Tomatoes are a popular crop for many home gardeners. Growing tomatoes doesn’t have to be difficult, even as a beginner. We have put together our best tomato growing advice to ensure you have great success growing tomatoes.
While there is not a single secret that will help you grow tomatoes well, there are five key categories that you need to understand that will give you the best chance for a successful tomato crop.
1. Tomato seed versus starter plant
As a new gardener it can be overwhelming to walk through a garden center and make decisions. Should you buy tomato seeds, tomato seedlings or purchase a more mature established starter plant? This all depends on timing and your growing region.
Here in Colorado, our frost-free date is typically around Mother’s Day. That is generally the time of year it's safe to begin planting into the ground. Tomatoes do not like cold weather whatsoever and they also don’t really enjoy extreme heat. Tomatoes will stop producing fruit when daytime temperatures are about 85F.
The ideal time to start seedlings in Colorado is in March indoors, and then transplanting them outdoors in the middle of May. The Colorado growing season is typically only about 157 days, and most tomato varieties take 70-90 days to produce fruit from a seedling. Starting tomatoes from seeds after June can be done but you likely won’t get fruit until August.
Starting tomatoes from an established starter or a mature plant can help give you fruit sooner. Most garden centers and big box stores carry healthy mature tomato plants that are ready to be transplanted into containers or the ground in your outdoor space. In Colorado, you will see an abundance of tomato plants available from the end of April through June.
2. Choosing a tomato variety
There are two categories of tomato plants you need to take into consideration when selecting your tomato variety. Determinate and Indeterminate.
Determinate tomato varieties have a genetically predetermined size and level of production. They will have more of a bush shape and will typically produce and ripen all their fruit at the same time. Once the fruit has been produced, the plant dies back and will not produce anymore. This type is best for the gardener who is looking to do one large harvest and then preserve their tomato products.
Popular varieties of determinate tomatoes include Roma, San Marzano, Celebrity and Rutgers.
Indeterminate tomato varieties on the other hand have an undetermined size and level of production. It will be more vine-like and will grow in height until its pruned back.
Indeterminate varieties of tomatoes will also continue to set fruit for the season. This type of tomato plant is good for those interested in consistently eating their tomatoes, since they will grow and ripen throughout the season.
Popular varieties of indeterminate tomatoes include Early Girl, Beefsteak, Better Boy, Sungold and most cherry types.
3. Plant tomatoes correctly
How you plant your tomatoes can greatly impact the success of your plant. You want to plant them deep! Bury the stems of the tomato plants as deep as possible since they have the ability to grow roots from their stem. The more the stem is buried in the soil, the more roots your plant will produce. The bigger and deeper the root system, the better the plant is able to find the moisture and nutrients needed to grow a beautiful crop.
You can plant tomatoes in the ground or in large patio containers. Providing adequate support for tomato plants is critical but also can be challenging. Tomato cages can sometimes be too short and not support much weight. Stakes are a great way to add structure and support to a tomato plant but be mindful that they usually max out at 5-6 feet tall. Indeterminate plants could grow much bigger than that.
We recommend a combination of cages and stakes to support your plants.
4. Basic needs of tomato plants
Tomato plants have three basic needs just like any other plant. Sunlight, water and nutrients. Tomatoes need a minimum of 4 hours of sun per day to produce ripe fruit. 6-8 hours of sun per day is suggested to bring out their best flavor. Your tomato plant will tell you if it’s getting too much sun by appearing wilted in the afternoon and sunburned leaves. Morning sun and afternoon shade is the most desired combination for tomato plants.
The water needs of your tomato plants will depend on if they are planted in the ground or in a container. Tomato plants grown in containers need more water than garden tomatoes because the soil in the container heats up faster which leads to more water evaporation. A good rule of thumb is to water your containers until water runs freely from the bottom. When soil feels dry 1 inch below the surface, its time to water again.
For tomato plants grown in the ground, be sure to water newly planted tomatoes well so the roots can extend deep. Early in the growing season, water plants every day, preferably in the morning. As the season continues, tomatoes usually require 1-2 inches of water per week.
Tomatoes need nutrients to continue to thrive and produce well. We recommend using compost, manure, or an all-purpose fertilizer on the plants continually through the growing season.
5. Pest management for tomato plants
There are several pests that like to eat your tomatoes. Pest management is important to keep pests at a minimum. Wire cages clipped around the plants will help deter animals from taking bites out of the tomatoes. Organic sprays like neem oil are great for most pests like flies, worms and aphids. It should be applied in the evenings to prevent burning the plant. Soapy water is also great to prevent a wide variety of pests. A mixture of 2 tablespoons dish soap into a gallon water can be sprayed over the plants.
