Tomato Planting Tips and Techniques

 Growing healthy, productive tomato plants that produce a bountiful harvest of deliciously juicy tomatoes all starts with how you plant the seedlings in the ground, and what you plant alongside it. 

Tomato Planting Tips & Techniques

By following these simple steps in the gardening process, I will teach you all tomato planting Tips & Techniques step by step the right way!

Tomatoes grow well in moderately fertile soil with lots of organic matter. You can incorporate organic fertilizer when you prepare the soil. No matter what kind of soil you have in your garden, you can shape it into a great home for your tomatoes. Both light, sandy soils that drain too rapidly and heavy, clay soils that take forever to drain and warm up in spring can be improved with the addition of organic matter such leaves, compost and well rotted chicken manure.

When choosing a location to grow tomatoes, full sun is usually the best option. Pick a sunny spot and don’t plant your tomatoes too close together. Tomato plants thrive in full sun and are healthier when provided good air circulation. Pick a location that gets at least 6 to 8 hours of sunlight each day to plant your plants. 

You need to give your tomato plants the best possible environment to grow by implementing companion planting in your vegetable garden. Companion planting is an excellent way to improve the health and the good growth of your tomato plants! 

What is Companion Planting?

Companion planting is the practice of growing different plants together. This will make them strong, healthy, and more productive because some plants have complementary characteristics, such as their nutrient requirements, growth habits, and pest-repelling abilities. The right tomato companions will engender a healthier plant with better fruit yields. Plant companion plants next to your tomato plants that will naturally deter bugs from residing on or near your beloved fruit. Plant, basil, chamomile, beans, oregano, borage, chives, garlic, mint, marigolds, anise, nasturtium, onion, parsley, peppers or petunias near your tomatoes to ward off unwanted visitors.

Read: Companion Plants For Tomatoes 

Marigolds have long been planted alongside tomato plants, and not just because of their pretty flowers. They help to repel many of the common pests that can injure or destroy your tomato plants, The roots of the marigold plant produce and secrete a chemical substance that is toxic and deadly to nematodes. In fact, it can wipe out an entire population of nematodes. They also serve as a calling card to bring in an enormous amount of pollinators and beneficial insects to the garden as well. Planting marigolds with your tomato plants can not only help your tomatoes stay healthy, vibrant & strong, it can also help you grow your most prolific crop of tomatoes ever!

Chamomile grows well as a companion plant for many vegetables. Companion planting chamomile with tomatoes, improves the health and flavour of your tomatoes, and deter pests too.

. With a hand shovel. Dig holes deep enough to accommodate your transplants. Tomatoes are deep-rooted plants with a tap root system. The actual depth depends on the tomato variety, soil structure, and planting technique, but it can grow a root system as deep as 2 to 3 feet if given optimal conditions. When you plant them deeply, with a portion of the stem also hidden under the soil, they’ll get a better chance to develop deeper and stronger roots.  

. Mix in a generous amount of leaf mold, mushroom compost, or best composted manure, I always use the oldest of all fertilizers and still is the best is Manure. In addition to its nitrogen and other food content, it is high in humus and contains bacteria which improve the soil. This will help enrich your soil and improve drainage. Chicken manure fertilizers also help improve the structure of the soil including the circulation of air, which sustains beneficial microorganisms that help release nutrients to the soil. Organic fertilizers make the living soil rich and nutritious for the tomato plants to grow. The ingredients of the organic fertilizers come from all natural, chemical free nutrients that is not only good for the plants to grow naturally but also helps the nature to keep its balance and reduce negative impacts caused by harsh chemical fertilizers.

. Set your tomato seedlings in the hole deeply enough so that two-thirds of it is buried. Roots will sprout all along the buried stem to make a stronger plant. You can pinch off the lower leaves if you prefer, but it is not necessary. Tomatoes have the ability to grow roots along their stems, so when planting tomato plants, plant deep, right up to the first set of leaves.

. After you get your tomato, and marigold transplants situated, gently back-fill the hole with the soil you dug out.

. You'll want to boost the plants with a little fertilizer to get them off to a good start. Add some extra slow release fertilizer on top of the soil when you plant out the tomato seedlings. I always use well rotted chicken manure that I always have on hand. It's the black gold for my organic garden. This will be high in nitrogen and help with leaf and stem growth on newly planted tomato seedlings. 

. Water well around your new plants. 

. For the first 2 weeks after planting your tomato seedlings, water a little bit every day or every other day if it doesn’t rain, to get the plants established. Water generously the first few days that the tomato seedlings are in the ground. Then water with about 2 inches per square foot per week during the growing season. Deep watering encourages a strong root system. Avoid overhead watering and afternoon watering. Water at the base soil level of the plants to avoid splashing water on the leaves, which invites disease. Water in the early morning so that plants have sufficient moisture to make it through a hot day.

My Top Advice:

For the healthiest tomato plants with the best yield, plant deep, water well, and stake the vines as they grow!

Watch How to Plant Tomato Seedlings 

Big Selection of Tomato Seeds From Here!

Looking for additional tips on growing perfect tomatoes? Read and learn how to grow delicious tomatoes, from starting seeds indoors, planting seedlings the right way to harvest without chemicals, plus companion plants and how to use organic fertilizer tips to give you tons of organic tomatoes.

Please let us know your thoughts, experiences, or questions in the comments below. If you like this, you can share with your friends! 

Happy Organic Gardening

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