The difference between a modest crop and a truly bountiful harvest often comes down to one thing: knowing exactly what your tomato plants need, and when.Once the soil is consistently warm (that is, consistently 10°C and higher), your tomatoes are ready to brave the outdoors. You can use your meat or kitchen thermometer to check the soil temperature at different times of day to confirm.As tomatoes require a lot of nutrients to thrive, fertilizing them with the right solution at the right times is crucial. Read on to learn the best schedule for fertilizing your tomatoes and producing a beautiful crop.
1. During planting
When you're ready to move your germinated seeds to a larger pot or into the ground, choose a spot that will be sunny while sheltered from wind. As you create a hole for each new plant, work the fertilizer into the surrounding soil. At this stage, look for a granular fertilizer with a balanced formula such as 10-10-10 or 5-5-5, or even one with slightly higher nitrogen to support early leaf and stem growth. Pay particular attention to phosphorus (the middle number), which is especially important at planting for strong root establishment. To give your soil extra calcium, add crushed eggshells. Using a granular fertilizer will release the nutrients slowly over time and give the plant the best support at this stage.When you put the new plant in the fertilized hole, place it so the first leaves are just above the soil's surface. That will allow the stem to create new roots and strengthen the plant.
