Growing Tomatoes: 7 Organic Gardening Tips

Are you ready to start growing tomatoes like never before? If you are practicing self-reliant gardening, then this post is for you!

If you want to grow the healthiest and most delicious tomatoes you possibly can this gardening season, take some pointers from the pros. There are a few very easy-to-implement tricks and tips you can use to consistently grow bumper crops of succulent tomatoes.

Try implementing the organic gardening tips outlined below and your tomato plants will deliver the biggest and healthiest yield possible.

1. Start with the Right Location

Whether growing tomatoes in containers, raised beds, or in the ground, make sure you select a bright and well ventilated, airy location for your tomatoes. Your plants should receive at least 10 hours of natural light in the summer.

Also, make sure you have enough room between your tomato plants to provide for adequate air circulation. Tomatoes need air to breathe just like we do.

2. Plant Deep When Growing Tomatoes

Make sure you plant deep for the best possible results. Burying the stem of a tomato allows the plant to sprout new roots which will help improve strength and vitality. This also provides better absorption of the nutrients your tomato plants need to grow faster and healthier.

To do this, remove the bottom sets of leaves and bury the stem up to just below the bottom of the remaining leaves.

You can also plant your tomatoes horizontally in a long trench with just the top leafy part exposed. The plant will correct itself and start growing up vs. along the ground.

Doing this will help your plants establish the strongest root structure possible, because all those little fibers along the plant stem are little roots waiting to develop.

3. Be Sure To Test Your Soil

Testing your soil is important when growing tomatoes for proper tomato growth. Whether you take a sample of your soil to a nearby gardening or home improvement center that offers lab testing, or you purchase a DIY pH level testing kit, this step is crucial.

After you discern your ground’s alkaline and acidity levels, you can add the appropriate soil amendments to reach the recommended 6.0 – 6.8 pH for tomatoes. Most garden centers can tell you just what you need to do to get your soil perfect.

4. Do Some Manicuring

Trick your tomatoes into being stronger by plucking the first flowers that appear. This allows your tomato plants to grow more extensive root systems.It also allows for a mature and developed leaf canopy, before any fruit is produced.

You should also pull off any suckers, which are the little offshoots of the main stem below your first fruit-producing branch. These take up energy that the other stronger stems will need.

5. Cage Them In And Grow Them Up

Use cages or fencing when growing tomatoes vertically. When you allow tomato vines to lay on the ground, your plants are much more susceptible to pests and diseases.

When you provide vertical support, these garden dangers have a harder time attacking your plants. Sprawling vines also take up valuable space in your garden. The backbreaking process of bending over to harvest the fruit is no fun, either.

6. Feed Your Growing Tomatoes

When the first fruit of the season begins to appear, add organic compost, and other natural ingredients. This will encourage new, healthy growth and a bigger yield.

Scratch compost into the ground around the stem, and at the same time, trim a few of the upper leaves on each plant. Water well and allow your tomatoes to absorb all of those goodies.

7. Extend Their Growing Season

Whether you decide to plant determinate or indeterminate varieties, consider planting new tomatoes three weeks after your original plants are planted. This will extend your growing season. It guarantees that if you run into any weather or pest problems.

If you should see signs of pests on your tomatoes try some natural pest control methods to eliminate them.

You are still sure to enjoy multiple, healthy harvests. This means you won’t need to harvest and use your entire crop at once.

If you get such a bumper crop of tomatoes this year, consider dehydrating them, or canning them in pizza sauce, or giving them away to friends or family.

Final Thoughts

You have 7 simple tips that anyone can do to grow a super harvest of tomatoes this year and going forward. Get out in the garden and plant those tomatoes.