44 Tips for Growing Perfect Tomatoes! {Secrets for Healthy Plants}

So are you ready to get your tomatoes planted?  Be sure to read these top Tips for Growing Perfect Tomatoes before you start!

Do you want some Tips for Growing Perfect Tomatoes this year??  Growing plump and delicious Tomatoes just got a whole lot easier with this HUGE List of Tomato Plant Tips and Tricks!  These clever tips for growing perfect tomatoes are just what you’ve been looking for!

If you’ve been wondering how to grow tomatoes at home, you’ve just hit the jackpot!  These tomato growing secrets and expert tips will have you producing your very own gorgeous tomatoes in your backyard and growing bigger tomatoes at home in no time!

Are you ready to get those hands in the dirt?  Let’s get started!

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Tips for Growing Perfect Tomatoes

What Kind of Tomatoes Should I Grow?

Well, it really depends on how you’ll want to use your tomatoes.  Tomatoes are basically one of two types… determinate or indeterminate.  It sounds complicated, but all that really means is… determinate plants will produce all of their fruit ripening around the same time, while indeterminate plants will continue producing fruit over and over, ripening all season long.  Also, determinate plants are typically more compact, take up less space and require NO pruning, while indeterminate tomatoes will require some pruning.

You’ll want to plant different varieties for eating fresh, slicing for burgers or sandwiches, topping on salads, and canning sauces and pastes.

Here are some to consider…

• Amish Paste Tomatoes {indeterminate – great for Salsa, Canning, and Sauces}
• Beefsteaks or Ponderosa Red Tomatoes {indeterminate – great for slicing and using on Burgers or Sandwiches}
• Cherry Tomatoes {indeterminate – great for eating raw on Salads or as a Snack}
• Roma Tomatoes {determinate – great for Salsa, Canning, and Sauces}

Ruth said: “Try growing a heritage {heirloom} brand tomato.  Our plants were massive and the amount of tomatoes was crazy!!!  And super delicious.  I’ll never grow “regular” tomatoes again. 🙂 ”

What is an Advantage of Heirloom Plants?

Heirloom varieties are basically plants that are open pollinated, and have been planted for generation after generation.  Rather than newer hybrid varieties, heirloom varieties are at least 50 years old.  Each heirloom variety comes with an incredible history, and the flavors can be outrageous!  Plus, you can save your seeds from heirloom plants and plant them again year after year… for FREE!

Some of my favorite places to find heirloom seeds online are Baker Creek Seeds and True Leaf Market.

When Should you Plant Tomatoes?

Tomatoes love warmth, but the actual date to plant your tomatoes will depend on the gardening zone you live in.  Once the chance of frost as passed, you can transplant tomatoes when daytime temps are staying around 65 degrees or higher.  For example… I like to grow my tomatoes from seed, and start them inside 8 weeks BEFORE our average last frost date… giving them plenty of time to get strong and established before transplanting.

Should I Grow Tomatoes from Seed?

If you’re new to gardening, and aren’t ready to take on learning how to grow tomatoes from seeds, you can definitely begin this year with starter plants.  Starter plants will give you a head start on growing, and allow you to focus on everything else you need to do to establish a healthy, mature plant. And down the road as you expand your garden, you can start your own indoors and begin growing them from seed!

How to Grow Tomatoes from Seeds:

If you’re familiar with starting plants from seeds, are ready to expand your garden, or just want to save even MORE money, I’d highly recommend starting your own tomatoes from seeds!  It’s actually really easy, and SO frugal to start your own plants from seed!

I typically start my tomatoes in a seed starter tray with peat pellets, and then transfer to large red plastic cups using ‘Seed Starting Mix’ for soil.  This gives the roots plenty of room to grow over the next several weeks, and the light and airy seed starting soil is designed to help them grow healthy roots quickly.

