My tomato plants are beginning to bear fruit, so I’m dedicating this month to supporting and caring for tasks that will encourage a bumper crop.
Knowing what to do with tomato plants in July is important if you want them to harvest as much as possible—especially in light of the recent (and upcoming!) heatwave. If you Grow your own tomatoes First, you may know that hydration is key, but there are a few other tasks that I will complete during this month to grow them into strong, healthy plants.
Add these jobs to your July chore list, and you may just be growing your best crop of tomatoes.
What you will need
Levington
Tomorite Concentrated Tomato Food, 1 L
Feeding your tomato plants will produce more tomatoes. Levington Tomorite has long been the best-selling classic tomato fertilizer.
situation
2 packs tomato cages
You can make this tomato cage as tall as you like (up to 160cm, using snap-on arms and connecting pipes). They also come with 60 plant ties.
TradeXone
Strong heavy duty professional bamboo canes
I usually use bamboo canes and string to support my plants. They are durable, budget-friendly and can be cut to size using a small saw where necessary.
1. Provide support
(Image credit: Future plc / Sophie King)
One of my tomato plants in particular has grown Speed In the last month. It’s gotten pretty heavy, especially now that the tomatoes are starting to form – so me Plant support Instead, fast.
Staking is crucial for cordon tomatoes (which grow tall). So far, I’ve used some jute string and a simple stick from an old bunch of pennies, but I’ll be ordering these Bamboo Bamboo from Amazon When it comes time to support my other tomato plants.
You can also buy a tomato support frame like this one Halatool Tomato Cages from Amazon.
2. Keep them hydrated
(Image credit: Future plc / Sophie King)
Tomatoes are thirsty plants, so watering in July is paramount. if you are Growing tomatoes in potsThey will need extra hydration because they will dry out quickly – and if you Growing tomatoes in hanging baskets.
‘Inconsistent watering can cause flower drop and lead to problems such as blossom end rot and split skins,’ says Annelise Briley. Thompson and Morganhorticulturist of ‘Water deeply, then let the top two inches (5cm) of soil dry out before watering again.’
3. Feed the plant
(Image credit: Future plc/Heather Young)
Fertilizer is no joke when it comes to tomato plants—it can really make a difference in their fruiting potential, and July is the perfect time to feed them.
‘Tomatoes are also hungry plants and benefit from regular feeding,’ says Anneliese. ‘Add a liquid fertilizer to the watering once a week using a high potash tomato feed to encourage strong flowers and abundant fruit production.’
Levington Tomorite, which you can order from Amazon for just £4is one of the most popular choices, and is a fertilizer that has earned me tons of tomatoes in the past.
This year, however, I planted my young tomato plants Delfoot Wool Compost for Tomatoes (Available at Crocus)which is said to feed the plant for the entire season. So far, that’s proving more than accurate – I’ve never seen a tomato plant grow so fast, and the stems are already piling up on the fruit!
4. Pinch out side shoots
(Image credit: Getty Images / Vandervelden)
Don’t overlook this July tomato job if you’re growing the Cordon tomato variety. Removing lateral shoots (the small pair of leaves that sprout at the junction of the main stem and adjacent stems) of tomato plants is absolutely key to conserving plant energy for fruiting stems.
‘Remove side shoots as they appear so the plant’s energy is directed to developing fruit,’ says Anneliese.
This Tomato harvesting technique It takes seconds, but it can make a huge difference in the overall yield of your plants. Plus, it lets you enjoy that signature tomato leaf aroma!
5. Systematic dead growth
(Image credit: Getty Images / Paul Maguire)
My main cordon is a tomato plant Rich Right now, but one of my other tomato plants isn’t enjoying the same success yet (I think it’s due to lack of pot drainage, so my bad!). I’ve noticed a fair amount of yellowing leaves at the base of the plant – and according to Annelise, it’s best to get rid of it as soon as possible.
He advises ‘remove any dead or yellow leaves around the base to improve air flow and reduce the risk of disease.’
You can usually remove dead material from tomato plants by hand, but if you’re using a pair of snips, make sure you clean your garden tools with something. Agralan Citrox is a ready to use natural citrus insecticide spray from Amazon Before and after.
Put these five tomato care tasks on your list for July, and you’ll set yourself up for a summer of delicious harvests.
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