TOP 10 TOMATOES GROWING TIPS - EASY GARDENING

The trick is to choose the best varieties, start the plants off right, and control problems before they happen.

If you are starting tomatoes from seed, give the seedlings plenty of room to branch out and transplant them into their own 4-inch pots shortly after they get their first set of true leaves.

Tomato seedlings need strong, direct light. If natural light is not sufficient, using artificial plant lighting for 14 to 18 hours every day is the best option.

If you start your seedlings inside, you need to provide some type of air circulation. You can create a breeze by turning a fan on them for five to 10 minutes, twice a day.

You can speed up the growth of tomato plants by preheating the garden soil with black or red plastic a couple of weeks before planting. This will provide extra degrees of soil warmth and result in earlier tomatoes.

Plant your tomato plants deeper than they come in the pot, all the way up to the top few leaves. This allows tomatoes to develop roots all along their stems, making for a stronger plant.

If you are not leaving plastic on the soil, hold off on mulching until after the ground has had a chance to warm up. Once temperatures remain warm, you can add a layer of mulch to retain moisture.