How to prepare the soil for growing tomatoes

Content

Steps
Method 1 of 2: Soil Preparation - Improving Soil Fertility
Method 2 of 2: Preparing the Soil - Minimal Effort
Tips
What do you need
Additional articles

It is difficult to imagine the menu of a modern person without the presence of tomatoes in it. They are healthy and tasty, varied in color, shape, size. Growing tomatoes in your own garden is not difficult. They are unpretentious, and only a few bushes provide a small family with tomatoes. And if there is not enough space, then you can choose one of the many varieties bred specifically for growing in small spaces or in a box outside the window. Good soil is one of the basic requirements for tomato cultivation. Here are some tips to help set the stage for growing healthy and tasty tomatoes.

Steps

Method 1 of 2: Soil Preparation - Improving Soil Fertility

1 Choose soil for planting tomatoes - well-dried, saturated, loamy (enriched with sand, silt, clay).
2 Check the acidity of the soil. Tomatoes love soil with an acidity of 6.2 to 6.8 pH. Use a set of indicator tests (litmus tests) to determine the acidity of the soil, which is sold at garden shops.
3 Choose a place for planting that has at least 6 hours of sunshine a day.
4 Treat the soil to prepare it for planting tomatoes. Loosen the soil with a hoe or shovel to dry it out. Ground that is too damp is poorly ventilated and sticks to tools. If the soil acidity level is not ideal for tomatoes, add the necessary fertilizer.
5 Add additional ingredients to the soil. Add peat, compost or manure to the soil to improve its quality. Mix these ingredients in small amounts and add to the soil before planting. The richer the soil, the better the tomatoes will grow.
6 Select an area where the soil is deep enough. Tomatoes require deep planting, to the level of the first leaves.
7 Buy a fertilizer consisting of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in a ratio of 5-10-5.
8 Prepare fertilizer. Dissolve 2 tablespoons of fertilizer (30 g) in 3.8 liters of water. Pour 240 ml solution into the hole for each seedling. For large plots, use approximately 900 grams of fertilizer per 9 square meters of land.

Method 2 of 2: Preparing the Soil - Minimal Effort

1 Loosen and grind the soil well. You don't need to do anything else with the soil, focus on the tomato seedlings that will grow in this soil.
2 Sow the tomatoes in rows. 8-10 plants will be enough for a small vegetable garden.
- The distance between plants in a row should be about 60 centimeters, and the rows should also be spaced 60 centimeters apart. So, the tomatoes will be free and comfortable.
- Plant 2 seeds in one hole. A weaker plant can be planted when it reaches 5 centimeters.
3 Fertilize your plants later. Don't overdo it with soil enrichment. Seedlings are very sensitive to new conditions after planting (or when germinating from seed). Plants can not only die, but also slow down their growth, the yield will also decrease. Use chicken manure instead of chemical fertilizers. Pour fresh chicken droppings with water in a 1: 1 ratio, cover and leave in a warm place for 3-5 days until fermentation ends. Before use, the resulting solution is diluted with water in a ratio of 1:10.
4 Use cut grass. Distribute it between the plants, in a layer of 5-7 centimeters. It will not only protect the garden from weeds, but will also retain moisture in the soil, so the need for watering will be reduced. And the cut grass will turn into compost by the next season, which will also have a beneficial effect on the fertile qualities of the soil.
5 Water once a week in the morning. Avoid watering your garden in the evenings as this creates a favorable environment for pests that like dark, humid environments. It also contributes to the development of rot, mold and other troubles that can be avoided by watering in the morning.
- Do not water at noon, as the moisture will quickly evaporate and the plants will not have time to absorb it.
6 Make sure the tomatoes don't grow too tall. First, it will be difficult to look after them. You can adjust their height yourself by simply stopping their growth by pinching when they reach the desired height. Secondly, tomatoes love to grow without worrying about fertility. Cessation of top growth forces them to concentrate on the formation of side shoots, so you will get a good harvest faster.
7 Prune the leaves to help the fruit develop better.

Tips

After planting the plants, mulch the soil around, this will retain moisture and prevent the soil from drying out.
Some soil acidity tests may indicate a lack of lime in the soil. Lime is best applied in late autumn or early spring.