4 Secrets of growing tomatoes

 Secrets of growing tomatoes for a great harvest

Tomatoes are a favorite crop of many home gardeners, and even beginner gardeners can succeed when growing the first tomato plant. But if you want to improve your tomato growing ability and get a bigger and better yield than ever before, I am going to give you some “trade secrets”. As a former organic market farmer, I have many years of experience growing thousands of tomato plants. As a result, I have included a list of 12 tomato growing secrets to use in your home garden for healthy plants, higher yields, and less work.

4 Secrets of growing tomatoes

Some of these tomato growing secrets include tomato planting tips and soil health, while others focus on how to properly care for tomato plants during the growing season. However, each of these tomato growing secrets can help reduce workload as the harvest increases.

The secret to growing tomatoes # 1: Phosphorus is a big thing

Tomatoes love the sun. At least 6 hours of full sun a day is optimal. But did you know that they also need nutrient-dense soil with a particular focus on adequate phosphorus? Of the three major plant macronutrients [nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K)], phosphorus promotes strong roots and the growth of abundant flowers and fruits. Gardeners who over-feed tomatoes with high nitrogen fertilizers have large, leafy green tomato plants with large flowers and fruits.

Instead of using high nitrogen fertilizer, one of the secrets of growing tomatoes is to choose an organic granular tomato fertilizer that is slightly higher in phosphorus (the middle number in the bag). This provides a form of slow-release phosphorus that is available to the plant during the growing season without accumulating too much nitrogen. You can find out more about how to read a fertilizer label here.

Tomato Tip # 2: Soil pH is important

Although most gardeners do not know what the pH of their soil is, this significant number greatly affects tomato production. The optimum soil pH for maximum tomato plant nutrient absorption is 6.2 to 6.5. That is, when the pH of your soil is within that range, the roots of the plant can absorb the greatest diversity of nutrients. Invest in a high-quality two-at-home soil test kit and follow the instructions in the results to adjust your current pH to achieve this optimal goal. Learn more about how to adjust soil pH.

The Secret to Growing Tomatoes # 3:

Warm soil equals a fast start

Tomato is a hot weather crop. They do not tolerate frost, and they do not like cold "feet". Warming the soil before planting promotes early root growth and leads the plants to a better start. This is the secret to growing a tomato that many gardeners never consider. To warm the soil before planting your tomato crop, cover the soil with a black plastic sheet or black compost sheet mulch for two weeks. Plastic absorbs solar energy and heats the soil. Leave it for a few weeks and remove it before planting, or cut holes in the sheets and plant the tomatoes through it. If you choose the latter option, plastic also helps control weeds during the growing season.

Some gardeners do not like to use anything plastic around food plants, so if you have, use biodegradable sheet mulch or avoid using this tomato growing secret. However, plastic mulch is permitted to be used under the U.S. National Organic Standards Program until the plastic is removed and turned to the soil at the end of the growing season.

Tomato Planting Tip # 4:

Protect plants for early harvest

If you like the secret of growing tomatoes, you can use it to get a start on the tomato season, or if you want to harvest ripe tomatoes a few weeks earlier than your neighbors, use some form of weather protection. Previous plant. Remember, tomatoes prefer warmer climates, but you can plant tomatoes a few weeks in advance around newly planted transplants with some kind of insulation. Look for safety cone-shaped, double-walled plastic insulators that you fill with water. The water retains the heat of the day and releases it to keep the plants warm at night. Use around each plant for the first few weeks after planting. When the weather is hot, strain it and remove it.

Another secret to growing tomatoes is to use clay drainage pipes half the length. On each side of your tomato stack (photo)