The Ultimate Tomato Growing Guide: How to Plant, Grow & Care for Tomatoes

Tomatoes grown in your own garden have a flavor that is absolutely transcendent. Growing tomatoes at home, even just one in a pot, is one of life’s true delights and is not to be missed.

Discover more about how to choose the best tomato for your garden on our other tomato blog!

Sun Exposure & Temperature Requirements for Tomatoes

• Full sun is best—at least 6-8 hours. Full sun conditions allow tomatoes to produce more sugars and flavor compounds and to ripen fruit earlier.
• If your garden area gets less than 6 hours of sun, try smaller cherry tomato varieties that ripen quickly for your best chance at success.
• Tomatoes should not be planted out too early. Soil temperature should reach 60°F for several days and nighttime temperatures should be above 50°F for tomatoes to grow successfully. These conditions usually arrive mid-May making the best planting time is often around Mother’s Day, though it may be earlier in warmer Springs.

Planting & Soil Needs for Tomatoes

Growing Tomatoes in the Ground or Raised Beds

• Always amend soil for raised garden beds and in-ground plantings. It is best to add 30–50% compost and other amendments to native soil; we recommend G&B Soil Building Conditioner. You can also create your own homemade planting mix (see “recipe” below).
• Amendments improve plant growth, soil quality, and provide nutrition for plants and then for microorganisms to feed on as they decompose.

Growing Tomatoes in Containers

• Premium organic potting soil contains everything you need to grow tomatoes in containers and no compost is needed. We recommend E.B. Stone Organic Potting Soil.
• Add DIY Tomato Planting Mix to Potting Soil together to complete the potting mix.
• Container size: Use a 15-gallon nursery container (holds 2 cu. ft. potting soil) or larger for “indeterminate varieties”. “Determinate varieties” (shorter plants) can be grown in a 5-gallon nursery container (holds almost 1 cu. ft. potting soil) or larger.

How to Fertilize Tomatoes

• Granular or pelletized organic fertilizers are slow release and provide a complete source of nutrition that keeps plants productive and soil healthy. E.B. Stone Tomato & Vegetable Food can be used throughout the veggie garden and contributes to even plant growth without producing excessive foliage at the expense of fruit. The additional phosphorous in Tomato fertilizer ensures the production of high quality fruits and vegetables, while the calcium aids in preventing disorders like blossom end rot. It is blended with humic acid and beneficial soil microbes.
• Most fertilizer should be applied every 4–6 weeks; make sure to read application rates on each label. As the season progresses and plants grow, supplemental liquid feeding may be beneficial.

Supporting Tomato Plants

• A trellis, cage, or stakes are necessary to keep indeterminate, vining tomatoes off the ground. Indeterminate plants can grow 6–20+ feet long; buy the largest wire cage available for these. A medium cage is sufficient for determinate plants, which grow much smaller.
• Determinate tomato varieties still benefit from caging for easier access to branches and fruits during harvest.
• Stake the same day you plant! If you return a week or so later, you may damage new roots growing away from the main root mass.
• Pruning is optional and can be done based on your support system or as time allows; be careful not to remove too much foliage—delicate tomato fruits can sunburn!
• Remove leaves that are blocking tomatoes from ripening in the sun if sunlight is limited.

Watering Tomato Plants

• Deep watering at regular intervals is the best way to establish a healthy root system.
• The best time to water is when the foliage is drooping in the cool morning air. Don’t be fooled by drooping foliage during mid-day as an indication of needing water; this is a natural response to mid-morning or afternoon heat and plants do not need more water.
• Deep watering is key; a slow drip from the hose for at least 20 minutes is advised. Apply water again only when the foliage is drooping in the cool early morning. Count the intervals between watering to determine your ideal interval.
• Watering frequency and duration will vary based on growing conditions: size/type of container vs. in-ground, sun exposure, soil type, etc.
• Container-grown tomatoes will need to be watered daily during the hottest weeks of Summer, but early morning watering should be prioritized.

Tomato Pest & Disease Control

• Choose disease-resistant varieties for a sustained harvest or if you’ve had previous issues with disease. Unfortunately, most heirloom tomato varieties generally have poor disease resistance. However, disease is not usually a problem until mid-season.
• Blossom-end rot is a hard, dark patch on the bottom or blossom end of the fruit. Blossom-end rot is prevented by ensuring an adequate level of soil calcium and steady, consistent moisture. Temperature is usually a major factor in the cause of blossom-end rot, and the issue is most likely to occur early in the season. This tomato disorder is typically resolved naturally when soil temperatures rise and calcium in the soil is released.
• For the most part, tomatoes are pretty resilient to pests. Even so, aphids, white flies, flea beetles, spider mites, and little green worms (loopers) are common invaders.
• To treat pests, spray with a fast jet of water to manually remove them from the plant. If aphids are severe, release Ladybugs into your garden in the evening to combat aphid populations. If problems persist, consider applying targeted organic products for control.
• Using organic fertilizers with probiotics helps plants stay healthy and reduces stress from environmental conditions; it also makes them less likely to become infested with pests.

Tomato Flavor & Harvesting Guidelines

• Complete plant nutrition has a great effect on tomato taste. Plant stress like insects, disease, or adverse weather can lead to “off flavors”, so maintain a regular watering schedule and fertilize at 4-6 week intervals.
• Overwatering is a common mistake that leads to watery-tasting fruit; liquids dilute the sugars in the plant’s vascular system.
• It is best to harvest your fruit 24–48 hours after watering to allow a more concentrated stream of sugars to be stored in the fruit and trapped when harvested.
• Tomatoes are best stored at temperatures above 50°F. Avoid placing freshly harvested tomatoes in the refrigerator! Refrigeration can destroy the delicate flavor by turning the sugars to starch, making your homegrown tomatoes more bland.

Download our TOMATO GROWING CARE SHEET to use as a quick reference!

Growing tomatoes at home is the perfect way to capture the bright, bold flavors and colors of Summertime. If you give them the right water, fertilizer, and conditions, your homegrown tomatoes will absolutely thrive! Don’t forget to visit us in store if you have any questions about growing tomatoes—our team of passionate plant experts is always happy to provide tips and advice for growing tomatoes and any other delicious garden produce!