5 Secrets to Growing Amazing Tomatoes (That Really Work)

[@laggywarden2915]

Idk why but I like the smell of tomato plants

[@user-ed7et3pb4o]

Same, I love it

[@juliekraft4102]

Yes,the scent is glorious.🤗

[@suew000]

No I hate it!

[@kypie8]

I love it too

[@tannisjohnson6456]

Me too! The leaves more so than the tomatos themselves

[@joeydix]

If I am ever feeling a bit down, I come to this channel just to listen to Ben speak with such positivity and enthusiasm. Today, I have absolutely no intention of following any of this advice but his cheery demeanour has already lifted my mood. Ben - sometimes your impacts exceed your intentions and for that I wish to thank you.

[@GrowVeg]

That is so lovely to read, thank you so much. I hope today finds you feeling in fine form and elevated mood. Happy gardening! :-)

[@ibachic136]

Agree with this. Ben is a treasure.

[@sueholly57]

Yes siting watching this episode during my working from home. Popping out briefly to sow some more seeds. Really good for motivation :)

[@Teorispa]

10 seconds in, first time watching a video from this guy and I'm already subscribing. He's excited. About tomatoes.

[@GrowVeg]

Thanks so much for the sub! :-)

[@tuesdayschild2022]

This could very well be the internet’s BEST video on growing tomatoes! Perfect timing for me, too; I’m just growing tomatoes for the first time. Recording in the rain…I love the dedication ☺️.

[@GrowVeg]

Thanks so much! :-)

[@flowersent9614]

Same!!

[@Taylorthegood]

Gotta disagree

[@abigaildawn2996]

Completely agree! Even if he got soaked in the rain for us it’s greatly appreciated 😅

[@mompofelski4191]

your optimism and cheery attitude truly magnify the information you share.

[@juliekraft4102]

It absolutely does!🥰

[@GrowVeg]

Thanks guys. :-)

[@grassywanted-wear6070]

Totally terrific toms - a three-word alliteration always makes your videos complete for me! Thanks Ben.

[@GrowVeg]

Haha, brilliant! Great to hear they’re noticed and appreciated! 😀

[@juliaryan1410]

Always so encouraging, thank you. We're in the Colorado mountains so still several weeks from planting out the tomatoes. I was tickled that you kept on despite the rain and didn't blink or comment upon it. You are a TRUE gardener!

[@GrowVeg]

Haha, yes - the rain needn't stop play! :-)

[@valoriegriego5212]

Nice one, Ben!😃 Some folks here dust the fish with lime after plopping it in the hole. The lime covers the scent keeping critters from digging it up.

[@GrowVeg]

That is an awesome tip. Really appreciate it, thanks!

[@jm3517]

Y’all really went off with the video quality this year, the past few uploads have looked incredible. And of course great content as always!

[@GrowVeg]

Thanks so much, that's really lovely feedback, appreciate it. :-)

[@esthersdaughterlong8149]

I love your channel. You are a great teacher and I appreciate that. Thank you.

[@GrowVeg]

Thanks so much for watching. :-)

[@benslidel2379]

I especially enjoyed the companion section.

[@nickelastic3026]

Never thought of planting straight from the bag. Genius!

[@KarenSmith958]

I love your enthusiastic advice despite the rain. Just the motivation I needed! Look forward to seeing your tomatoes progress.

[@GrowVeg]

Thanks Karen. :-)

[@nathonfrancis]

I started tilling in the old marigolds in my garden and there everywhere now, 2 gardens later. I need basil and dill tho. Excellent show Ben!!

[@GrowVeg]

Thanks so much. Hope you get a great harvest this year. :-)

[@LMLewis]

Thank you for enduring a rainstorm to bring us these helpful tips!

[@GrowVeg]

You're most welcome. Nothing too bad with a spot of rain. :-)

[@SamuelMuchiri-fo3uy]

Am in Kenya ,and your tomato growing ideas are well understood. Am gonna try this at my backyard. Thankyou Ben.

