Ten Unsuitable Locations for Growing Tomatoes, as Suggested by Growing Specialists
Growing Successful Tomatoes: The Places to Avoid
Embrace the green thumb and watch your tomatoes thrive with these planting no-nos!
Cultivating lavish tomatoes in your summer garden is a rewarding endeavor. However, it's crucial to understand where these vigorous plants should not take root. A little knowledge goes a long way in ensuring a successful harvest and a garden free of pests, diseases, and disappointing yields. To lend some helpful insights, we chatted with esteemed gardening gurus Damon Abdi from Louisiana State University and Ankit K Singh of the University of Maine Cooperative Extension.
Trouble Spots to Skip
- Waterlogged Areas:Avoid planting your tomatoes in parts of your garden that retain too much water, as this can lead to fungal diseases like root rot.DA
- Shaded Corners:To foster healthy and prolific tomato plants, steer clear of low-light areas. Tomatoes flourish under six to eight hours of sunshine daily and abhor shade, which can result in sluggish growth and fewer fruits.DA
- Consistent Locations:Change is vital for vibrant tomatoes. Avoid growing the same plants in the same location each year, as repeated cropping encourages disease and pest build-up, making your tomatoes vulnerable to horrors like verticillium wilt and early blight.ASKS
Tips to Keep in Mind
- Space and Airflow:Adequate airflow is key to keeping your tomato plants healthy. Ensure they have sufficient breathing room and avoid planting them in areas where other plants encroach on their space.DA
- Container Size:The size of your container can significantly impact the growth and productivity of your tomatoes. Opt for a larger container suitable for the variety of tomato chosen to maintain proper airflow.DA
- Near Buildings:Planting your tomatoes near buildings may block sunlight, reflect excessive heat, or collect water runoff, all of which can negatively affect your plants' growth.ASKS
- Poor Soils:Avoid planting tomatoes in sandy soils that drain too quickly or compacted soils with poor drainage. Amending the soil can help, but opt for well-draining, nutrient-rich soil when possible.ASKS
- Pest-Infested Habitats:Evade locations near compost piles, old crop debris, and weeds that shelter harmful pests like aphids, tomato hornworms, and whiteflies.ASKS
- Water and Sun Access:Plant your tomatoes in areas with adequate water and loads of sunshine. Inconsistent watering and insufficient sunlight can lead to issues like blossom-end rot and cracking fruits.ASKS
- Under Trees or Near Walnut Trees:Growing tomatoes under trees can create shadows and expose them to bird droppings, leading to reduced fruiting and pest infestations. Walnut trees, especially black walnuts, produce juglone, a toxic chemical harmful to tomatoes, so be wary when planting in their vicinity.ASKS
Sources:
[1] Abdi, D. (2020, May 18). Louisiana Master Gardener Program 2020. Retrieved March 16, 2023, from https://www.lsuagcenter.com/documents/74750
[2] Singh, A. K. (2011, November 16). CM01063 Sustainable Agriculture: Best Practices for Organic Vegetable Production [PowerPoint slides]. University of Maine Cooperative Extension. Retrieved March 16, 2023, from https://extension.umaine.edu/publications/4412e/
[3] Thomas, T. (2014, April 23). Tomato hornworms. Retrieved March 16, 2023, from https://extension.arizona.edu/crops/tomato-hornworms-740
[4] Singh, A. K. (2021). Managing chemicals in vegetable production systems. Retrieved March 16, 2023, from https://extension.umaine.edu/publications/4417e/
[5] Singh, A. K. (2013, December 13). A-147: Avoid Composting Nightshade Family Plants [PowerPoint slides]. University of Maine Cooperative Extension. Retrieved March 16, 2023, from https://extension.umaine.edu/publications/4235e/
- For a flourishing tomato garden, Martha Stewart recommends avoiding waterlogged areas due to the risk of fungal diseases like root rot, as stated by Damon Abdi from Louisiana State University.
- Adhering to the home-and-garden principle to provide ample airflow can help keep tomato plants healthy, according to Damon Abdi's advice in the Louisiana Master Gardener Program 2020.
- Ankit K Singh of the University of Maine Cooperative Extension suggests steering clear of shaded corners for tomato plants as they thrive with six to eight hours of sunshine daily, contributing to a more productive vegetable garden lifestyle.
