What are the most important tips for growing strong and healthy tomatoes in a backyard garden?

Answer 1

Start with healthy disease resistant plants.
Good draining soil, and a sunny location.
Tomotoes need to be staked so the plant will have support for the fruits to come, and good air circulation off the ground.
A weekly feed of a food just for tomatoes, and be sure to water early enough in the day so there will not be any moisture left on the plant by nightfall.
Tomotoes are proned to black spot, and mildew. keeping them clean and dry is important.
Once the fruit is set pull back on the water, I wait until they ask for it (almost droopy) This will cause the sugars in the tomatoes to form thus producing a very tasty fruit. Too much water at this time of maturing can cause the fruit to split, or a watery tastless tomatoe.
I also spray weekly a solution of baking soda and dish soap and water. This helps to keep the plant clean and detour pests, and also helps to lower the risk of tomatoe diseases such a mildew or blight.
Just a few drops of dish soap and 2 tsp of baking soda in a spray bottle of water...this also should be done early so you will not scorch your plants.
When planting I always plant 1 -1&1/2 inched deeper then the original pot. This help to sturdy the plant and a healthy root system.
Examine your plants daily as to get the jump on any problems or visitors that may have arrisen from the day before. I try not to use any chemicals and remain as organinc as possible. However sometimes you just have to use other means. I have introduced lady bugs, praying mandis, frogs, toads, birds, and garden snakes in to my garden, they do a terrific job keeping the pests under control.
To store an abundance of tomatoes for a length of time.Clean and dry- wrap each in newspaper, in a single layer store in a dark cool place. You can even do this with tomatoes that are harvested green and they will ripen ever so slowly to be used as needed. The length of time depends on your conditions, usually 2-6 weeks.
God Bless and happy gardening!
Grandma

Answer 2

In Jan. of this year we had so much rain that it washed out the soil in small area where I had flowers. So I decided to plant tomatoes and zucchini. Myself also not knowing the best way to do so. I searched the Internet for tips and put them all together and here they are. The area is 4' x 7'. I put in 3 cubic feet of new top soil, 1 cubic foot of compost with worm casings mixed together. This may sound stupid, went to a food market and in the produce area where they sell corn on the cob and they let you shuck the corn into a trash can that you're buying. I asked if I could get some of the husks they said take as much as I wanted because they throw it out. I took a bunch. In the area to plant I spread out the corn husks then covered with top soil and compost. I also save the coffee grounds and egg shells and mix in around the tom. I bought a box of tomato food and add a little each week. I ground soak the area every other day [no sprinkler] not to burn leaves. It has full sun all day. The tomato I planted is a cherry tom. and is over 5 feet in height and still growing and the tomatoes are 2" to 3" in diameter with amazing amount of flowers. So all the tips I received and used are sure working for me. Good luck with yours.

Answer 3

Keep them well hydrated, especially when it's hot. I water early in the morning, and after sunset. Check for bugs, if you have mites, theyll just eat up the foliage. Also, avoid planting in shade,tomatoes thrive in the sunshine all day! Use a mulch around the base to retain moisture(grass clippings, straw etc.)
You can fertilize with "tomato food" every other week. Clip off any dead or dying foliage, so that all nutrients go to the fruits and not wasted leaves. That's about all I've got for you.

Answer 4

The most important tip is when you plant them, remove the lower leaves and plant the plant 1/2 way down in the ground. This will give them the strength to hold up the plants when they get big. Compost is excellent for them as well as miracle grow. Only water at the base of the plant. Good luck!

Answer 5

Start seeds indoors or set out bought plants. Water regularly to prevent blossom end rot. Remove suckers. Fertilize. Provide nitrogen. Tell them how beautiful they are. (some people have trouble with this if they think someone is listening ;-)

happy eating!

Answer 6

water, soil, fertilizer and sun. They like a lot of water, at least daily. Well drained soil. Fertilize weekly. Full sun.

Gophers, squirrels and tomato worms have tormented my tomatos this year. Particularly those dang squirrels.

Answer 7

and also buy a bb gun to keep teh birds away!