Tomato plants are heavy feeders, requiring copious amounts of nitrogen for optimal growth. You'll need to fertilize your tomato plants throughout their growth period and even before you plant them when you're preparing the planting site. You have some options for the types of fertilizer you can use as well.
Site preparation
Tomatoes prefer a soil pH of 5.8 to 6.5. In the absence of a soil test, you can come close to achieving this soil pH by preparing the planting bed and fertilizing appropriately while your tomato plants are growing. Choose a planting site in full sun and with well-draining soil. When you prepare the site, loosen the soil to a depth of about 12 to 15 inches using a garden fork or rototiller. You can then spread a 2- to 4-inch-thick layer of organic compost on the soil bed, mixing it into the soil to a depth of about 12 inches. The organic compost will provide extra nitrogen for your tomato plants, slowly degrading and releasing nutrients into the soil.
Starter fertilizer
Site preparation
Tomatoes prefer a soil pH of 5.8 to 6.5. In the absence of a soil test, you can come close to achieving this soil pH by preparing the planting bed and fertilizing appropriately while your tomato plants are growing. Choose a planting site in full sun and with well-draining soil. When you prepare the site, loosen the soil to a depth of about 12 to 15 inches using a garden fork or rototiller. You can then spread a 2- to 4-inch-thick layer of organic compost on the soil bed, mixing it into the soil to a depth of about 12 inches. The organic compost will provide extra nitrogen for your tomato plants, slowly degrading and releasing nutrients into the soil.
Starter fertilizer
When you transplant your tomato plants into the prepared soil bed, apply a starter fertilizer. Starter fertilizers will help to promote healthy root growth and establishment, and they're widely available in most garden centers. A typical starter fertilizer formula is a 5-10-10 or 5-10-5 NPK -- nitrogen-phosphorous-potassium -- liquid product. You'll need to first mix 2 tbsp. of the starter fertilizer liquid with 1 gallon of water. Then pour about 1 pint of the solution into the soil around each tomato plant right after you transplant it into the soil bed.
Side dressing
After the first tomatoes appear on your plants and grow to about the size of quarters to golf balls, side dress the tomato plants with 1 1/2 oz. of 33-0-0 fertilizer per 10 feet of row, or about 1 tbsp. of ammonium nitrate per plant. If you cannot find ammonium nitrate or 33-0-0 fertilizer, you can use about 3 tbsp. of 10-10-10 fertilizer per tomato plant. "Side dressing" means spreading the fertilizer along the row beside the tomato plants, so that the tips of the outside roots can absorb the nutrients from the soil. Apply another side dressing about three weeks later, and then a third application six weeks later.
Side dressing
After the first tomatoes appear on your plants and grow to about the size of quarters to golf balls, side dress the tomato plants with 1 1/2 oz. of 33-0-0 fertilizer per 10 feet of row, or about 1 tbsp. of ammonium nitrate per plant. If you cannot find ammonium nitrate or 33-0-0 fertilizer, you can use about 3 tbsp. of 10-10-10 fertilizer per tomato plant. "Side dressing" means spreading the fertilizer along the row beside the tomato plants, so that the tips of the outside roots can absorb the nutrients from the soil. Apply another side dressing about three weeks later, and then a third application six weeks later.
Options
Instead of a commercial fertilizer, you can instead use an organic compost or mulch. About four to five weeks after you transplant the tomato plants, spread a 2- to 3-inch-thick layer of organic mulch or compost around the tomato plants. When you're applying any type of fertilizer, make sure that you don't get it on the tomato plants' leaves. Also, water the tomato plants thoroughly when you fertilize to help the nutrients soak into the soil.
Instead of a commercial fertilizer, you can instead use an organic compost or mulch. About four to five weeks after you transplant the tomato plants, spread a 2- to 3-inch-thick layer of organic mulch or compost around the tomato plants. When you're applying any type of fertilizer, make sure that you don't get it on the tomato plants' leaves. Also, water the tomato plants thoroughly when you fertilize to help the nutrients soak into the soil.
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