Be sure to read our blog: 6 Common Garden Pests In Colorado
PRO TIP: Companion gardening with tomatoes is a great way to strengthen your tomato plant and improve the taste of your tomatoes. Herbs like basil, thyme, oregano, and rosemary are great to plant around the base of your tomato plant. Their fragrances can help deter pests, but they also release a chemical that improves the soil.
Be sure to read our blog: Why Is Companion Gardening So Good?
Growing tomatoes doesn’t have to be scary or hard. Follow these 5 steps this season and you will be on your way to growing a healthy, beautiful tomato crop!
Ask Our Experts and we'll get back to you!
Nyanya ni mazao yanayopendwa sana na wakulima wengi wa nyumbani. Kukua nyanya si lazima kuwa vigumu, hata kama mwanzoni. Tunakupa ushauri bora wa kukuza nyanya ili kuhakikisha kuwa una mafanikio makubwa katika kukuza nyanya. Ingawa hakuna siri moja ambayo itakusaidia kukuza nyanya vizuri, kuna makundi matano muhimu ambayo unahitaji kuelewa ambayo yatakupa nafasi bora ya mazao ya nyanya ya mafanikio. 1. Uwe na mtazamo wa kweli Mbegu ya nyanya dhidi ya mmea wa kuanza Kama mtunza bustani mpya inaweza kuwa ngumu kutembea kupitia kituo cha bustani na kufanya maamuzi. Je, unapaswa kununua mbegu za nyanya, mbegu za nyanya au kununua mmea wa kuanza uliokomaa zaidi? Yote hayo hutegemea wakati na eneo unaloishi. Hapa katika Colorado, tarehe yetu ya bila baridi ni kawaida karibu na Siku ya Mama. Kwa kawaida wakati huo wa mwaka ni salama kuanza kupanda katika ardhi. Nyanya hazipendi hali ya hewa baridi kabisa na pia hazipendi joto kali. Nyanya huanza kuzaa matunda wakati joto la mchana ni karibu 35 ° F. Wakati mzuri wa kupanda mbegu za Colorado ni mwezi wa Machi ndani ya nyumba, na kisha kuzipanua nje katikati ya Mei. Kwa kawaida, msimu wa kukua wa Colorado ni siku 157 tu, na aina nyingi za nyanya huchukua siku 70-90 kuzaa matunda kutoka kwa mbegu. Kuanza nyanya kutoka kwa mbegu baada ya Juni inaweza kufanywa lakini uwezekano wa kupata matunda hadi Agosti. Kuanza mbegu za nyanya kutoka kwa mmea wa zamani au mmea uliokomaa kunaweza kukusaidia kuzaa matunda mapema. Katika maduka makubwa na maduka makubwa, mimea ya nyanya ya kijani kibichi ni tayari kupandwa kwenye sufuria au kwenye ardhi. Katika Colorado, unaweza kuona mimea mingi ya nyanya kuanzia mwishoni mwa Aprili hadi Juni. 2. Uwezekano wa kupata Kuna aina mbili za mimea ya nyanya ambayo unahitaji kuzingatia wakati wa kuchagua aina yako ya nyanya. Wenye Kuamua na Wasioamua. Aina fulani za nyanya zina ukubwa na kiwango cha uzalishaji kilichoamuliwa kimbele kibinadamu. Wao watakuwa na zaidi ya umbo la kichaka na kwa kawaida kuzalisha na kukomaa matunda yao yote kwa wakati mmoja. Mara tu matunda yanapozaliwa, mmea hufa na hauzaa tena. Aina hii ni bora kwa mtunza bustani ambaye anatafuta kufanya mavuno moja makubwa na kisha kuhifadhi bidhaa zao za nyanya. Aina maarufu za nyanya za kuamua ni pamoja na Roma, San Marzano, Celebrity na Rutgers. Kwa upande mwingine, aina zisizo na uthibitisho za nyanya hazina ukubwa na kiwango cha uzalishaji kisicho na uthibitisho. Itakuwa kama mzabibu zaidi na itakua kwa urefu hadi itakapopunguzwa. Aina zisizojulikana za nyanya zitaendelea pia kuzaa matunda kwa ajili ya msimu huo. Aina hii ya mimea ya nyanya ni nzuri kwa wale wanaopenda kula nyanya zao mara kwa mara, kwa kuwa zitakua na kukomaa wakati wote wa msimu. Aina maarufu za nyanya zisizo na uhakika ni pamoja na Early Girl, Beefsteak, Better Boy, Sungold na aina nyingi za cherry. 