Taking Care Of Tomatoes From Start To Finish

By Author: J.J. Wolf
Total Articles: 1
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One of the first thing you want to do, even before picking your plants out, is to prepare your garden soil. An easy way to check your drainage is to simply turn your garden hose on. Watch how the water flows across the ground where you will be planting, and also how quickly it soaks in. Proper drainage is essential in taking care of tomatoes. A soil additive is a good idea when preparing a new garden area or container.

When purchasing seedlings, always choose a garden center that has someone designated for taking care of tomatoes and other plants they have for sale. Check the leaves and stems on the tomato plants for spots or any type of fungus. Also make sure the leaves are not yellowing and pay attention to the stalk coming out of the pot, you want a healthy sturdy looking stalk.

Once you get the plants home and are ready to plant. Dig your planting hole out about twice as big as the pot they are in. I usually mix a little potting soil with the dirt that goes back in the hole. Potting soil has fertilizers in it, which are usually enough to get you through the first week while the plants establishes it's roots. ...
... Apply some water after planting, you want to wet the roots pretty good, but try now to drench them. A big issue with taking care of tomatoes is not to add to much water so you don't drown your plants, or allow funguses to grow on the leaves. Check your plants during the hottest part of the day and take notice if the leaves are wilting, if they are, you may want to apply a little more water in the mornings.

While your plants are growing check them every few days for what is known as suckers. These will be what looks like the starting of a new stem, but it will start in the "v" between the stalk and the main stems. You want to pich these off or clip them, suckers will rob the rest of the plant of much needed nutrients.If you don't have bees, which are needed for pollinating, you can gently thump the blooms which will suffice for pollination.

Once the fruit begins on the plants, check them often. If you notice any bad fruit, go ahead and remove them and discard, so the plant can send the nutrients to the good fruit.When taking care of tomatoes after you harvest them, don't place them directly in the fridge straight from the garden. Remeber they have been growing in the heat for awhile now. Keep your tomatoes in a dry place inside your kitchen, I like placing mine in a hanging basket so the air can circulate around them. Typically I will store them in the hanging basket for 1 to 1 1/2 weeks before putting them in the fridge. With this method I can store fresh tomatoes inside for about a month and they still taste as fresh as the day I picked them.

For more tips on growing the best tomatoes ever visit: http://www.squidoo.com/tomato-growing-tips

Tags : Taking care of tomatoes,tomato plants