Last updated on October 23rd, 2023 at 08:35 pm
We are in the middle of summer and I think you have started to enjoy the first tomato harvests.
To keep your tomato plants healthy for a long time to come, I’ve put together in this article 5 things to check and the tips that go with it.
As usual we will only use natural methods to respect the life of the soil.
Contents
- 1 Are your tomato plants well nourished to produce fruit until the end of summer?
- 2 Are your stakes strong enough to support the weight of the fruit and the gusts of wind?
- 3 Have you taken these precautions to ensure that the soil does not contaminate your plants?
- 4 Are you ready to react if the weather turns rainy?
- 5 Author
Are your tomato plants well nourished to produce fruit until the end of summer?
If the soil in your garden is of good quality (dark colored, well moistened) and if compost was brought at the time of planting, the tomato plants will probably not need to be fertilized during the season.
Otherwise, I recommend watering regularly (every 10 to 15 days) the tomato plants with diluted comfrey purin, until the last fruits have started to form.
Are your stakes strong enough to support the weight of the fruit and the gusts of wind?
When you install the stakes at the beginning of the season, you don’t yet know how vigorously each tomato plant will grow.
I have had stakes that have fallen down because of the weight of the large clusters of fruit. And also because of the gales that accompany the August storms. Or a plant that is overflowing because I let it grow on several stakes.
If you feel a weakness on the side of the stakes, it is better to solidify the building before it collapses. Either by connecting the tops of the stakes together or by planting a few more stakes.
Have you taken these precautions to ensure that the soil does not contaminate your plants?
Diseases can be brought in by air currents, like mildew spores, but other diseases can also come from the soil. To avoid it, there are several very simple actions to take:
- Mulch around the tomato plants: in addition to all the other benefits I show in this article, the mulch will cushion the fall of raindrops and prevent them from splashing the foliage with soil. This way there will be less chance of diseases spreading from the soil to the plant.
- If the amount of mulch available is not enough, then cut the leaves that touch the soil at the bottom of the plants.
- And I remind you (but you probably already know this) that you should never water the foliage of tomatoes because it is the humidity that causes the appearance of diseases. The water must be brought to the foot of the plants.
Are you ready to react if the weather turns rainy?
Late blight can occur very quickly and spread like wildfire. The earlier you treat the disease, the greater the chances of success. So it’s best to have your defense arsenal ready in advance to avoid panic.
Keep a box of baking soda on hand. And also some cloves of garlic in reserve to prepare a decoction (which can only be kept for a few days).
As soon as the weather deteriorates and rain becomes threatening, spray one of these two treatments without delay. It is not infallible but it may save your tomatoes.
And in areas where it rains frequently in the summer, the best way to ensure healthy tomatoes is to build small canopies over the plants.