Page 1 - LEAD MAGNATE - TOMATOES

HOW TO GROW

TOMATOES

SUCCESSFULLY

Before I discuss the two different types of tomatoes, bush
and indeterminate, it’s useful to look at some basics of All Products are available at

growing tomatoes, whatever type you choose to grow. wendysgardenstore.com/store

WHERE TO PLANT TOMATOES HOW TO

FERTILIZE
Tomatoes need full sun, with 6 – 8 hours of sun exposure.
Tomatoes have a large root system, which is not surprising TOMATOES
when you see how much top-growth they have.

At planting time, use a soil

If you are growing tomatoes in containers, choose at least starter to give the plant a
a 10-gallon container– their root system will fill the entire good start. Follow up with
container. Use good potting soil. a balanced fertilizer such

as 2.3.2 when the plant is a
month old. Then feed every
If you are using the square-foot raised bed method, then 2 -3 weeks with a liquid
plant one tomato per square, and prune it one stem. Whether tomato fertilizer.
container-grown or grown in the ground, allow space be-
tween the tomato plant and other plants.

HOW TO
Don’t crowd tomatoes; you want to maximize air circulation MULCH YOUR
and prevent fungal disease. TOMATOES

HOW TO PLANT TOMATOES

Remove the lower 6 - 10
inches of leaves from the
Unlike other seedlings, tomatoes should be planted deeper base of the plant. Mulch
in the ground than they were in the pot. This means that if the the plant with a 2” - 4”
tomato seedling is 9 inches tall, then you would bury the layer of mulch which will
plant, so that only the top 3 to 4 inches are above ground. prevent splash-back from
You do this because tomatoes are able to develop the soil to the leaves.
adventitious roots from the stem (below the soil surface). Cleaning up the base of
These additional roots will help anchor the plant and provide the plant and mulching
an effective root system which will ensure a good crop of will reduce the risk of
tomatoes. fungal disease.