Few vegetable garden plants garner as much attention as tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum), and with good reason. Fresh, homegrown tomatoes have a taste that is far superior to tomatoes found in the grocery store aisle. These plants aren't difficult to grow, but a little extra care will help you achieve the goal of a "perfect" tomato, one that is free of blemishes and heavy for its size. Perfect tomatoes, depending on your taste preference, usually have a balance between tart and sweet flavors. Start with a disease resistant variety, such as the cherry tomato, Sweet Chelsea hybrid (Solanum lycopersicum "Sweet Chelsea"), or the All American Select winner, "Champion" (Solanum lycopersicum "Champion"), a large tomato with rich flavor.
Select healthy, disease resistant tomato plants from your local nursery to grow the perfect fruit. Choose plants that stand 6 to 8 inches tall, with compact growth and bright green leaves. Avoid those that look leggy or spindly, or have yellowed or spotted leaves.
Spread 2 inches of compost on the soil along with a vegetable starter fertilizer, according to package directions. Till the soil to a depth of 8 inches to ensure adequate drainage for strong growth.
Plant tomatoes outdoors only after daytime temperatures are reliably above 75 degrees Fahrenheit; tomatoes are tropical plants and don't tolerate cold, which stunts growth, can cause deformities on maturing tomatoes, and might even kill the plant. If cold weather threatens, protect young tomatoes with a plastic cloche.
Remove the leaves from the bottom 3 inches of the tomato plant. Plant it so it sits 3 inches deeper in the soil than it did in the pot to encourage strong, deep root formation. This supports later fruit development, improving your chances of growing the perfect tomato.
Cage or trellis your tomato plant to keep its leaves dry, which protects the plant against disease. The fruit also ripens better because it has better access to sunlight.
Pinch off the ancillary sprouts that grow between two main stems. These soft, vegetative growths divert energy away from fruit production, reducing the potential size of your tomato. Grasp them between your fingers in the early morning while they're crisp and pinch them away. Do not tear them, which leaves large, open wounds.
Water your tomato plant regularly so the soil stays moist 1 inch below the soil surface. Dry soil slows growth and fruit production, while overly wet soil can promote disease and cause cracked tomatoes. Alternate periods of wet and dry soil cause blossom end rot.
Sidedress your tomato plant with an all-purpose vegetable fertilizer according to package directions after the plant has begun to flower. Thereafter, fertilize the tomato plant every 4 to 6 weeks. Regular fertilizing provides the nutrients your plant needs to produce perfect tomatoes.
Things You Will Need
- Starter fertilizer
- Plastic cloche
- Cage or trellis
- All-purpose vegetable fertilizer
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