Planting and Growing Guide for Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum)
Description
There is nothing to compare with the taste of a freshly picked, ripe tomato, grown in your own garden. Tomatoes come
in a huge array of varieties and can be grown in pots, troughs, containers or even hanging baskets,
as well as home garden beds. Tomatoes in their many forms have two main growth habits:
Determinate - Compact tomatoes with a bush form. Upwards growth stops at a specific height. If no support is provided the tomatoes spread over the ground. Very useful for containers and they do not grow very high.
Indeterminate - Tomatoes that continue growing upward from a main stem, Useful for vertical gardens. When stakes and other support is provided the tomatoes can be grown very close together, maximizing the use of limited space.
Tomatoes are frost tender and grow best in warm weather. In cool climates, tomatoes can only be grown in summer or under shelter in hot houses. Tomatoes are heavy users of nutrients and so need regular feeding and watering. However, do not over-feed with nitrogen as this promotes leaf growth rather than fruit production. In garden beds add a layer of compost or well-rotted manure to the soil before planting. Extra compost and manure can be added as a mulch as the plants grow. Tomatoes in containers can be fed with manure, but a complete fertiliser in pellet form is a better way to provide what the tomatoes need. Keeping the tomato plants well fed improves the flavor of the tomatoes.
There is a plethora of uses for fresh tomatoes including: salads, sauces, pizzas, pasta and as a side serve for many meat dishes.
Planting Guide
Seed Depth: Start seeds indoors in late winter to spring to grow for 4-6 weeks before planting out after the last frosts. Seeds can be sown directly into the garden at this time. Sow seed at a depth of 1 cm (1/2 inch) in warm soils
Space between plants: Allow about 40-60 cm (15-24 inches) between plants. Allow about 1 m (3 feet) between rows. Spacing will depend on the variety and the support that is provided for them to grow. Spreading varieties need more room.
Harvest Time: Harvest in about 7-17 weeks, depending on the variety. Small tomatoes can be picked as the plants grow. Cherry tomatoes are the quickest to harvest.
Hints:
- Grows best in full sun. But can be grown in partial shade in warmer areas
- Will grow in a range of soil types, except for heavy clay soils
- Add compost around the plants as they grow as a mulch and source of nutrients.
- Prepare the bed before planting by digging in compost and placing a thick layer of compost over the soil surface.
- Water Tomatoes regularly and deeply to avoid growth checks which will lead to inferior tomatoes watering again. Never let the soil dry out with tomatoes, especially during the flowering and fruiting stages, as this will lead to low productions
- Tomatoes do best in well-drained, sandy, or light loamy soil with a slightly acid pH (6.0-6.8). Tomatoes do poorly in heavy clayey soils, especially if water-logged.
- Tomatoes need to be fed regularly throughout the growing season to keep them growing consistently. But avoid too much nitrogen which may promote a lot of leaf growth, but few tomatoes. Keeping the plants healthy and growing consistently tends to reduce the impact of diseases and pests.
- Use stakes, trellises or other support for all types of tomatoes to keep the plants and fruit off the ground
Disclaimer: The PlantWhatWhen vegetable planting guide is only designed for use as a very general reference for home gardening purposes. It is not to be used for farming, markets or commercial activities of any kind whatsoever. We take absolutely no responsibility for the accuracy and adequacy of the information provided on this site. We recommend that you consider your local climate, weather patterns and conditions when deciding what and when to plant in your home garden. It's entirely your own decision. Happy Gardening and Best Wishes!