Top 10 Tomato Tips

We want you to grow the best possible tomatoes, so this is the pick of our best tips from staff at Bulleen Art & Garden

1. Choose the right site

Choose the sunniest spot available in your garden (at least 5 hours sun a day), that is well drained and that hasn't had any of the tomato family plants (tomatoes, potatoes, chillies or eggplants) in it the year before.

2. Prepare the site

Before planting, dig in generous amounts of cow manure, a light sprinkle of potash and a handful of lime every square metre. Alternatively, digging in mushroom compost will do the job of both manure and lime. You can even sprinkle some blood and bone down at this time.

3. Planting

It's okay (and even beneficial as it forms more roots), to plant your tomatoes deeply, leaving only the top one or two sets of leaves above the surface. Water in with a seaweed product.

4. Staking

Stake your tomatoes that need it at the time of planting to avoid root disturbance later on.

5. Mulching

Don't mulch until late spring / early summer so the sun warms up the soil. Warm soil is what will make your tomato plants grow like mad! You must mulch your plants by late spring / early summer to avoid precious water loss.

6. Watering

Never let the soil dry out, especially during flowering and fruiting stages. This could cause fruit & flower drop, blossom end rot and a stressed plant that will be more susceptible to disease. To avoid fungal problems and disease never let the soil become waterlogged, and never water the plant... only the soil. If watering overhead is unavoidable, do it in the morning to allow foliage to dry before night fall.

7. Feeding

Tomatoes are gross feeders! Liquid feed them minimum fortnightly with a seaweed product. This helps with disease resistance, root, flowers and fruit formation. When first flowers appear, apply a handful of potash to the soil. Liquid feed regularly, use directions on pack or weekly with teas of manures, composts or worm farms. You could even add a little more potash again during fruiting stages.

8. Foolproof Varieties

If you a self confessed hopeless gardener, first timer or want an easy tomato for kids to grow, choose a cherry type as they are easy-grow & easy-pick.

9 Pots

If you are growing tomatoes in pots, choose the largest pot possible, minimum 40cm (16"), preferably 50cm (20"). Minimum watering when plants get bigger is once a day, and on the very hot days maybe twice or three times if they are in an exposed position.

10. Companions

This is surprisingly important for pest control and pollination. Plant with mustard greens or in soil that's previously grown them to repel nematodes. For pest control plant with or near, alyssum, phacelia, Queen Annes lace, daisies, lovage, dill, carrots or parsnip gone to flower. Lavender and borage will attract many pollinators while basil repels some pests, improves cropping and is perfect to have on hand to pick with tomatoes.

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