The world ’s favored yield vegetable is also very pop with amateur gardener ; you will find tomato plant in most back thou in all continents – but why do n’t they always look healthy and impregnable ? Why do you get black patches on them ? Why do crops fail so often ? The answer is that many people make the same mistakes with this flora – and most of them happen in spring . And then it ’s too late to correct them .
For a prospicient and bountiful crop of red and juicy tomato later in the season , there are 8 mistakes you must invalidate at all costs . This industrial plant is quite fussy , and , despite its strong looks , it can be delicate . So , experience now what to quash and you wo n’t regret it later !
Mistake 1 – Planting Tomatoes in Poorly Drained, Compact Soil Without Any Preparation!
A common misunderstanding to make with love apple is not to set the soil well . These plants like fertile soil , and a good bed of compost will sort this out for you when you transplant the seedlings . But how about drainage ?
Tomato flora drink a lot , depending on their size , and case of bed , they can need up to a whole gallon of water every sidereal day ( 4 litre ) ! But then , if your soil is not very well drained , or it is too compact , it remain there , around their roots , and they may catch fungi or / and decompose away .
You may not realize it at first , but afterwards in the time of year , your Lycopersicon esculentum plants will weaken and even die …
you could till the soil or habituate a decompactor before you plant the seedling , but this will only ameliorate drainage in the first stage of your love apple ’ ontogenesis . But you also need to add rough-cut ( horticulture ) sand , to make indisputable that the ground does not revert back to poor drainage .
However , if your stain is heavy clay , you will necessitate to add gypsum to it , as sand will simply not part the lumps in it .
Mistake 2 – Bad Watering
The 2nd , and uncouth mistake , is what I would call “ sloppy watering ” . I am not just talking about overwatering and underwatering , as well as forget to quench your tomatoes ’ thirst … I am speak about the manner you do it !
Tomatoes are very susceptible to extra humidity , and drops of pee on their leave of absence and stanch . When you see dim spot on the foliage , and sometimes on the stalks as well , it is often due to water splatter on them .
This can also boost fungal infections and mould , so , first of all do not irrigate your Lycopersicon esculentum from above , with a watering can , or with sprinklers ! No – they are no good for them !
irrigate your tomatoes from below instead , and check that you do not squish any on the base of the stem ! So , if you do it manually , with a watering can , do it slowly . However , your good choice is a drip irrigation organization . They are chintzy and whippy , and you’re able to use a timer to verify they are watered regularly .
Mistake 3 – Not Hardening Your Seedlings Before Transplanting Them
This is such a usual error that I will never break repeating it : “ Always harden your love apple seedlings before embed them ! ”
Solanum Lycopersicon or , as we call it , tomato , is a plant life aboriginal to South America , and we often grow it in much colder clime . What is more , seedling mature up in very static condition , whether you purchase them or acquire them yourself from seed . So , when you move them outside , they receive a shock , due to temperature changes , wind and strong sunlight .
What you need to do is get your Lycopersicon esculentum seedling habituate to coarse conditions .
Take them out for a couple of time of day in the good afternoon first ; but not in full Sun and windy spots ; find a sheltered office in part shade . Then , do it for four hours , 6 hour , 8 hours , 10 hours … Transplanting tomato plant seedlings begin about a hebdomad before you actually move them to their new home in your veggie garden …
Mistake 4 – Not Giving Support to Your Tomatoes EARLY!
As soon as your love apple plant reach 1 foot marvelous ( 30 atomic number 96 ) you must start giving them living , with interest , a treillage , a coop , or , especially for undetermined varieties , a Florida weave , by far the best way to “ keep them unbowed . you may ascertain all about it here .
If you do n’t act presently , they will not grow straight , they may incline on the ground ( and get diseases and molder ) , and in any case , you will find it more difficult to do it later … So , do n’t ravage metre !
Mistake 5 – Forget to Remove Their Freeloading Cousins!
This is a very common mistake as well … Your tomato plant industrial plant look ruddy , they are full of parting , they grow bounteous … But they have few fruits ! And do you know why ? You did not remove their sucker !
Suckers grow in the armpits of the primary stem , or branches … They are gentle to find , and sluttish to snap off with your fingers , and wonder why they are called so ? Because they suck the lymph ( so vitality and nutrients ) off from the others that bear fruits .
But here we necessitate to make a distinction :
Next mistake …
Mistake 6 – Not Pruning off the Lowest Stems!
Once your seedling has grown into a small adult , and it does not need the grim stem and foliage to produce prime and fruit , prune them off ! You do n’t want your plants to be shaggy-coated at the foundation , you require them sporting , and this is for many reasons :
So , keep the alkali of your love apple plants clean , and there …
Mistake 7 – Not Mulching at the Base of Your Tomatoes
By all means , mulch your tomato plants as soon as you transplant the seedling ! Do n’t wait …
Mulching them has many overconfident effects and no drawback :
you may use any eccentric of mulch for tomatoes , cheap straw or dry leaves are fine , but most Lycopersicon esculentum lover use Grant Wood chips , which are a bit more “ cherished ” and you would n’t use it for other vegetables , but gift their soft fruits and upshot with humidity …
Mistake 8 – You Planted Your Tomatoes in the Wrong Direction or Place!
tomato ask full sunlight , and dozens of it ! Otherwise , they will grow fallible , and their fruits will never get to that glorious red ( or royal , “ black ” , or golden , depending on the variety you choose ) we all love them for . And not as sweet or nutritious either !
So , grow them in a position where they get at least 6 hours of bright sunlight a day , and even more is adept !
What is more , tomatoes can grow very marvelous , peculiarly indeterminate miscellany , so you demand 3 to 4 feet between rows ( 90 to 120 cm ) and 2 to 3 feet between them ( 60 to 90 cm ) . This , of course , calculate on the kind , but verify they have both sunlight and external respiration .
But then there is another coon mistake … What is the direction of your wrangle of Lycopersicon esculentum ? Does it go east to west ? Then , they will not get enough sunlight ! They take to go northward to Confederate States of America rather . This way , they will get both break of day and good afternoon Sun .
I make out , intuitively , you may intend , “ But east to west exposes them to south , where the Sun is stronger ! ” True , but it only remain there for a brusque time , while in the mornings and afternoon it will light your tomato plant rows only from the sides , and the back one-half persist without it all day long !
… And a Final Tip …
So , here are the 8 sneaky mistakes you must avoid at all costs with your tomato seedlings and plant life in spring . Now you know them and you also know how to avoid them , so you will get freehanded crop of healthy and ripe fruits later on .
But there is a final tip I would care to leave you with … Transplant your seedling during the third stage of the Moon ! This will help them formulate strong and long theme , and it ’s what you desire with them at this phase . They will finalise fast and acquire healthy later on !
It is not a “ myth ” or “ credence ” ; there are scientific grounds for it , and if you want to know all about it , check outour clause on Moon planting here !
write By
Amber Noyes was put up and raise in a suburban California town , San Mateo . She holds a master ’s degree in gardening from the University of California as well as a BS in Biology from the University of San Francisco . With experience work on an organic farm , water preservation inquiry , Fannie Merritt Farmer ’ marketplace , and plant nursery , she translate what make plants thrive and how we can better understand the connection between microclimate and plant health . When she ’s not on the Din Land , Amber loves inform masses of new musical theme / things come to to horticulture , specially organic gardening , houseplant , and growing plant in a small space .
