Q&A for How to Grow a Tomato Plant

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  • Question
    What time of year do I plant them?
    Andrew Carberry, MPH
    Food Systems Expert
    Andrew Carberry is a Food Systems Expert and the Senior Program Associate at the Wallace Center at Winrock International in Little Rock, Arkansas. He has worked in food systems since 2008 and has experience working on farm-to-school projects, food safety programs, and working with local and state coalitions in Arkansas. He is a graduate of the College of William and Mary and holds a Masters degree in public health and nutrition from the University of Tennessee.
    Food Systems Expert
    Expert Answer
    Plant your tomatoes in the spring, when the soil has warmed up, and after the last average annual frost date for your area.
  • Question
    My tomatoes are about full size but they are still green. Should I take them off the plant and let them ripen in the sunlight?
    Andrew Carberry, MPH
    Food Systems Expert
    Andrew Carberry is a Food Systems Expert and the Senior Program Associate at the Wallace Center at Winrock International in Little Rock, Arkansas. He has worked in food systems since 2008 and has experience working on farm-to-school projects, food safety programs, and working with local and state coalitions in Arkansas. He is a graduate of the College of William and Mary and holds a Masters degree in public health and nutrition from the University of Tennessee.
    Food Systems Expert
    Expert Answer
    They will take longer to ripen if you remove them from the plant. If you want to extend your harvest, harvest a few green tomatoes to ripen for later.
  • Question
    Can I grow tomatoes from store bought tomatoes?
    Community Answer
    Yes, you can use these by storing the seed and letting the seed dry. Then wait for the correct season to plant the seeds, as explained in the article.
  • Question
    How do I take care of seedlings until it is warm enough to plant them?
    Community Answer
    Keep them in a sunny window and rotate them every day to help them grow straight. Water only when the soil dries out. Be careful not to let the leaves get wet when you water.
  • Question
    Our tomato plants are 35 inches tall. Can we cut the stalks back?
    Karin
    Top Answerer
    Do not cut the stacks back (not the top at all) as you'll kill the plant. You can, however, trim the growth that's coming at the intersection between the leaf and the main stem to make it less bushy. If you nip the top growth, you will basically terminate the plant and cause it to die back. So, instead, push in stakes and tie the plants up with string (cotton string is fine, or butcher's string) to hold them in place. Tomato cages work well too, but should have been put in when they were only 8 to 12 inches tall.
  • Question
    What do I do for leaves that are turning yellow on the bottom?
    Community Answer
    Cut them off. Start from the bottom and then you will also be able to bury them deeper into the ground, which encourages more roots to grow.
  • Question
    How can I cure white fungus on the leaves of the tomato plant?
    Community Answer
    White fungus are pests. To remove, [Make Organic Pesticide|make an organic pesticide using wikiHow]] or simply cut that leaf.
  • Question
    Do I need to pinch somewhere on the stem?
    Karin
    Top Answerer
    Yes. You need to pinch the growth that is coming at the very corner of the leaf of the plant, which is the junction between the leaf stem (housing all those leaflets) and the main stem. But do NOT pinch the very top growth, as this will terminate the growth of the plant and cause it to die.
  • Question
    My plants look like suckers without a main stem. What is wrong?
    Karin
    Top Answerer
    That can happen if you do not prune back the growth. Suckers come from the base of the leaf where it meets the main stem, and if not pruned out, they continue to grow and produce new growth. It gets exponential if not controlled, and reduces fruit production as well. Trim the suckers out completely, and trim out any new growth coming from the base of the leaf. The suckers will have lighter green stems than the main plant. Stake up your plants to help them grow up instead of laterally over the ground.
  • Question
    I have only one place to plant my tomato plants each year. What should I do extra to the soil each year to help the plants?
    Community Answer
    Put in extra compost each year after harvesting your tomatoes and give the compost a whole winter to "set".
  • Question
    Do I need more than one tomato plant?
    Community Answer
    Not unless you want more. One will be sufficient for a salad or two.
  • Question
    What is the rule for trimming or pruning?
