Mistakes to avoid when growing tomatoes

Home grown tomatoes produce fruit through summer and late autumn, and ripened on the vine, they just burst with flavour.  

Planting and care

• Plant seedlings in August to December in partial to full sun. If they are getting too much of the hot afternoon summer sun, use shade cloth to protect them.  
• Dig some well-rotted manure and compost into your soil before planting.  
• Make sure they have plenty of support to grow. Stakes, cages, and trellises are good options, and always plan for more than you think you’ll need as tomato vines can be big!
• When you plant your seedlings, add a small amount of bone meal to each hole. This will help your tomatoes to develop strong root systems. The better the root system, the more vigorous your plants will be.
• Tomatoes are thirsty plants and need regular deep watering.  
• Tomatoes need a fair amount of feeding but to simplify this process, you can use an organic tomato feed.  
• A good mulch will help to keep the weeds out and the water in. Remember to keep top up your mulch as it breaks down into your soil. Pea straw or lucerne are both good options.  
• For the tastiest tomatoes, harvest them once they have fully ripened on the vine.  

Common mistakes

Not pruning

Pruning can improve the health of your plants. It should be done periodically and regularly throughout the growing season.  

Watering incorrectly

You need to make your plants get enough, but not too much water!  Water your tomato plants at the base only. If you can install a drip irrigation system, that’s even better as it will give a slow and steady supply. Watering from above can also encourage the spread of fungal diseases.  

Not mulching

Most mulches act as slow-release fertilisers, helping to add nutrients to the soil gradually while also building soil and retaining moisture. They also supress weeds.

Not fertilising correctly

Tomatoes are heavy feeders and need to be fertilised. This is especially important when they are flowering and fruiting. Make sure you use a nitrogen-heavy fertiliser early in the growing season when your tomatoes start to set fruit and switch to a lower nitrogen fertiliser later in the season.

Overcrowding your plants

Tomato plants need lots of elbow room! Don’t squeeze too many into a small space. Instead, follow the spacing guidelines listed for your specific type of tomato plants.

Ignoring companion plants

Everyone needs friends, including tomatoes! Basil and tomato are best friends in and out of the garden. Grow basil alongside your tomato plants to reduce the chances of pests and diseases - and as a bonus you’ll have the ingredients for the perfect salad or pasta sauce! Tomatoes also love to be around borage, nasturtiums, and marigolds.

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