The “Big Three” of Tomato Care
If you want a massive harvest of juicy tomatoes, you need to master "The Big Three" of tomato care. These pillars of success help your plants stay resilient against disease and maximize the number of fruits they can carry.
Pillar One: Consistent Watering
Tomatoes are mostly water, and they don't like to swing between bone-dry and soaking wet. Inconsistency can cause the fruit to crack or develop the dreaded blossom end rot.
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Water deeply at the base of the plant.
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Keep leaves dry to prevent soil-borne diseases from splashing onto the leaves.
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Mulch around your plants with a thick layer of straw or wood chips to hold moisture in the soil and regulate temperature in summer.
Pillar Two: Proper Staking and Support
Tomato plants get heavy as the fruit matures and providing support early is vital to prevent stems from snapping.
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Plant your tomatoes with their tomato cages to avoid damaging the roots later.
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Support also improves airflow, which is your best defense against early blight and other fungal issues.
Pick up tomato cages when you buy your tomatoes, so you don't miss this important step
Pillar Three: Balanced Fertilizing
Tomatoes are hungry plants, but they need the right kind of food at the right time.
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Growth Phase: When you first plant tomatoes, they need a bit of nitrogen to grow green and tall.
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Fruiting Phase: Once the first flowers appear, switch to a fertilizer that is higher in phosphorus and potassium. This shifts the plant's energy away from making leaves and toward producing those big juicy tomatoes you are waiting for.
We recommend Grow Big Fox Farm Liquid Plant Food or bat guano for the growth phase and Espoma Tomato-tone or E.B. Stone Tomato & Vegetable Food for the fruiting phase.
