Your comments and tips

17 Aug 20, Jerry nordin (USA - Zone 6b climate)

Planted indeterminate in April hard freeze late in may covered plants at night until night temps reached 60f. Planted in elevated box planters. Is this enough soil for the roots plants never really produced. Im looking at the last tomato of the year 8-17-20.

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19 Aug 20, Anonymous (USA - Zone 6b climate)

Tomatoes need good rich deep soil. Dig your soil about 40cm deep x about 60cm across. Put some fertiliser in the bottom of the hole and mix with some soil. Keep doing this until the hole is only 10cm deep. Put some Epsom salts in the hole also. When the plant has grown 60-80cm high fill the soil in around the plant and even hill it up a bit. Put some compost/mulch around the plant. Tomatoes need a good deep watering 2-3 times a week.

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10 Aug 20, Gina (USA - Zone 10b climate)

I grow everything in pots due to lack of any place to have a full garden. After the tomato plant is done for the season, what can I grow in the container that will enhance the soil for the next year's tomato plantings? In years past, if I reuse the same soil the plants do not do very well year after year. It is not easy to dump the old soil and start fresh - again, no real space to do so. I had two San Marzano plants that did very well plus one small patio tomatoe Any suggestions are appreciated. Thank you!

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12 Aug 20, colleen (USA - Zone 10b climate)

I suggest growing a legume you like--or a succession of them. You could start with beans and then peas when the days get very short. If you like fava beans, those are very useful--you can eat the tender shoots and leaves, and they make big beautiful plants with pretty flowers that look so cheerful in the coolest months (but they take a LONG time to make beans!). When the beans/peas are done, leave their roots behind in the soil. They'll add a little nitrogen, though not as much if you let them grow to maturity. You will still need to replenish other nutrients with compost or a good tomato-specific fertilizer in the spring. One thing to consider is that tomatoes catch a lot of diseases that accumulate in the soil year after year, so that might be why you have trouble when reusing the soil. You could try solarizing any infected soil by covering it with clear plastic in full sun for a few hot months (March through June minimum), but that's tough when garden space is precious!

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10 Feb 21, Kent (USA - Zone 10a climate)

Maybe consider an organic liquid fertilizer mix.

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11 Aug 20, Sally O'Neil (USA - Zone 10a climate)

Compost and/or Manure

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30 Jul 20, lisa johnson (USA - Zone 8b climate)

cannot get my tomatoes to form fruit - in large containers - dropping flowers before forming - all varieties - healthy plants but no fruit - extremely hot in Southern Alabama with humidity and good rain - what times of year are best to plant —please advise!

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10 Feb 21, Kent (USA - Zone 10a climate)

You are probably right about it being too hot. If they are in pots try moving them to get some shade earlier or later in the day. If they are in pots maybe try a bigger pot size. It might help to dissipate heat better with more evaporation longer water retention in the deepest part of the pot.

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10 Aug 20, Janelle (USA - Zone 9b climate)

I just pull mine for the same reason. Is too hot to fruit. When the flower form the sun burn it. And the rain doesn't help much. If you are able to move it under a roof and keep it with sunlight, you may hold on until it gets cooler. It will produce then. Also it is time to start sowing tomatoes seeds indoor or in shade. Good luck!

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22 Jul 19, Gerald Kent (USA - Zone 10a climate)

What is the best tasting tomato to grow in zone 10a in Westlake Village California, area code 91361

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