How to Harden Off Tomato Plants:

After about 7 – 8 weeks, once your seedlings are growing strong and your little tomato plants are reaching a height of about 6 – 8″ tall, it’s time to start hardening them off!  Basically, that just means you’re getting to take the next 10 days to prepare them for their new home outside.  When you harden off your plants, you help them learn how to handle the sun, wind, rain, and temperature fluctuations better without going into shock after being transplanted.  Also, keep in mind that you’ll need to water your tomato babies a little more frequently once you start exposing them to the wind and sun outside.  Over the days of the week, I also like to gradually move them to the part of the yard where they’ll be living.  If I have several seedlings going, I just place all of them on a cookie sheet so I can tote them around easier.  Here is the schedule I like to follow when hardening off my little plants outside…

• First Day: 1 hour of shade in a protected area without wind
• Second Day: 1 hour of shade, 30 minutes of sun
• Third Day: 1 hour of shade, 1 hour of sun
• Fourth Day: 1 1/2 hours of shade, 1 1/2 hours of sun
• Fifth Day: 2 hours of shade, 2 hours of sun
• Sixth Day: 2 1/2 hours of shade, 2 1/2 hours of sun
• Seventh Day: 3 hours of shade, 3 hours of sun
• Eighth Day: 3 1/2 hours of shade, 3 1/2 hours of sun
• Ninth Day: 4 hours of shade, 4 hours of sun + let them spend the night outside
• Tenth Day: If it’s a cool day, transplant your plants in the morning.  If it’s a hot day, transplant in the evening. Be careful not to disturb the roots when transplanting, and don’t forget to water after transplanting.

Tomato Planting Tips:

Sandra said: “Put foil around the bottom of your tomato plants, and the sun will reflect the bottom of the tomatoes and your tomatoes will be an even red.”

Courtney said: “Add Tums or Rolaids near the roots before and during the season help prevent blossom rot.”

Lynn said: “I read an article years ago, and tried it and was SHOCKED at the result. Transplant your tomatoes as usual, then get a big sheet of black plastic, lay it down, cutting slits just big enough to pull the tomato plant through and then put the plastic back snugly around the stem. The black plastic will attract the heat, which will also bring the moisture up from the soil. You NEVER have to weed, (biggest bonus) never have to water and your yield is amazing. I tried this with 3 in the plastic, 3 without the plastic, all of the same type and I got more & bigger tomatoes from one plant with the plastic around it than I did with all 3 without the plastic. (such as almost a wheel barrow full from 1 plant compared to quite a bit less from the 3 that didn’t have the plastic around them) I told a friend about this and she has tried it and is absolutely amazed at how well it worked, loved that she didn’t have to water, weed, etc., and how much more she got.”

Lisa said: “I like to grow tomatoes in DIY upside-down tomato planters out of old milk jugs!”

Charles said: “Every year about the first of Feb. I cut up water oak leaves and scattered in my garden alone with chicken manure. I cut it all in. About the the first week of April, ( I live in Ms.) I place my black landscape plastic down..cut holes in it 3 feet apart set my tomatoes…and that all I do. They get from 8 to 12 feet tall depending on the variety…celebrity is my favorite.”

How Can I Keep My Tomatoes From Cracking?

Rod said: “Pick just before tomato ripens let sit in windowsill.”

Keeping Pests Away from Tomatoes:

Laura said: “Coming from a long line of farmers, the best tip I ever heard for backyard growing was planting marigolds at the base of tomatoes…  it’s a natural pest repellent! 🙂 ”

Kati said: “Line your growing space with Mesh Hardware Cloth, if you have critter problems like ground squirrels or gophers.  You can get it at Home Depot and online at Amazon.com.  It’s better than chicken wire, and will still allow roots to grow through!”

Anita said: “When we plant tomatoes, we cut the bottom out of a 5 gallon bucket and put it on the ground around the plant.  Then when you water the tomatoes, the water doesn’t run off of them, and it protects the plant from grounds insects and animals.  If the cold weather hasn’t left yet, put the lid over the plant at night to protect it from frost or cold.”

