Tomato plants growing too slowly?
Question:I planted Beefsteak and two other varieties as in previous years. The last two years they are much smaller than other people's the last two years, and smaller than what I had the previous years.
They look reasonably healthy, but not big or bushy. Each has developed a small tomatoe, which I have plucked to encourage vine growth rather than fruition.
Any suggestions?
Answers:
Tomatoes need a lot of sunlight. At least 6 hours per day. You really don't want to encourage green growth, if you want tomatoes. I would not use a high nitrogen fertilizer. (There are lots of fertilizers on the market especially for tomatoes.) Any type of compost will help. (Just sprinkle around the base of the plant.) I like composted manure, which is sold at Home Depot or Lowe's.
When you plant tomatoes, it helps to plant them deeply (up to the first set of leaves) This will encourage root growth, which in turn will produce a healthier plant.
Hope this helps!
ADD Miracle grow soil, and water them also with m g and water mix.. they will get so large u will be amazed.. I use this on our garden, grass and house plants and they really thrive!
try eggshells, coffee grinds, banana peel
I usually disagree with what most say here about tomatos. Last year I had 100 plants various varieties. I NEVER plant my plants deep. In fact I plant them in 4 inch pots and only plant 3 inches in the ground so 1inch is above ground to stop the cutworms.I plant them in the pots with miracle grow dirt.
I also feed them later with other fertilizer. 2 things try not to plant the same plants in the same spots in the garden every year. if you do, fertilize even more or have your ground tested.
I dont use coffee grounds , leaves, mulch, or anythng else. my garden Grows better than my neighbors who does all of the above! he even uses newspaper, and straw on top of leaves, mulch, cow manure and the like. I find tomatos need 2 things... Good dirt.and lots of sun
If you aren't heavily fertilizing, this could be a factor. I tried compost alone for several years and a soil test showed my soil was depleted of nitrogen.
A bunch of plants will really suck those nutrients out. This often shows up in the second year if the soil is not ammended.
Here's my 2 cents worth from a fellow gardener.
I'll assume you live in a northern latitude since your name is Steve Toronto. If this is so: your season is short.You say you planted beefsteak as in the previous years. tomatoes draw A LOT of nutrient out of the soil,so much so that it is recommended NOT to plant in the same place as the prior season unless soil is amended.
"reasonably healthy,but not big or bushy" and "a small tomatoe" are all signs of low nutrient. How you choose to gradually amend your soil is up to you,from your post it sounds as though you are a few yrs behind.
IMO you shouldn't be plucking tomatoes or blossoms to encourage vine growth. Tomatoes draw nitrogen primarily for vine growth so plucking blossoms isn't helping any there as blossom growth attributes to potassium & potash.
More Related Questions & Answers...