In brief: Care for tomatoes properly by maintaining consistent soil moisture through regular watering at soil level and choosing a sunny, well-ventilated location. Remove side shoots regularly and mulch the soil. Preventive plant protection, such as covering plants during rain or choosing resistant varieties, is the best defence against common tomato diseases such as late blight and early blight.
Tomato Care: FAQs and Expert Tips
Healthy, aromatic homegrown tomatoes are every hobby gardener's goal. Success depends on proper care. We answer your most pressing questions and provide practical tips on watering, feeding and effectively protecting your plants from disease.
How should I water tomatoes?
Tomatoes are thirsty plants, but they are sensitive to incorrect watering. Water evenly and regularly. The aim is to keep the soil consistently slightly moist without waterlogging.
Apply water directly to the roots. Avoid wetting the leaves, as this helps prevent fungal diseases. It is best to water in the morning.
On very hot days, daily watering may be necessary. A mulch of straw or grass clippings helps retain soil moisture and reduces the need for watering.
The most common care mistake is irregular watering. Drought stress followed by heavy watering puts enormous stress on the plant and encourages fruit problems such as blossom end rot.
Why is the right location so important?
Tomatoes love warmth and light. Choose a spot in full sun that is sheltered from the wind. A south-facing wall is ideal because it stores and radiates heat.
The location must be well ventilated. Densely planted tomatoes dry slowly after rain, creating ideal conditions for fungal spores.
Protect your plants from direct rain. A simple foil cover or a spot beneath an overhang can protect tomatoes from the dreaded late blight.
Expert tip
Never plant tomatoes in the same spot for two consecutive years. Move the bed or replace the soil in large containers. This interrupts disease cycles in the soil.
The container alternative: growing tomatoes on balconies and patios
Growing tomatoes in containers requires a few special considerations. The container must be large enough. A generous root space stores more water and nutrients.
and are special growing pots that provide plenty of room for strong root growth. Make sure there is a drainage hole and a drainage layer of expanded clay.
Container plants dry out faster than plants grown in beds. Check moisture levels daily in summer. A location sheltered from the wind is even more important here.
Which tomato diseases are there and how can I prevent them?
Late blight and early blight are the best-known tomato diseases. They appear as brown spots on the leaves and stems, and later on the fruit. The fungus spreads extremely quickly in warm, humid weather.
Prevention is the only effective protection. Create a dry leaf environment. A protective net or cover keeps rain away.
Remove affected plant parts immediately and dispose of them with household waste, not in the compost. Be sure to follow crop rotation.
Important note
Once late blight has taken hold, spraying will no longer help. Remove all affected fruit and leaves immediately to save the healthy parts of the plant. Harvest any healthy green tomatoes and allow them to ripen indoors.
Blossom end rot: a deficiency that is not really one
Brown, leathery spots at the blossom end of the fruit are a typical sign of blossom end rot. The cause is a lack of calcium in the fruit, not necessarily in the soil.
This deficiency is usually caused by an inconsistent water supply. During drought stress, the plant cannot transport the available calcium to the fruit. Even watering is the best prevention.
Avoid overfeeding with nitrogen. It encourages excessive leaf growth, which in turn competes for water and nutrients.
Resistant varieties are a game-changer for hobby growing. Modern varieties such as 'Philovita' and 'Primabella' offer good resistance to late blight without compromising on flavour. They are the best insurance for a successful harvest.
How should I feed tomatoes?
Tomatoes are heavy feeders. Start with a basic supply of mature compost or an organic slow-release fertiliser when planting. During the growing season, they need plenty of potassium, especially for fruit production.
Liquid tomato fertilisers or plant feeds, such as nettle fertiliser, are suitable for additional feeding from flowering onwards. Feed every one to two weeks according to the instructions on the packaging.
Stop feeding around the middle of August. This allows the last fruit to ripen and the shoots to harden before frost.
Additional advice
Mulch the soil around tomato plants with straw or chopped straw. This retains moisture, suppresses weeds and prevents soil from splashing onto the lower leaves when watering— a common source of fungal infection.
Don't forget to remove side shoots
With cordon tomatoes, regularly remove the side shoots that grow in the leaf axils. This directs the plant's energy towards the main stems and fruit production.
Remove side shoots weekly. Pinch out soft shoots with your fingers and only use scissors for woody shoots. Bush and balcony tomato varieties do not need side shoots removed.
Also remove the lower leaves up to the first fruit truss. This improves air circulation and makes watering easier.
Which pests threaten my tomatoes?
Whiteflies and aphids are common nuisances. They suck plant sap and can transmit viruses. Strengthen your plants with proper care.
For light infestations, rinsing the plants or removing the pests by hand can help. Beneficial insects such as parasitic wasps control whiteflies naturally. Find information about pest control products in our plant protection category.
Tomato leaf miner moths burrow tunnels into the leaves. Remove and dispose of affected leaves. Yellow sticky traps help monitor infestations.
The benefits of a greenhouse
A greenhouse provides tomatoes with the ideal protected environment. It keeps rain out, retains heat and significantly extends the harvest season.
Products such as the
You can also grow more delicate, particularly aromatic varieties here that would struggle outdoors.
How do I harvest and store tomatoes?
Harvest tomatoes when they are fully coloured and can be easily removed from the stem. The full flavour only develops when the tomatoes ripen fully on the plant.
Cut the fruit off with scissors or a knife to avoid damaging the plant. It is best to harvest in the morning.
Green tomatoes will ripen in a warm, dark place. Place an apple alongside them. The ethylene it releases accelerates the ripening process. Never store ripe tomatoes in the refrigerator, as this destroys their flavour.
With these basic care guidelines, nothing stands in the way of a plentiful and healthy tomato harvest. Prevention is key: a sunny, sheltered location, regular watering and careful observation of your plants will make you a tomato-growing pro. For more equipment, browse our vegetable gardening range.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How often should I water tomatoes?
- Water tomatoes regularly so that the soil remains consistently slightly moist. Avoid waterlogging and drought. Ideally, water in the morning directly at the root ball, not over the leaves. On hot days, daily watering may be necessary.
- What is blossom end rot in tomatoes?
- Blossom end rot appears as a brown, sunken patch at the blossom end of the fruit. It is often caused by calcium deficiency, usually resulting from inconsistent watering. Keep the soil evenly moist and avoid over-fertilising with nitrogen.
- How can I prevent late blight and tomato blight?
- Protect tomatoes from rain, for example under an overhang or with a protective cover. Choose resistant varieties. Leave enough space between plants for good air circulation. Remove affected leaves immediately.
- Do I really need to remove all side shoots from tomato plants?
- For cordon tomatoes, yes. Regularly remove the side shoots growing in the leaf axils. This encourages the main stems to grow and produce larger fruit, improves ventilation and helps prevent disease. Bush and balcony tomatoes do not need to be pruned in this way.
- Which pests commonly attack tomato plants?
- Common pests include whiteflies, aphids and tomato leaf miner moths. Check your plants regularly. If pests appear, you can use beneficial insects or look for specific biological products in plant protection.
You may also be interested in
- Tomato plants throughout the year: Growing & care
- Planting tomatoes: Your path to a plentiful harvest
- All about tomatoes: Growing, care and variety in the garden
- Hardening off tomatoes: How to safely acclimatise young plants to the outdoors
- Nightshades: The guide to tomatoes, peppers & more
- How to start tomato plants correctly: The complete guide