Growing Tomatoes - Tips On How To Grow Tomatoes

Are you fed up of the tasteless, insipid tomatoes you get in the supermarket? If you are, then why not grow tomato plants yourself? Many Americans have taken up growing their own tomatoes, and for good reason. There is nothing like organically grown tomatoes, bursting with color and flavor, to liven up salads, spaghetti sauces, salsas, or just the juicy slices added into your sandwich. Tomatoes grown at home are not only far more delicious than commercially available ones, but are healthier too because no chemical tomato fertilizers or pesticides are used.

Tomato gardening is also very popular because the tomato plant grows easily and tolerates a wide range of types of soil. Plus, they are very versatile and there are a large variety to choose from, from the small cherry-like variety, to the fleshy, big Ox Heart, to the Roma and Grosse Lisse, the list is long indeed. Regardless of which type you choose to grow, here are some tomato growing tips that will help you to get tomatoes that will add zest to your dining table:

Tomato plants need full sunlight to grow. Plus, they need abundant amounts of water because they have lots of fibrous roots which must not be allowed to dry out. However, neither should you allow the tomato plant to be clogged in water. Although the tomato plant grows in various types of soil, however, they grow best in well-drained, fertile soil which has a pH of around 6.5. Water the well-drained soil well to encourage the roots to grow deeply.

The soil in the garden can be fertilized by adding peat moss, leaf mold, rotted manure, or any other organic fertilizing agents. Ideally, the tomato plant should be about 6-8 inches in height, dark green in color, with a compact stem and a healthy root system.

The best time for planting tomatoes is when the weather warms up a little, and the temperature of the soil is more than 60 degrees Fahrenheit, and the air temperature does not dip below 45 degrees during the night.

Mulching in the soil around the plant prevents the growth of weeds and loss of water. Put a 2-3-inch layer of mulch made of organic material like compost, straw, leaves, hay, clippings of grass, red or black plastic sheeting, or even newspapers around the tomato plants.

You can grow tomatoes directly in the soil, or the plants can be supported with cages or stakes. If you use stakes, put them in when you plant the saplings. As the plants grow, tie them loosely to the stakes with twine or some soft fabric, keeping a distance of 12 inches.

Tomato plants require about 1 inch of water each week during the months of May and June, and about 2 inches in the months of July, August, and September. You can water the plants once or twice in a week up to a depth of 12-18 inches.

The dwarf variety of the tomato plant must be spaced at 12 inches distance apart, and staked tomato plants should have at least 4-6 feet of space from plants that are not staked.

Rows should have 3-5 feet distance between each for plants that are staked, and 4-6 feet for those that are not staked.

Use your organic fertilizer during the time of planting. A sidedress (which means additional fertilizer on the sides of the plants) should be applied the first time when the fruits are grown one-third of their full size. Mix in the fertilizer into the earth. A second sidedress should be applied after harvesting the first ripened fruit, followed by a third one after a month. The plants should be watered thoroughly after fertilization.

Harvest the tomatoes when they begin to become pink, bringing them indoors. Tomatoes get their rich red color due to temperature, not the sunlight. Place then indoors, in a dry spot, to ripen. When they get their ripe red color, slice them or puree them and enjoy!