The biggest mistakes when growing tomatoes that everyone should know

Growing tomatoes is not difficult if you know how. Here are the biggest mistakes when growing tomatoes shared by experts, helping you have a quality harvest .

Sweet, juicy tomatoes are a real treat on a hot summer day. Especially if you grow your own tomatoes. It's not hard to grow delicious, healthy tomatoes at home, but there are some mistakes that can easily lead to serious consequences, such as stunted plants, few fruits, and pests. But with a little care and attention, even beginners can have a successful tomato harvest. Here are some mistakes to avoid when growing tomatoes so that your plants produce good, abundant fruit .

Planting too early

The best time of year to plant tomatoes will depend on the weather and climate. Before planting tomatoes outdoors, nighttime temperatures should be consistently above 60 degrees Fahrenheit (15 degrees Celsius), with daytime temperatures of 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius) or higher. These plants are sensitive to frost and low temperatures, so planting tomatoes too early in the season can result in stunted or dead growth.

Not providing enough nutrients

Don't forget to fertilize your tomato plants. Especially once they start producing fruit, your tomato plants need a constant supply of nutrients to maintain their productivity and growth. When you first plant your tomatoes, add a tablespoon of organic fertilizer to the base of the hole before you plant them. Once your tomato plants start growing and producing fruit, mix the fertilizer around the base of the plants every 3 to 4 weeks."

Forget to trim

Pruning is essential to the overall health of your tomato plant. Failure to prune suckers (shoots that appear at the base of the main stem and side branches) and lower leaves can result in excessive foliage and limited fruit production. If the side shoots are left, the tomato plant can become starved of oxygen and therefore susceptible to damage and disease.

Tomatoes are hardy plants; they can handle pruning well. Prune any leaves that come into direct contact with the soil, as they can promote soil-borne diseases. Don't be afraid to prune any extra branches your tomato plant produces. Each new branch takes energy from the plant, so if you want to redirect energy to producing more fruit on the branches that have already produced, cut off any new branches.

Irregular watering

Tomato plants thrive in moist soil, so experts recommend watering 2 to 4 inches per week, a little more often in the height of summer.

Don't trust yourself to water your garden consistently? Install a timer so you can water the same amount of time each month without having to think about it. Remember to take rainfall into account and adjust your schedule if it rains too much, as overwatering can lead to root rot.

Planting seedlings too close together

Tomato seedlings should be planted 55 to 60 cm apart. Without adequate spacing, tomato seedlings will not have enough circulation, which can increase the risk of pests and diseases, plus they will compete for sunlight, water and nutrients if planted too close together.

Not providing proper support

No matter what variety of tomato you plant, your tomato plants will need support—a cage, stake, or more permanent structure, like a trellis, will do the job.

Tomatoes have a habit of growing many branches to support the fruit. Without proper support, the weight of the branches can become too much and cause the branches to sag or even break. The plant will continue to grow branches throughout the season, so you will need a tall, sturdy support system.

Harvesting at the wrong time

Not harvesting tomatoes when they are ripe can cause the fruit to crack or rot, attracting unwanted insects and pests to your garden. You can harvest tomatoes when they are fully ripe or a few days earlier to allow them to ripen indoors.

Choose the wrong breed

From heirloom tomatoes to small cherry tomatoes, tomatoes come in many shapes and sizes. Consider the size of your space and the variety you want to grow. Know that the tomatoes you want to grow will take up less space and grow like a bush, making them ideal for container gardening, but they usually only produce fruit for about two weeks. Randomly grown tomatoes develop longer stems, and tend to produce fruit with a wider variety of flavors.

Samuel Daniel

Update 26 June 2025