Gardening enthusiasts often view tomato plants as annuals, nurturing them through the growing season and discarding them in the fall. However, what if you could extend the life of your tomato plants through the winter? Overwintering tomato plants is indeed possible, but it requires some know-how. Let’s explore various methods and tips on how to successfully overwinter tomato plants.
Can You Overwinter Tomato Plants?
Tomatoes thrive in warm temperatures and full sun, making them a quintessential warm-season crop. However, temperatures below 60°F (16°C) hinder pollination and fruit development, prompting many to abandon their tomato plants as the weather cools. While tomatoes are typically grown as annuals, they are native to South America, where they can thrive as perennials. This prompts the question: Can you overwinter tomatoes? The answer is yes, but the goal is not to harvest vine-ripened tomatoes in winter. Instead, the aim is for the plants to survive until they can resume fruit production in warmer temperatures.
Growing Tomatoes in a Greenhouse in Winter
An ideal method for overwintering tomato plants involves utilizing a greenhouse. Equipped with a heater, a greenhouse provides a controlled environment for the plants during the winter. To successfully overwinter tomatoes in a greenhouse, pot them up before the first frost. It’s essential not to maintain tropical warmth; instead, allow the potted tomatoes to acclimate gradually. If your objective is fruit production, play the pollinator role by fertilizing the plants every 4-6 weeks. However, if you aim to keep the plants alive without expecting fruit, the temperature does not need to increase significantly.
Best Ways to Overwinter Tomatoes
For those without access to a greenhouse, three alternative methods for overwintering tomatoes exist: overwintering as stem cuttings, moving entire tomato plants indoors, or keeping the plants in bare-root dormancy.
Overwintering Tomato Cuttings
Taking tomato cuttings prior to the first frost provides a head start for spring. Cut a 3-5 inch (7.5-13 cm) stem from an actively growing branch or terminal end. Remove excess leaves, place the cut end in water, and put it in a sunny window. Once white roots appear, transplant the cuttings into a pot with a potting medium. As temperatures warm, harden off the cuttings and transplant them outside.
Moving Entire Tomato Plants Indoors
While seemingly straightforward, bringing entire tomato plants indoors has challenges. Grow lights are necessary due to the insufficient sunlight during winter days. Choose compact or dwarf varieties for consistent growth under lights. Be cautious of pests; spray plants before bringing them indoors. In spring, gradually reintroduce the plants to outdoor conditions before planting.
Keeping Tomato Plants in Bare-Root Dormancy
An old-school method involves allowing tomato plants to overwinter with no soil around their roots. Cut the plant back, remove soil, wrap the roots in damp material, and store in a cool area. Check moisture levels every six weeks. In spring, pot up the plants before the last frost or plant them directly in the garden after the danger of frost has passed.
In conclusion, overwintering tomato plants opens up possibilities for extending their life beyond the typical growing season. Whether in a greenhouse, as stem cuttings, or in bare-root dormancy, these methods offer alternatives to discarding your tomato plants, allowing you to enjoy fresh tomatoes for a more extended period.
Some plants are just not meant to be planted next to a tomato plant. They will negatively interfere with each other and create a hostile environment to grow in. THings we just don’t want to have in our garden. Companion planting is all about balance and harmony between the plants we choose to have.
Below we are taking a look at some of the plants that really never should come close to a tomato plant. They don’t work well together and will do more harm than good. If you are an experienced gardener then you might recognize some of these but as a beginner this might be completely new.
What Is Companion Planting
Companion planting is about creating a balance between the plants you have. More or less we are creating a balanced ecosystem where one plant benefits the nearby ones.
It could be to plant flowers next to trees or plants that need pollinators. That will help make sure you get a good harvest for the season. But some plants aren’t meant to be close to each other. It could be about introducing devastating diseases to a plant which normally doesn’t get them.
Tomato Plant
10 Plants To Never Grow Close To Tomatoes
Let’s dive into the plants that shouldn’t be planted next to tomato plants. There aren’t really that many so it should be easy enough to avoid these. There are way more beneficial ones compared to negative ones.
Cabbage
Cabbage plants are not that great of a choice to have next to a tomato plant. They are very space heavy and will spread themselves quite widely. If you haven’t accounted for that then you will quickly notice your cabbage plant will push out the tomato plant. The stem will get twisted and bent and might even break eventually.
So try and keep your cabbage separated from any other plants really to give them the space that they need to grow.
Corn
There is a disease that is shared among both corn and tomato plants. It can be devastating to other plants if it surfaces. So the argument for keeping corn as far away from tomatoes is to reduce the risk of this disease starting to grow and develop. It just leads to misery in the garden really if it comes. It makes other plants start wilting and no amount of energy and effort can undo the damages.
Dill
Dill can be a negative plant to keep next to tomato plants since it’s pretty hardy and might even push out your tomato plant. Dill is known to grow for two years. The second year it will surface hardier than ever and your tomato plants won’t have a chance to battle against the vast root system that the dill has developed already.
