Basics of Tomato Plant Maintenance 

Fresh tomatoes from the garden are incredibly versatile and adaptable to any cuisine, including salads, salsa, and piping-hot tomato sauce. There is no reason not to cultivate this well-liked nightshade in the home garden, given the range of tomatoes available. Tomatoes are a low-maintenance vegetable, but there are a few things every gardener must know to effectively cultivate them. Follow this guide to grow healthy tomato plants throughout the season by choosing the best variety for your needs, practising proper planting and maintenance, and rapidly eliminating pests. Read the whole article to learn simple tomato plant maintenance tips.

(A) Tomato Plant Maintenance- Choosing Tomato Variety

 With hundreds of tomato varieties available, selecting the best one might be challenging. Before deciding on a variety, research its growth patterns and climatic requirements, as well as its intended application. Consider the following factors to select a variety.

(1) Tomato Plant Maintenance – Growing Habit

 There is a tomato variety for every garden space, ranging from the miniature ‘Micro-Tom’ tomato to those that generate 12-foot-long vines. Pay special attention to the descriptions while buying for tomatoes; all tomatoes are branded as either determinate or indeterminate. 

(i) Determinate Cultivars

These cultivars, which grow to varying but limited heights, are ideal for compact places and produce all of their fruit in a short amount of time, typically a few weeks regardless of the growing zone. They need minimaltomato plant maintenance efforts. These plants are ideal for gardeners who preserve tomatoes, as they yield a large quantity of ripe fruit simultaneously. 

(ii)Indeterminate cultivars

These cultivars produce fruit as long as suitable conditions persist. Indeterminate cultivars provide a constant supply of fruit throughout the growing season, albeit they do not produce a large amount of fruit at once. These tomato plants demand substantially more room and heavy-duty cages than determinate cultivars. Because the majority of heirloom varieties are indeterminate, gardeners who wish to cultivate these older — and usually regarded as more tasty — types need to allocate ample space and need little more tomato plant maintenance efforts.

(2) Climate requirements

Before selecting a tomato variety, consider your geographical area. There are a number of cold-tolerant, short-season choices for northern growers, such as the Stupice Tomato, which grows swiftly at 60-65 days making tomato plant maintenance duration very short. Gardeners in the southern part of US and similar areas around the world should opt for types that are resistant to heat and humidity, such as the Sun Gold tomato. 

(3)Intended application

This step is simple whether you want cherry tomatoes for salads, sliced tomatoes for sandwiches, or paste tomatoes for sauce: Choose a tomato variety based on your preferences. Amish Paste, for example, is recognised as a superb sauce variety, while the Big Beef tomato is a popular slicing variety popular in many countries making  tomato plant maintenance fun.

(B) Planting-Tomato Plant Maintenance 

1. Tomato plants should be planted in full light. Prepare a spot in the garden with a tiller or by loosening the soil with a shovel after the last chance of frost has passed. Remove all grass and weeds before adding soil additives. It will promote fast, healthy root growth by releasing compacted soil and providing tomatoes with the drainage they require.
2. After preparing the soil, apply fertiliser, preferably fish fertiliser, to the top 6 inches7 of soil. To supply the nutrients tomato plants require to grow healthy, apply up to one week before planting for effective tomato plant maintenance.

1.  Plant spacing varies according to tomato variety, but as a rule of thumb, place 24 to 36 inches apart in rows 4 to 5 feet apart. Dig a hole twice the width of the root ball and deep enough to reach the soil line. Backfill the hole with soil and pack it around the stem gently with your hands. 
2.  After planting, properly water the plants and then install support structures (stakes or cages, depending on the tomato type). Prepare care routine of tomato plant maintenance as per the selection of variety.

(C) Tomato Plant Maintenance Tips

(1) Irrigation and Fertilizer

• Tomatoes need one to two inches of water every week. Water infrequently but thoroughly rather than daily and lightly to promote a healthy root system. Fertilize plants every 4 to 6 weeks during the growing season to keep them fed and produce luscious tomatoes all summer.
• It’s best if you could find a fertilizer with bone meal for extra calcium, which aids in the prevention of blossom end rot amking tomato plant maintenance journey rot free.

(2) Pruning 

• Pruning tomatoes promotes healthy growth and improves air movement between plants, which aids in disease prevention and pest control. Pinch off suckers — the little branches that develop between the trunks and stems of tomato plants — from the lowest flower clusters to the ground to keep determinate kinds pruned.
• Pinch off all suckers from the second bloom cluster down on indeterminate types. Always pinch suckers as they emerge; waiting until they are 1/4 inch in diameter or greater leaves an open wound. It exposes the plant to fungal diseases and pests.

(3) Pest Attack

• Tomato plant maintenance is simpler than other many veggies as they do not attract many pests, there are a few insects that can inflict significant harm if not removed immediately. Dust with a powder foundation is applied to leaf surfaces.
• A good blend can kill over 65 different sorts of insects, including typical tomato pests like hornworms, fruitworms, and flea beetles. Slugs and snails enjoy eating tomatoes since they are a juicy fruit that will make your tomato plant maintenance little challenging.  Mucin trails or holes in your fruits can be visible indications. 

(4) Harvesting

• Tomatoes are easily removed off the vine. Simply hold the tomato and carefully twist it off the vine, or cut the stem with sharp, clean pruning shears. Tomatoes should be harvested when they are firm but not solid. When you squeeze the fruit, it should have some give.
• It is preferable to harvest fruit a little too early rather than too late. Allow almost-ripe fruit to ripen on a windowsill for a day or two to allow it to fully ripen.

(D) Tomato Plant Maintenance- Companion plants

Tomatoes are susceptible to various obstacles, including blossom end rot, fungal infections, insect pests such as tomato hornworms, aphids, and whiteflies, and early and late blight.

Pruning, careful weeding, and mulch helps protect and maintain plants until harvest. But selecting the ideal tomato companion plants can do much of the job independently. The majority of knowledge regarding companion planting is anecdotal, but the following are tried and true tomato companions:

1. Basil
2. Garlic
3. Parsely
4. marigolds and nasturtiums
5. Squash
6. Chives
7. Asparagus

Conclusion

Sun-ripened tomatoes fresh off the vine are a delightful summer treat. The sheer variety of tomatoes is truly staggering, in terms of flavor, color, shape and growth habit that make tomato plant maintenance efforts worth it. Choose the right variety, location, and products to maintain the health of your plants. You can grow delicious tomatoes all summer long. Whether you’re daydreaming of sun-dried cherry tomatoes or grilled steak tomatoes following these tomato plant maintenance tips.