If well cared for, tomato plants yield high yields of juicy, tangy fruit. Start your garden by choosing the perfect spot for your crop to develop to its entire potential. You will have to take soil, sunlight and space into account when making your selection.
Soil
Keep plant roots healthy and hardy with proper drainage. A planting site that’s frequently soggy may result in roots which are limp and week. If the issue persists, your tomatoes may develop root rot. Steer clear of these possible problems by planting tomatoes in well-draining, loosely packed soil.
Sun
Plant your tomatoes in a place which receives six to eight hours of sun every day. Because of the light conditions, avoid planting trees that are near, sheds or some other tall structure which will shade the tomatoes and prevent them from growing nicely.
Space
Choose whether you may stake or cage your tomatoes, as this has some bearing on the amount of space they require. Tomatoes are prolific growers. They will quickly take up large regions of land if allowed to do so. Staking — tying the plant into a wooden stake — and caging — placing a thin cable structure around the plant — keep tomato plants vertical. Consequently, they require less horizontal space. Plant rows of caged or staked tomatoes about 40 inches apart. Individual plants within the rows must have at least 24 inches between them. If you choose to allow your tomato plants to develop a free-form fashion with no heels or bets, keep them at least four feet apart and allow six feet between rows.
Protection
Choose a place of your yard with room to set up simple obstacles to keep rabbits and other pests from your tomatoes. Protect your tomatoes from local wildlife by placing a fence round the garden. This does not typically have to be a huge structure. Inexpensive chicken cable may work. In case you have pets but want edible tomatoes, then it’s best to keep the pet place entirely separate from the garden.