Fennel
Just like corn, fennel also carries a very devastating disease. But it’s one that affects the root system of the tomato plant. It will cause the roots to almost start burning and eventually they won’t enable to take up any more energy as they begin to die off. This can as you might guess be lethal to a tomato plant. So do yourself a favor and just avoid planting fennel close to tomatoes.
Potatoes
The tomato and potato plant are both members of the nightshade family, which means that the plants both need the same nutrients. So planting potatoes next to tomato plants will just cause you to get unnecessary amounts of competition in your garden. The two will butt heads against each other and you will see a decrease in quality and harvest from the two.
Eggplant
Just like the potato, the eggplant is also a part of the nightshade family. This means that both tomato and eggplants need the same nutrients and place to grow in. It creates a difficult environment for the two to be in. But the second negative part about eggplants would be that they are susceptible to blight. Which tomatoes are also, so spreading this disease more easily around your garden just seems really unnecessary.
Walnut
This is honestly not the most common combination. But it should be mentioned that walnuts and tomatoes do not go well together. The walnut tree will indact start to release chemicals in the soil that will greatly affect the tomato plant. It will eventually cause the roots to be harmed and no longer able to take any nutrients from the soil.
Cauliflower
Cauliflower is a very demanding vegetable to grow at home. It requires a lot of time and effort to get right. The plant needs a lot to grow successfully, and one of those things is space. If you plant cauliflowers too close to tomato plants then you will release soon that the tomato plant will get pushed out. It will have devastating effects on the health of the plant.
Broccoli
Broccoli is just like the cauliflower, a very demanding plant to grow. It requires quite a lot of space to grow properly. But it also has the possibility of attracting some bugs and diseases that will harm your tomato plant too. So inviting that harm into your garden should just be avoided all together.
Kale
Kale is perhaps one of the most hardy vegetables you could grow at home. Kale, be that green kale or black kale have a really strong root system. This could risk pushing out your tomato plant. But just like cauliflowers and broccoli plants, they also could risk introducing new insects and bugs to your tomato plant. That will harm the leaves and in turn the harvest as well.
What To Plant With Tomatoes To Keep Bugs Away
In general herbs are the best plant to have to keep bugs away. Basil, oregano and sage are all really good plants to grow to keep bugs away from tomato plants.
The best part about these herbs is that they are very easy to care for. Watering the soil every now and again is the work that’s needed. They also work well with tomato plants too of course since they won’t be in direct competition with them either.
Tomato Seedlings
Why Should You Not Plant Cucumbers Near Tomatoes
The argument for keeping cucumbers away from tomatoes is that the large leaves will shade the lower parts of the tomato plant. If you grow a large tomato variety then you might not experience any issues, it’s more about keeping cherry tomatoes close by when the issues start to appear.
Summary
In short there are some plants that really shouldn’t be planted next to tomato plants. The argument comes down to that we want to reduce the risk of introducing diseases and insects to the tomato plant. But also about not creating a competitive environment where the plants both want the same nutrients.
FAQ
What Are The Worst Companion Plants For Tomatoes
The worst possible plants to keep next to tomato plants would be both corn and fennel. They increase the risk of some really harmful disease and pests beginning to appear on your tomato plant.
What Do I Plant Next To Tomatoes
The best plants to keep close by tomato plants are herbs and flowers. They will repel insects and harmful bugs and will instead help attract pollinators like bees.
Can You Plant Tomatoes And Peppers Together
Tomatoes and peppers are great together. They help create a vibrant environment for the both of them to grow in. Air circulators better and reduces the risk that any mold or bacteria would begin to grow on the stems of the plants.
There can’t really be a clear answer for all tomatoes about how much they can produce. A beefsteak variety will produce vastly more tomatoes in terms of quantity from one plant compared to a small cherry tomato plant. But the interesting part might be in the yield per plant you are getting.
Let’s dive deeper into the topic of how much tomatoes you can expect to get from one plant. It shouldn’t deter you from growing certain varieties just because they might yield less than others. The important part is that you grow something you think is tasty and delicious.
How Many Tomatoes Can You Get Per Plant
The average amount of tomatoes you can expect from one plant will be between 10 to 30 pounds per plant. The upper end of that being from varieties such as beefsteak tomato or san marzano. Two varieties that are sort of known for producing large quantities of tomatoes for the space and attention they require.
The smaller plants like cherry tomatoes or sungold will yield smaller harvests. But like we said previously, the flavor you get from these varieties are just as tasty and delicious as the larger varieties. It really is just a preference game when choosing the variety of tomato that you want. Either larger and high yielding plants or smaller and more manageable ones.
Tomato Plant
What Are The Best Tomato Varieties
In terms of flavor and getting a good and bountiful harvest then there is no better than the san marzano variety. This one can provide you with great harvests. The flavor is rich and sweet. It might just be the best one for making homemade tomato sauce. All in all a great beginner option since the attention it requires is pretty slim too.
The second favorite we have is the sungold tomato. This is a yellow variety that has a very sweet and slightly acidic flavor profile. They are the best snack tomato variety we know of. They ripen quickly and early on, but continue growing new ones throughout the whole season.
Determinate vs Indeterminate Plants
The difference between the determinate and indeterminate plants are more or less the size of them. The determined tomato varieties were shown in an experiment to be able to yield higher amounts per plant compared to indeterminate ones.
