Tomatoes are easily the most vulnerable crops out there… at least in my experience. I’ve dealt with pretty much everything, including heat stress, poor fruiting, rot, pest infestations – you name it, it’s probably happened in my mom’s backyard tomato patch.
Despite all that, however, today, our tomato crops thrive and give us bigger and better harvests every year!
In this article, I’m going to share with you how we helped our tomato plants out of their misery and walk you through a few common (and some uncommon) mistakes that might be killing your tomato yield.
Let’s dive right into it, shall we?
Growing Tomatoes But Getting Disappointing Results?
Do you put every fibre of your being into growing tomatoes every year, but are eventually met by disappointment in the harvesting season? Yeah, trust me, you’re not alone in this!
Although I can’t promise you guaranteed results, I do have some clear, practical advice for you today that can help you rejuvenate your tomato crops and improve them drastically. Fortunately, this advice is also applicable to small-space and container gardeners.
And if you’re looking for even more ways to boost your yield, this guide to growing tons of tomatoes will walk you through some extra tips that actually work.
Tomato Growing Mistakes That Are Hurting Your Harvest
1: Using Pots That Are Too Small
The reason you do not want to use overly small and compact pots is that they restrict root spreading and don’t allow for optimal nutrient access.
Fix: The solution for this one is pretty straightforward – just switch to larger pots. One 5-gallon pot per plant should be ideal.
As a general rule of thumb, the deeper the pot, the better (especially in the case of tomatoes). If you want, you can add some mulch around the base of the tomato plant to reduce heat stress and moisture evaporation.
2: Inconsistent Watering
Consistent watering is essential for growing tomato plants optimally. Tomato is generally a more thirsty crop and will need plenty of water to grow and produce to its fullest potential.
Inconsistent watering can lead to serious complications like blossom end rot, spoiled fruit, and low overall productivity.
Fix: Water your tomato plants deeply and consistently, ideally on a scheduled basis. Gaps in between should only be as long as the soil doesn’t dry out completely between waterings.
If you’re noticing signs like splitting or uneven fruit, here’s a quick guide to what causes tomato cracking and how to prevent it.
3: Overfeeding With Nitrogen
As some of you might already know, nitrogen is typically responsible for foliage and leafy growth in most plants. Therefore, excessive nitrogen levels in the soil will trigger more foliage growth at the expense of fruiting in tomato plants.
Fix: If you’re using a nitrogen-heavy fertilizer, drop it immediately and switch to a balanced one. As a matter of fact, opting for a low-nitrogen blend for some time might be an even better idea.
If you’re unsure where to start, this simple tomato fertilization guide can help you plan the right feeding schedule.
4: Poor Sun Exposure
Unfortunately, the tomato isn’t the kind of crop that thrives in low-light conditions. Planting it in shaded areas or keeping the pot inside a barn just won’t work. Trust me, I’ve tried that. These suckers need a minimum of 6-8 hours of direct sunlight to be able to produce good fruit yields.
Fix: If possible, relocate your whole tomato plants to brighter, sunnier areas. If light is being blocked by dead wood or dense leaves stuck within the plants, a good trim can help.
5: Skipping pruning or overcrowding
Not pruning your tomato plants from time to time can drastically reduce air circulation, putting your plants at a higher risk of disease and eventually poor fruiting.
Fix: When you decide to prune your tomato plants, start by snipping the lower leaves first and then remove suckers if needed. Also, make sure that the plants are spaced properly and not packed too tightly together.
For a quick walkthrough, here’s how to prune tomatoes and how far apart to plant tomates.
6: Letting Fruits Overripen On The Vine
When it comes to tomato harvesting, letting the fruits overripen on the vine is one of the worst mistakes you can make. This will leave you with unpleasant-tasting fruit and slowed production.
Fix: Harvest your tomatoes when they are nearly ripe. If any more ripening is needed, let it happen indoors. Early harvesting is much more likely to encourage continued fruiting.
Not sure when to pick them? Here’s how to tell when your tomatoes are ready for harvest, based on variety.
7: Ignoring Pollination Needs
If your garden is in dry land with no wind or pollinators, it can be really difficult to achieve fruit sets. Pollinators like bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds are essential to the gardening ecosystem.
Fix: If you can’t seem to attract any pollinators into your garden whatsoever, manual pollination by gently shaking the flowers or using a soft brush may be necessary.
8: Planting Too Late Or Too Early
Although this isn’t the biggest mistake in the world, it still does ruin the production timing and could hinder plant growth by reducing or stretching out the season length.
Fix: Although timing will vary depending on region and climate conditions, as a general guideline, you want to start your tomato seeds right after frost, as early as your zone allows. Season extenders like cloches can come in handy in spring if needed.
Not sure when that is? Here’s a guide to the best time to plant tomatoes by zone and state to help you out!
Let’s Conclude
Although I’ve struggled with growing tomatoes throughout my gardening journey, it wasn’t because they’re especially difficult or something.
I just didn’t know any better and was too hesitant to experiment. Lesson to learn: don’t be like me. Growing tomatoes will be different for everyone; you’ll make mistakes, try things that don’t work, and will even be disappointed a few times.
But that’s all part of the process. What matters is learning, both from your own mistakes and from others (like me) who’ve managed to turn things around and grow thriving tomato crops despite the occasional roadblocks.
