Grow tomatoes like a rock star

Super Start's method for growing tomatoes like a rock star is not hard or complicated. Here are the 5 things to keep in mind to have plenty of tomatoes in your garden this season.

Sun exposure

Tomato plants need full sun, 6 to 8 hours is the minimum. The more sun exposure you give them, the happier they will be.

Soil Prep

The most important thing is to amend the soil with compost. Compost is important for adding nutrients to the soil as well as improving the soil texture. Compost acts like a sponge to absorb and hold onto water for use by the plants. Compost also lowers the pH of the soil, making it more acidic. This helps make soil nutrients more available to the plants. Mix 1, 5 gallon bucket of compost per tomato plant into the existing soil. Turn the compost into the soil so that it is about a ½ and ½ mixture.

Use a fertilizer that is not high in nitrogen. You want tomato plants to grow vigorously, but not so much that it inhibits fruit production. Add 1 cup of dry fertilizer at planting for each tomato plant and mix well into the soil. Good organic fertilizers we recommend are:
Dr. Earth Tomato, Vegetable, and Herb fertilizer
Down To Earth All Purpose Fertilizer

Support

Tomatoes grow best when supported by a tall tomato cages, and the larger the cage, the better. You can buy tomato cages at any nursery center but they usually are not supportive enough. Rock star tomatoes need a very sturdy cage. Its easy and inexpensive to make your own out of 6 ft. tall wire fencing with a 6x8 inch mesh. Cut 6-6.5 foot sections of the fencing and make a cylinder, wiring the mesh so it stays in shape. Place it over the tomato plant after planting. Support the cage on 2 sides with wooden stakes. This cage makes it very easy to harvest your tomatoes and allows for good sun exposure.

Watering

How much you need to water depends on your soil type. If the soil is very sandy, they will need more water. If it is denser soil with more clay content, you want to water less. Never water tomatoes too much after they have set fruit because they will be too watery. A good, deep watering every week to week and a half should work.

Tomatoes growing in containers need more watering than tomatoes growing in the ground. When the top few inches of soil in the container is dry go ahead and water.

Harvesting

Harvest tomatoes when they are fully colored up and slightly soft to the touch. Don’t put tomatoes in the refrigerator! Refrigeration causes the sugars to turn into starch and ruins their flavor. Store tomatoes on the kitchen counter and they will keep their sweetness.

Following the above tips will make you a tomato rock star. You will have an abundance of tomatoes for your household. Eat them raw, cook into sauce or give them away to all your neighbors.

Happy Gardening.