When planting seedlings, pinch off a few of the lower leaves.Do NOT apply high nitrogen fertilizers such as those recommended for lawns, as this will promote luxurious foliage but can delay flowering and fruiting. Optional: When you transplant tomatoes, add a handful of organic tomato fertilizer or bone meal (a good source of phosphorus) to the planting hole.See instructions on how to build stakes, cages, and tomato supports. Staking and caging keep developing fruit off the ground (to avoid disease and pests) and also help the plant to stay upright. Place tomato stakes or cages in the soil at planting.See our Planting Calendar for suggested transplanting dates. Transplant your seedlings (or your nursery-grown plants) into the ground outdoors after all danger of frost has passed and the soil is at least 60☏.Learn more about hardening off seedlings. Gradually increase this time each day to include some direct sunlight. Set them outdoors in the shade for a few hours on the first day. If you’re buying or growing the start plants, you’ll need to “harden off” the seedlings for a week before transplanting them in the ground.Note that 70☏ soil is optimum for maximum germination within 5 days. If you have a long enough growing season, it is also possible to direct-seed tomatoes in the garden soil (1/2-inch deep)-but not before the soil is at least 55☏. Plant seedlings outdoors about 2 weeks after that date or when temperatures stay in the mid-50 degree range both day and night. Learn more in our article on “ Tomatoes From Seed the Easy Way” for more tips. If you are starting tomatoes from seed, sow indoors 6 weeks before the last expected spring frost date in your area. See our Planting Calendar for when to start tomatoes in your location. Tomatoes are long-season, heat-loving plants that won’t tolerate frost, so wait until the weather has warmed up in the spring. Give it two weeks to break down before planting.Īlso, choose a space where tomatoes (and members of their family, especially eggplants, peppers, and potatoes) have not grown in the previous couple of years. Dig soil to about 1 foot deep and mix in aged manure and/or compost. In southern regions, light afternoon shade (natural or applied, e.g., row covers) will help tomatoes to survive and thrive. Select a site with full sun! In northern regions, 8 to 10 hours of direct sunlight are preferred.
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