Tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum)

Tomato Cultivars I Grow

• Sauce Tomatoes: Great for sauces and cooking.
• Slicing Tomatoes: Perfect for fresh eating and sandwiches.
• Cherry Tomatoes: Mostly for personal enjoyment; they often self-seed.

Determinate vs Indeterminate Tomatoes

Determinate

The vines grow 1’-3’ long. The main stem and suckers also produce fruits. Once the flowers at the vine tips bloom, the plant stops growing. Perfect for containers or small spaces.

Indeterminate

Vines grow 6’-20’ long and produce clusters of flowers at every second leaf. They need staking or trellising and pruning for optimal growth.

Planting Tomatoes

I usually plant tomato plants horizontally in the hole to encourage more roots along the stem. A couple handfuls of compost in the hole and a gentle “now grow” seems to help. :)

Spacing

• 1’ – 2’ if staking and pruning.
• 3’ – 4’ if letting tomatoes sprawl.

Sprawling Tomatoes

One year, I let the tomatoes sprawl because I was behind on staking. They still produced plenty, rooted new roots, and kept growing. The next year I installed wire fencing and pruned them properly. Lesson: sometimes plants do their own thing!

Tomatoes in Small Spaces

Tomatoes are easy to grow in containers — perfect for decks, patios, and balconies. Dwarf varieties like Tiny Tim or Pixie work well. All container tomatoes need full sun, plenty of water, and rich, well-drained potting soil.

Care and Growing Guidelines

Fertilizer

I use compost or worm tea throughout the season.

Watering

At least 1” of water per week if it doesn’t rain. In hot weather, water more. Avoid wetting foliage. When flowering starts, add more compost. When fruits appear, give additional worm tea.

Problems & Pests

One common pest is the tomato hornworm — a large green caterpillar with white stripes. If you see them, hand-pick and destroy.

Diseases

Last year, some plants wilted, likely due to Verticillium or Fusarium wilt. Always monitor plants and remove any diseased ones promptly.

Tomato Soil pH Guidelines

Tomatoes thrive best in slightly acidic to neutral soil. Maintaining the right pH helps them absorb nutrients efficiently and reduces the risk of diseases like blossom-end rot.

Why soil pH matters: Slightly acidic soil ensures tomatoes get the nutrients they need, produces healthier plants, and helps prevent common problems like blossom-end rot.

Quick Facts for Tomatoes

• Sunlight: Full sun, at least 6-8 hours daily.
• Watering: 1” per week, more during hot spells; avoid wetting foliage.
• Spacing: 1’-2’ for staking/pruning, 3’-4’ for sprawling.
• Fertilizer: Compost or worm tea; more during flowering and fruiting.
• Pests: Tomato hornworm — hand-pick if spotted.
• Container Tomatoes: Use well-drained, rich soil; full sun; dwarf varieties like Tiny Tim or Pixie work well.