The experiment was done in a greenhouse where the temperatures remained elevated and the water was well kept. But it all really comes down to specific varieties and not the group of tomatoes you are grouping them into.
A plant that might begin to flower very early on in the season will generally speaking get more tomatoes growing throughout the one starting to flower later on. So a cherry tomato plant could outpace a larger beefsteak tomato in theory.
Best Yielding Tomato Varieties
Generally speaking one of the best yielding tomato varieties is the san marzano one. It has the capacity to provide almost 30 pounds of tomatoes throughout its lifetime. That means it might be one of the best options compared to smaller cherry tomatoes for example.
The reason we say the san marzano and not beefsteak tomatoes is that this one has a more consistent yield during the year. We have often found that beefsteak tomatoes have all of it coming at the same time, whilst san marzano can provide an almost daily harvest.
Tomato Plant
Large Tomato Plants vs Small Plants
We have mentioned the impact the size of the tomato plant has in terms of the amount of tomatoes you will get from them. The larger plants often have a really large harvest since they are able to grow more. But the smaller and more bushy tomato varieties are instead yielding a consistent harvest almost every day throughout the season.
We like a mix of both. The biggest advantage of growing smaller tomato plants is the flexibility they offer. We can move them around the garden to get them the best amount of sunlight each day. That normally means the flavor and aroma of the fruit will be so much better.
How To Get More Tomatoes Per Plant
There are many different qualities that affect the amount of tomatoes that you can expect to get. Let’s look at some of the things we ourselves can help the plant get and in turn have a healthier plant life.
Soil
The soil is incredibly important since that will decide the amount of nutrition the rest of the plant is able to take up. We strive to keep the soil slightly damp in order to prevent the risk of overwatering and damaging the root system instead. That can otherwise have detrimental effects like drowning the roots and causing rot to spread.
Light
This is incredibly important since it will help the tomatoes ripen properly but also lets the leaves perform photosynthesis. That is a vital process where the leaves take up the sunlight and turn it into energy for the rest of the plant to use up. It helps growing the plant and ensures the continuation of the plant.
Fertilizing
Getting the most from the soil is very important like we mentioned, but sometimes it’s necessary to give it a push in the right direction. We like to every month or so use some fertilizers to help boost the amount of nutrition the plant is able to get. Too much should be avoided though to prevent harming the roots instead.
Pruning
This is our secret weapon to making the plant grow even better. It helps with getting bigger and better harvests too. We prune the stems and leaves which are vital to the health of the plant. Stems which has not developed any flowers aren’t really needed. Pruning them will lead the energy and nutrition to the tomatoes instead of growing new leaves.
How Many Kilograms Of Tomatoes Can One Plant Produce
A tomato plant can produce anywhere between 4 – 12 kg of tomatoes per plant. It will all be determined by the variety though. Plants like san marzano or beefsteak are able to yield much higher weights compared to tomatoes grown in pots, like the cherry tomato one.
Tomato Plant
Summary
To summarize this article a little bit we can say that there isn’t a set amount of tomatoes a plant can yield. It will all be decided by the variety. Beefsteak tomato plants are able to produce up to 30 pounds while a cherry tomato one will be about 10 pounds instead.
Making sure the plant is getting a lot of sunlight and also nutrition from the soil will further help you get more harvest from the plants that you have growing.
FAQ
Can You Have Too Many Tomatoes On One Plant
You can’t really get too much tomatoes on one plant. You might get tomatoes that don’t have time to ripen, but that is often caused by the season ending early and the temperatures dropping quickly.
Do Tomato Plants Keep Producing
Tomato plants will keep producing all throughout the season if that is a variety you have chosen. But eventually the plant will grow tired and not develop flowers which turn into fruits.
How Much Does A Tomato Plant Yield
A tomato plant can yield anywhere between 10 – 30 pounds of harvest. But it will be decided by the variety that you have chosen. If you get beefsteak tomatoes for example then you can expect quite a large harvest for the year.
There are many different benefits of using eggshells for the soil where are plant is growing. But the impact will be different depending on what you are growing. Could eggshells really benefit tomato plants in terms of growth and health?
Below we will talk about the impact that eggshells will have on your tomatoes. The addition of calcium will help boost the help of your plant as the element is a vital nutrient. It improves the health and defensive system against disease and pests.
Tomato Plant
The Benefits Of Eggshells In The Soil
Like we mentioned before, the addition of eggshells to the soil is calcium. For a lot of plants calcium is a very important nutrient to get as it will help boost the natural defense system that it has. It reduces the risk that any disease and pests might get a hold of the plant. In the long term, adding eggshells every now and again will provide some very good benefits.
Are Eggshells Good For Tomato Plants
Tomato plants have a lot of different requirements to it, all from the light exposure and the amount of water it gets. But looking at the soil we need one where there is calcium present. This will greatly help the plant grow and be more robust.
So adding eggshells to the soil will help make it easier for the tomato plant to get this calcium. In a calcium fatigued soil you might start seeing plants be more frail and more likely to fall over on themselves.
