Tomatoes are a high-yielding and tasty crop and growing them can bring a variety of benefits. Growing it is usually not overly difficult. On the other hand, we have already experienced many mistakes that make the entire process more difficult than it needs to be. Below you will discover common mistakes when growing tomatoes that you should avoid!
Common Mistakes When Growing Tomatoes – #1 – planting tomatoes too early
Tomatoes are known to be a summer crop and tomato seedlings prefer high temperatures to low ones. It is not warm enough for tomato plants to grow in soil whose temperature does not reach at least 15 degrees during the day. Before transplanting young plants, you should wait until they have reached a height of around 15 - 20 cm.
That's why you shouldn't rush to plant tomatoes in the garden as soon as spring begins. Putting plants in the ground too early can result in a phenomenon where flowers fall off the plant before fruit even forms. If temperatures are too low at night for an extended period of time, tomatoes may become misshapen, shriveled or scarred. Despite their appearance, deformed plants can still be eaten, as evidenced by the fact thatsome of the most popular tomato varietiesare not perfectly round or red.
Mistake #2 – choosing the wrong location
Your tomato plant may not be bearing fruit because the conditions in which it is grown are suboptimal. The amount of fruit a plant produces is proportional to the amount of sunlight it receives. Tomato plants grow best in a warm environment and require at least six hours of direct sunlight per day and adequate air circulation.
Mistake #3 – incorrect spacing
When there is not enough space between plants, air circulation is often compromised and plants begin to compete with each other for scarce resources such as nutrients and water. If you want to grow a large number of tomatoes, you should make sure that the distance between individual plants is at least 60 - 90 cm, for dwarf varieties - at least 30 cm.
Common Mistakes When Growing Tomatoes – #4 – Growing Plants With Buds
Before planting tomato seedlings, the buds and flowers on the plants should always be removed. Removing the buds helps strengthen the plant's root system. After the plant is planted, it should bloom and form buds.
Mistake #5 – Not Watering Your Tomatoes Properly
The moisture needs of plants depend on the location where they were grown. If you for exampleTomatoes grown in potsyou need to water them regularly. On the other hand, if you have planted them in a garden bed, you only need to water them twice a week. During winter, you should reduce the frequency of watering as excessive watering can harm the plant. Also, water the area around the base of the plant, being careful not to get water on the leaves.
Mistake #6 – Improper Pruning
Before you begin pruning your tomato plants, consider the following warning: Do not prune determinate varieties as this may result in a smaller harvest. Pinching or cutting back the leaves at the end of a stem to the next stem or node is the only form of pruning that should be done on non-determinate plants after they have reached about 6 to 8 inches in height. This improves air circulation and prevents illness. As a result, your tomatoes will likely ripen faster and produce more and larger fruit per plant than before.
If the tomatoes have white spots, this could be a sign of sunburn caused by over-pruning and therefore too much sun exposure. They should always have enough leaves to provide the required shade.
Common mistakes when growing tomatoes – No. 7 – fertilizing incorrectly
After planting the tomato plants and as soon as they bear fruit, it is advisable to give the plantadd additional fertilizer. However, excessive nitrogen application can lead to rapid leaf growth, which can attract insect infestations and lead to slowing or declining yields.
Mistake #8 – You don’t mulch
A tomato plant can tolerate high temperatures well. However, the soil surrounding the plants should be kept moist and cool. A lack of moisture in the soil can cause plants to wilt and become infected. The mulch should be layered 5 to 10 cm deep around the plant. Mulching is important for moisture and helpsagainst weedsand spread of disease.
Mistake #9 – Not preventing plant diseases in time
It happens that gardeners do not take sufficient precautions to protect their plants from diseases such as late blight and brown rot. To combat the problem, you should treat your tomato plants with a pest spray. You can make the spray yourself by mixing olive oil, baking soda, and dish soap in a spray bottle. Epsom salt can also be sprinkled once a month to promote better growth.
Mistake #10 – no tomato trellis
There are tomato plantswho are able to support themselves. However, most of them need some sort of support when they are ripe so that you can get the most out of them.
