We ’re deep in the heart of tomato - growing time of year , and as the summertime continues , it ’s important to be a few elementary footstep to keep your tomato plants glad and sizeable .
1 . Mulch
To asseverate even grease moisture tier and to limit weed emergence , tomatoes should be mulch early in the time of year . Use a 2- to 3 - in bed of organic matter , such as untreated skunk cutting , pale yellow , finish compost or finely shred leaves , to mulch the flora , ensure to keep the mulch a few in aside from the stems . Mulch also cuts down on dirt - borne diseases , like early blight . The spores of this fungous disease easily swash up onto the foliage during rain declension , but a thick layer of mulch aid protect the industrial plant from exposure .
2 . Fertilize
love apple practice a lot of nutrients during their increase . Maximize production by working a few inches of compost into the garden each spring . everlasting constitutional gritty fertilizers with a slightly gamy phosphoric message can aid with fruit Seth . Avoid high-pitched - nitrogen fertilizer , as they promote leaf product , sometimes at the expense of fruit . Liquid fertilizers , include fish photographic emulsion and liquid kelp , can be used throughout the summertime for an supernumerary hike of macro- and micronutrients .
3 . Stake
To keep the developing fruit off the earth and away from slugs and other insects , tomato plants should be staked or trellised . There are 101 different ways to do this , and every gardener has a favorite technique . It does n’t matterhowyou stake your ‘ maters — what matters is that you do !
One uncomplicated proficiency is to use a 1 - by-1 - inch hardwood stake and some jute string to train the plant . Another is to habituate a wooden or metal tomato “ batting cage ” to keep the plants good . Some folk prefer an A - frame trellis that supports two plants at once , and still others apply spiral stake or twine lines to trellis multiple plants in a row .
4 . Prune
Or do n’t . Some gardeners swear by take away the side - shoot , aka suckers , from their tomato industrial plant , while others countenance them grow . Yes , these shoot will eventually produce fruit , but they can grow into an uncontrollable mess , if not supported the right way . I ’m a religious tomato plant pruner in my own garden , preferring to regularly vellicate off the suckers . I feel it improves air circulation around my works and help cut down on fungal diseases . I grow lots of tomatoes in a fairly small blank space , so pruning my flora lets me fit more varieties into the garden , but I know plenty of gardeners who allow the fall guy to grow — they assert they get more yield and the ripe love apple are shield from sun - scald . The truth is , whether to prune or not prune is the gardeners choice .
5 . Regular Disease Checks
A very significant practice in the Lycopersicon esculentum spell is a regular check for foliar diseases . Walk through your garden twice weekly , prove the plants ’ foliage for dark spots , discolouration , yellowing or other indication of disease . If you notice marred foliation , clip off the damaged foliage with a clean , sharp pair of pruners and take it in a certain baggie to your local nursery or extension service agent for a proper identification of the disease . Some online sources can also assist key out foliar disease on love apple . Suggested treatment depend on the specific disease and a proper diagnosis is key for early restraint .
6 . Water
Tomato plants require at least 1 inch of water per week , whether from the end of your hose or from Mother Nature . invalidate overhead lachrymation , such as from a sprinkler , whenever possible because wet foliage can promote fungal diseases . drip mould irrigation or targeted soil - grade irrigation is respectable . Always water in the morning so the foliage has time to dry off before nightfall . If you mulch your plants well early in the time of year , supplemental irrigation is rarely necessary , except in fourth dimension of drought .