How Should You Add Eggshells To The Soil
Simply adding whole eggshells is not the most efficient way of getting the nutrients in there. Instead you should try to mix the shells into an almost powder-like texture.
Mixing these eggshells with some soil and then into the soil will be much more efficient. The eggshells will decompose a lot quicker and the roots can start taking them up earlier. You will be able to see the impact it has a lot faster too.
Eggshells
Using Eggshells As Fertilizer
Eggshells doesn’t really have the same effect as fertilizers would have to the soil. It’s more used as a medicine of sorts for the plants to increase the defense system. Calcium seems to be a vital element most plants will want to take up and help with mitigating pests and the likes.
Don’t use too many eggshells as you can saturate the soil and cause harm instead. Never replace fertilizers with eggshells either. The nutrition in fertilizers can’t all be found in eggshells. They both have their own benefits.
Making Eggshell Tea
Eggshell tea is a great way of adding a liquid boost to your soil the next time you water it. Mix the eggshells and then boil them in water. This will help bring out the calcium into the water.
Adding this calcium rich water to the soil will help boost the health of your plants, not just your tomato plants. Don’t add too much, tomato plants like a soil which is just slightly damp and not too overwatered.
How Much Crushed Eggshells For Tomatoes
If you have used up a dozen eggs and saved the shells then that’s a pretty good amount to either mix or make tea from. Adding this to the soil about every other month or so will be more than enough to boost the tomato plant’s health.
FAQ
What Is The Best Thing To Feed Tomato Plants
The best thing to feed tomato plants would be manure. This is extremely rich in nutrients and better than any fertilizers out there. It greatly boosts the health of tomatoes but can also be overused.
Do Tomato Plants Like Coffee Grounds Or Eggshells
In the case of coffee grounds vs eggshells then we prefer eggshells. Especially for tomato plants as calcium is a vital element for the tomato plant to get into its system.
Why Do You Put Eggshells Around Tomato Plants
The reason you are adding eggshells to tomato plants is to increase the level of eggshells in the soil. That helps the defensive system of the tomato plant. It reduces the likelihood of diseases and pests beginning to grow on it.
When you are growing tomatoes at home, you might be thinking about pairing it with some other plants to get the most out of the land you have available. But it should be known that there are some plants which are better than others. It’s all about balancing the needs of the different plants with each other.
Below we will share our list of what we did to be great companion plants with tomato plants. We want varieties that don’t compete with each other. That will great a good balance and harmony in the area you are growing in.
What Are Companion Plants
Companion plants can be described as plants which can be grown together without them starting to negatively impact each other. It could be that the roots of one plant start leaking into and taking over the space of another.
In time this will create a lot of stress for one of the plants, but it also creates a winner and a loser. The goal with companion plants is to basically have two winners instead whilst also making the most of the soil and land available for using.
Tomato Plant
Benefits Of Companion Plants
Besides having the plants able to grow next to each other it is also possible for the plants to help each other in making the most. One plant might take more of one nutrient while the other plant takes another. This creates a soil with a life cycle and also means it won’t be imbalanced either.
Sometimes it can even help in increasing the harvest of tomato plants for example. A healthier plant is able to produce more fruit, or even encouraged to do so when it has a great environment to grow in.
The 15 Best Tomato Companion Plants
Let’s look at some of the best companion plants to grow with tomato plants. We have come up with this list after many years of growing and cultivating tomato plants.
Basil Plant
Basil
Often what tastes great together are also great companion plants. This is especially true for the basil plant. This herb is a great match as it can help with repelling insects that might otherwise harm your tomato plant.
It’s also easy to grow and likes much of the same conditions as the tomato plant, a well drained soil where there is plenty of warmth and nutrition as well.
Marigold Flower
Marigold
The marigold plant has some pretty secret advantages to growing it next to a tomato plant. The plant has been discovered to help prevent root-knot nematodes from the plants it is next to. It’s basically a parasite that feeds on the tomato plant and the marigold is able to dispel it.
In the long term this means that you will have a healthier tomato plant able to grow more flowers which turns into tomatoes. But marigold are also really easy to care for. They won’t require more attention then watering about once a week or so at most.
Carrots
Carrots
Carrots are not only a very tasty root vegetable, they are also a great companion plant and match for tomatoes. The benefit of them is that they help loosen up the soil, naturally down by the way they are growing.
This helps bring more air and oxygen into the soil which in turn creates a healthier root system for the tomato plant.
Bean Plant
Beans
When we say that beans are a great companion with tomato plants we really mean it. It has the unusually effect of increase air circulation around the bottom of the tomato plant.
This is very important as it helps prevent the development of diseases and pests. If there is not a good air circulation then it could create humid places that attract spores. This could greatly decrease the health of the plant if left unchecked. Best part is that beans are really easy to care for and also helps attract more pollinators like bees.
Pea Plant
Peas
Peas actually have much of the same effect as the beans we mentioned above here. You could grow any variety that you like really. The one we have been using though is green peas. It’s a sturdy plant that doesn’t need too much attention and care.
The pea plant helps with increased air circulation around the plants. It makes for a more hostile environment for spores and diseases to grow in. Which is incredibly beneficial for the tomato plant in the long term.
