Learn How to Grow Big Tomatoes

Once you know the basics of how to grow big tomatoes all you need is a little luck and bit of patience to be rewarded with a crop of really impressive tomatoes.

Not all varieties of tomatoes are created equal. Some like the cherry tomatoes just don't get big, where others like Gordon Graham's record 7 pound 12 ounce whopper have the potential to get huge. Most of the truly big tomato varieties are indeterminate tomatoes.

12 OUNCES EQUALS

Good loose soil that is properly fertilized is essential to any plant, and tomatoes are no exception. Start with well worked and properly fertilized soil and you will be rewarded healthy, vigorous tomato plants.

When deciding on a location for your tomato plants keep in mind that they require plenty of heat and sunlight, and try to plant them where they will get plenty of exposure to the afternoon sun

How and when you water is important to growing big healthy tomatoes. They like deep watering so rather than sprinkling them every day, use a soaker hose and water them only once or twice a week

Tomatoes will grow new roots from the part to of the stem that is underground. Trimming off the bottom few branches and planting them as deep as possible will give them a strong root system. If they are too long and spindly you can even plant them horizontally with just the tops sticking out of the ground.

Don't overcrowd your plants by trying to put too many of them in a small space. Tomatoes need at least two feet between plants. Fewer plants spaced properly will produce more and better fruit than more plants that don't have the room they need.

You want your tomato plants to spend their energy growing tomatoes, not leaves, so prune off any new shoots that you see growing between the stem and the main branches. Just pinch them off while being careful to leave the flowers.

You can force your plants to spend their energy on a few selected tomatoes by removing the smaller ones from each cluster.

Toppling Gordon Graham's 7 pound 12 ounce world record tomato is still going to take a lot of luck, but if you know how to grow big tomatoes, you have a chance to do just that.

Learn How to Grow Big Tomatoes

12 OUNCES EQUALS