Tomato Growth Boosters

Deep Transplant

• A deep transplant is one way to boost tomatoes that you start indoors and then move to your garden. When the plant is large enough for transplant and the weather has warmed, take the entire plant to the garden and dig a hole in the soil deep enough to put all but the top notch of leaves in the ground. Remove the rest of the leaves before transplanting. It may seem like you are burying your tomatoes alive, but you are encouraging a strong root system. The entire stem under the soil produces roots that act as a strong foundation for the plant.

Regular Fertilizer

• Tomato plants require plenty of nutrients to maximize their growth. Apply fertilizer every two to three weeks according to the package directions on your preferred fertilizer. Don't use a fertilizer high in nitrogen or you will grow tomato plants with abundant foliage that do not bear fruit. While routine frequent fertilization is good for growth, applying too much is not. Avoid over fertilizing; too many nutrients in the soil can cause bacterial growth or pest problems.

Quick Picking

• You can usually find plenty to do with your tomato crop. Even if you have more than you can use while they are fresh, you can freeze them in sauces or give them away to other people who love tomatoes. The more the merrier is the rule with this popular plant. To get more fruit out of your plants and boost production, pick the ripe tomatoes as soon as they are ready. When you see the tomatoes turn red, assuming they are a red variety, pull them from the plant, and new ones begin to form. The quicker you pick, the larger the harvest will be for the season.

Companion Planting

• Protect your tomatoes and give them a better chance at becoming big, healthy fruits by using companion planting, which is a method of growing two different crops close together for the benefit of one or both of the plants. Tomatoes benefit from proximity to several different species. An edible herb called borage improves tomato plant health and taste, and it serves as an excellent tomato hornworm repellent. Dill improves the growth rate of tomatoes and basil repels whiteflies, aphids and spider mites.