topic Re: Growing Tomatoes in Garden

Growing Tomatoes

Mistreatedbycs — Sat, 24 Apr 2021 04:13:58 GMT

Probably an old topic but I sure would like some tips on growing

both potted plants and in the soil grown tomato plants.

Looking at Early Girl and Slicer

Last year I got a lot of tomatoes but they weren't that large, nothing close to those huge slicer kind that if you cut one, that covers the bread.

I'm not sure what you call those lower branches that don't produce any fruit, do I cut those danglers??

Tried potted planting a couple years ago and that was a disaster.

Are there secrets?

Re: Growing Tomatoes

gardenman — Sat, 24 Apr 2021 12:03:26 GMT

"Are there any secrets?"

Three. One is soil, one is the sun, and the other is water. If you use a good potting mix (not garden soil) in a very large pot, put the pot in full sun, and give the plant all the water it wants, (where people often fail) your tomato plant will grow like mad and produce lots of fruit. The water is where people tend to fail, especially if it rains. They'll say, "Oh, it rained yesterday so I don't have to water my potted tomato today." The foliage of potted plants often shields their soil from rain reaching the soil of the pot. In nearly every case you still have to water your plants after a rainstorm.

People tend to underestimate the amount of water a large tomato plant needs in a day for optimal production. If you take a single ripe tomato and squeeze all of the juice out of it you can get a lot of moisture. Where did that single tomato get all of the moisture inside it? From the soil. And if you crushed and squeezed all of the moisture from every leaf, branch, and fruit, you'd fill a good-sized bucket. You'll see people just dump maybe eight ounces of water into a big potted tomato plant and feel they watered their plant. No. For a mature plant, you're probably looking at needing a gallon or more of water a day.

If you use a good potting mix and have a pot with drainage, it's nearly impossible to overwater a tomato plant so you don't have to worry about that. Those are the three not-so-secret secrets to growing tomatoes in pots. Do those three things and you'll be successful. A big pot filled with good potting mix, full sunshine, and lots of water, equals lots of tomatoes.

Water is the big key to keeping plants happy and healthy. Quite a few years ago a university did a study with local rose growers. They gave them a new miracle grow pill that needed to be dissolved in a gallon of water and then the growers were to use that gallon of water on just one plant and compare the result to other roses in their garden. The growers were absolutely thrilled with the results. The plants getting the miracle grow pill flourished. What was in the miracle grow pill? A placebo. The study was designed to show that people were underwatering their plants and by forcing them to use a full gallon of water per plant when they watered the plants the growers saw a massive increase in growth. Most gardeners tend to splash and go when they water plants rather than deeply watering their plants. Deeply watering the plants will give you better results.

Re: Growing Tomatoes

Scooby Doo — Sat, 24 Apr 2021 12:27:46 GMT

I've plant tomatoes every year and some years they are abundant and other years, nothing. A lot depends on the weather. Like last year it got hot early and stayed that way through August. If it's too hot the blossoms won't set. It needs to cool off at night also for them to set. I've read that they don't set if the heat is over 95 degrees. If they don't get enough water they won't grow. If too much water they get root rot. My plants thrive best when they get sun most of the day, then shady after 8 pm. I fertilize the soil each Spring with compost or chicken manure. They take the nutrients out of the soil if you plant them in the same spot each year. I put a wire cage around each one to keep it off the ground. I make my own out of fence wire. I've never had luck with potted tomatoes. I also don't buy those large size slicers because our season is too short for them to grow big and ripen. My favorites are medium size that have more flavor like Celebrity or Jet Star. That's probably a regional thing tho. I've watched a couple of informative videos on youtube on how to grow tomatoes. They will show you how to trim them. I always cut off the lower leaves and plant deep.

Another important aspect is polination. There aren't as many bees as there used to be.

I usually plant a flower next to my tomatoes to attract bees, like a snapdragon or petunia.

Re: Growing Tomatoes

fthunt — Sat, 24 Apr 2021 13:10:09 GMT

Getting and keeping those precious yellow blossoms is the most important step - no blossoms - then of course - no tomatoes.

