When and How to Plant Tomatoes

Tomato plants do not like frost. The actual planting time depends on your region, but is usually around late April to the beginning of May. The rule of thumb is: plant tomato seedlings after danger of frost has passed. If you don't want to wait, or your weather person was mistaken (oh my!) make sure to cover the tomato plants overnight to keep them warm.

Here is what you need to get started growing tomatoes

Tomato starter plants

Tomato cages

Short-handled spade

Garden hose (soaker hoses are preferable)

Fertilizer (Miracle grow for tomatoes works well)

Rototiller or manual tiller (some garden centers and home improvement stores rent out rototillers)

Note: You can try your hand at growing tomatoes from seed but since tomato plants are relatively inexpensive, for the gardener who does not have time to tend to seeds, its more efficient to plant seedlings.

First prepare the soil

Tomato plants need several hours of sunlight a day--choose the garden location with this in mind. Prepare your soil for tomato plants by tilling the soil and adding a bit of fertilizer. Tomatoes do need relatively good drainage, so if you have hard clay soil you will need to add some sand and peat to loosen it up.

The soil's pH matters as well--tomatoes prefer a pH of 6.0, no lower than 5.5 and no higher than 7.0. You can bring a soil sample to your local extension office or buy a testing kit yourself to check soil pH. Bring pH down with sulfur and raise pH with lime (both are available at garden stores), or ask your local garden store for other suggestions.

Next, remove the seedlings from their pots (unless they are in peat pots or other organic pots, which can be planted as is). Keep the dirt and root ball intact--you will plant it all together. This makes the plant's transition from pot to ground less traumatic for the plant(it will establish roots more quickly).

With a spade, dig a hole for each plant. The hole should be slightly deeper than the top of the root ball and each tomato plant needs to be at least a foot away from its neighbor--otherwise, they will crowd each other out!

Why you will need tomato cages-- these are wire cages that help keep the plant from drooping when it gets bigger. These help keep stalks from breaking or tomatoes from rotting as they rest against the wet soil.

How much to water tomato plants

Water tomatoes well at least once a day. On hot days, they may require more frequent watering--preferably in the morning and evening (watering in the heat of the afternoon is less efficient (much of the water evaporates before the plant has a chance to absorb it) and can also contribute to scorching or fungus. If you don�t give tomatoes enough water, they will not bear much fruit and may die. Tomato plants show signs of dehydration quickly--look for wilty leaves.

Tip: You may avoid some kinds of tomato plant fungus by watering these plants at the soil level (through a soaker hose, a sprinkler set on low, or a garden hose) rather than wetting the leaves.

Remember: tomatoes love the sun. They will not produce much or grow very large if they do not get several hours of sun a day; however, they do scorch--especially if you water them with a sprinkler, in full sun, on a hot afternoon. It's really best to water by hand or use a soaker hose.

Another thing to consider when planting tomatoes and other vegetables: If you live in an area with a large rabbit (or other small mammal) population, you may need to protect your garden with rabbit-proof fencing. Chicken wire works fine for this.

Tomato diseases: Blight

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