Clover Flower
Clovers
Using clovers on large amounts of land to increase the level of nitrogen in the soil has been a popular use for the plant. We can do the same using it as a companion plant to the tomato.
More nitrogen creates a better and healthier environment for the roots to grow in. This has some really great long term benefits too. It makes the plant have a better immune system and less likely to get disease. Clovers also have the added benefit of attracting a lot of pollinators too.
Cucumber Plant
Cucumbers
Like previously here, what tastes good together often grows good together too. The cucumber plant can help with making it harder for weeds to start growing in the soil. The large leaves help prevent sunlight from reaching the top soil. This makes it less likely you see weeds growing which could take nutrition and space from the tomato plant otherwise.
Dill Plant
Dill
Dill is a very hardy plant which can manage through both drought and warmth. But it also grows very well together with tomatoes. It doesn’t expand too much and sort of stays in its own lane when growing. This creates less competition. But it can also help with detering some bugs and insects that might otherwise start eating from the leaves of the tomato plant.
Oregano
Oregano
Oregano and tomato might be one of the combos after basil of course. The same goes for growing them together. The oregano plant grows like a small bush and won’t interact too much with your tomato plant and cause any competition or stress to it.
But it has the added benefit of repelling harmful pests and insects from the nearby area. This lowers the risk that you see spores or molds starting to grow on your tomato plant.
Radish Plant
Radish
This is perhaps not grown to be eaten. Instead we plant radishes next to tomato plants to make flea beetles attack the radishes instead of the tomato plant. We are bascially safricignt the harvest of radishes for tomatoes instead. A worthwhile one we think since radishes are both inexpensive to grow and also does not require a lot of care and attention.
Sunflower Plant
Sunflower
Not just for the beautiful aesthetics it provides, but also for the fact sunflowers are very good at attracting pollinators to the area. This will greatly help your tomato plant be able to develop fruits that you can harvest eventually.
Garlic
Garlic
Garlic and tomatoes are also a very classic combination, in the kitchen but also in the garden it seems. The smell of garlic, or any onion for that matter will help repel insects from the area. This makes it a lot easier for the tomato plant to grow on its own without the risk of getting attacked.
Borage Flower
Borage
The borage plant is known to be very easy to care for. But it has a lot of flowers and pollen for the small space that it takes up. This makes the area a haven for pollinators like bees. It further helps your tomato plant as the flowers will have a greater chance of getting pollinated and developing fruits.
Lettuce
Lettuce
Lettuce plants are not that great to grow in direct or too much sunlight. That’s why they are a great option next to tomato plants. The leaves will help make for a shadier topsoil where the lettuces are growing. Lettuce plants are also not that competitive and won’t steal nutrition from its neighbors.
Chive Plant
Chives
Chives have a pretty strong smell to them that makes them a great companion option as they will help prevent insects from getting anywhere close to your tomato plant. It reduces the risk of disease and pests beginning to appear as well.
Bad Tomato Companion Plants
There are bad companion plants out there too. It’s worth knowing what they are as they could otherwise really damage your tomato plant and cause unnecessary stress to yourself.
Cabbage
Cabbage plants take up a lot of space and will make it very difficult for your tomato plants neirby to grow and flourish. Instead you should completely avoid growing cabbage anywhere near other plants too. Leave them in their own spot to grow.
Corn
The corn plant has a disease that can be quite common. It shares that same disease with the tomato plant. So the argument is that you are doubling the risk of it appearing in your garden. It could cause irreversible damage to other plants nearby.
Potatoes
Potatoes are very demanding in the space that they are in. It’s often best to simply leave an area dedicated to growing potatoes. Otherwise you might run into risks where the root system of the tomato plant gets damaged.
Fennel
There is a substance in the roots of the fennel that actually makes the growth of tomato plants slow down. So it seems pretty obvious to keep these two as far away from each other as possible.
Peppers
Since pepper plants are susceptible to blight which can have devastating impacts on tomato plants, it seems unnecessary to invite this danger into your garden at all.
Tomato Plant
Companion Planting For Pest Control
There are many different plants out there with their own unique positives. As for preventing pests we like to use beans and peas. It helps create air ciruclation which makes for less humid places where molds and pests can otherwise grow quite freely.
Planting Tomatoes And Flowers Together
Flowers and tomatoes are great together. The flowers help attract pollinators such as bees. Since they are in the proximity of the tomato platns they will also help pollinate it. Without pollinators we cant get any tomatoes to start growing.
Tomato plants can just like any other plant also become overwatered. But fortunately we can pretty easily spot whether it has been overwatered or not. This is really worthwhile information to know since if a plant is left over watered for too long then you will risk killing the tomato plant.
Below we will start talking about spotting an overwatered tomato plant, all from looking at the leaves, the stem and the soil too. These are where we will best see if there might be an issue.
Tomato Seedlings
What Happens When A Plant Is Overwatered
When a tomato plant gets overwatered then there is too much water in the soil, obviously. But what is actually happening is that the water is blocking out oxygen from reaching the roots. That then causes them to start drowning and no longer able to take up nutrient from the soil.
