| In this article we're going to discuss the planting of | | | | soil with composted manure until it's loose for at least |
| tomatoes. This isn't something to try if you're new to | | | | six to eight inches into the ground. Mix the soil with a |
| gardening. Tomatoes need special care. | | | | rototiller or garden fork. Test the pH of the soil. If |
| To begin with, tomatoes need a minimum of six to | | | | the test shows that the pH needs to be adjusted, |
| eight hours of sunlight each day to grow well, and full | | | | add limestone or sulfur as is needed. |
| sunlight is recommended especially if you live in the | | | | After the soil is prepared, you can transplant. Bury |
| more northern cooler climates. | | | | the tomato stems up to the plant's second set of |
| The soil should be well drained with a pH of around | | | | leaves, digging a ten to eighteen inch deep hole, if |
| 6.0 to 6.8 in cooler climates. Plant your tomatoes in | | | | you need to. Fill up the hole with amended soil. |
| the spring well after the last frost and frost danger is | | | | Eventually, roots will form along the buried stem. |
| past. Of course there is always going to be that | | | | Wrap a newspaper collar around the stems to |
| freaky April day where temperatures dip below 32 | | | | protect the plants from cutworms. |
| but these days will be very rare. In hot climates, try | | | | Finally, you need to install support. You'll have a |
| to plant your tomatoes when temperatures begin to | | | | number of options for staking tomatoes. There is |
| drop in the early fall. | | | | however, one method that is most common. In this |
| The tools and materials you're going to need for | | | | method you'll position wire cages over the plants. Use |
| planting your tomatoes are compost, a trowel, | | | | five feet tall galvanized wire mesh and make cages |
| garden fork or tiller, plant supports such as cages and | | | | twelve to thirty inches in diameter. You're going to |
| stakes, and plant ties. | | | | need about three feet of mesh for every foot of |
| First thing you'll need to do is prepare the plants. In | | | | diameter. Fasten the cages to short stakes driven |
| order to harden transplants to the elements, give | | | | into the ground so that they don't fall over. |
| them at least a week to ten days of transition time | | | | Some tips about growing your tomatoes. For one |
| between indoor and outdoor growing conditions. Start | | | | thing, they'll usually stop growing at a certain height |
| off by placing the plants in dappled shade and make | | | | but some varieties grow taller than others. Dwarf |
| sure they're protected from strong winds. Make sure | | | | varieties grow only 2 to 3 feet tall and will give you |
| you bring them in the house at night. As time goes | | | | cherry-tomato-sized fruits. Keep your tomatoes well |
| by, gradually give them more exposure to the sun | | | | watered through the growing season so you don't |
| and wind. Eventually you'll be able to leave them out | | | | end up with disfigured fruits. Finally, fertilize very |
| overnight. If it looks like there is going to be a frost, | | | | carefully. Too much nitrogen will give you more |
| bring them back inside. | | | | foliage than fruit. |
| Next thing you have to do is prepare the soil. Mix the | | | | |