Because of the recession many people have decided to grow their own fruits and vegetables at home. Growing your tomatoes can save you money, provide a steady supply of chemical, free fruit and give you a little exercise to boot. Tomatoes will not grow by themselves. They need special care and attention before and during the growing process. Here are some guidelines to follow when growing tomatoes.

Planting tomatoes:

Plant the tomatoes deep in the ground with only the top leaves sticking up. This will allow the plant to be hardier and the roots will grow on the stem and branch out allowing the growing tomato to establish itself much easier.  Space the plants two to four feet apart for easy access to the growing tomatoes. This spacing is especially helpful when caring and harvesting the fruit. Stake the toms when first planted to avoid damage to the roots and plant.

General care for growing tomatoes:

Growing tomatoes like fertilizer that is richer in phosphorous and potassium than nitrogen. A food mixture of 5-10-10 would work best for the plant. Mix the fertilizer into the soil about two weeks before planting. Water regularly and never allow the ground to dry out. Instead of a light watering several times a week, a good a good soak once a week using enough water to penetrate about 6 inches below the soil is best.

Harvesting:

When growing tomatoes keep in mind they are sun-loving plants. The time it takes to for them to ripen depends on the variety you have chosen. There are types that take ninety days to reach full maturity. A tomato is ripe when it is the color of the variety you have chosen to grow. The color should be consistent throughout the fruit.

Pests and Disease:

It is safe to say you’ll experience garden pests. The best you can do is keep your eyes open and inspect your plant regularly. Once you have identified a pest problem a solution can be found at a local gardening store.