The document provides information on growing tomatoes successfully, including when to plant tomatoes based on planting dates in April and July. It discusses ensuring tomatoes have enough sun and water, and maintaining the proper soil pH of 6.0-6.5 for optimal growth. The document recommends soil testing, adding organic matter to soil, caging or staking tomatoes for support, and mulching and watering properly to produce a bountiful tomato harvest.

1. Growing Tomatoes
Successfully

2. Tasty Tomato Contest
July 15th
Winners announced at the
Tasty Tomato Festival on
July 19th

3. Let’s Get Started!
Enough Sun?
6 - 8 hours best
Source of Water?

4. When to Plant
1st
Planting
April 5 – 25
2nd
Planting
July 10 – 20

5. Look for VNFT
on Plant Label
These plants will be
resistant to:
Verticillium Wilt
Nematodes
Fusarium Wilt
Tobacco Mosaic Virus

6. Soil Matters!

7. Soil Test – pH Value
0 14
7
6.0 – 6.5
Acidic Alkaline
Best pH Range
for Tomatoes

8. Why is pH Important?
0 147
6.0 - 6.5
Low pH?
Plants Can’t Absorb
Nitrogen
Nitrogen affects leaf
growth & color.

9. Why is pH Important?
0 147
6.0 - 6.5
High pH?
Plants Can’t Absorb
Phosphorus
Phosphorus affects
tomato (fruit & flower)
growth.

10. Soil Testing offered by
Clemson Extension

11. Add Organic Matter
Work
well-composted material
into the soil
each time you plant.

12. Planting
Leave only top
2-3 Sets of
True Leaves
Above Ground
Pinch off any
other leaves &
bury beneath soil

13. Leggy Transplants?
Plant as Shown

14. How Far Apart?
18 - 24 inches
apart
12 inches to
outside of bed

15. Tomatoes Need Support
Cages – Best Bet
Install when planting
tomatoes
Buy cages with wide
openings so you can
reach in & pick
tomatoes

16. Staking
Staking - Second Best
Tie Loosely
Use Twine or
Cloth Strips
Tie Every 6 - 10 inchesS

17. Remove Suckers on
Staked Tomatoes
Train staked tomatoes
to two main stems
Pinch off any suckers that
will grow at the juncture
of each leaf

18. Keep Suckers on
Caged Tomatoes
OK to leave
suckers on
caged plants

19. Mulch Well
Reduce Weeds.
Preserve Moisture.
Keep mulch 3”
away from stem
of plant.

20. Watering
Slow deep watering
Best. Develops good
root system.
1” – 1 1/2” per week
Use rain gauge

21. Insects
Leave horn worms with
cocoons alone.
Wasps will hatch
and eat other
horn worms.
Pick off and destroy horn worms
if cocoons are not present.

22. Insects
ick off and destroy
tomato fruit worms

23. Other Common Problems
Blossom end rot
Cause – extremes
in soil moisture
Keep soil
consistently moist

24. Tomato Wilt
No Hope –
Remove entire plant.
Next Time:
Look for VFNT
on Plant Label

25. Bed #2Bed #3
Year 1
Year 2
Year 3
Rotate Crops – Prevent Disease
Use same location
every third year
Bed #1

26. Resources
Clemson Home and Garden
Information Center Web Site
Google: Home and Garden
Clemson
Look for Tomato Fact Sheet with
Recommended Tomato Cultivars