around the plants) after you see the first fruits forming.
Over fertilizing leads to excessive leaf growth (which means small or few tomatoes).
Gardening Challenges: (back to top)
If your immature tomatoes are blotchy and the foliage is purplish, you likely have spotted wilt (spread by thrips).
Leaf or target spot may be present during wet growing seasons, but can also be caused by too much nitrogen (fertilizer).
Tomatoes can also be susceptible to mites, tomato caterpillar, and fruit flies.
Gardening Tip: Practice good vegetable gardening by rotating your crops within your garden space with each new season. This will prevent many plant diseases.
How to Harvest Tomatoes: (back to top)
Depending upon the variety, you may see tomatoes as early as 3 months (some varieties can take 5 months).
Many say the fruit is at it's peak in flavor if you wait to pick it when ripened on the vine. However, the fruit will ripen indoors, so you can pick it at virtually any time. Some even prefer green tomatoes for specialty dishes.
How to freeze Tomatoes (back to top)
Option 1: Wash tomatoes, remove stems, cut into halves or quarters, or leave whole. Dry and pack into freezer bags. Remove air, seal and label. Freeze tomatoes for up to 6 months.
Option 2: Dip tomatoes into boiling water for 1 minute, remove and peel (the skins should come off easily). Place whole tomatoes on tray in single layer and freeze for 30 minutes. Place in plastic bags, remove air, seal, and label. Freeze tomatoes for up to 6 months.
Option 3: Simmer chopped tomatoes in a pan for 5 minutes. Push through a sieve or food mill to remove seeds and skins. Cool, the pack into containers, leaving headspace. Freeze tomatoes for up to 6 months.
How to Dehydrate / Dry Tomatoes (back to top)
Wash and remove stems. Cut into ½” slices, or for smaller tomatoes, halve. Remove seeds (optional). Dehydrate at 100 degrees (F) until crisp (slices – take 24 hours (avg) and halved plums take about 3 days). To rehydrate, soak for 15 to 30 minutes in old water. Use in stews, sauces or marinades.
Canning Tomatoes (back to top)
NOTE: This is only a guideline. Be sure to follow standard sanitation and canning procedures, as outlined in your canning cookbook or by your local county extension office. Also, follow your specific canner's manufacturer's instructions.
Note: processing time given is for at sea level. If you're above sea level, the cooking time will be longer. Again, check with your local county extension office for conversion rates for your area, to ensure that you're producing a safe canned food product.
Choose tomatoes without blemishes or cracks. Prepare only enough for one batch at a time. Place tomatoes in a wire basket and blanch in boiling water until the skins break (approx 30 seconds). Remove from hot water and immediately cool in a cold water bath.
Using a paring knife, remove the skins (they should slip off) and trim out the core. You can leave the tomatoes whole, or cut into pieces as you prefer. Place in a large pot, adding only enough water to cover the tomatoes. Simmer for 5 minutes (do not use a hard boil).
Prepare your hot jars by adding 2 tablespoons lemon juice per quart jar (1 tablespoon for a pint jar). Pack hot tomates into jar, covering with boiling water (or the hot juices from your pot). Leave 1" of space at the top of teh jar. Add 1 teaspoon salt per quart jar (1/2 tsp per pint). Use rubber spatula to remove air bubbles. Wipe the top of the jar and the threads with a clean damp cloth. Apply sterilized caps.
Set into rack suspended above your boiling water canner (kept at 180 degrees (F)). When rack is full, lower into canner. Make sure water level covers the lids by 2" (adding boiling water if needed). Put lid on canner, and bring water to a boil. Process quarts for 45 minutes (pints for 40 minutes).
NOTE: Follow your canning cookbook's instructions for removing, cooling and storing the jars.
Gardening Advice Tips (back to top)
Have a helpful gardening tip (or even a fun story) to share about your tomato growing experience? Share it with us at: gardeningtips@howtogardenadvice.com
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