Author: Elvira Bowen

Generally, the time to start your seeds is about 6- 8 weeks before the last expected spring frost date in your area, planting the seedlings outdoors about 2 weeks after that date. What month is best to plant tomato seeds? Tomatoes are warm weather plants which need plenty of sun to thrive and grow best […]

If you’re growing tomatoes in containers, though, potting soil is the way to go. It is lighter than garden soil so it drains well, and it’s devoid of weeds and diseases. Potting soil ingredients list usually consists of a mixture of peat, perlite and compost, advises Exploratorium. What potting soil is best for tomatoes? Sandy […]

Tomatoes thrive in pots, and you’re giving them just the conditions they need when you plant them in early summer. Warm days, warm nights, and warm soil stimulate growth. Small tomato plants set out in pots at the beginning of the summer will grow quickly and produce prodigiously. Do tomatoes grow better in pots or […]

Is Bone Meal Good for Tomatoes? Bone meal is great for many plants, especially tomatoes, because it provides two key nutrients: phosphorus and calcium. Extra phosphorus helps tomato plants grow bigger and healthier fruits, not to mention that phosphorus is responsible for providing the fruit with water from the soil. Is blood and bone good […]

The Science Behind Deep Planting Burying your tomato plants deep into the soil helps them grow better because tomatoes form roots all along any buried portion of the stem—if you look closely you will see tiny bumps, which are the roots before they develop. Is it better to grow tomatoes in pots or in the […]

Don’t just stop at planting Marigolds with your tomatoes. For further protection from pest bugs, you can also plant basil, beans, bee balm, borage, sweet alyssum, chives, garlic, nasturtium, mint, anise, onion, and parsley. What to put on tomatoes for bugs? What is best insect spray for tomato plants? To make an insect spray at […]

Terminal buds and root tips will also die. Adding too much calcium in the soil can lead to a high pH level, which makes the gardening soil too alkaline. A calcium deficiency in your tomatoes isn’t necessarily caused by a calcium deficiency in their soil. Pot-grown tomatoes are especially susceptible. How often should I add […]

Benefits of Topping Tomatoes If you would like your plant to be bushier, cut the top off it. This allows the plant to redirect energy to other areas which enables it to fill out instead of continuing to grow taller. Topped tomato plants will also, typically, produce larger fruit and more of it. When should […]

Will tomato plants regrow after being cut to the ground? No, tomato plants will not regrow if you cut them back to the ground. They may sprout a few new leaves, depending on how much of a stump is left, but even then they likely won’t have enough time to grow and produce fruit before […]

Like most vegetables, tomatoes like well-draining, nitrogen-rich soil with a pH of around 6.5. Growing in a raised bed allows you to create the perfect conditions for your tomato plants, rather than trying to amend your native soil to get just-right conditions. Are Raised garden beds good for tomatoes? Benefits of Growing Tomatoes in Raised […]

Tomatoes release a cancer-fighting antioxidant when cooked. According to Scientific American, this is because the heat can break down some tougher cell walls in the plant, making it easier for the body to absorb their nutrients. Which is better raw tomatoes or cooked tomatoes? — Cooking tomatoes — such as in spaghetti sauce — makes […]

A: Do not reuse potting soil from tomatoes to grow tomatoes again for at least 3 years. They are heavy feeders that pull lots of nutrients from the soil. Additionally, tomatoes are disease prone. These diseases can stay in the soil for several years. Can you reuse soil for tomato plants? Potting soil that was […]

every seven to 14 days. Spraying Tomato Plants To prevent fungal diseases, apply baking soda spray for tomatoes to the plants every seven to 14 days (or after each rain event) until the humidity levels no longer promote infections. Before spraying, remove infected foliage and any garden mulch surrounding the plants. Will baking soda hurt […]