Once upon a time, people thought tomatoes were toxic plants. Today, they're the most widely grown vegetable in American backyard gardens. Generally grown from started seedlings that are transplanted outside once the temperature reaches an average of 60 degrees Fahrenheit, these plants require lots of fertilization to ensure plant health and optimal fruit production. For the best results, time your fertilizer applications for when the tomato plants need them most.
At planting: compost
Tomatoes thrive best in well-drained dirt. At the time of planting, gardeners must add organic matter such as compost or rotted manure by mixing 3 inches of the soil amendment into the top 9 inches of dirt. This feeds the new tomato plants with micronutrients while enhancing drainage and soil structure.
At planting: 8-8-8 fertilizer
New tomato plants thrive best when given a balanced fertilizer at the beginning, which boosts the plant's ability to take root quickly. The plants react best to an 8-8-8 balanced garden fertilizer at a rate of approximately 1/2 cup of fertilizer per tomato plant.
At planting: mulch
A couple of inches of mulch will help feed the tomato plants while also reducing the risk of disease and weeds. Mulching ingredients include weed-free straw, wood chips and sheets of newspaper. As the mulch decomposes, it adds nutrients to the dirt that benefit the tomato plants. Mulch also helps keep the tomato plants' roots cool and enhances soil moisture retention.
At fruiting: ammonium sulfate
In side-dressing, a gardener applies a midseason fertilizer to help boost tomato health right when the plant starts growing fruit and needs that extra nutritional support. When the first tomato fruits measure a couple inches in size, gardeners sprinkle a tablespoon of 21-0-0 ammonium sulfate fertilizer in a circle around the tomato plant. For the best results, this should be repeated twice after the initial fertilization in three-week increments for a total of three post-fruiting applications.
At planting: compost
Tomatoes thrive best in well-drained dirt. At the time of planting, gardeners must add organic matter such as compost or rotted manure by mixing 3 inches of the soil amendment into the top 9 inches of dirt. This feeds the new tomato plants with micronutrients while enhancing drainage and soil structure.
At planting: 8-8-8 fertilizer
New tomato plants thrive best when given a balanced fertilizer at the beginning, which boosts the plant's ability to take root quickly. The plants react best to an 8-8-8 balanced garden fertilizer at a rate of approximately 1/2 cup of fertilizer per tomato plant.
At planting: mulch
A couple of inches of mulch will help feed the tomato plants while also reducing the risk of disease and weeds. Mulching ingredients include weed-free straw, wood chips and sheets of newspaper. As the mulch decomposes, it adds nutrients to the dirt that benefit the tomato plants. Mulch also helps keep the tomato plants' roots cool and enhances soil moisture retention.
At fruiting: ammonium sulfate
In side-dressing, a gardener applies a midseason fertilizer to help boost tomato health right when the plant starts growing fruit and needs that extra nutritional support. When the first tomato fruits measure a couple inches in size, gardeners sprinkle a tablespoon of 21-0-0 ammonium sulfate fertilizer in a circle around the tomato plant. For the best results, this should be repeated twice after the initial fertilization in three-week increments for a total of three post-fruiting applications.
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