This process can be pretty quick so it’s important to know the proper watering routine for tomato plants to never even have to face these issues. Choosing the right soil can also help prevent overwatering. If the soil has good drainage then that will help lead the excess water away from the roots.
How To Spot An Overwatered Tomato Plant
Let’s talk about the reason you came to this article, being able to spot when a tomato plant has been overwatered. We look at both the leaves, stem and the soil for the plant.
The leaves can start curling, wrinkling or even turning yellow in color when the plant is overwatered. When the issue has gone too far, then the plant will instead begin to have black spots appearing on the leaves too. At this point it’s pretty hard to save the plant.
The stem might be one of the first things to start looking at. The stem is where all the water is traveling through in the plant. When the roots no longer are transporting any nutrition or water into the rest of the plant, the stem will begin to turn black. It’s a process where the plant begins decomposing and turning back into soil.
The soil is also important to look at. If it’s like a sludgy paste then there is definitely too much water in the soil. Try and aim for it to be slightly damp or just below that in moisture content. Of course it will differ a little bit between tomato plants, but that is a good guideline to follow.
Common Signs Of Overwatered Tomato Plants
There are a lot of common signs that a tomato plant has been overwatered. Let’s take a closer look at these signs.
Yellowing Leaves
When the leaves are beginning to turn yellow on the tomato plant then that is normally a pretty early sign that the soil has too much water in it. This can best be fixed by avoiding watering the soil for a few days at least.
Black Spots On The Stem
If there are black spots beginning to appear on the stem then the roots have started drowning from the overwatering. Holding off on watering for quite a few days would be a very good idea here.
Bad Smells From The Soil
If the soil starts smelling bad, then that could be because the roots have been rotting and are currently decomposing. These are really serious issues as roots not getting energy will cause the rest of the plant to die off eventually.
Leaves Hanging Or Rolling Up
Just like the leaves turning yellow, if they are starting to hang or roll up then it could also be because of the soil being overwatered. It’s an early sign so you should try and hold off on the watering for at least a few days to give the plant a bit of rest.
Tomato Plant
How To Avoid Overwatering A Tomato Plant
Keeping a schedule or routine at least when watering tomato plants is a great way of preventing ever overwatering the plant. We try to check up on the plant at least every other day or so. You might not have to water all the time either. Trying to keep the soil slightly damp at the top level will be the ideal condition for the plant. Unless it’s dryer then that, then you shouldn’t really water the soil.
Common Causes For A Wilting Plant
When a plant starts wilting there can be various causes. But some are more common than others. If a plant has been overwatered then that causes stress and eventually a wilting plant.
Too much sunlight also has the possibility of stressing the plant enough to the point where it’s starting to wilt.
Saving An Overwatered Tomato Plant
Whether or not you can save an overwatered tomato plant will really be about how long it has come. If it’s early on and the leaves are turning in color to a more yellow tone, then you can hold off on watering for a few days to give the plant some rest.
If you are growing it in a pot then moving it to a sunnier spot might be a very good idea. That should hopefully help the soil dry out a bit more quickly.
Overwatering Tomato Plants In Pots
If you are using a pot to grow a tomato plant, then we can’t stress enough how great one with holes in the bottom are. These help lead away any excess water from the roots. It’s a real life save and the risk of over watering a tomato plant is very small when using one of these.
Tomato Plant
FAQ
Can A Tomato Plant Recover From Overwatering
A tomato plant can definitely recover from overwatering. If you hold off on adding any more to the soil then that will give the plant some time to recover and come back to life.
What Do You Do With Waterlogged Tomato Plants
If a tomato plant has been waterlogged then you should leave it in a sunnier spot. That will hopefully give the plant some time to rest up. The soil will also dry out more quickly, reducing the amount of water there.
What Do Tomato Leaves Look Like When Overwatered
If you have overwatered a tomato plant then the leaves will begin to change. They could turn yellow or even black. But they might also start to wrinkle and curl up.
Planting tomatoes is perhaps one of the goals for a lot of gardeners. It’s incredibly rewarding to harvest your own tomatoes and be able to use them in cooking. It’s the aspect of getting the reward of a lot of hard work and maintenance that really does it.
We have put together this article that will be discussing a little bit about the spacing necessary for tomato plants. There are a lot of different thoughts on this topic and we are here to share our expertise.
Tomato Plant
What Is Tomato Spacing
Spacing, or tomato spacing basically is about getting the necessary amount of space between the plants. It’s important because otherwise you might have too much competition among your plants in terms of getting either water or nutrient from the soil.
All plants basically has a set amount of space that they will require in order to grow effortless and provide a normal amount of harvests. But there isn’t a set amount for all tomato plants, since there are so many different varieties out there. But let’s dive a little bit deeper and look at what we find to be good guidelines.
How Far Apart To Plant Tomatoes For Best Growth
Like we have previously said in this article there really can’t be a set amount of space between tomato plants in order for them to grow properly. Instead we need to look at the variety of tomato to decide the necessary amount of space.