[@GrowVeg]

So pleased you found this video useful. Thanks for watching. :-)

[@Steve197201]

I love your bright and cheery personality! Greetings from the States! 😀

[@GrowVeg]

Cheers Steve, appreciate that. :)

[@liamcoote6178]

Great video this week. Great tips. I must give tomatoes a go outside,

[@slashieboy]

More please love this guy

[@GrowVeg]

Cheers very much! :-)

[@saintz177]

Il be planting my tomato seeds next month in my outdoor garden pots

[@sebongteens]

this is so well produced!

[@GrowVeg]

Thanks so much! :-)

[@LisianeWinkler]

Your videos bring me joy, thank you for being a source of positivity in the world during these times 🙏

[@GrowVeg]

You are so welcome. And thank you for watching. Happy gardening! :-)

[@TwoMarshmallows1]

Rosie! What a darling. The fish heads are a great tip and if I can't try it this year, then definitely the next. Thank you for another helpful and enjoyable video, hope you're all doing well!

[@GrowVeg]

We're all good here. Thanks for watching. :-)

[@Entoron055]

I will try growing them on my balcony. This is such a great video

[@aaron_brown7324]

Those tomato towers are amazing and work very well especially if you prune them like I do

[@superiorbean7932]

I’ve actually tried many of these tips in the past and they do truly work, but some I haven’t tried, and I hope to use some of these tips myself this year. Thank you Ben for sharing these amazing tips with us, they truly do help a lot

[@GrowVeg]

So pleased to hear this video's been handy. :-)

[@suepowlesland8541]

Thank you for all the great ideas Ben! I also use sturdy fencing wire for my tomato supports. In the cool seasons they arch over my beds and hold up row covers, and then in May I secure them with reusable zip ties to turn them into tomato cages. Two uses for one product 😊

[@GrowVeg]

What a great idea! :-)

[@EarthBackThen]

Thumbs up for gardening 👍 Lovely video.

[@StuWright]

i like what you did with the cattle fencing....good idea

[@GrowVeg]

Thank you. :-)

[@robertcorradi8573]

Great enthusiasm and great advice. Thank you.

[@julieelliott2948]

I had added my cage at the beginning, along with a marigold. I can’t wait for our move so I can expand & add to my garden & container garden. Ur such a joy to watch. Ur advice is immeasurable. Thank you. 😊😊😊

[@GrowVeg]

I hope your move goes well. :-)

[@heliammusicchannel]

Your tomato plants are already massive !!!! I need to ketchup!!! 🍅🍅🍅🍅🍅🍅🍅🍅

[@GrowVeg]

Love it! :-)

[@LinXXX03]

Thank you Ben! Love your energy and very helpful information!!!!

[@GrowVeg]

Thanks for watching. 😀

[@Stu-Vino]

Well done for battling through that rain!

[@GrowVeg]

Thanks - never let a rain shower stop me! :-)

[@dwarftomatoproject]

Love the companion suggestions! I try to add some in each season. One thing I would suggest when planting tomatoes deeply is to bury the lower leaves rather than remove them which creates a fresh wound in contact with the soil. The plant just reabsorbs the nutrients as the leaves break down. I’ve grown over a thousand tomato plants like this in the past couple decades.

[@GrowVeg]

Thanks for the tip - and very good point. I think if you are to remove the leaves it may be best to do so a few days before planting, so it''s healed over. But it's great to hear your experience of not removing them either - may try that next season.

[@dwarftomatoproject]

@@GrowVeg That would also work if the wound isn’t fresh, never thought of that 😃

[@MotivationMottos]

Thanks so much Ben. Your videos are so good - always! Love it!

[@GrowVeg]

Really appreciate that. Thank you!

[@wanderingnippa]

I really like your videos and enthusiasm and easy to understand advices. As a complete beginner, this is exactly what I need. Also, I just adore all the alliteration, makes my non-native speaking lil' ears all happy and concentrating. I have no idea if you read comments on 10 months old videos, but I just needed to write this down. Lovely videos and so many ideas and tips! (Thank you for saying all the metric versions too ❤️ so I don't have to constantly mentally exchange the imperial measurements to metrics that makes sense to me) A question from a complete beginner: where do you get fisheads? Would the grocery store frozen fish suffice? Or do you find specific fish at garden stores and garden centres?