Consult Google info - I did and had great success.............at garden store buy a squirt bottle of TOMATO AND BLOSSOM SET SPRAY. .....and gently applied to blossoms - (read details).............

and in locations void of bees and other flying insects when to pollinate....get a cheap electric (battery) toothbrush that vibrates and...........gently touch each blossom - then move to another blossom - and another -

(you are the bee) Works for a few plants - obviously

Do this - perhaps - once or twice a week - very carefully.

Water deep and often..cut suckers from bottom of plant or branches that only have leaves.

Happy Gardening

If you see slugs - buy Slugs Be-Gone and apply to soil

Re: Growing Tomatoes

JustJazzmom — Sat, 24 Apr 2021 14:20:35 GMT

Another trick to deep watering of any plants is recite the alphabet or count to 45 slowly as you water your plants. Filling one of those big plastic watering cans also helps and provides enough water for one plant.

Re: Growing Tomatoes

Sooner — Sat, 24 Apr 2021 14:34:05 GMT

Tomatoes need warm soil. If it is too cool, don't bother planting them.

Tomatoes won't set blooms if it gets way up in the 90's. At least some want. Check the variety.

When you plant them, plant the stem deep because roots will grow out from it and make a stronger plant.

Don't let the leaves lay on the ground and get wilt.

Move where you plant crops from year to year for some like tomatoes. Soil picks up certain things and moving them some years is best.

Verify all this on line and do a little research. It makes a HUGE difference.

BIg Boy, Better Boy are the old time slicers.

Re: Growing Tomatoes

RedTop — Sat, 24 Apr 2021 19:47:05 GMT

We plant our slicing varieties of tomatoes in a 5 gallon bucket; poke holes in the bottom, gravel for good drainage, then quality potting soil.

When we add the tomato plant, we pinch off the lowest leaves and set the plant that deep into the soil.

We keep the sucker leaves pinched off, and only allow the plant to get so tall. If the plant is allowed to just grow and grow, that energy goes into more of the useless branches and overall height, but not the tomatoes.

Re: Growing Tomatoes

depglass — Sun, 25 Apr 2021 19:34:19 GMT

I'm reading this entire thread, especially the part from Gardenman, to DH. He has pretty much taken over the gardening since he retired. I used to do a tiny plot, he does a field.

Re: Growing Tomatoes

Eaglesluvr — Tue, 27 Apr 2021 12:45:52 GMT

I'm going to piggyback off the watering, yes it's extremely important to water those Tomatoes my suggestion is if growing in the ground run Sprinkler system, Soakers worked best for me line em right under the plants so the roots get soaked.... don't forget to feed em as well, plants don't like city water as it's often got Chlorine use well water or a rain barrel, or fill up your water pitcher and set over night to let chemicals disperse.....

Re: Growing Tomatoes

silkyk — Thu, 29 Apr 2021 16:21:21 GMT

I agree on the watering issue. I use a short drip watering hose ($10 on ebay) and wrap it around each plant twice in the pots and slowly drip water each plant. Easy... and they love all the water given slowly.

Re: Growing Tomatoes

Mistreatedbycs — Thu, 29 Apr 2021 17:56:21 GMT

I went to Home Depot yesterday and got a little carried away.

I was on the hunt for Sweet 100 tomato plants that were recommended, I found those and a lot more tomato varieties that I have never tried.

Of course I got an early girl, big boy but there were plenty of others.

I am even trying a patio tomato plant that I have never had before.

getting my soil ready but I think in the next 1-2 wks, they'll go in the ground.

Thanks for all the hints and tricks, I taste BLT's in the future and there's nothing like home grown tomatoes.

Re: Growing Tomatoes

Nick and Nora — Wed, 05 May 2021 19:25:28 GMT

We have a Bush Goliath, never tried that one before....plus Bonnie Original, Black Prince, and Celebrity, which usually does well, but it's been c-c-cold here in zone 7a.