Growing Tomatoes in Raised Beds:

Planning on growing your Tomatoes in a raised bed?  Check out this easy step-by-step tutorial for how to make raised bed gardens…

DIY Raised Bed Garden

Growing Tomatoes in Containers:

Cathy said: “If you are planting in a container, you should mix 1/3 potting soil, 1/3 composted cow manure (I like Black Kow brand), and 1/3 peet moss.  Also, put a handful of epsom salt in the hole when you plant.  I also plant marigolds about 1 foot from them.  I use big containers (20 gallon) smart pots.  My tomatoes were big as your hand, and my plants were 6 feet tall last year.  If you plant in the ground, dig out a big hole, and put back 1/3 cow manure, and 2/3 soil, and added the epsom salt.  The epsom salt keeps it from having blossom end rot.”

Renee said: “I have great luck planting my tomatoes in 5 gal buckets. Only 1 plant per bucket. Put holes 1 inch from the bottom on the sides of the bucket for drainage. Put about one inch of large gravel in the bottom of the bucket and then fill with 1/3 black cow, potting soil and peat moss. Plant tomatoe up to first set of leaves. After 1 week, if you drink coffee, and left over coffee after it cools water your plant with that. After 1 week of coffee sprinkle epsom salts around the plant and continue to water alternating coffee and water as needed. I plant mine on my deck and they reach above the gutter every year.”

Cathy said: “If you are planting in a container, you should mix 1/3 potting soil, 1/3 composted cow manure (I like Black Kow brand), and 1/3 peat moss. Also, put a handful of Epson salt in the hole when you plant. I also plant marigolds about 1 foot from them. I use big containers (20 gallon) smart pots. My tomatoes were big as your hand, and my plants were 6 feet tall last year. If you plant in the ground, dig out a big hole, and put back 1/3 cow manure, and 2/3 soil, and added the Epson salt. The Epson salt keeps it from having blossom end rot.”

Do You Need a Tomato Cage?

Easy tip:  Yes… most tomato varieties you plant will require a tomato cage.  You can try to make do with stakes or trellises, but cages are the easiest way to help your plants thrive.  After planting, just center your cage around the plant, and press firmly down into the soil.  Now as your plant grows, the cage will help guide it upwards, while supporting its weight.  This will also help prevent tomato blight, by getting the leaves off of the ground.  Cages can be used both in raised garden beds and container pots…

Karen said: “For tomatoes, put them in as early as recommended in your area, using tomato cages when you plant. (If you put the cages in later, you’ll damage the roots.)”

Jennifer said: “If using Tomato Cages, use old pantyhose/knee high nylons to support the growing plants.  It’s something my family has always done.”

Watering Tomato Plants:

Karen said: “Mound the dirt around the base of the plant with another circular mound about 8 inches out.  This will create a moat when you water. Water every day unless it’s pouring rain.”

Alicia said: “To save money on water, and to help your plants grow nice deep roots, save your plastic 64 oz. juice containers.  Leave the caps on, cut off the bottoms, and then poke a zillion holes in the sides (I use my hubby’s grilling fork!).  Bury the containers (cap-side down) about every three feet or so.  Allow just the top 1.5 inches to remain above ground.  When you water, just fill the containers. They’ll each spread water in about a 1.5 foot circumference.  I’ve used these mostly around my tomatoes and peppers. They tend to need a lot of water and they can grow very deep roots.”

Amanda said: “Water consistently at the same time every day. This way they won’t split and will grow nice and big.”

Frugal Tip:  Skip the watering can, and make your own budget-friendly watering jug!  It’s quick, easy, and works like a charm!

DIY Milk Jug Watering Can Trick

Chris said: “Tomato plants don’t like their feet wet at night.  Water in the early morning if possible.  This lets them drink up and stay hydrated during hot days.”

Rhonda said: “My ex-husband dug a hole in front of his tomato plants and put a 1/2 gallon milk jug with holes punched in it.  He would then put a mixture of miracle grow and water in the jugs. He had tomatoes as big as a dinner plate and they were so good!  Then, he also used a Soaker Hose instead of water from a hose or a sprinkler.”

Natural Fertilizer for Tomatoes:

Make sure to keep that soil happy and healthy with compost and natural fertilizers!