[@GrowVeg]

Thanks for your kind words! I bought the fish heads from a local fishmongers where I live. I have also seen people just put a tin of sardines into the bottom of planting holes, though this feels a bit like a waste of good food!

[@wanderingnippa]

@@GrowVeg thank you, I never thought of that!

[@tombranca244]

When I've made my tomato cages as you demonstrated, I took the extra step of cutting all the horizontal bottom pieces such that it has the vertical wires being able to be pushed into the ground

[@GrowVeg]

That's a great idea. :-)

[@greenwood4020]

If you cut only one end, of the bottom horizontal wire, and bend it down, you have more length to push into the ground, greater stability, and no bits to throw away. Stephen from Kopu New Zealand standingontheshouldersofothers

[@bizzhat]

the idea with the cut out plastic pot is great - always am having an issue with watering/ water draining everywhere but at the plant base -- I'll give that a try! also, planting the tomatoes deeper for more roots; interesting, logical, off we go!

[@GrowVeg]

Great stuff! :-)

[@jamesgrover2005]

Great advice, in a greenhouse I've had plants taller than 4 meters, I would advise if you're growing in a greenhouse to suspend the plants with string, you can bury the string under the plant when planting, as the plant grows you turn it around the string(not too tight), hang the string on a wire strung across the greenhouse, as the plants reach full hight you can lower by extending* the string and moving along the wire. Hope that's not too confusing, this is the way we did it in Dutch greenhouses in the 90's. *I have the extra string wrapped around home made wire hangers that look a little like [ so you can release lengths of string while lowering the plant to one side.

[@GrowVeg]

That's a smart way to support them. I did similar to this last summer.

[@DhSapar]

Fascinating setup!

[@heynowpauly]

Thanks for your help!!

[@shally1412]

Thank you! I was just wondering how to support my tomatoes. 🥰

[@Monika-sd9ro]

I am starting my gardening journey. This channel is the best one I found. Very well explained and and really well done videos. Thank you !

[@GrowVeg]

So pleased you're getting started gardening. Enjoy! :-)

[@ceeemm1901]

Great video Ben, plenty of wisdom, cheers.

[@glynisreynolds446]

Love your idea for a tomato cage 👏👏🇬🇧

[@cassieoz1702]

Im having a chuckle as it's late autumn here with today's forecast for 0-6C with a chance of snow tonight. Bluddy parrots ate the last of my tomatoes so i took the plants out 3 weeks ago. I'll restart seeds indoors (on a heat mat, under grow lights) at the beginning of August

[@GrowVeg]

Hope the parrots keep off the next lot!

[@J3mdA]

I always love your enthusiasm!

[@jackieo8693]

Great information!

[@143Chelley_Chelle]

I got a tomato and it had tiny little leaves in it by the time i went to use it. I planted it in the ground sliced in half and now i have 30 little seedlings. That inspired me to start a whole garden. I have never grown anything before but my beans have also began to sprout. I have tomatos, pinto beans, green beans, cucumbers, onion, carrot, beets and peppers, peas. I am so excited. I feel like i have a new passion and purpose.

[@GrowVeg]

That's really super to hear - gardening definitely does that!

[@katiebentley2287]

Thankyou Ben! Your channel is so useful! I'm fairly new to growing food but I literally learn everything from your videos! 😊

[@GrowVeg]

That's so lovely to hear Katie. Thank you for watching. :-)

[@teresawingbermuehle4212]

❤I've read basil makes tomatoes taste better.... l'm going to give it a try......

[@colinferguson6837]

Great vid as always 👍

[@jeanetteschulthe1andOnly]

Aaahhhh...tomatoes...gifts from the gods...food of the gods!

[@GrowVeg]

So true!

[@nickthegardener.1120]

Hi Ben great video, you can also pollinate the tomatoes by tickling them.👍🏻🤠💗

[@GrowVeg]

Great suggestion Nick.

