Tomatoes are a must-have ingredient in many meals. That’s why it should never miss out from your garden. Contrary to what many people think, tomatoes are easy to grow. As a matter of fact, they don’t require a lot of tending compared to other garden plants. A mature plant can give you great looking tomatoes for the next couple of months.
1. Space Properly.
One thing that tomatoes love is space. You need to properly space your tomato vines so that they can each get ample sunlight. Proper spacing also makes it possible for each plant to get all the nutrients it needs from the soil. It also slows down the spread of diseases from one tomato plant to another. The amount of space you need to leave is determined by the variety of tomatoes you’re planting.
2. Plant Deep.
When planting the tomato seedling, you should plant it with about two thirds of the stem being below the surface. The buried part of the stem will sprout more roots thus offering extra support to the vine as it grows. Also, make sure that the area you’re planting is well prepared and manured before transplanting your tomato seedlings.
3. Protect Young Seedlings.
Young tomato seedlings face many threats, with one of the most rampant being cutworms. That’s why it is important to protect your seedlings from being attacked by these worms. The best way to protect them is by using them in organic deterrents like cardboard. All you have to do is place strips of cardboard around each seeding.
4. Prune Often.
To keep your tomato vines healthy, you need to prune them regularly. When the plant first reaches 3 feet high, you should prune the bottom leaves. They don’t contribute much to the plant and are better off gone. In addition, the bottom leaves are more susceptible to pathogens and diseases that might be in the soil. That’s why it is good for you to prune them.
5. Use Fertilizer.
When transplanting your seedlings, it is advisable to add a major nutrient fertilizer into the soul. This ensures that there are enough nutrients in the soil for your tomato plants to grow. You can find these kinds of fertilizers in any gardening supplies shop.
6. Mulch.
Mulching plays an important role in ensuring healthy growth of your tomatoes. You should start mulching several days after transplant your seedlings. Mulching has several functions. For starters, it reduces the amount of water evaporation from the soil thus enabling the soil to hold moisture for longer periods of time. Secondly, mulching prevents weeds from growing. Shredded leaves and straw are the best materials to use as mulch.