    Karin
    Top Answerer
    Trim the growth coming from the base of the leaf, no matter how tiny. You don't need for shears, just use your thumb and forefingers to roll the growth between your fingers and let it fall away. Do not trim the growth at the top, as that is where the primary growth point is and what is needed to let the plant both continue to grow and produce fruit.
  • Question
    Do I remove the plastic from the root when planting?
    Community Answer
    Yes, you remove plastic bag from root when planting. Otherwise the root will suffer and may die.
  • Question
    Somebody told me to take the yellow flowers off i don't think they are right but would like to know the right answer thanks
    Community Answer
    Those yellow flowers must be pollinated if you're going to get tomatoes. Keep them on.
  • Question
    Why do blossoms dry up?
    Karin
    Top Answerer
    Blossoms dry up because the plant is turning that flower into a fruit or body where seeds are produced. The plant needs to produce seeds so it can propagate its offspring and ensure the survivability of its species.
  • Question
    When does the plant start to blossom for the tomatoes to start?
    Community Answer
    Mine started to blossom 4-5 weeks after seed. Be patient. It will happen.
  • Question
    Can I use oak leaves as mulch for the tomato plants?
    Community Answer
    Yes, mulching with oak leaves are good, but first chop them up with lawn mower. Large leaves hold water back from plants and take too long to decay,
  • Question
    Should I pinch off the buds on the plant when they're still small?
    Community Answer
    No, you should not. This can limit the plant's growth over time.
  • Question
    What makes the leaves turn brown and what can I do to prevent it?
    Community Answer
    The plant may be getting too much sun or not enough water.
  • Question
    Should I pinch off the flowers when the plant is so small?
    Community Answer
    No! This is the time when they are about to bloom and produce fruits.
  • Question
    Why do I have so much greenery and not many flowers or tomatoes? It looks more like a green bush.
    Community Answer
    Sprinkle crushed eggshells around it. Your plants are lacking in calcium, and should have had eggshell at the bottom of the hole if it was transplanted.
  • Question
    When do I start pruning suckers? How big/early/late/old should the plant be before you start doing this?
    Community Answer
    When your plants are about to bloom. Doing this will motivate the plant to put its energy into producing flowers and fruits instead of producing another branch or leaves.
  • Question
    Do I need two plants to get tomatoes?
    Community Answer
    No. One plant should give you enough tomatoes. It depends on how much you want.
  • Question
    Can I grow tomato plants in pots?
    Community Answer
    Yes.
  • Question
    What are sucker leaves?
    Karin
    Top Answerer
    Those are the leaves or growth that comes up at the base of the main leaf. These little shoots need to be trimmed off, otherwise they become much bigger suckers that can make the plant look ugly, and cause it to become more bushy than fruit-bearing.
  • Question
    I have a raised bed garden. My tomato plants are 18"to 24" high and look healthy, except for two plants, which were wilted and look even worse after I watered them well. Any ideas?
    Karin
    Top Answerer
    It sounds like those two plants may have root rot and are beyond saving. It would be best to pull them out and discard them in the compost pile.
  • Question
    Should I dig the soil around the plant at the time of fruitinv
    Community Answer
    Wait until after you have harvested, usually between October and December.
  • Question
    Should I pick the bottom leaves to make an open looking stem?
    Karin
    Top Answerer
    If you want, but you're better off maintaining the growth coming in at the base of the main leaves. Don't trim the tops as that's where the growth point is. That way it forces the plants to put energy into fruit production instead of leaf and stem production.
  • Question
    Are used coffee grounds a good soil additive to use when growing tomatoes?
    Community Answer
    Yes, but make sure to let them cool down before mixing them into the soil to avoid harming the plants.
  • Question
    Once my tomato plant has finished fruiting how do I get the plant to give more tomatoes
    Karin
    Top Answerer
    Tomatoes are actually perennials in warm climates where there is no killing frost or freezing winters. Bring them inside, in pots, to keep them producing fruit and maintain the once or twice weekly pruning schedule. Water regularly, and you will get regular fruit even during the winter.
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