How to grow Greener Tomatoes

Introduction

I’m a sucker for tomatoes. It’s a rare summer that I don’t find myself in the kitchen plucking ripe, juicy red specimens from the vines growing on my back porch and eating them right away. But it could be so much better than this! I’ve been dreaming of the day when I’ll have greener tomatoes than all my neighbors do—the kind that drip with juice and make your mouth water just by looking at them. So how can you grow these green tomatoes? Well, let’s start by taking a look at what causes green tomatoes and then go over some ways you can keep those fruits as yellow as possible!

Pick resistant varieties.

As we’ve mentioned, the most effective way to keep pests and diseases at bay is by growing varieties that are resistant. There are two types of plant resistance: genetic and non-genetic. Genetic resistance is a trait that’s been bred into a plant over time by breeders. Non-genetic resistance is an adaptive response to environmental stressors or disease pressure; it can be passed down from parent plants as well.

Genetically resistant plants will have fewer pest problems because their genes make them less susceptible to specific pests or diseases. Non-genetically resistant plants can still survive even if they’re attacked by some pests or diseases, but they’ll generally suffer more damage than their genetically resistant counterparts.

To learn which vegetables are best suited for your area, consult local gardeners and extension agents (check out our Guide to Extension Agents). They’ll likely be able to recommend a variety of tomato that fits perfectly with your climate zone!

Use raised beds.

Raised beds are an easy way to grow tomatoes in containers. Raised beds, which can be made from wood, concrete or stone, have better drainage than traditional rows and make it easier to manage the plants. When working with raised beds, you’ll find that they are a lot less work than traditional rows when it comes time for harvesting because you don’t have to bend over so much.

Mulch your tomatoes.

Mulching tomatoes is an easy way to help your plants grow. Mulch helps keep the soil moist and prevents weed growth, as well as preventing soil erosion. It also helps keep the soil temperature more consistent.

There are many different types of mulch available, including straw, wood chips and leaves. You can apply it 2-3 inches thick around your tomato plants once they have begun to grow.

Choose a sunny location.

Tomatoes need at least 6 hours of direct sunlight a day. The more sun, the greener the tomatoes will be. If you don’t have a sunny location for your tomato plants, consider using grow lights to give them extra light during the day.

Water regularly and deeply.

Watering is one of the most important things you can do to grow greener tomatoes.

Watering deeply and infrequently is best.

Water in the morning so that plants won’t wilt or dry out during the day. Doing so reduces evaporation, which helps prevent fungal problems by keeping humidity levels high at night.
Avoid watering late in the evening when temperatures are cooler, as this breaks down nutrients in the soil and encourages fungus growth on leaves and fruit.
Use a hose with a nozzle or drip irrigation system to water deeply, not just wetting the surface of your plants’ roots but also getting moisture into their root systems for better absorption. A simple tip for watering tomatoes: get some soil moisture sensor kits from Amazon!

Fertilize only once after the first few fruits develop.

Once you’ve identified the first few tomatoes to fruit, fertilize with a balanced fertilizer. Soil testing is a great way to determine how much fertilizer is needed. A good rule of thumb is to apply half the recommended rate of any balanced formula (10-10-10 or 12-12-12), such as Osmocote 14-14-14.

If you wish to fertilize with a high nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus formulation for better fruit development (such as Miracle Gro® Fruit Tree & Shrub Food or Green Planet® Vegetable & Herb Fertilizer 20-20-20), follow the label instructions carefully. The key here is not to overdo it; don’t exceed one pound per hundred square feet of soil surface area since too much nitrogen can actually stunt tomato growth!

Another option is to add magnesium sulfate (Epsom salt) at half strength when you’re adding any kind of fertilizer mix after your first few fruits are set in place on their plants.*

Pinch off suckers.

Pinching off suckers is a way to help your tomato plant focus on producing fruit. Suckers are unwanted shoots that grow from the main stem of a tomato plant. They have no bearing on whether your tomatoes will be good or bad, but they do take away energy from the plant, which can make it less productive.

If you notice new suckers growing in addition to fruit, simply pinch them off with your fingers or snip them with pruning shears (be careful not to cut into any flowers or leaves). You can also remove vines that are growing out of control by pinching their stems when they reach about 4 inches tall; this will encourage branching and produce more fruit for harvest later on in the season without harming any existing ones!

Rotate tomato plants every year to avoid disease buildup in the soil or pest problems.

Rotating tomato plants is important to avoid disease buildup in the soil and pest problems.

To rotate tomato plants, simply plant them in a different spot of your garden each year.

The next year, you can move them to another part of your garden that’s not been planted with tomatoes for several years.

If you follow these tips, you’ll get the greenest tomatoes on the block!

Growing tomatoes at home is a great way to save money and eat healthier. In addition to being delicious and nutritious, they are also easy to grow in your backyard or garden. Here are some quick tips for getting started:

The first step is choosing an appropriate variety of tomato plant. Look for those that do well in your climate and soil conditions. For example, if your area has warm summers but cold winters, choose determinate varieties such as ‘Early Girl’ or ‘Patio.’ If it’s too hot during summer months but still freezes in wintertime then consider growing indeterminate varieties like ‘Big Beef’ or ‘Sungold.’ Finally if winters tend towards mild then either type will work fine since there will be no frost damage even when temperatures dip below freezing levels.”

Conclusion

That’s it! Now you know how to grow the greenest tomatoes. If you follow these tips, you’ll get the greenest tomatoes on the block!