2 days Ago By Parul Sharma
Boosting your tomato yield has never been simpler as long as you focus on certain aspects of tomato cultivation which require meticulous attention to detail. Doing so can significantly improve the quality of your harvest. For instance, overwatering or underwatering your tomatoes can have catastrophic consequences on the fruit , while performing the finger test before watering can lead to dramatically positive results for your crop.
Choosing the right feed is crucial if you want your tomatoes to flourish, as is ensuring they receive the correct amount of sunlight. There's also a straightforward, trusty trick that even a gardening novice can employ to help their homegrown tomatoes thrive. Growing succulent and tasty tomatoes at home is just a few easy steps away, ensures Rob Clarke, technical manager at Westland Horticulture .
Rob has offered some invaluable advice and tips on how to maximise your homegrown tomato yield. The expert has revealed simple tasks that can be undertaken to produce the juiciest, plumpest tomatoes. The secret to juicy, flavourful tomatoes lies in the watering and feeding routine.
Overwatering can dilute the taste and cause root rot, while under-watering can hinder fruit development. An inconsistent watering schedule can lead to blossom end rot, often resulting in a diminished crop where the fruit decays at the blossom end. Striking the perfect balance is crucial and can be achieved with regular, consistent watering, adjusted according to the weather.
When using peat-free compost, it’s advisable to insert your finger about an inch into the mix to assess its moisture content. While peat-free compost may appear dry on the surface, it often retains moisture beneath, so it’s best to check before proceeding with watering. Tomatoes are known to be notoriously hungry plants, and in order to keep them thriving, it's essential to give the crop a high-quality, nutrient-rich feed.
Peat-free compost is an excellent choice as a feed due to the fact that it's enriched with essential nutrients and sustainable organic materials such as wood waste, bark, and coconut coir which unequivocally promote robust plant growth. Gardeners can significantly reduce their environmental footprint by using peat-free compost, as peat extraction from wetlands has a significant negative impact on the environment, including habitat destruction and carbon emissions. Peat-free compost improves soil structure, enhances aeration, and boosts water retention, all while being nutrient-dense, making it an invaluable soil ameliorant.
Tomatoes are sun worshippers, and it's essential to ensure they're absorbing as much sunlight as possible. Make sure your homegrown tomatoes are basking in full sunlight for optimal results. If your plants become overly bushy, trim some of the leaves to ensure the fruit receives sufficient light, which is crucial for proper ripening.
This ridiculously straightforward gardening trick can do miracles. Pinching out involves removing side shoots that sprout between the main stem and branches, channelling the plant's energy into fruit production rather than leaf growth. These trimmings can also be planted in soil for a late harvest.
For upright varieties, once your plant reaches the desired height, snip off the top of the main stem - this will promote fruiting over additional height..