[@ThatBritishHomestead]

I have just planted out my tomatoes which is very very exciting! lol

[@GrowVeg]

Nice one! :-)

[@potagermalo]

Superbe vidéo 😊

[@lisadupree1905]

Thank you

[@isabellearsnall]

I want to thank you so much for your fantastic book that I received today, it means so much and I am so thankful for it 🙏🏻💜 Love your channel and I'm learning so much from you 🐝🌱🌼

[@GrowVeg]

That is so lovely of you to say Isabelle. I'm so pleased. Happy gardening to you! :-)

[@JBeauvais100]

Basil also benefits from the shadow of the tomato plants. In Canada, it helps delay flowering. Thanks for these great videos and advices!

[@betty-co]

Thank YOU ❤

[@zan4110]

Super video!

[@janetbull2616]

Great vlog Ben so informative thanks 👍

[@flowersent9614]

Thankyou for this lovely video! It is my first time planting tomatoes, today I'll be planting salad and peppers aswell actually! I am a bit overwhelmed with all the informatipn, for it is my first time but videos like this are really helpful!

[@GrowVeg]

So pleased the videos are helpful. You'll ace it I'm sure! :-)

[@lew381]

Awesome info thanks mate.

[@linedezainde]

Tomatoes are fascinating and there are endless ways to grow them. My mother grows the best tasting tomatoes in partial shade, under large trees. The plants only get the morning sun. And then my Italian friend grows them like a creeping vine on 6 inches of straw in full sun. I grew amazing plants in a patch of sand and a little compost in full sun.

[@GrowVeg]

They're so versatile! :-)

[@RalfyCustoms]

Lovely stuff Ben, I have literally just planted my outdoor tomatoes in their grow bags, the smell always reminds me of my late grandads greenhouse ❤

[@GrowVeg]

It's a wonderful smell - very evocative I agree.

[@NurtureYourJoy]

I don’t think I’ll do fish heads 🎣 but will grow marigolds 🌼 Great video again 🍅

[@TR3outside.]

Such a great channel. So many easy and simple tips. Thankyou Ben!

[@GrowVeg]

Cheers for your support! :-)

[@ianbrown5486]

Thanks great video

[@ljgerken]

Growing indeterminate tomatoes in west central Florida, I have tomato canes the diameter of a quarter and the side shoots are 6 to 8 feet long already, as well as the main stem of the same height. I trained them up two or three side by side bamboo poles, but I found the poles are not withstanding the plants' weight. I will be using sturdier metal posts with heavy wire cattle panels in between or metal cages and may have to trim the shoots to keep them tamed. I had flea beetles early Spring and found planting bok choi and radishes near my tomatoes as sacrificial plants worked a charm. I have sweet basil and tulsi basil around the tomatoes also. Happy Spring and Happy Growing!

[@GrowVeg]

Great use of sacrificial plants! Hope the sturdier supports you plan do the job, I'm sure they will. :-)

[@janetleeadams7287]

Have to add that in the southern, midwestern part of the U.S., we did have to cover our tomato plant in the hottest part of the summer. We would use cheesecloth type fabric or an old bed sheet.

[@KeithWickliffe79]

Very helpful

[@eunicehehir6374]

From Victoria Australia: This is Perfect for us as it's our Spring 😅😅😅😅

[@GrowVeg]

Great stuff! So pleased you've found this video helpful. Happy spring!

[@jimmyrustler8983]

Awesome vid! I got my tagetes, dill and thai basil sprouted at the same time as my tomatoes this year, always helps to have herbs to go with them! 🤙

[@GrowVeg]

So true! :-)

[@frankmckie2992]

I'm so glad iv found this channel absolutely love the videos, even if your not green fingers you'll definitely want to grow something... like i said I'm disabeld but it won't stop me trying, thankyou 😊

[@GrowVeg]

Keep on trying. :-) Happy gardening!

[@AstonJay]

Notification squad😄 Great video! I will definitely be planting tomatoes this summer.