3. Uwe na mtazamo wa kweli Kupanda nyanya kwa usahihi: Jinsi ya kupanda nyanya yako inaweza kuathiri sana mafanikio ya mmea wako. Unataka kuziweka ndani sana! Zika shina la nyanya ndani ya shina kwa kina cha juu iwezekanavyo, kwani inaweza kuzalisha mizizi. Kadiri shina la mmea linavyozidi kuzikwa katika udongo, ndivyo mimea inavyotokeza mizizi zaidi. Kadiri mfumo wa mizizi ulivyo mkubwa na wenye kina, ndivyo mmea unavyoweza kupata unyevu na virutubisho vinavyohitajika ili kukua mazao mazuri. Unaweza kupanda nyanya chini au katika vyombo vikubwa vya kuhifadhia. Kutoa msaada wa kutosha kwa mimea ya nyanya ni muhimu lakini pia inaweza kuwa changamoto. Nyakati nyingine ngome za nyanya zaweza kuwa fupi sana na hazitegemezi uzito mwingi. Vipande vya mchanga ni njia nzuri ya kuongeza muundo na msaada kwa mmea wa nyanya, lakini kumbuka kwamba kwa kawaida hufikia urefu wa mita 5.6. Mimea isiyojulikana inaweza kukua kubwa zaidi ya hiyo. Tunapendekeza mchanganyiko wa vibanda na vijiti ili kuunga mkono mimea yako. 4. Uwe na uhakika Mimea ya nyanya ina mahitaji matatu ya msingi. Nuru ya jua, maji na virutubisho. Nyanya zinahitaji angalau masaa manne ya jua kwa siku ili kuzaa matunda. Kwa hivyo, masaa 6-8 ya jua kwa siku ni muhimu kwa kuondoa ladha mbaya. Mti wako wa nyanya utakuambia ikiwa unapata jua nyingi sana kwa kuonekana ukififia alasiri na majani yaliyochomwa na jua. Jua la asubuhi na kivuli cha alasiri ndiyo mchanganyiko unaotamaniwa zaidi kwa mimea ya nyanya. Mahitaji ya maji ya mimea ya nyanya yako yatategemea ikiwa imepandwa chini au katika chombo. Mimea ya nyanya iliyopandwa katika chombo inahitaji maji zaidi kuliko nyanya za bustani kwa sababu udongo katika chombo hu joto haraka ambayo husababisha mvuke zaidi wa maji. Kanuni nzuri ni kunyunyizia maji vyombo vyako hadi maji yatakapotoka chini. Wakati udongo umekauka kwa inchi moja chini ya uso, ni wakati wa maji tena. Kwa mimea ya nyanya iliyopandwa chini ya ardhi, hakikisha kwamba unawapa maji nyanya zilizopandwa hivi karibuni ili mizizi iweze kuenea kina kirefu. Katika majira ya kupanda, mimea ya maji kila siku, na afadhali asubuhi. Kwa sababu ya hali ya hewa, nyanya zinahitaji maji ya sentimita 1 kwa wiki. Nyanya zinahitaji virutubisho ili ziendelee kusitawi na kuzaa vizuri. Inashauriwa kutumia mbolea, mbolea, au mbolea ya matumizi yote kwenye mimea kwa kuendelea wakati wa msimu wa kukua. 5. Uwe na mtazamo mzuri. Usimamizi wa wadudu wa mimea ya nyanya Kuna wadudu kadhaa ambao wanapenda kula nyanya zako. Usimamizi wa wadudu ni muhimu ili kudumisha wadudu wadogo. Vifungo vya waya vilivyofungwa kuzunguka mimea husaidia kuzuia wanyama wasichukue nyanya. Mafuta ya mimea ya mimea kama vile mafuta ya neem ni bora kwa wadudu wengi kama nzi, minyoo na aphids. Inapaswa kutumiwa jioni ili kuzuia mmea usichomwe. Maji yenye sabuni ni yenye manufaa pia katika kuzuia wadudu mbalimbali. Mchanganyiko wa kijiko cha sabuni ya vyombo na lita moja ya maji inaweza kunyunyizia mimea. "Kumbuka kuwa ""Michoro 6 ya bustani ya kawaida katika Colorado"" ni njia nzuri ya kukuza mbegu za nyanya na kuboresha ladha ya nyanya." Mimea kama vile basil, thyme, oregano, na rosemary ni nzuri kupanda karibu na msingi wa mmea wako wa nyanya. Manukato yao yanaweza kusaidia kuondoa wadudu, lakini pia hutokeza kemikali inayoboresha udongo. Hakikisha kusoma blogu yetu: Kwa nini ni Companion Gardening So Good? Kukuza nyanya si lazima iwe yenye kuogopesha au ngumu. Fanya hatua hizi tano na utakuwa na mazao mazuri ya nyanya. Waulize Wataalamu wetu na tutakujibu!