High quality soil makes such a difference, so before planting tomatoes, I always like to add compost to the soil to ensure great success.  About 2 – 3 weeks before transplanting your baby tomatoes is a great time to prepare your pots or garden beds.  A simple way to amend your soil and improve its quality is by adding 1 – 2 inches of compost on top of the soil, and working it into the existing soil about 6 – 8″ deep.  You can purchase compost at your garden center, or save BIG when you make it yourself…

What to Put in a Compost Bin at Home {Composting 101}

Stacey said: “I mix epsom salts with the dirt, about 1 part to 3 parts.  It makes your plant produce a lot of tomatoes.  I did it for the first time last year and it was amazing how much fruit my plant produced.  I just planted again this year and did the same.  Had always wondered why epsom salts was sold in the garden area.”

Tracie-Marie said: “I grew tomatoes last year and mixed epsom salt and egg shells.  I put the mixture both in the hole before planting and once a month I replenished around the base of the plant.  The results… I had so many tomatoes I had to give half away.”

Debbie said: “I crush egg shells and put them in the hole.  I also sprinkle them around the base of the plant throughout the season.  They give the plant much needed calcium and keep the slugs away (slugs have soft bellies and the jagged edges of the shells deter them or split them open).”

How to Crush Eggshells for Garden

Eggshells are such a great source of calcium for your tomatoes, and it’s actually really easy to crush them up for use in your garden!  When you’re cooking or baking, just save your eggshells.  Here’s what you’ll do…

• Line a cookie sheet with foil, then place your empty eggshells on the sheet.
• Bake for 30 minutes at 225 degrees. {this will help kill off any bacteria}
• Remove from oven, and allow to cool completely, and crush into small pieces.
• How to Crush Eggshells Into Powder: For a finer powder you can then add the small crushed up pieces to your blender or food processor, and blend/pulse down into a powder.  The fine powder will break down even faster when sprinkled on the soil!

Ron said: “Epsom salt when planting helps with fast germination of the seeds.  You can also mix 2 or 3 tablespoons of it, along with a dissolved aspirin, into a gallon of water.  Then spray the plants when they start to bloom and it will create a massive amount of blooms.  Blooms = tomatoes!”

Kari said: “I put powdered milk in the hole before planting.  That way the plants get calcium.  The calcium helps prevent the bottom of the tomato from turning black with bottom rot.”

Erin said: “What we did this year was to dig the hole about 8″ to 12″ or deeper, put in fish heads (other parts work too), a few aspirins, crushed egg shells, and some ground bonemeal.  Cover that up with a few inches of dirt and put the plant on top of it.  Our tomato plants are just HUGE this year and dripping with blooms.”

Charlene said: “I put banana peels in the hole when planting.”  {see more: Natural Soil Fertilizer Tricks}

April said: “Easy peasy: You need soil, manure, and lots of sun and water.”

Marty said: “Tomatoes will grow better all winter long in a plastic pot, as long as you keep sunlight on them 5 or 6 hours a day.  Plus, they do love Epsom salts mixed in the soil along with humus… manure too!”

Christa said: “I read that placing a tablespoon of sugar into the hole before placing the plant in the hole is supposed to make them super sweet!  I’m going to try it this summer!”

Anne said: “When I planted at the lake last year, I put Epson Salt and Banana Chips in the hole, a Marigold for bugs and the ground was laced with handfuls of egg shells. I had a very good yield.”

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Recipes Using Fresh Tomatoes:

Wondering how to put all of your tomatoes to use?  Here are a few of my favorite Tomato Recipes…

Fresh Pico de Gallo Salsa Recipe

Hot Homemade Salsa Recipe

Easy Black Bean Salsa Recipe

Grilled Caprese Sandwich

Crockpot Tomato Alfredo Chicken

Individual Seven Layer Dip Cups

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Now that you’ve got inspired with all of these Tomato Plant Tips and Tricks, don’t miss any of the fun!

So don’t miss out… stay connected with The Frugal Girls here for more fun and frugal tips…

So do YOU have any Tomato Gardening Tricks or Tips for Growing Perfect Tomatoes?

Share with us in the comments below!