[@GrowVeg]

Great stuff!

[@Kitchenlabofficial]

Beautiful healthy tomato

[@pog11]

This guy is excellent... Very BBC.

[@stephenhope7319]

Good knowledge Ben. I agree with all your methods, never used fish heads but why not? I have my tomato plants in the ground along with the companion plants from seeds. If I find a good tomato plant during the season I will definitely save seeds for next year so I never really have to buy tomato seeds anymore. I have been growing tomato plants for 38 years! Thanks Ben. Growing here in Sacramento, Ca. Love your videos.

[@GrowVeg]

So pleased you found this video helpful Stephen. :-)

[@jlord4843]

when using the triangle supports I have found that having the openings of the horiztonal peices facing out. the weight of the plant will push them out otherwise.

[@GrowVeg]

Thanks for the tip - great move.

[@lindyjourde7411]

Great informative video, Sir. Happy New Year! 👌😁❤️

[@GrowVeg]

And to you! Thanks for watching. :-)

[@yosoytudiox]

I love this vid!! Im from Argentina, i m trying to plant my cherry ones even when we are on the begining of autum. I really need to test things to get the best place for light and soil. I wil lsave a lot os seeds for the spring, and hope to get some wonderful tomatoes!

[@GrowVeg]

Sounds like a plan. Hope you find the ideal place for them. :-)

[@stuartmccloud307]

Nice one Ben,lots of great tips there as normal :)

[@GrowVeg]

Thanks Stuart. :-)

[@DownButNotOutYet]

Good late Saturday afternoon to you Ben, the tomato plants look fabulous and I am sure you will reap an abundant crop. Nothing tastes as good as home grown tomatoes. I so enjoy eating the little yellow pear shaped tomatoes, and they just reward with abundance. They also taste lovely, but the old red tomatoes are still enjoying preference. It was a most interesting video and such good advice. I hope you will not catch a cold getting quite wet with the rain shower, even though it did not last too long, I was wondering where is the garden hat? Do take care will keep watching. Kind regards and enjoy the vegetable garden. It all is looking great.

[@GrowVeg]

Yes, a garden hat might be a wise investment! Thanks for watching. :-)

[@lynnrushton7458]

Well that’s a new one Ben! 🐟😂 might just have to try that …..thanks!

[@GrowVeg]

Give it a go!

[@Waumalu]

Thank you Ben for this amazing video. We also planted marigolds between the tomatoes, but we now have an invasion of a army of slugs. The good thing about marigolds is, that they atract slugs and then you can, if it's dark, collect them a move them away.

[@GrowVeg]

Yes, that's a great move. Marigolds can attract slugs but they soon bulk out to throw off any attach - that's what I've found anyway. Slug control is a constant job! More here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jHvZhqqhe7-Yha8

[@roottrackerzbyyaira]

My tomato plants hung out under the awning until the nights stopped being under 50 degrees...I used lobster and crab in the hole with 3 other amenents. It's working well. I do plan to start to use seaweed!

[@GrowVeg]

Very lucky tomatoes to have lobster and crab for tea!

[@roelven1282]

in the past i had some small cherry tomato plants .. .but last year i upped my overal food garden... and this year even more and i finally will do tomatoes as well... 2 cherry tomatoplants and 5 "normal" ones in a tomatogreenhouse + 2 normal plants in pots (outside...big pots on other spot then the totmatogreenhouse incase one place doetn work out well) ... so i hope i will get a nice harvest... so thank you for the secrets you share with us... its helpfull ;) (ow i made those tomato towers from bamboo ...... and a few square larger versions for my climbing beans

[@GrowVeg]

I hope you get a superb harvest from all your tomatoes. :-)

[@emilyrobson3957]

Hi, I mean the arch.thanks.emily😊

[@GrowVeg]

Hi Emily. Of course, the arch is from Agrs: www.agrs.co.uk/products/elegance-round-arch

[@toniedalton5448]