Re: Growing Tomatoes

caroln242 — Sat, 15 May 2021 16:14:18 GMT

How do you tell which stems are suckers? I'm afraid of cutting off stems that will produce flowers.

Re: Growing Tomatoes

RedTop — Sun, 16 May 2021 16:53:58 GMT

@caroln242

They are the little green leaves that grow on the plant stalk, above or below the main branches of the plant. Just pinch them off as soon as they come out so the growth goes into the stalk and main branches.

Re: Growing Tomatoes

caroln242 — Tue, 18 May 2021 14:13:36 GMT

So it's just little leaves, not like a branch? I think I get it!

Re: Growing Tomatoes

Mary Bailey — Mon, 07 Jun 2021 01:18:38 GMT

Re: Growing Tomatoes

luvmyteddy4 — Sun, 06 Jun 2021 23:02:08 GMT

I have green tomatoes!

I planted my garden April 27th and already have lots of green on one plant. These might be the early girls.

I'm excited because this is earlier than last year. I have early girls, big boys and some cherry tomatoes.

It rained for weeks which is unusual for me but finally some sun and warm weather.

I had to wait so long last summer to get any tomatoes but I'm more hopeful this time.

Re: Growing Tomatoes

gardenman — Mon, 07 Jun 2021 00:51:09 GMT

What you had was blossom end rot. It's not uncommon. It's caused by not enough calcium reaching the fruit. Here are some quotes from the Michigan State University Extension Service about it.

"Blossom-end rot first appears as water- soaked spots on the blossom end, or bottom, of the tomato. The affected tissue breaks down rapidly and the area becomes sunken, dark brown or black, and leathery. This can happen at any time as the tomatoes mature, and most often on the first tomatoes of the season.

Blossom-end rot is caused by insufficient calcium in the tissue of the tomato. Calcium is taken up into the plant through the roots, however, it settles in one part of the plant. This means that the rot can occur even when there is an ample supply of calcium in the soil, stems or leaves. Actively growing parts of the plant such as developing tomatoes must have a continuous supply of calcium to prevent these spots from developing.

The conditions that cause blossom-end rot are closely linked to inconsistent soil moisture throughout the growing season. Since calcium is only moved into the plant with an ample moisture supply, when drought occurs the fruit continues to develop but will be affected by a calcium deficiency."

It's not too much water or too little water, but inconsistent watering that causes the trouble most of the time.

Re: Growing Tomatoes

justashopper — Mon, 07 Jun 2021 02:02:44 GMT

Thanks everyone for your input.

I am growing my first tomato plant in a pot. And i just gave it a sucker and bottom leaves trim.... I did accidntally snip off a bloom. OOPSIE!

I don't know what kind of tomato plant it is. They had them at Whole foods a couple of weeks ago in pots with cages. I thought what the heck! I'll try to grow fresh tomatoes this summer on the patio. If I get one good tomato, it'll be a pricey one! but so worth it. LOL!

I have been watering everyday. While the soil is wet, based on what I learned here. It probably is not enough. Starting tomorrow I will give it the whole water can. I was splitting it between my other patio plants.

I was letting the water sit. I do that out of habit. I learned of an old tradition to let water sit in the home to remove the bad energy it absorbed on it's journey. But that is another thread. :-)

I picked up some tomato plant food at the hardware store. Maybe I have not been giving it enough of that, too. I was only giving it a little drink of plant food once a week. Probably not even half a gallon. But now that I know I can't over water it. I will be more liberal with both food and water.

Thanks again for all the advice! And to @Mistreatedbycs for bringing it up!!

Re: Growing Tomatoes

justashopper — Sat, 12 Jun 2021 12:14:44 GMT

@gardenman

Hi there! Thanks for your advice. I pruned back the suckers and I think I went a little too far on the hair cut!

I probably removed too many leaves. Any advice? other than to not to do that again? Am I too late? Should get another plant? haha.

I do have many 4 little bulbs and maybe 10 little flowers. So I have hope I didn't mess the poor little thing up.

Thanks!!