Prep
Choose a sunny spot, one that provides six to eight hours of sun. Aim for soil that is nutrient-rich and drains well. To achieve that balance of just-right drainage, plus add nutrients to the soil , mix 3 inches of aged compost-enrichedMiracle-Gro® Performance Organics®All Purpose In-Ground Soilinto the top 6 inches of soil in traditional in-ground gardens. If you're using pots, fill them withMiracle-Gro® Performance Organics®All Purpose Container Mix, which is lighter and fluffier than garden soil, and specially formulated for containers. When planting tomatoes in a raised bed, use a 50-50 blend of garden soil and potting mix,or 100 percent organicMiracle-Gro® Performance Organics® Raised Bed Mix.When growing tomatoes in pots, choose a container that is at least 18 to 24 inches wide.
Plant
Tomatoes are a warm-season crop that is usually planted during late spring and early summer, after all danger of frost is past. You can either start from seeds or buy young tomato plants like the strong, vigorous ones fromBonnie Plants®. Starting out with plants that are already well on their way to maturity is a great way to shorten the time you have to wait to harvest your first juicy, delicious tomato.
Growing tomatoes from seed requires sowing seeds indoors about six weeks before your region's average last frost date. Sow three tomato seeds per pot, inMiracle-Gro® Seed Starting Potting Mix.Seeds usually germinate in 5 to 10 days. When the first set of wavy-edged leaves appear, thin seedlings by snipping off all but the strongest one. If necessary, transplant seedlings into larger containers until they're ready to go into the garden.
Tuck tomato plants deeply into soil, burying two-thirds of the stem. Roots form along the buried stem, which results in a well-anchored plant with an extensive root system that will be better able to find water when summer heat and drought arrive. Leave two to three feet between plants, depending on variety. Be sure to water thoroughly after planting.
Support your tomato plants at planting time with a tall stake, trellis, or strong cage. Staking tomatoes keeps ripening fruits off the ground, where pests and diseases can be more likely to attack.
