How to grow tomatoes in a garden and pots, Diseases and treatment of tomatoes

How to grow tomatoes in a garden and pots, Diseases, and treatment of tomatoes

Once you grow and taste your own tomatoes (or any veggie for that matter), you don’t go back. Tomatoes are one of the most popular backyard veggies and for good reason, too. They’re easy to grow and if looked after well, yield lots of delicious fruit for months! You don’t need a big backyard either – there are varieties to suit any space.

How to grow tomatoes in a garden and pots, Diseases and treatment of tomatoes

How to grow tomatoes in a garden

1. Choose a sunny spot in the garden with well-drained soil and enrich with Yates Thrive Natural Blood & Bone with Seaweed. Add Yates Hydrangea Pinking Liquid Lime & Dolomite to help sweeten the soil and help prevent blossom end rot.
2. Sow seeds, lightly cover with Yates Black Magic Seed Raising Mix, and water well. If growing from seedlings, they can be planted a little deeper, so that the bottom few centimeters of the tomato stems are covered with soil. Water in well. 
3. Tall growing tomatoes will require stakes for support, so it’s best to put these in now to avoid damaging plant roots later.
4. As seedlings emerge and grow, feed weekly with Yates Thrive Natural Tomato Veggie Plant Food Concentrate. Mulch around the base with organic mulch like pea or lucerne straw, keeping it away from the main stem.
5. As larger staked tomatoes grow, gently tie the main stems to the stakes with a plant tie or old piece of hosiery.
6. Harvest tomatoes when the fruit is plump and red (or yellow, depending on the variety).

How to grow tomatoes in a garden

How to grow tomatoes in a pot

If you don’t have room in your garden to grow tomatoes, grow them in pots! Choose smaller varieties.

1. Choose a pot at least 400mm wide and deep and position in full sun. Fill with quality potting mix, such as Yates Premium Potting Mix. 
2. Sow seeds, lightly cover with Yates Black Magic Seed Raising Mix, and water well. If growing from seedlings, they can be planted a little deeper, so that the bottom few centimeters of the tomato stems are covered with soil. Water in well.
3. Tall growing tomatoes will require stakes for support, so it’s best to put these in now to avoid damaging plant roots later.
4. Potted plants dry out quicker than in-ground plants, so it’s important to water potted plants regularly.
5. As seedlings grow, feed weekly with Yates Thrive Natural Tomato Veggie Plant Food Concentrate to encourage growth.
6. As larger staked tomatoes grow, gently tie the main stems to the stakes with a plant tie or old piece of hosiery.
7. Harvest tomatoes when the fruit is plump and red (or yellow, depending on the variety).

How to grow tomatoes in a  pots

Growing tips

• In cool climates, you can get a start on your tomatoes early by raising seeds in trays of Yates Black Magic Seed Raising Mix. They can be transplanted to the garden or pot when the weather is warmer.
• A layer of mulch will help retain moisture in the soil.
• To help prevent blossom end rot (when the bottom of the fruit looks sunken and rotten), apply fast-acting Yates Hydrangea Pinking Liquid Lime & Dolomite at planting time, which will help ensure a sufficient supply of calcium. The tomato is still perfectly fine to eat, simply remove and discard the affected parts.
• If you didn’t apply lime at planting time, it’s not too late to do it during the growing season.
• Certain tomato diseases are carried in the soil, so choose a different spot each year (avoid planting in the same part of the garden for at least four years).
• When buying tomato plants or seeds, look for varieties that mention disease resistance.

How to grow tomatoes in a garden and pots, Diseases and treatment of tomatoes

Diseases and treatment of tomatoes

1- White Fly

Small white insects fly around when disturbed. Leaves can appear yellow and mottled.

White Fly

Solution

Yates Nature's Way Organic Citrus, Vegie & Ornamental Spray

Unique organically certified pyrethrum and plant-based oil combination insecticide, with twin modes of action against garden pests.

2- Tomato grub

Holes in tomato fruit.

Tomato grub

Solution
Yates Success Ultra Insect Control - ConcentrateHelps control common caterpillars, thrips, codling moth, and tomato potato psyllid. Contains spinetoram derived from beneficial soil bacteria.

3- Tomato blight

Leaves can be distorted, yellow, or have black spots.

Tomato blight

Solution

Yates Liquid Copper Fungicide - Concentrate For fruit, vegetables, and ornamentals - a unique formulation of easy-to-use broad-spectrum, copper fungicide, and bactericide.

4- Powdery mildew

White or grey powdery patches on leaves can cause leaf yellowing and leaf drops.

Powdery mildew

Solution

Yates Nature's Way Fungus Spray

Protects against a very wide range of fungal and bacterial diseases. It is formulated from copper and sulfur, which are naturally occurring compounds.

5- Blossom end rot

The sunken black area at the end of the fruit. Physiological disorder, which happens normally when soil lacks calcium and plants are growing rapidly.

Blossom end rot

Solution 

Yates Thrive Natural Garden Lime A certified input for organic gardening that contains natural lime (calcium carbonate) from Te Kuiti, in the King Country, to adjust soil acidity.

Watch this video to see how to grow tomatoes in the garden

.Souece / Agency