tomato are picky about where they develop so avoid planting them in these less than idealistic spots .

Michael Hanson

“ positioning , localization , fix ” is a frequently used phrase in the real land diligence , and it applies totomatoestoo . Choose a misfortunate planting spot and you ’ll end up with spindly , fallible plants lacking fruit . This tilt of 9 places you should never imbed tomatoes will secure you select the perfect location for your prized works so they ’ll bring forth a bumper crop for you this summer .

Tomatoes on the vine growing in a garden

Credit:Michael Hanson

1. In the Shade

Tomatoes necessitate 8 hours or more of direct sunlighta day . Optimally , the plant is bathed in sun from aurora to night . mind of nearby construction , fence , and plant that can cast off a trace on plants . tomato plant stressed by lack of sunlight have lank , light stems and minimum fruit .

If your landscape does n’t put up and sunny inground planting spot for a Lycopersicon esculentum works , consider grow a tomato in a large pot on a gay private road or deck of cards . Sunlight is critical to plant growth and fruiting .

circumscribed on sunny spots in the garden?Growing a tomato upside - downin a attend plantation owner can be a slap-up way of life to maximize what sun you do get .

2. In Soggy Soil

Slow - draining dirt present a horde of problems for tomato plant plant . Root growing is comprised in the dense soil which contribute to modified shoot maturation and fruit . Soggy grunge is a breeding soil fordestructive pestsand diseases .

The honest grease for tomato is benighted brown in semblance and crumbles easy when gathered in your hands . If the dirt around your abode issticky clayor heavily - bundle and frequently have water system , consider building a raised bottom withwell - drained soilfor produce tomatoes . Or plant your favorite varieties in a container .

3. In Excessively Sandy Soil

Sandy soil is notorious for not holding moisture long enough for the fine root of tomato to occupy the steady provision of water that they demand . Planting tomatoes in intensely flaxen grease requires water them at least twice a day or more in some cases . If your soil has a high sand cognitive content , bulge it up with organic affair by mixing a 4- to 6 - inch - thickset bed of compost into the top 12 in of the soil . contain a thick layer of compost annually to improve the soil structure over time . Consider running adrip irrigation hosealong the Qaeda of Lycopersicon esculentum industrial plant to supply their water motive as the soil conditions better .

4. Close to a Building or Fence

Still , stagnant spaces are breeding grounds for disease infestations . A planting office bordered by a building , or fence , or even a thick hedge on multiple sides is a select stop for stagnant zephyr . Dew drenched foliage takes longer to dry out in these spaces and rain results in a lingering moist environment — the stark consideration forfungal diseasesto develop and multiply .

Tomato plants rely on uninterrupted , gentle air movement to dry out foliage . take a planting spot that is debunk to wind . Do n’t be afraid of too much wind . Tomato plant are surprisingly resilient and can stand firm strong blow whenstaked the right way .

5. Crowded Next to Other Plants

Most tomato plants , except for terrace tomatoes and miniature miscellanea , need at least 3 fundament of horizontal growing space . Andthe more space you’re able to give a plant , the practiced , in many cases . For full , lush increment , plant tomatoes about 2 feet apart and 2 feet off from nearby plants .

6. In a Small Container

Do n’t planttomatoes in potsless than 10 inch in diameter . The expectant the diam and soil book of the container , the hefty and more productive the Lycopersicon esculentum works .

cerise tomatoesare best grown in pots that hold at least 2 gallons of soil and have a diameter greater than 10 inches . Standard tomato , such as slicer and Romas , grow best in a pot that holds at least 4 gallon of ground and is 14 inches or greater in diameter . Drainage is also key to raise Lycopersicon esculentum in containers — check that the smoke has drainage holes in the bottom .

7. Where Diseased Tomatoes Grew Before

Bacterial and fungous disease overwinter in garden soil , plaguing Lycopersicon esculentum found in the same location the following year . Fusarium wilt and bacterial spot are two destructive disease that ramp up up in the grime . If tomatoes , or other members of the same works phratry such aseggplant , potato , andpeppers , suffered from diseases in a planting blot , do not plant there again the next year .

8. In the Path of Herbicides

curl up , misrepresented , and distorted tomato flora leaves are signs of herbicide equipment casualty . Plants are impacted when nearby arena aretreated with weed killerand the chemical substance drift onto the plants . Some herbicides can drift many foot from the app web site , even when air travel conditions are calm . The best fashion to annul herbicide impairment is to skip using these chemical anywhere near your Lycopersicon esculentum plant life .

9. Where Water is Not Available

Ideally tomatoes require about 1 inch of rainfall a week to thrive . In most places , rainwater wo n’t be reproducible enough for tomato to grow well , so you ’ll need to supplement with irrigation . surrender thewater directlyto the plant life ’s root zone with a watering can , drip hose , or garden hose with a baton adherence . Avoid aim the industrial plant ’s foliage wet to keep disease .