Chicago Home and Lifestyles – 7 tips to grow better tomatoes this summer

The taste of a home-grown tomato is so much better than anything else you will ever get from the grocery store. Sure, farmers’ markets are great for locally grown produce, but in your own garden you can control pesticides and choose exactly what goes on your plants! 

Here are a few tips on how to grow the most popular fruit in the summer garden:

Time it just right.

Correct planting time is very important. Young tomato plants are very sensitive to frost and low temperatures. Even knowing your frost dates doesn’t mean it’s ok to plant! 

Depending on where you live, your planting times will be different. The overall rule of thumb: nighttime temperatures need to be consistently above 50 degrees, with daytime temperatures at 60 or higher. 

Have adequate space.

Tomato plants need space because they need optimum air circulation to grow. Planting too closely will cause the plants to compete for sunlight, water and nutrients. There is also more risk of disease and pests when plants are not given enough space. So,

plant them 18-24 inches apart. 

Feed regularly.

Tomatoes need steady feeding for optimum growth. Especially once they start producing fruit, they need a consistent supply of plant food to keep the tomato plants producing. It’s good to add some plant food to the base of the hole when you plant it. Then you can fertilize every 3 weeks as they produce fruit. You can either mix some fertilizer in the soil around the base of the plant or use a sprinkling can and foliar feed. 

Prune regularly.

Tomato plants need regular pruning to keep excess foliage at bay and increase fruit production. Suckers are small growths that appear at the base of the plant and side branches. Simply pinch them off as they appear. If side shoots are left on, you get too much foliage that produces nothing, and can cause too much air congestion which results in diseases and pests. Also prune any excess arms as these take energy from the plant. Tomatoes are tough; they can handle it.

Water consistently.

One to 1.5 inches per week is optimal, a bit more during the peak of summer or if it’s unusually hot. Pay attention to rain fall and augment when necessary. We water daily until the plants are established. A soaker hose works great as it slowly leeches the water directly into the soil. 

Provide proper support.

The arms of the plants need support to hold the heavy fruit. You can use cages, stakes or a trellis. I find cages easier. You simply feed the branches through the cage as they grow. If you use stakes or a trellis you will need to tie up each branch as it grows. 

Pluck ripe fruit.

Don’t leave ripe fruit on the plants. They will split and attract unwanted insects and pests to your plants. It’s really best to harvest tomatoes a few days early and allow them to ripen indoors. 

Tomatoes come in all different sizes from little cherries to giant heirlooms, so consider the space you have when choosing a variety. Determinate tomatoes take up less space and are bush like, making them ideal for container gardening. They only produce for two weeks or so. Indeterminate tomatoes grow vines 8-10 feet tall and produce all season. 

Kathleen Weaver-Zech and Dean’s Team Chicago