how to plant tomato's and take care

PLANTING TOMATOES

Select a location in full sun for tomato plants. After the last chance of frost has passed, prepare a space in the garden with a tiller or by loosening the soil with a shovel. Remove all grass and weeds, and then add amendments, such as Pennington Fast Acting Gypsum. This product starts working immediately to promote fast, healthy root growth by loosening compacted soil, giving tomatoes the drainage they require. Once the soil is prepared, work Alaska Fish Fertilizer 5-1-1 into the top 6 inches7 of soil. Apply up to one week before planting, to provide the nutrients tomato plants need to grow strong. This low-odor product is made with fish, kelp and other natural ingredients.

Plant spacing varies, depending on the variety of tomato, but, as a general rule, space 24 to 36 inches apart in rows 4 to 5 feet apart.7 Dig a hole twice the width of the root ball and deep enough so that the top of the root ball is even with the soil line. Back fill the hole with soil and gently pack the dirt around the stem with your hands.

Water thoroughly after planting, and then put support structures — stakes or cages, depending on the tomato variety — in place.

MAINTAINING PLANTS

Tomatoes require 1 to 2 inches of water per week. To encourage a healthy root system, water infrequently but deeply, rather than daily and lightly. Fertilize plants every 4 to 6 weeks throughout the growing season to keep them consistently fed and able to produce juicy tomatoes all summer.  This product includes bone meal for added calcium, which helps to prevent blossom end rot.1Pruning tomatoes encourages healthy production and provides better air flow between plants, which helps prevent disease and limit pest problems.2 Keep determinate varieties pruned by pinching off suckers — the small shoots that grow in the area between the trunks and stems of a tomato plants — from the lowest flower clusters to the ground. Prune indeterminate varieties by pinching off all suckers from the second flower cluster down. Always pinch suckers as they emerge; waiting until they are 1/4 inch in diameter or larger leaves an open wound, making the plant more susceptible to fungal issues and pests.

While tomatoes don't attract a lot of pests, there are a few insects that can cause major damage if not immediately controlled. Sevin-5 Ready-To-Use 5% Dust applied to leaf surfaces eliminates over 65 types of insects, including common tomato pests such as hornworms, fruitworms and flea beetles.

Slugs and snails like to eat tomatoes because they are a succulent fruit. Visible signs can be mucin trails or holes in your fruits. Scatter Corry's Slug & Snail Killer bait pellets on the soil around your tomatoes. This will immediately stop slugs and snails from feeding and end plant damage.

Tomatoes come off the vine easily. Simply hold the tomato and gently twist it to remove it from the vine, or use sharp, clean pruning shears to cut the stem. Harvest tomatoes when they feel firm, but not solid. When you give the fruit a squeeze, it should have a little give. It is better to harvest fruit a little too early than too late. Leave almost-ripe fruit on a windowsill for a day or two to allow it completely ripen.

Whether you're dreaming of grilled stuffed beefsteak tomatoes or sun-dried cherry tomatoes, you can grow tasty tomatoes all summer long by selecting the right variety, location and products to keep your plants healthy.