For a dwarf tomato plant, anywhere between 12 – 18 inches apart will be good. It will help provide a healthy environment for the plant to grow in, but also has the added benefit of making it easier to prune and harvest the plant too. Too close and you might have a hard time caring for them.
For larger tomato plants that might need some stability then you would want about 1 feet of spacing between them. This will help isolate them a little bit more and creates a good environment for growth and encourages more yield too. Less competition means a tomato plant is more able to focus on growth.
What Does Plant Spacing Help With
There are a number of things that spacing helps with when it comes to growing plants, especially with tomato plants. Lest list of some of the reasons why we utilize spacing.
More light on the plant
Reduces the risk of disease and pests
More harvests
Less competition resulting in a healthier plant
Like we said previously, the better your plant feels the more it’s able to produce in terms of harvest. But it also has the added benefit of making it less likely that you will see mold or diseases starting to grow on your plant. This is incredibly beneficial for the long term of your plants, not just for the tomato plants.
Tomato Plant Spacing
Tomato Varieties
There are a large amount of different tomato varieties out there as you might be aware. The interesting thing is that all of them basically require slightly different caring routines. But it can more or less be put down to getting the soil right and the placement of the plant. Below are two categories of tomato varieties that you should learn about.
Determinate
The determinate varieties of tomato are also now as bush tomatoes. These are the ones that grow small and has generally speaking smaller tomatoes as well. There are many different varieties of these, all with different colors and looks.
The fruit ripen at more or less the same time on the entire plant, making them very efficient when you want a large harvest in one go. In terms of spacing, we recommend about 12 – 18 inches between the different plants to help encourage more tomatoes growing.
Indeterminate
These are the larger varieties of tomatoes. They can grow anywhere between 6 and 8 feet tall if left to their own devices. In most cases they also grow larger tomatoes but they will not ripen at the same time as the variety we covered above here.
Best Spacing For Tomato Plants
The spacing changes a little bit between these two groups of tomatoes. This is to help preventing diseases growing on them and also maximizing the amount of sunlight they are getting to further boost the flavor of the fruit.
Determinate
The smaller variety of tomatoes being the determinate are best kept about 12 – 18 inches apart from each other. This will help the entire bushy plant get sunlight and in turn also provide you with beautiful and bountiful harvests.
Indeterminate
The larger group of tomatoes being the indeterminate ones are instead known for needing more space. Makes sense since they are larger. We have found that about 1 foot will be plenty enough. This also makes it easier to get a support system in place to prevent them from falling over on themselves.
Pruning Tomato Plants
There are a lot of different philosophies out there on the topic of pruning tomato plants. But in most cases pruning should only really be done after you have seen fruit begin to develop. This is to not discourage growth or development of fruit.
When the plant starts flowering that’s when you know where the fruits are going to develop. So cut away any unnecessary stalks where there are no flowering. This will increase the amount of nutrient going to your tomatoes instead of developing new leaves.
How To Space Tomato Plants
If you have already planted your tomatoes then it’s pretty hard to move them around without damaging the plant quite severely. So instead, it’s better to simply leave the plant and do it differently the next year.
But if you have tomato seedlings ready to plant then you need to first figure out whether they will grow tall or small. Smaller plants need just 15 inches of spacing between them, while the larger could use about 1 feet.
Tomato Companion Plants
There are so many different plants out there to grow next to your tomato plants. But the ones that we like the most are grown next to larger tomato plants. Using basil for example to help fill up the soil around the plant is very space efficient.
But other herbs like oregano or even parsley are also great options. Chives or garlic are also good options. It’s basically what tastes good with tomatoes will grow well with tomatoes, that’s our cheat code at last.
Tomato Plants
FAQ
Can I Plant Tomatoes 12 Inch Apart
This is definitely enough spacing if you are growing smaller tomato plants at home. There are basically two groups of tomatoes, smaller and larger ones. Larger ones would need about 1 feet or so in terms of spacing between the plants.
What Happens If Tomato Plants Are Too Close
If you have the plants growing too close to each other then you might be running into issues such as not enough sunlight on the leaves and fruits. The risk of diseases traveling between the plants are also higher. Lastly, there is also a higher level of competition for nutrition.
How Far Apart To Plant Cherry Tomatoes
Since cherry tomatoes are a smaller and bushy tomato plant, then it will be enough with about 12 – 18 inches in spacing between the plants. That way we can ensure the growth of the plant, but also boost the amount of tomatoes growing on the plant.
Using grow lights is a great way of getting the most of the plants you are keeping indoors. If you are struggling with getting your plants to grow properly then using a grow light is a very good idea.
Below we are sharing some of our expertise on this topic and also hopefully will help guide you into choosing the best one for you. They are relatively inexpensive and therefore quite a good investment for your indoors garden.
Grow Lights
What Are Grow Lights
Grow lights are more or less artificial lights that are meant to imitate the sunlight that the plants would get outside. It makes the plants able to perform something called photosynthesis, a vital process that makes them able to continue to grow.
Nowadays however it might be a bit more expensive, given that the energy prices are rising.. But if you don’t have the luxury of your own outdoor garden or balcony then this might be the only option there is.
