	Article Directory		Article Submission Service		Article Marketing Blog		Publishers		Member Log In

Article Directory :: Home & Family Articles

Tips On How To Grow Tomatoes Successfully

By Kaye Dennan

Republish: EasyPublish™
Published: 16May2010
Word count: 706
Viewed: 212 time(s)

Get Free Content For Your Site

I never realized it but tomatoes are by far the most popularly homegrown vegetable? Well, the truth is, it is not a vegetable but a fruit, but for the sake of this comparison it has been termed a 'vegetable' as gardeners just love to grow these plants to get fruit in all sorts of shapes and sizes. Many have started and given up because they just did not know enough about how to do it successfully in the first place, so here is some starter's information.

Growing tomatoes is basically quite easy, but it is watching those pests and blights that cause the most problems during the growing cycle. In saying that, the planting of the tomato in the first place is also critical. In the home environment it is quite easy to have organically grown tomatoes and this style of growing is gaining popularity all the time.

There are over 7,500 varieties of tomatoes, but don't be overwhelmed by that as many would not suit your purposes anyway. When looking for some varieties to grow, firstly consider the following as this will help you come up with a short list of varieties to research for your home environment:

- the climate that you live in as tomatoes like warm climates but will grow in cooler climates and that may affect the variety that you choose and also the timing of the planting

- the time you have to maintain your plants during the growing period as some plants require more attention than others

- how much fruit you want to harvest and for what length of time you want to harvest the fruit

- whether you want tall plants or smaller plants as each will require a different method of care

When planning on planting tomatoes take into consideration that the outdoor temperature needs to be between 65°F to 85°F during the day and no cooler than 60°F at night before you put the first plants in the ground. In most places this means that it is into the end of the first month of summer before seedlings are planted in the garden.

Seedlings need to be placed at least 12 to 18 inches apart so that they are not crowded or getting intertwined with each other. Some of the very large bushes may need to even be planted 36 inches apart. Tomatoes do need a good flow of air too, and this is why the space is required between plants.

If planting into containers, use one large container for the larger plants, but if the smaller dwarf varieties are going to be grown, it is possible to set 2 or 3 in a large pot.

Supporting tomato plants during growth.

The taller varieties are going to need support from the moment they are about 8 inches high. Leaves on the young plants grow quite fast so it is advisable to gently support the tomato stem as early as possible or they will bend and break. When the plants are initially chosen it is advisable to also decide on the style of support that is intended for them. Is it going to be:

- A teepee

- A cage

- A trellis

- A stake, or some other form of support

Knowing how you are going to support them will also influence how far apart you will plant them.

Maintaining tomato plants.

Tomato plants love and do require, a minimum of 6 hours sunshine a day and they need to have a consistant supply of water. A good system for the watering is to have an automated system set up so that you can be assured that they will get watered each and every day and early in the morning which is the best time to water.

Plants can be pruned, but it is best not to be too vicious with this. Trimming suckers that grow in the joint of the branches helps keep the plant sending vital nutrients to the fruit.

Harvesting the fruit from your own plants is a fantastic experience. There is no sweeter taste than fruit that is grown by your own hand. When you research how to grow tomatoes successfully and take the steps suggested you have a very good chance of picking the nicest, sweetest tomatoes around.

Growing tomatoes can be challenging but when you have read how to plant them and how to maintain them you can reap luscious tomatoes for months. Read how to Grow Tomatoes Successfully by signing up to our FREE 10 part mini-course 'Luscious Tomatoes'.

EasyPublish™ this article - publishers click here