Tomato plants produce side shoots, or suckers, in the joints between the stem and leaf branches. If allowed to grow, they will divert energy from fruit production to foliage.
How to Prune:
- Identify suckers and pinch them off when they are 2–3 inches long.
- Keep one or two main stems, especially for indeterminate varieties.
- Remove the bottom leaves that touch the soil or show yellowing.
Pruning allows the plant to focus its resources on developing fruit rather than excessive leaves.
Support Systems: Staking or Caging
Tomatoes require structural support to keep them off the ground and reduce exposure to pests and diseases.
Options:
- Cages: Easy and ideal for smaller varieties.
- Stakes: Best for indeterminate tomatoes; tie the plant every 8–10 inches as it grows.
- Trellises: For vertical growing in small spaces.
Keeping fruit off the ground ensures better air circulation and sun exposure, leading to healthier plants and more uniform ripening.
Companion Planting: Natural Allies
Certain plants can help deter pests, enhance flavor, and boost pollination when grown near tomatoes.
Best Companions:
- Basil: Enhances flavor, repels flies and mosquitoes.
- Marigold: Deters nematodes and whiteflies.
- Garlic and Onion: Help keep aphids and spider mites at bay.
- Nasturtiums: Act as trap crops for aphids.
Avoid planting tomatoes near potatoes, fennel, or brassicas (like cabbage and broccoli), which can inhibit growth or spread disease.
Fertilization Schedule: Feed to Yield
Even with rich soil, tomatoes are hungry plants and benefit from periodic feeding.
Suggested Fertilizer Routine:
- At Planting: Apply your base mix (see earlier section).
- Two Weeks Later: Liquid seaweed or fish emulsion for nitrogen and trace minerals.
- Pre-Flowering Stage: High-phosphorus feed like bone meal or compost tea.
- During Fruiting: Balanced fertilizer every 2–3 weeks to maintain energy for ripening.
Avoid over-fertilizing, especially with nitrogen, as it promotes lush foliage at the expense of fruit.
Pollination: Encourage Maximum Fruit Set
Tomatoes are self-pollinating, but increased airflow and insect activity can dramatically boost your yield.
Ways to Improve Pollination:
- Plant Flowers Nearby: Calendula, borage, and lavender attract bees.
- Shake Plants Gently: Mimic natural wind or bee activity by vibrating the flowers every few days.
- Use a Soft Brush: Transfer pollen from flower to flower in low pollinator environments.
Improved pollination means more fruits per cluster and a higher total harvest.
Disease Prevention: A Strong Plant Is a Productive One
Healthy tomato plants are less susceptible to blight, mold, and pests.
Preventative Practices:
- Airflow: Prune and space plants to prevent stagnant air.
- Crop Rotation: Don’t grow tomatoes in the same place every year.
- Remove Affected Leaves Early: Don’t let disease spread.
- Clean Tools: Always disinfect tools between uses.
Regular inspection and prompt action keep plants productive and alive longer.
Bonus Tip: Use a Natural Tomato Tonic
Many gardeners swear by a home-brewed tonic to give tomatoes a boost.
DIY Tomato Tonic Recipe:
- 1 gallon of water
- 2 tablespoons of molasses (natural sugar feeds microbes)
- 1 teaspoon of Epsom salt (for magnesium)
- 1 crushed aspirin (helps immunity)
- Optional: 1 tablespoon of liquid kelp or fish emulsion
Mix well and apply every two weeks at the base of the plant. This combination strengthens the immune system and promotes vigorous fruiting.
Harvesting for Extended Yield
The way you pick tomatoes also affects how many more you’ll get.
Harvest Guidelines:
- Pick when the fruit is mostly red and slightly soft.
- Avoid pulling—cut with a clean pair of shears or scissors.
- Frequent picking encourages the plant to set more fruit.
- Remove damaged or diseased fruit immediately to reduce stress.
A well-managed plant can continue producing into early fall with proper care.
Final Thoughts
Tomatoes reward attention and preparation like few other crops. By combining deep planting, nutrient-rich holes, smart watering, pruning, companion planting, and consistent feeding, you can turn a modest garden into a tomato factory. Every step, from crushed eggshells to banana peels, contributes to the plant’s ability to thrive and produce more fruit than you thought possible.
This isn’t just about growing tomatoes—it’s about unlocking the full potential of what your garden can provide. Give your plants what they need from day one, and they’ll repay you with bowl after bowl of juicy, delicious tomatoes all season long.
