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grow tomatoes is one of my favorite things to do in the summer . Tomatoes are one of the most popular and various vegetables to grow in the garden . They are nutritive , and delicious , making them a heavy addition to any repast . They are easy to get and can be enjoyed fresh , transcribed , or cooked in a variety of dishes . In this article , we ’ll continue everything you need to know to successfully plant and like for Lycopersicon esculentum in your garden .

Table of Contents

Tomatoes growing on a tomato plant in various stages of ripeness.

Types of Tomatoes

Tomatoes hail in a wide variety of shape , size , colors , and flavors . Here are some of the most common types of tomato you might consider when farm tomatoes in your garden :

Tomato change come in eitherdeterminate or indeterminate case . Determinate kind are more heavyset and acquire fruit all at once , while undetermined varieties continue to grow and produce yield throughout the growing time of year . Determinate varieties can be planted a trivial nearer together , while indeterminate varieties should be given more infinite to grow .

Plant Spacing

When planting tomatoes , it ’s important to give them enough outer space to grow and thrive . tomato need at least 18 inches of blank space between plants to guarantee right atmosphere circulation and reduce the danger of disease . If you plan to bet on or cage in your tomato plants , you may implant them a little nearer together . This will help them substantiate each other as they grow . If you ’re planting incontainers , ensure each industrial plant has at least a 5 - Imperial gallon commode to originate in .

I typically start my tomato seed indoors before my last frost escort and thentransplantthem in my garden to get a quick start on my tomato season .

The quality of yoursoilcan affect the spatial arrangement of your Lycopersicon esculentum plant . If your grime is poor , it ’s a good estimation to give your plant a little excess distance to promote healthy increase . In universal , it ’s best to plant tomatoes in well - run out soil that ’s rich in constituent matter .

5 red cherry tomatoes growing on a tomato plant.

5 red cherry tomatoes growing on a tomato plant.

Companion Planting

fellow traveller plantingis the practice session of plant different case of plants together to benefit each other . When associate engraft , it ’s important to consider the spacing requirement of each plant . Some coarse comrade plants that work well with tomatoes are :

By planting these associate plants alongside your tomato plant , you may assist to create a healthier and more productive garden . Just be sure to give each plant enough space and consider their raise demand when planning your garden layout .

Growing Tomatoes: Care and Maintenance

tomato plant need a deal of sun , so make certain to plant them in a stain that receives at least six to eight hr of direct sunshine each day . They also need well - run out soil that ’s rich in constitutional issue .

Growing tomatoes need consistentwateringthroughout the growing time of year . They prefer deep , infrequent watering rather than frequent shallow lacrimation . It ’s a respectable idea to water your tomato plants once or twice a calendar week , depending on the weather and land moisture .

Tomatoes are heavy birdfeeder and require regularfertilizationto produce healthy fruit . you could use a balanced fertilizer or one that ’s high in P , which is authoritative for yield development . Be careful not to over - fertilize , as this can lead to undue foliage growth and few fruit .

Slicing tomato on tomato plant starting to turn red.

Slicing tomato on tomato plant starts to turn red.

mulch around your tomato plant plants can help to conserve soil wet and suppress weeds . you may use a salmagundi of materials for mulch , such as straw , leaves , or locoweed clippings .

By follow these care and maintenance tips , you may help to ensure that your tomato plants are healthy and productive throughout the growing time of year .

Pruning and Training

When grow tomatoes they need support to grow , so study using stakes , cages , or trellises to keep them erect . This also makes it easier to trim and harvest from the plants .

Prunethe love apple plants by take the suckers , which are the small shoots that grow between the main stem and branches . This will help the plant focus its energy on producing fruit rather than leaf . In improver to removing suckers , it ’s also a proficient melodic theme to prune your tomato plants to better air circulation and cut back the risk of disease . you’re able to prune off any damaged or diseased foliage , as well as any branches that are grow towards the center of the plant .

Pest Control

tomato are susceptible to a variety of blighter , include aphids , cutworm , and hornworms .

By monitor your develop tomato plant plant life for pests and taking proactive amount to control them , you could aid forbid equipment casualty to the industrial plant and ensure a tidy harvest .

Disease Control

Lycopersicon esculentum can be susceptible to a change of disease that can impact industrial plant health and reduce harvest yields . Here are some vernacular tomato disease and tip on how to prevent them in your garden :

By follow these preventative measures and monitoring your tomato plant industrial plant on a regular basis for polarity of disease , you could help oneself keep your plants levelheaded and productive throughout the growing season .

What to do with the Tomatoes I grew?

Now if you have read any of my other articles on the blog you know I love to can matter so I can extend my harvest . We do use love apple for a lot of fresh feeding as well . I tend to plant many more tomato plants than we can sustain fresh eating so I can insure I have enough to can with as well . Some of my favorite style to can tomatoes are :

I trust you enjoy develop tomatoes as much as I do . Comment on this post and let me know what your favorite way to use tomatoes is .

More Post in our Growing Vegetables Series :

Cluster of yellow red cherry tomatoes growing on a tomato plant

A cluster of yellow red cherry tomatoes growing on a tomato plant

Paste tomatoes typically become ripe all at the same time so they can be used for canning. Paste tomatoes on a tomato plant in various stages of ripeness.

Paste tomatoes typically become ripe all at the same time so they can be used for canning. Paste tomatoes on a tomato plant in various stages of ripeness.