Can’t Grow Tomatoes?

State fruit - Tomato
Image via Wikipedia

If you feel that you can’t grow tomatoes then using a quality tomato growing manual will help you overcome the growing problems.  There is a certain amount of any gardening that is out of our control, especially when growing plants outdoors.  One of the beauties of growing tomatoes is that they can be grown in the garden or in containers.

Container grown tomatoes are very popular because they can be kept near the cooking area while being taken care of and of course, they are then near the kitchen when it is time for picking.

There are some basic steps that will help with growing tomatoes for any gardener who feels that they just can’t grow tomatoes.  Browse through this list and see if there are some steps that you have missed when endeavoring to grow tomatoes successfully.

1.    Choose the type and variety of tomato that will suit your needs – there is a huge variety to choose from so start with whether you want small or larger plants, then choose the kind of tomato you want to use (there are even strains developed to resist cold and even pests)

2.    Select the growing style that you will use given the tomato variety that you have chosen to grow

3.    Prepare the soil with a mix of soil and organic compost and also tomato nutrients

4.    Ensure that where the tomatoes are going to be planted they will receive a minimum of 6 hours sunshine

5.    Ensure that they will receive consistent daily watering (if there is no direct rain)

6.    Plant the tomatoes in the right fashion – did you know it is best to plant tomato seedlings nearly up to the bottom leaves, stalk and all

7.    Protect the plants from slugs and other crawlies

8.    Stake the tomatoes – this is an option but where there are pests most home growers will stake their tomatoes using one of several methods

9.    Fertilize through the fruiting season

10.    Take precautions for pest and disease control

11.    Prune the plant if an indeterminate tomato type has been chosen

12.    Pick the tomatoes at leisure – it is not necessary to let a tomato totally ripen on the vine before it is picked – if a cold snap (below 50 degrees) is coming it would be best to pick the tomatoes so that they do not get damaged

Each point that has been mentioned is important but the planting, soil nutrients water and sunshine are critical to the survival of the plants.  If these all are done right then a vigilant eye needs to be kept on the pest control.  By taking not of these steps the feeling that you can’t grow tomatoes will be abated as you grow in confidence.

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Beefsteak One of the Popular Tomato Varieties

Dan's big beefsteak tomato
Image by Smoooochie via Flickr

Beefsteak tomatoes are one of the most popular varieties grown by the home tomato gardener.  There are several reasons for this and I have heard home gardeners say how totally convinced that these are one of the best tomatoes to grow.

The beefsteak tomatoes are so popular because they as a tomato variety they are reliable to grow.  They are a bright red tomato, slightly ribbed and have a very fleshy centre.  The taste of this tomato is sweet and delicious.

Because of the rich flesh of the tomato they are very popular with the home grower because they can be used fresh in sandwiches, in salads and are wonderful for cooking.

Beefsteak tomato can be a determinate or indeterminate tomato variety.  Some say that on the determinate plants they find the fruit a little smaller and not quite so abundant.  As this is a very large and fleshy fruit it can be understood if some growers experience this.

Planting Beefsteak Tomatoes

Getting the soil right is important.  The soil needs to be well tilled and have organic compost added and mixed through.  A slightly acidic to neutral soil at pH 6.5 to 7.0 is suitable for beefsteak tomatoes.  They also like a good helping of nitrogen so planting companion crops that produce nitrogen is a good idea, or use nitrogen crops like soybean for mulching or other nitrogen fixing plants.  (Use nitrogen fixing plants when doing crop rotation as this will be of great help.)

Ensure not to crowd the plants so they should be grown up to 3 feet apart and the rows should be 4-5 feet apart.  The wide spacing between plants allows for good nutrient intake and good airflow to help control diseases that grow due to wet leaves.  Crowding the plants mean that they do not produce as good a fruit in the end.