Choose the right plant
If you’re growing tomatoes from seeds, make sure to select the best variety for your growing conditions. For example, May flowers are a great choice for outdoor growing, while select Indeterminate varieties are great for indoor growing.
If you’re starting your tomato seeds indoors, make sure to make a starter culture to supercharge germination. To create a starter culture, place 2 tablespoons of seeds in a cup filled with growing medium like soil or compost. Then, add a pinch of something like a potato, urea-based fertilizer, or yeast to kick-start germination.
Soon, your tomatoes will be ready to transplant outdoors once the soil or growing medium is at least 70 degrees Fahrenheit and the days are sunny. If starting indoors, transplant your tomato seeds once they’re at least three weeks old and growing rapidly in a pot.
Dig a hole and put in soil
When you dig up the soil to transplant your tomato seedlings, make sure you dig a hole that’s at least two times the diameter of the plant’s root ball. This is important, so that the plant has enough room to grow properly.
If you’re using a soil amendment for your plant, make sure to fill in the hole about 50 percent. Then, add the remaining soil to your plant’s root ball and water it lightly.
For a lighter option, you can also use a soil-less growing medium like plastic pots, propagating trays, or other similar containers. These are convenient, and easy to clean. Plus, they’re also lightweight, so you don’t need a large amount of soil to use them.
Prune your tomatoes to shape them
Yes, pruning your tomatoes is as important as watering them and making sure they get enough sunlight. If you’re growing your tomatoes from seed, prune them when they’re about two inches tall.
Keep in mind that the plants produce more fruit if they’re pruned at least once. If you’re growing from starter plants, keep pruning your tomato plants regularly until they grow to a desired size.
When pruning, shape the plants so that they grow symmetrically on the stems. This will help you to produce more fruit. When you’re done, don’t forget to give your tomato plants plenty of air flow.
Feed your plants for best results
Once you’ve transplanted your tomato seeds, it’s time to feed them. However, there are many options when it comes to tomato fertilizers. You can use manure, compost, or even a balanced tomato fertilizer.
If you use manures, there are many benefits to feeding your tomato plants with manure. These include a boost in the amount of dead roots, which help to keep the soil moist and aerated. Another benefit of feeding with manure is that it helps to keep the soil pH neutral.
Harvest your tomatoes and enjoy!
Once your plants start to produce fruit, you will know! You can easily tell if your plants are producing tomatoes by the color of their stems. Once you see this, it’s time to harvest.
Simply cut the stem and collect the fruit. You can either eat the tomatoes immediately, or store them in a cool, dark place. Whatever you do, make sure to take advantage of the nutrients that come with growing your own tomatoes!