Growing Tomatoes
Site Selection
Full sun. At least eight hours or more! If you don't have full sun, try growing in containers, which you can move. Never grow tomatoes in the same place each year. Rotate with other crops to prevent disease.
Soil Preparation
Well-drained, porous soil, prepared to a depth of at least 12 inches for a good root growth. If sandy, add organic matter; compost, manure and/or leaf mold.
Leaf and Fertilizers
Test your soil. Raise the pH to 6.2 which is the best for growing tomatoes. Apply lime at least 1 pound per 100 sq. ft. to increase the pH by 1.
Use complete fertilizer (5-10-5) at a rate of 4-5 lbs. per 100 sq. ft. Turn it into the soil before planting so the phosphorus is immediately available to young plants. When fruit is golf-ball sized, side dress each plant with 2-4 oz. of 5-10-5 keeping it away from the foliage and fruit. Cultivate lightly and water deeply. Repeat the procedure every 3-4 weeks throughout the growing season.
Buy Healthy Plants
Buy only young, healthy plants. Each should be stocky (about 6" tall), have good green color and be free of insects and diseases. Look for disease resistant varieties on labels: VF, VFN, of VFNT. Check roots to make sure they haven't filed the pact or wrapped around and around. This indicates age and lost vitality. Do not set plants out until the weather is warm and settled, (around May 15th). Cover plants at night if the forecast predicts 50°F or below, and uncover in the morning after the air has warmed. If you do not protect young plants from the cold, their growth can be permanently stunned.
Watering
Water regularly and deeply, 1-2" every week minimum. Sporadic or light watering leads to plant stress and disease. Water in the morning and avoid wetting foliage and fruit.
Mulching
Use mulches. They preserve moisture, reduce weeds, reduce soil compaction, keep fruit clean and can add organic matter to the soil. Common mulches are: newspaper, straw, salt hay, grass clippings, (free of herbicides) or black plastic. Apply 3-4" initially and add more as the season progresses.
Spacing and Staking
Space determinate, (shorter types) 2-3" apart in rows 3-6 ft. apart. No Staking is necessary. Space indeterminate (tall or sprawling types) at double these distances or stake them and use the same distances. Stakes should be 6 feet tall and very strong. Fences with plants tied to both sides are sometimes stronger than individual stakes. Sink stakes at planting time. Tie plants to stakes at regular intervals and keep adding ties as the plants mature. Use soft twine, yarn, or bread bag ties.
Harvesting
Tomatoes are best picked when they are ripen on the vine. Remove all damaged or rotted fruit. Just before the first frost, pick all remaining fruit and ripen inside at temperatures no lower than 55°F