As we progress deeper into the dog days of summer, we are blessed with an abundance of fresh summer produce. Namely, ripe and juicy tomatoes have reached their peak.
Many of us have waited months for this season, and we're in good company – all-around domestic expert Ina Garten recently shared her own excitement around tomatoes on her Instagram page as she showed off her garden's fruits.
In the clip, we can see Garten walking us through her trellises, which are brimming with a variety of mini orange tomatoes, which are surprisingly easy to grow. The best part? We can do the same.
When considering the best ways to grow tomatoes, expert gardeners recommend looking at outdoor conditions prior to planting and gathering necessary supplies accordingly.
'Tomatoes are heat-loving plants and require a relatively long growing season,' says Kathi Rodgers, gardener and owner of Oak Hills Homestead. 'They are native to South America and cannot survive freezing temperatures. Many gardeners start tomato seeds indoors and transplant them into the garden as soon after the last spring frost as possible to extend their growing season.'
She continues, 'Tomato plants will die with the first fall frost unless they are protected from the cold weather in some way, such as covering them with frost cloth or frost blankets.'
Rodgers says that extra care should be given to soil, which can determine whether tomatoes thrive or not.
'Tomato plants prefer loose, well-draining soil,' she says. 'They are heavy feeders and will grow best in nutrient-rich soil. Add compost or other organic matter to your tomato bed before transplanting them to add nutrients and to improve the texture of the soil.'
Fertilizer selection is also crucial to growing tomatoes successfully, as different kinds will contain varying nutrients.
'Fertilizing tomato plants every 4-6 weeks during the growing season will encourage them to bloom and set fruit,' Rodgers explains. 'Choose a fertilizer that’s higher in phosphate than other nutrients or a fertilizer specifically for tomato plants.' For a great starting point, we recommend this organic fertilizer (available from Amazon) below.
Keep tomatoes fresh and plump with this organic fertilizer.
Finally, height matters. Growing tomatoes vertically will yield a plentiful crop; however, Rodgers recommends some tips and tricks to achieve the best possible outcome.
'Grow tomatoes up a trellis for the best results,' she says. 'Keeping the plants up off the ground will save space in your garden, allow ventilation around the branches, and help prevent diseases. Alternatives to using a trellis are to tie the plants to stakes or use tomato cages.'
Additionally, make sure tomatoes get plenty of natural light for optimal produce.
'Provide 6-8 hours of direct sun for the best growth,' Rodgers suggests. 'In areas of extreme heat, you might need to provide some shade during the hottest part of the summer with shade cloth or a temporary shade structure.'
With the right advice, we can enjoy produce like Garten's next summer. Happy planting.
