To grow tomatoes in pots, plant one seedling per container of at least 5 gallons (19 liters) for compact varieties, or 10 gallons (38 liters) or more for vining types. Use a quality potting mix, bury the stem deeply, place the pot in 6 to 8 hours of direct sun, water when the top 2…
Pruning tomatoes confuses a lot of gardeners. Some swear by removing every sucker. Others never touch their plants and still get buckets of fruit. Both approaches can work, but the results depend on the type of tomato you’re growing, your climate and what you want from the plant. This guide covers what pruning does, when…
Tomatoes grow best in soil that is loose, fertile, well-draining, and rich in organic matter. The right soil helps tomato roots spread easily while providing enough moisture and nutrients for steady growth. A good tomato soil mix should not stay soggy after watering, but it should also hold enough moisture to prevent the roots from…
Grow bags offer several benefits, including better drainage, improved root aeration, and easy storage. However, they also have some drawbacks that product descriptions often overlook. The breathable fabric that helps plant roots can also cause the soil to dry quickly. Grow bags may also require more watering, feeding, and support than traditional containers. Before buying…
Tomato grow bags look too simple to be effective. They are fabric containers filled with soil, often with handles sewn on. But the way they are made changes how roots grow, how water moves and how much fruit a plant can produce. This guide explains the mechanics, then shows how to set up, feed and…
A garden fork is one of the most useful tools you can own and one of the easiest to overlook. It breaks up compacted soil, lifts perennials without slicing through roots, turns compost, harvests potatoes and aerates lawns. Its tines also enter hard ground far more easily than a flat shovel blade. The hard part…
A good garden does not need dozens of tools. A small set of useful garden tools can handle most everyday jobs. You can use them to dig soil, plant seedlings, remove weeds, prune plants, water the garden, and clean up leaves and debris. The right tool also makes garden work easier. A hand trowel is…
Cherry tomatoes and grape tomatoes are both small, productive, and easy to enjoy fresh from the garden. At first glance, they can look almost identical. Both are popular for salads, snacks, pasta, roasting, and container gardening. But they are not exactly the same. The easiest way to tell them apart is by looking at shape,…
Yes, you can grow tomatoes successfully in Texas. In fact, tomatoes are one of the most popular vegetables for Texas home gardens. The main challenge is not growing the plants. It is choosing the right planting time and protecting them from extreme heat. Texas has a long growing season, but summer temperatures can become too…
Growing tomatoes in Texas is a little different from growing them in a mild northern garden. Spring can be excellent, but summer heat arrives quickly. Once temperatures stay very high, tomato plants may stop setting new fruit even when they look healthy. That makes variety selection especially important for Texas gardeners. The best tomatoes are…