Tomato plants are one of the most popular vegetables grown in home gardens. There are so many things that you can do to make sure that your experience with growing tomatoes is successful.
Whether you are a beginning gardener or have lots of experience, these tomato plant articles will be your guide through the whole process of growing tomatoes.
We have tips for caring for tomatoes from planting through to their harvest.
We also have articles about problems you may run into when growing tomatoes.
Keep reading to learn more about growing America’s favorite vegetable.
Check out the tomato plant-growing posts below.
Tomato leaf curl can show up in several ways. The leaves may curl upward, downward, inward, or become twisted, and each pattern can point to a different problem. In many cases, curled tomato leaves are caused by environmental stress such as heat, watering issues, transplant shock, or excess fertilizer. Sometimes pests or diseases are involved….
Yellow leaves on tomato plants are a common problem with tomatoes that usually signals an issue with the plant’s growing conditions. In most cases, yellowing is caused by one of a few key issues: watering problems, nutrient deficiencies, pest damage, or disease. Because these problems can look very similar in the early stages, careful observation…
Catfaced tomatoes have an unconventional and ugly appearance. Few things are more of a disappointment to a home vegetable gardener than discovering that their prized tomato plants don’t look the way they expect them to. Catfacing on tomatoes is a physiological disorder that is characterized by irregular and often distorted growth, resulting in misshapen tomatoes…
Many gardeners want to know how to ripen tomatoes indoors when the growing season ends or the weather turns cold. Whether your tomatoes are completely green or only partially ripe, you can try the simple indoor methods below to finish the ripening process. Basic supplies like paper bags, cardboard boxes, newspapers, sunny windowsills, bananas, and…
Tomato blossom drop is a problem that many vegetable gardeners experience, particularly those in hot climates. In fact, a common question that I get from my readers in the warmer states is “Why is my tomato plant dropping its flowers?” You’ve nurtured your tomato plants with care, eagerly expecting to get a harvest of luscious,…
Topping tomato plants is a process that involves cutting off the growing tips of tomato plants. It is often done in late summer before frost arrives. When you top a tomato plant, you send a message to the plant to stop producing new flowers and fruit and send its energy to the existing fruit. This…
Tomato suckers are small shoots that grow from the area where the main stem and leaf stem of a tomato plant meet. When left to grow naturally, suckers will turn into more stems on your plant. These stems can develop their own suckers and tomatoes which can make for a very top-heavy plant. Should suckers…
One of the delights of a summer vegetable garden is a luscious, ripe, red tomato. However, sometimes tomatoes don’t always do what we want. Tomatoes not turning red is a common vegetable garden frustration. In general, the fruit on your tomato plant should begin turning red about 6-8 weeks after the flowers are pollinated. If…
As the heat of summer approaches, many vegetable gardeners face a familiar problem – tomato sunscald. This phenomenon, caused by too much sunlight and made worse by improper pruning practices, can pose a significant threat to your tomato yields. Tomato plants love sunlight, but sometimes it can be a case of “too much of a…
Growing tomatoes in pots can be a space-saving way to enjoy fresh homegrown tomatoes, especially if you have a small space for gardening. Tomato container gardening is perfect for apartment dwellers or those without access to a traditional garden. This method will let you to grow delicious tomatoes on patios, balconies, rooftops, or even windowsills….
Growing tomatoes is a popular summertime experience, but things don’t always go as expected! It’s time to troubleshoot some tomato plant problems. Millions of people in the US have a vegetable garden each year, and a large percentage of them grow tomatoes. It’s not hard to imagine their dismay if their tomato plants don’t grow…
As a tomato enthusiast I know, firsthand, the frustration of discovering black spots on tomato leaves. There’s nothing quite like the anticipation of seeing those first ripe fruits, only to be disappointed by unsightly blemishes on the leaves. After encountering this problem in my own garden, I did some research and discovered the various causes…
For many gardeners, the promise of lush, red tomatoes is one of the highlights of summer. However, a common question that I get from readers is “why are my tomatoes splitting?” Cracked tomatoes can show up at any stage of the plants growth, either when green or ripe and red. No matter what time this…
Tomato bottom rot is a problem that many vegetable gardeners face. What causes that ugly black rot on tomatoes? There is nothing like biting into a lush, ripe garden tomato that you have spent months growing. Discovering those prize tomatoes with large rotten areas on them is no fun, though. However, sometimes those luscious tomatoes…
The tobacco hornworm is a voracious eater that can do a great deal of damage in a flower or vegetable garden. It is a pest in the family Solanaceae. The tobacco hornworm is quite commonly seen in the southern United States, especially the Gulf Coast States. Its range extends northward as far as New York. Caterpillars…
Are your tomatoes not turning red? Don’t worry, below are 12 tips for how to ripen tomatoes on the vine. Most tomatoes will start turning red about 6-8 weeks after their flowers have been pollinated. If your tomatoes won’t ripen, it could be due to a variety of factors. Green tomatoes can be the result of…
Determinate tomato plants are also known as “bush tomatoes”. They are smaller than normal tomato plants and generally need no staking but still produce well. Nothing tastes quite like a home grown tomato. They are sweet and juicy and so easy to grow. But they also take a lot of room, so are not so…
Have you ever wondered what you need to do to grow sweet tomatoes? Vegetable gardening is so satisfying, and homegrown tomatoes are at the top of my favorites list. The taste of homegrown tomatoes is nothing at all like those that you buy in the stores. Even the vine-ripened ones can’t compare in taste to the…
Growing great tomatoes doesn’t happen just by putting a few plants into the ground and turning on the hose. But anyone can master growing great tomatoes by following a few simple dos and don’ts. In the world of vegetable gardening, there is nothing quite like the taste of fresh home grown tomatoes. The flavor of…
Want to get new tomato plants for free? Try propagation! Propagating tomatoes will give you new plants in just a few weeks, which is much faster than growing them from seed. Propagation is the process of growing new plants from a single parent plant by using parts of it. This can be done by using…