Growing Tomatoes Successfully | Petitti Garden Centers (2024)

Tomatoes are, hands-down, the most popular vegetable to grow in Northeast Ohio, and that’s for a couple reasons: one, they’re incredibly easy to grow; and two, the delicious reward is highly satisfying. Truly, the taste of a fresh-plucked, home-grown tomato beats the store-bought kind any day! Knowing that, here are 8 expert tips we can offer to help you enjoy your most bountiful, delicious yield yet.

1. Harden them off

Before transplanting tender indoor seedlings to an outdoor garden or container, be sure to harden them off by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions. In Northeast Ohio, that means exposing them to morning sun and only gentle wind, while the stems learn to strengthen. Begin leaving them out overnight only when temperatures are at or above 55⁰ F. NOTE: Petitti-grown starter plants have generally been hardened as part of our growing process and so are ready for outdoor planting, assuming minimum temperatures at the gardener’s home are consistently at or above 55⁰ F.at the time of planting.

2. Plant deeply

Tomatoes are different from many vegetables in that you can plant them rather deeply. Especially when it comes to tall seedlings that have stretched, we recommend removing the lower leaves from the stem and burying a good 1/3 to 1/2 of the plant’s stem. The portion of the stem that is buried will actually form roots and make the plant sturdier over time.

3. Space wisely

Tomato plants may start small but they can grow oh so big! “Indeterminate” varieties will continue growing vines until frost while “determinate” varieties will grow in a bushy habit up to a certain size. Regardless of which kind you have, most tomato plants, unless stated otherwise, will grow quite large and so providing ample space at planting time will go miles to maintain air circulation and reduce the chance of pests and disease later in the season.

4. Provide direct sunlight

Tomatoes crave direct sun and heat in order to produce high yields, so be sure to plant them in a space that meets the need, and don’t install them outdoors until the nighttime air is 55⁰F or higher.

5. Water regularly

Gardeners should plan to water newly-installed tomato plants once a day until they are established, which is typically about two weeks. Good drainage is key, so make sure your plants are getting a thorough drink daily, but do not leave them standing in water. Mounding up the dirt around the plant and watering in the furrows (not on the leaves or the mound) will help the plant receive the water it needs but will keep the roots drained and the soil aerated.

6. Offer structural support

Because tomato plants grow large very quickly, it’s a good idea to provide support in the way of tomato cages, fencing, or even a thick stake to which you can tie the plant. Petitti Garden Centers offer a variety of garden tape, ties, and other structural supports in to hold the plant in place yet stretch to avoid restricting or cutting into the plant as it grows.

7. Avoid blossom end rot

Blossom end rot is often the result of uneven watering and calcium deficiency. It usually occurs during summer when it’s hot and dry, and the plants get too dry between watering. Applying a product like Bonide® Rot-Stop® Tomato Blossom End Rot spray will give the plant much-needed calcium directly through the leaves, and watering the plant deeply in the early morning will also help with prevention.

8. Fertilize routinely

Tomato plants are hungry for phosphorus, nitrogen, potash, and other minor elements. Amending your soil with high-quality Petitti Planting Mix, , and organic Garden-tone® before planting or at the time of planting will get the plants off on the right foot. Applying organic Tomato-tone® as a slow-release, maintenance fertilizer throughout the season, according to package instructions, will ensure the most important nutrients are readily available to the root system through the entire growing season.

Tomato plants are an easy to grow, delicious staple in any Northeast Ohio victory garden vegetable garden. Follow the 8 points of advice above, and you’ll be well on your way to success as a gardener of tomatoes. When you’re ready, visit any of our 9 locations spring through summer to shop our Petitti-grown varieties of beefsteak tomato, cherry tomato, grape tomato, heirloom tomato, patio tomato, plum tomato, yellow tomato, and more.

The content of this blog post is a combination of subject matter expertise from Petitti Garden Center horticulturists and the National Garden Bureau.