Tomatoes are deliciously nutritious and equally versatile fruits that can be used in a variety of dishes.
You can use them to create your own pasta marinara sauce, fried green tomatoes, tomato soup, slice them up for salads or sandwiches, or you can eat them plain.
Tomatoes are loaded with Vitamins, A, C, K, potassium and folate. In addition, a single 2-cup serving contains about 7% of your daily recommended amount of fiber.
In this post, we’re going to reveal some important tips for growing big, juicy tomatoes right in your home garden.
Space Out Your Plants
One of the biggest mistakes people make when growing tomato plants is crowding their seedlings. I’m sure you are eager to grow a lush, thriving garden with lots of healthy tomato plants; however, your plants need to be spaced out properly for the best yield.
Trying to force too many seedlings into a small flowerbed will reduce the amount of nutrition they are able to absorb from the soil.
Unless you are growing them in pots, keep your tomato plants spaced approximately 3 feet apart. This should be more than enough to provide each of your plants with optimal levels of nutrition.
Check Your pH Levels
Whether you intend on growing tomato plants in a flowerbed or in pots, you must constantly check and adjust the pH levels of the soil when necessary.
Tomatoes can grow in a wide variety of pH levels, but they thrive in soil with a pH somewhere between 6.2 and 6.8. You can purchase disposable pH testing strips from most plant nurseries, or you can use an electronic tester.
If the pH is too high, add some sulfur to lower it. On the other hand, if it’s too low, add limestone to raise it. Start small and gradually add a little more sulfur or limestone until the pH falls between 6.2 and 6.8.
Water Regularly
Like most types of produce, tomatoes need water on a regular basis. Don’t rely on mother nature to do the job for you, as rain is unpredictable at best.
A good rule of thumb is to give your tomato plants an inch of water per week, just like your lawn and trees.
Sunlight
Of course, sunlight is critical to the growth and overall health of tomato plants. Ideally, you should grow your tomato plants on the side of your house that receives the most sunlight during the day.
If there are overhanging tree branches blocking out some of the sunlight, perhaps you can have them pruned. The more sunlight your tomato plants receive, the bigger the fruit will be.
The Woodsman Company offers tree planting, tree pruning and shrub trimming, tree removal and stump grinding as well as a tree wellness program.
If we can help with any of your tree care needs give us a call at 512-846-2535 or 512-940-0799 or
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