Top tips for growing tomatoes
Nothing beats the flavour of home-grown tomatoes, so start your own crop today with our top tips for growing tasty tomatoes.
Don’t crowd seedlings – Crowded conditions inhabit growth so be sure to give your seedlings plenty of room. For each plant, prepare at least a 60 centimetre by 60 centimetre plot.
Prime location – Tomatoes need at least eight hours of direct sunlight daily and shelter from strong wind.
Plant a few varieties – There’s so many different types of tomatoes available so grow a few varieties. You’ll soon find that some types just suit your garden better, while others may be susceptible to disease.
Staking – This is essential for tall-growing varieties of tomatoes. Add the stake at planting time and as the plant grows, tie it to the stake. Use soft ties, such as old stockings rather than string. This trains your plant, keeps it stable, takes up less space, prevent damage from strong winds and escapes the adverse effects of damp soil.
Water well – Tomatoes need regular deep watering, especially during the warmer months. Even letting plants go thirsty for a few days will affect the quality of fruit. Water the soil, not the plant.
Inspect often – Check daily for signs of pest or diseases. Remove dead leaves, unwanted shoots and harvest anything that is ready.
Companion plant – Plant marigolds around tomatoes to reduce whitefly infestations. Or sacrifice some basil which will attract white flies away from your tomato. Garlic, nasturtiums or tagetes will repel aphids.
Pot plants – Tomatoes grown in pots are more likely to dry out than those in the ground. However, if that’s not possible, the small bush type do best in pots. Use a big pot and water well.
Yellowing leaves – Once tomato plants reach around a metre tall, the leaves at the bottom might turn yellow and die. This is normal so just snip them off.
When to give up – If there are many yellowing leaves and the plant on a whole looks unhealthy, it may have contracted a bacterial, fungal or virus disease. The plant generally won’t flourish now and it’s best to be pulled out and disposed of. Don’t attempt to grow tomatoes in the same spot for at least a couple of years.
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