Key’s To Success With Tomatoes

June 2, 2026
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Key's To Success With Tomatoes

  • Plant your tomatoes when the soil feels deliciously warm—between 60 and 70 degrees—and the nights are no colder than 55 degrees. If you rush and plant in chilly soil, your tomatoes may sulk, refusing to grow or soak up the nutrients they crave. Beware those deceptively sunny spring days: even if it’s toasty in the afternoon, cool nights below 55 degrees can cause blossoms to drop, leaving you with empty stems instead of juicy fruit.
  • Give your tomatoes a sunbath! They thrive on at least 6 hours of direct sunlight each day. Less light means fewer, smaller fruits—so let them bask in the sun for a bumper harvest.
  • Treat your tomatoes to loose, well-draining soil—think of it as a comfy bed for their roots. Stuck with heavy clay? Mix in compost or other organic matter to create the perfect tomato spa.
  • Bury your tomato plants deep—deeper than you’d expect! Unlike most plants, tomatoes love having their roots stretch far down. Plant them so that the bottom leaves are almost touching the ground. Once planted, pluck off the bottom leaves to prevent disease from spreading from the ground to the leaves.
  • Tuck your tomatoes in with a cozy layer of mulch. Not only does it keep pesky weeds at bay, it locks in precious moisture so your plants stay happy and hydrated.
  • Help your tomatoes stand tall—give them a sturdy cage or stakes to lean on as they reach for the sky. Indeterminate varieties especially need this support to grow strong and produce more fruit.
  • Keep your tomatoes quenched! They need steady moisture to thrive. Letting them dry out between drinks can lead to sad, struggling plants. Water deeply at the base, steering clear of the leaves. If your tomatoes live in containers, they may be thirsty enough to need a drink every day—especially in hot weather.
  • Feed your tomatoes with a calcium-rich fertilizer, such as Tomato Tone, every 2 weeks. This regular treat keeps them strong and helps prevent blossom end rot, so you can look forward to perfect, plump fruit.
  • Pinch away those pesky suckers—the small shoots that pop up where branches meet the stem. Removing them keeps your plant’s energy focused on growing big, flavorful tomatoes rather than leafy distractions.
Categories: Garden Blog