Got my tomatoes ready to go. Grow them from last years heirloom seeds. However, our weather here in Virginia has been crazy cold. So still inside. We brought in a load of horse compost for the garden.We have a good start on a lot of things. But still frosting. Hopefully this week they can get planted out. The Indians always put fish in their plantings. We use fertilizers made of fish bones a lot. Epsom salts sprinkled in the hole helps as well. Hope you are having a good growing season there. Take care and have a blessed day ! P.S. we are using cages made from fence wire

[@GrowVeg]

Hope you have a great growing season too, despite the later start. :-)

[@billyandrew]

I always add chopped banana peels and crushed eggshells to the bottom of the hole I plant tomatoes into, covering it with two inches of soil, then placing the tomato plant on top.

[@GrowVeg]

Great idea. :-)

[@lisaskilton3746]

hey Ben, great video! slowly planting my tomatoes in to my poly tunnel this weekend and slowly getting marigold and calendula grown from seed (first batch got a slug attack!) plus got 3 types of basil growing from seed. like you say find room for them all around the tomatoes and peppers :-) love the tower idea! not grown bush type tomatoes before so perhaps next year! trying to get ideas and see what they have at the RHS Malvern festival when I visit tomorrow! also perhaps fish heads next year too!

[@GrowVeg]

Glad to have given a few ideas. Enjoy Malvern tomorrow - some great gardens there I hear! :-)

[@robertb3077]

I usually buy my toe may toe plants from a local family owned grower instead of the big box stores. That is just my preference. I am in the USA Colorado flatlands where the daytime temp gets up to 104 F and night temp drops to mid 60 F perfect for weather for SWEET Cantaloupes. Great weather for Tow My Tows too.

[@GrowVeg]

Wow - that's very warm! Glad your toe mar toes ;-) don't mind that heat. :-)

[@GardeningWarrior]

My Mennonite and Brethren ancestors added the heads and guts of fish in between plants as well as in to the holes when planting..this worked very well for them and so I have always thought that was what you were supposed to do when planting anything and everything..great growings on there. Thank you for sharing

[@GrowVeg]

That's really great to hear. :-)

[@nathanleigh3486]

Always thought a greenhouse was a must for tomatoes.

[@GrowVeg]

It does help with avoiding blight.

[@bobbun9630]

The wire used in the video to build a tomato cage is perfectly sufficient (in strength, not height) for indeterminate tomatoes. What's iffy is the stakes. I use steel t-posts as the main element in any support system for heavy plants. I do live in a hot summer climate (southeastern U.S.), by the way, and don't generally prune them so the plants can get massive.

[@GrowVeg]

That's a good idea for more prolific tomatoes. Mine never tend to get too enormous as our summers are much cooler.

[@Onniesprairiegarden]

Thanks for another great video. Tomatoes are my favorite thing to grow ❤🍅 I'm also growing lemon basil 🍋🌱 this year! 😋

[@GrowVeg]

Yum! :-)

[@djverre455]

❤ Yes Eddie from classic 90’s comedy Bottom! Reinvented with fresh hair growth (not the full head though you cheeky devil, give up the ghost) and a very posh accent but rocking some lovely tomatoes so fair play sir.

[@GrowVeg]

Thanks (I think!). :-)

[@djverre455]

@@GrowVeg I really do apologise if it seemed I was being rude in my comment, it wasn’t meant to be but reading it back I realised I sound like a dick. In my defence I was quite drunk and we take quite a relaxed approach to taking the piss in my part of the world which I realise is not always appropriate with perfect strangers. I hope no offence was taken. My compliment definitely stands though. Hope you a great weekend!

[@nchestercountynews4955]

Ever look at the Florida Weave for determinate?

[@GrowVeg]

I've never heard of this but looking at it it looks like a great method!

[@nchestercountynews4955]

@@GrowVeg I've ruined (the maters have) so many of those metal welded tomato cages over the years. a couple fence -t-posts and some baling twine and you are good to go. If you weave it correctly one tomato plant leans on south line and the next one leans on the north line. PLUS you don't have to find some place to store the cages!! If you haven't yet, check it out. Works many other things too....