How To Grow Tomatoes

I learned early on in my life that sometimes it is better to grow our favorite fruits and vegetable ourselves. Sometimes we cannot trust what we find in stores and when it comes to what we put in our mouths we want to make sure that we have the best. Tomatoes are one of my favorite fruits and are easy to grow.

1. As with growing anything the first thing you have to do is to purchase the tomato plants at a nursery. Wait to buy them till after you know there will be no more frosts. Or you can always start to plant the seeds indoors six to eight weeks before the last frost is expected.

2. When planting make sure that you choose a plot that receives plenty of sunshine throughout the day. The soil should have a pH of 6.0 to 7.0. If it is windy then try to protect them from the wind by planting them near a tree.

3. Combine lots of compost into the soil to make sure that it is full of the nutrients that will help your tomatoes to grow. Organic matter is one of the best things that will help your garden grow.

4. Harden off your seedlings and move them into your garden during the night hours when the temperature is above 50 degrees.

5. Each hole that you dig for the plants should be the size of a basketball. When you put the dirt back add some more compost and even some crushed eggshells to give them added calcium.

6. Make sure that you separate the plants 12 to 18 inches apart. Plant them deeply into the ground to help proper root development.

7. In order to keep cutworms away from your plants place a paper collar around each of their stems and cover them with cloches. The cloches will help protect against cold weather and other insects.

8. When the weather is warming up remove the cloches and mulch the soil. Tomato plants will grow tall so make sure that you provide them with the support they need to stay upright.

9. Every week you need to give them two inches of water and spray them with compost tea four times. Make sure to prune any plants (like weeds or poison ivy) that try to outgrow them.

10. You will be able to finally pick your first tomato when it is glossy and the texture is somewhere between soft and firm.