The Best Grow Lights For Tomatoes Indoors
Let’s look at some of the most popular but also in our opinion the best grow lights out there. They are really specialized for only tomates, so you can grow whatever plant you want underneath them. This makes them a great investment if you want something benefiting your plants but something that can stay with you for many years.
Venta 75W LED
This is a full spectrum LED grow light meant for indoors purposes. It provides wavelengths between 390 nm and 730 nm making sure that you get the best light for the plants underneath. Because of this variety of wavelengths you are able to grow tomatoes faster.
But any seedlings or smaller herbs are also able to grow just as quickly as in a greenhouse for example. The light doesn’t drain more than about 27 watts making it a very energy saving alternative. We have had ours for a very long time and the total advertised time that the plant can last is about 50 000 hours.
If you buy the lamp straight from their website then you will also be able to get some warranty with the purchase and some extra lights coming along with the lamp too. For us this is perhaps the best option you will have one this list. An energy saving and green alternative that will ensure your tomatoes can grow both stable but quickly.
Mars Hydro TSW 2000 LED
This is an incredibly efficient full LED spectrum grow light specialized for indoor purposes. You get about 30 % more light for the amount of energy used. This makes it the most green option on this list.
It has a very close resemblance to the natural light outdoors. This helps ensure that your tomatoes or herbs grow in a natural environment where you won’t even notice a shift in the flavor of the produce.
The reflective aluminum hood helps maximize the amount of lights reflected onto the plants. It helps save energy and gets a higher intensity of light, further replicating the natural light outside. Buying the light straight from their website will also get you a 60 day warranty that makes this option hard to say no to.
Relassy LED
This grow light has the ability to offer a full spectrum of light ranging from 380nm all the way to 800 nm. Unlike some of the other options here this one is perhaps the best at distributing the light evenly all over the plants. This makes your plant less likely to grow tall and skinny.
That usually happens when the light source is inconsistent and not enough. The stem of the grow light is very flexible further helping you to set up the plant the way that you want to. Its energy efficient and easy to set up. This would be our recommendation if you live in a small apartment and don’t have a lot of room to play with.
Why Should You Use A Grow Light
There are many different reasons why you might want to use a grow light indoors. We have found that some of the more expensive and quality alternatives of grow lights have the same effect that regular sunlight would have on the plant. This really just means that you don’t have to worry about not having a large garden at home to utilize.
For beginners it might feel better to start indoors and grow your first plants. If you are insecure about whether the plant is getting enough sunlight or not, then using a grow light helps take away that worry.
Tomato Plant
Types Of Grow Lights
There are a variety of different types of lights out there. They all have their own slight differences with how they affect the plant in the end. Let’s look a little bit closer at what these lights do and what makes them special.
Fluorescent Grow Lights
These are often used for the cheapest grow lights out there. They don’t provide the full spectrum of light making you in the end have a smaller yield of tomatoes. It seems like the amount of quality light the plant receives is correlated to the amount of tomates you can harvest.
LED (Light-Emitting Diode)
LED lights are really the best. They are energy efficient and will also help provide you with the full lenght of lights. THis makes you able to get a better harvest from your tomato plant. In the end it’s really worth investing in this type of light. They cost a little bit extra but are well worth it. Take it from us, we have been using these to propagate small seedlings indoors for years now using these types.
HID (High-Intensity Discharge)
The HID lights are perhaps the most difficult variety on this list to start setting up. They require more effort to set up and get the most of. But they also help provide a really intense and strong light source for your tomato plants.
What To Look For When Getting Grow Lights For Tomatoes
As you have learned now there are a lot of different types of lights that you can choose from. But to keep it simple, then you should probably go for the LED or the HID types of light. They carry a price tag with them but also come with a higher quality of light.
With these you have a better chance at getting a good amount of yield and harvest on whatever you might be growing. For us, these are the only real options and we have never been disappointed buying and using them.
Will Tomatoes Ripen Under Grow Lights
Tomates can definitely ripen under grow lights. Even though it might be a little bit different from natural sunlight. Often tomatoes grown indoors under these lights are ripening earlier than the ones outdoors. This is because the plant has a greater access to light then outdoors.
But the intensity of flavor might be slightly less. Sunripe tomatoes are really hard to beat in all honesty. They are sweeter and more rich because of a longer amount of ripening.
Small Tomato Plant
Can Tomatoes Grow In 24 Hours Of Light
This is actually the most common way of growing tomatoes for commercial use. They are grow indoors under constant light to help boost the ripening time. It goes quicker and you will end up having tomates a lot earlier than those traditionally grown outdoors instead.
FAQ
How Much Grow Light Do Tomatoes Need
There is an amount of light that tomatoes can handle. But growing them outdoors would require at least 8 hours each day, so we use the same minimum amount indoors too with grow lights.
How Long To Leave Grow Light On Tomatoes
All the way from putting down the tomato seed up until you can havrest us when you can use the grow lights. You won’t harm the plant by using them for too long.
What Color Grow Light Is Best For Tomatoes
There are a lot of different types of grow lights out there, but for the best quality of light we recommend you use LED. This has the full spectrum of light, resulting in a better quality and even more heaviest compared to the cheaper options.
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