Tomato Growing - 3 Things You Need to Know

There are three major issues that you should know to get the most out of your tomato plants. Growing tomatoes is easy, but a little planning ahead of time ensures that your tomatoes will be disease-free, plump, juicy and prolific. Here are three tomato growing tips to begin your gardening journey:
1. Choose the best location - Tomatoes love sun, so the location you choose should be sunny, whether it's a spot in your outdoor garden or a container on the patio. You must have a minimum of 6 hours sunlight for your tomatoes to produce their fruit.
2. Nutrients and water consumption - Your tomato plants must have the proper nutrients and the right amount of water to produce the fresh-tasting and fruit-bearing results you want. Before you plant the tomatoes, work the soil with a compost or fertilizer to create a rich venue for your seedlings. Periodically give your plants a lift with a fertilizer - used coffee grounds placed around the base of the plants will also help.
Your tomato plants are thirsty little creatures when they're growing, so it's important that you water them frequently. Don't let the soil dry out and then deluge the tomato plants with water. Consider a drip water system to ensure that the plants receive water on a timely basis. A great tip for do-it-yourself gardeners is to wash out gallon milk jugs, pierce the sides and bottom with holes, and then bury them in the soil between your tomato plants with only the top sticking out of the ground. Fill the jugs with water and they'll release it as the soil dries out, ensuring that the plants are watered deeply.
3. Stake or cage your tomato plants - Tomatoes are vines and must be kept from growing across the ground, leaving them susceptible to disease or fungus, so be sure to stake your plants early on. Some people prefer cages that you can purchase at any garden store. Staking your tomato plants while they're young will also prevent disturbing their root formation later on.
These are the three main tips to get started growing tomato plants. But, you must also be diligent in pruning dead leaves and branches and harvest the tomatoes when they're ripe and ready to eat.
If you have a problem, there's plenty of information online or in helpful books that will address some of the roadblocks you may come across when growing tomatoes. Be patient and soon you'll have the fresh, sun-ripened taste of tomatoes on your table.
Growing tomatoes isn't just fun - it's downright rewarding and delicious. When you know what your tomatoes need to grow and you are picking bucket-loads of them you will be the envy of your neighborhood.
Start the backyard revolution today and discover how to grow the most mouth-watering tomatoes you have ever eaten.


Chinedu