How can I produce better tomatoes?

Question

I've noticed that if I grow tomatoes in the same spot for consecutive years that my crop isn't as good as the first year. Even though last year I mixed in composted manure to my garden my tomato plants didn't seem to produce as much or the best quality. Does anyone know why this happens and what I can do to insure better crops in the future?

Answer 1

None of the answers are wrong. One of the things not mentioned was the possibility of nematodes. They attack the roots of tomatoes and will cause a reduced yield over time. You can help by making sure the plants you use are nematode resistant. Make sure the plants are labled VFN. Rotating is good if you can.

If fertilization is the problem, I would try a small amount of Osmacote in the soil when I plant and use a root stimulator in the water when you plant. The suggestion of Early Girl or Better Boy is a good one. I also "prune" my plants. That is, remove the "suckers" that appear at the leaf junction as they appear. This will strengthen the main plant and give you larger tomatoes.

Compost is good for the soil but doesn't usually supply much in the way of nutrients. That's why you may have to supply some fertilizer each year.

Good luck

Answer 2

What we have done in the past and it still works is to get better boy, best boy or better girl tomato plants. Plant them with a good manure mixture. Once they start to bloom, pull those first blossoms off. This sends more nutrients to the plant thus creating a bigger, stronger plant. We have had plants that were upwards of 6 feet tall and produced tomatoes all summer long. If you are hesitant with doing this with all your plants, try it with a couple and see what you think!

Answer 3

If you plant the same kind of plant in the same spot each year, it will slowly deplete the soil of what it needs.

Different plants take and give back different things from the soil. It's good if you can rotate where you plant things. Planting beans will fix nitrogen in the soil, root crops have different needs, too.

If your space is small, you may not have the luxury of being able to rotate. Like your only sunny spot is small, and moving the tomatos would mean moving them to a less-than-sunny-spot. not good.

If your tomatos needs to be in the same spot each year, amending the soil is good. Tomatos also need a fair amount of magniesium. You can provide this by sprinkling the ground around your plant with epsom salts. (once a year, lightly, is enough)

Answer 4

you should rotate your crop-different plants extract dif. nutrients from the soil. Also, dif. ones return nutrients to the soil. This is why we had the dust bowl in the 30's.People were growing the same crops year after year in the same spot and it was killing the soil. Remember that from history? (not useless after all-lol). I'm not sure which crops rotate the best w/ tomatos, but people in my family rotate okra, field peas, eggplant, cucumbers, squash, corn, and ~anything else you can think of. You can do greens/ cabbage/broccoli in the winters-tomatos/okra/eggplant in the summer. Manure is awesome, but it only returns some of the nutrients you need (don't get me to name them). I have found cow manure to be the best. Sheep manure can cause problems-can't remember what, but it does. Also, too much water will make your tomatos split. Go to the USDA website to find which are most compatable. I think you can find it there.

Answer 5

it fairly works high-quality to make tomatoes that are ... nicely ... tomatoes. there is no longer some thing particular about them. it is purely the plant that grows the different way up. A tomato plant is unquestionably a vining plant. So, in case you develop it in the floor, you're meant to stake the flowers, or have them develop up a trellis or tomato cage to save the fruit off the floor. in the different case, the plant will purely sprawl out alongside the floor. A topsy turvy purely suspends the tomato plant in the air, such that the branches are allowed to charm to close down, somewhat of being tied up or sprawling alongside the floor.

Answer 6

Yes, you do have to rotate your plantings. When I plant tomatoes I use a mixture of 1/2 epsom salts and 1/2 dried milk. I put a handful in each hole and mix it in with the soil. I always get huge,strong plants and tons of tomatoes.

Answer 7

mine do the same thing. i have tried everything, compost , peat moss, manure, fertilizer, lime, same results. maybe it's the micronutrients in the soil that the tomato plant uses, maybe it's nematodes, funguses, or pests get established there. whatever it is , you get about 2 good years, then things go downhill.

the solution- you have to have several beds, rotate tomatoes to different one each year. either leave some of the empty or plant other things in them. i know it's a lot of work making new beds, but you have to do it.

i have thing growing all year round in my beds. during fall and spring, things like brocoli, cabbage, lettuce. in summer, peppers, squash, flowers.

Answer 8

Manure contains every nutrient that a plant needs.

You need to add it every year, if they need a little extra around 1st blossom set , and first fruit set


Maybe your soil pH in wrong, should be between 6.5 and 7.0 for best growrth

Answer 9

buy a product called thrive, i promise it will double the size and quanity of tomatoes and works wonders foe house plants too. it only takes several drops per gallon of water for outside plants and 1 drop per gallon for inside plants, its the best thing i've ever used. you can purchase it at walmart, happy growing!

Answer 10

watch your nitrogen you will have nice plants but not much fruit , I1m surprised that you dont have blight or blossom end rot or some other problem by not rotating your planting spot