Generally, tomato plants get to the harvesting stage 55 – 80 days after planting depending on the type of seasonal variety that they are which could be early, midseason, or late season tomato.
WHAT TYPE OF SOIL DO I NEED TO PLANT?
Tomato plants can be made to grow fast by using compost manure as fertilizer during and before soil preparation, using other types of fertilizers which they need very much except the sandy loamy/loamy soil is very rich in soil nutrients.
Tomato plants are regarded as heavy feeders plants. They thrive more in soil ph between 6.0 – 7.0 that is, slightly acidic soil. Testing the soil requires you to dig about 7 inches of your soil and mix with other samples of the soil from areas where the plant will also be grown.
Mix them together and place your test kit. The lower numbers signify the level of acidity with 7.0 being the neutral and higher points represent the level of alkalinity.
Homegrown tomatoes tend to be on the more flavorsome side after harvesting tomatoes. The techniques used to speed up the tomato growth also prevent the tomato plants from dying through drying out.
Tip: for more details on how to grow tomatoes in containers, read our step-by-step guide to growing tomatoes at home in pots here.
HOW DO I PREPARE THE SOIL FOR PLANTING TOMATOES
Preparation of tomato soil can be done using compost or good organic matter. The type of compost to be used is the aged compost. After preparing the bed or soil to be used, the compost should be dug deep into the soil.
It should be deep as possible to the point where the roots of the plants can get to ( 7 inches) or the average depth. Ensure you remove any rock or debris and also break up hard soils. Testing the soil’s ph level will help you to know the number of nutrients and organic matter to be added specifically nitrogen and phosphorus. Bananas are great sources of potassium. To get this, bury chopped banana leaves in the soil. (Learn how to lower the pH of soil here.)
Phosphorus, nitrogen, and potassium are the nutrients needed by tomatoes from the soil likewise every other plant. These are the primary nutrients. The secondary nutrients are calcium, sulfur, magnesium, iron, zinc, copper, boron, molybdenum. They all have their various functions ranging from the growth yield, formation of cells, photosynthesis, reduction of susceptibility to diseases, cellular building, and division, etc.
Testing of soil is important because with this you can know the right amount of nutrients your soil will be needing that will facilitate the growth process.
Read also: How to grow tomatoes at home from seeds
CAN I USE EGGSHELLS FOR MY TOMATO PLANTS?
Eggshells serve as the easiest source of calcium for tomato plants and this is one of the nutrients required for the fast growth of the plants. As eggshells break down into the soil, calcium is released. Eggshells can be used while preparing the soil or after. They are also believed to aerate the soil, make the soil porous, prevent blossom end rot, and slimy animal-like snails from the plant.
WHAT FERTILIZER SHOULD I USE FOR MY TOMATO PLANTS?
Potassium, nitrogen, and phosphorus are the basic nutrients in every fertilizer and they should have a balanced ratio before application. The difference in the ratio of the nutrients of the fertilizer will depend on the lacking nutrient in the soil. The soil Ph will determine if you need to use fertilizers.
WHEN SHOULD I START USING FERTILIZER FOR MY TOMATO PLANT?
You can use fertilizer for your seedlings and not until they are mature plants. Composts are commonly used when they are seedlings. There are different phases that require different fertilization processes. A rich soil does not require fertilizer. Nitrogen is mostly used during the growth stage and when the bottom leaves are turning yellow. Don’t use nitrogen too much because its effects are positively on the leaves, not the fruit.
Conclusion
In this article, I discussed how to make your tomatoes grow fast. I hope you find the guide helpful. Let me know if you have any questions about making tomatoes grow fast.
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