How to Grow a Tomato - Who doesn't like the taste of a tomato fresh from the garden? Home grown tomatoes are one of the joys of summer. The sun warm, red ripe tomato just bursting with flavor - delicious! But many people don't get to experience this joy because they don't know how to grow a tomato. But growing tomatoes is not something you should fear. Tomatoes are one of the easiest things to grow in a garden. You just need to understand the basics.
Prepare The Soil for a Perfect Tomato!
Like most crops you will grow in your garden, tomatoes like well-drained soil. If you have a heavy clay soil or an area that seems to stay muddy, you will want to add some things to your soil to help it drain better. If you soil is really heavy, consider adding a little sand to it. An ideal soil is a sandy loam, which is a good mix of clay and sand. So adding sand to heavy clay soil will help bring it closer to the ideal.
If your soil is at the other end of the soil spectrum and seems to always be dry, they you probably have a soil that has too much sand in it. In this case you won't add clay to the mix, but instead you will add something like peat moss that holds moisture. As you mix the peat moss into your sandy soil you will notice a change in the color and consistency of your soil.
You can tell when you soil is at the right consistency by doing the squeeze test. Pick up a handful of soil and squeeze it then open your hand. If it holds its shape firmly then it is still too heavy and if it slips through your fingers easily it is too light. A good sandy loam will hold shape for a moment then crumble. That is the perfect soil for planting!
In addition to bringing the soil to the right consistency, you will want to add organic material such as compost to your garden soil. If you want to grow a tomato that will be the envy of the neighborhood you want healthy, nutritious soil. Adding compost to your soil will put those nutrients into your garden. Work the compost into the soil using a garden tiller. Tilling will also prepare the soil surface for planting.
Don't Plant Too Early!
One of the biggest mistakes people make when they want to grow tomatoes is planting too early. We all get spring fever when the weather starts to get warm, but you need to remember that the night and early morning is still very cold. Many tomato plants freeze every year because people get too anxious to plant.
If you want to get a jump on the growing season so you can eat your tomatoes sooner, there are a few things you can do to start growing tomatoes earlier.
Start the plants indoors - You can grow a tomato plant indoors for the first month or so and then transplant it outside when the weather warms up. If you choose this method don't take your plant right from your house to the garden. You will want to slowly introduce your plant to outside temperatures. Put the pot outside during the day and bring it in at night for a week or so, then leave the pot outside day and night for a couple of days. Now you can plant it in the garden without having to worry about shock.
Use a Wall O Water
Tender Loving Care!
Okay, tomatoes don't really need a lot of special care. If you keep them watered and stake them so they aren't lying on the ground they are pretty happy. Don't let them get soggy. A good watering once or twice a week is generally good enough. Make sure you adjust your watering schedule according to the weather.
For a perfect tomato, you will want to stake your tomato plants. When the produce lies on the ground you get bruising. Staking helps to prevent this from happening. In addition, it helps to keep the plants healthier and less prone to breakage. Plus, putting a tomato cage around your plants puts the produce up higher where it is easier to pick!
Don't miss out on the wonderful taste of a tomato fresh from the garden because you don't know how to grow a tomato! They are one of the easiest and most rewarding things you can grow in a garden.
Learn More About How to Grow a Tomato:
 |
Tomato Container Gardening: 7 Easy Steps To Healthy Harvests from Small Spaces |
 |
Felknor Ventures 82506 Topsy Turvy Upside-Down Tomato Planter |
 |
Miracle-Gro 1001232 All Purpose Plant Food - 5 Pound |