My TOP 10 TOMATO Growing Tips from 20 Years of Experience

In this video I'll condense 20 years of tomato growing experience into 10 tips.
MENTIONED PRODUCTS
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MENTIONED VIDEOS
How To Grow Tomatoes Full Playlist: • How to Grow Tomatoes
Companion Planting for Tomatoes: • Companion Planting // ...
DIGITAL TABLE OF CONTENTS
00:17 - What TYPE of tomato are you growing?
03:03 - How much sun do tomatoes need WHERE YOU LIVE?
04:26 - How deep to plant tomatoes
05:16 - Use companion planting for tomatoes
06:17 - How to fertilize tomatoes
07:22 - How far apart to plant tomatoes
09:07 - Tomato hooks (lower and lean method)
10:39 - How to prune tomato plants for better harvest
12:06 - How to water tomatoes, best way to water tomatoes
14:20 - BONUS! How to hand pollinate tomatoes if tomato flowers are falling off
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Hey Guys, I’m Brian from Next Level Gardening
Welcome to our online community! A place to be educated, inspired and hopefully entertained at the same time! A place where you can learn to grow your own food and become a better organic gardener. At the same time, a place to grow the beauty around you and stretch that imagination (that sometimes lies dormant, deep inside) through gardening.
I’m so glad you’re here!
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- Our Facebook Garden Group: / nextlevelgardeners

[@job1595]

I live in St Louis and I had big oak trees in my yard. So I always had some shade in backyard. But this year no trees and no shade and I used shade cloth starting in June since the heat has gotten to near 100°. They are doing great. I also put basil and marigolds around the bottom and no insects.

[@jennwatson74]

Being up north and with many years of experience, when I’d plant my tomatoes deep it would set them back a few weeks. I find that planting at soil level gives me a better harvest during my short growing season.

[@kennethfisher7013]

I'm with you Jennwatson. Deep planting stresses the plant and the roots produced are not the same or nearly as good as the originals.

[@user-xt7ux5eq2b]

How often should I spray aspirin on my tomato plants?

[@Jennifermcintyre]

I’ve over wintered tomato plants by making cuttings which have produced fruit even in the dead of winter. Freezing cold weather outside but still doing well indoors!

[@user-gd9ur9qq8e]

Wy dobeafstake tomato's have a cat face

[@badjansykes218]

I've got to tell you that the basil trick works. I've had a bad case of horn worms when I first planted my tomatoes. I pruned them well and was able to get rid of a bunch but I could tell that I'd not gotten all. I finally was able to plant my basil. I just noticed that I have new growth that is not being eaten. Thanks so much for the information.

[@JodiMontano]

It didn't work for me. I just found a THW on one of my plants, inches from the basil plant. 🫤

[@bethsands7665]

Great gardening tips for happy tomatoes. The harsh summer heat this year is extreme as it has been 100 degrees and over for 3 weeks now !! Yesterday was 113 and today 110 !! I have many tomatoes growing everywhere as I tried to save every volunteer . The plants doing the best are shaded by the house and sunflowers during the hottest part of the day. All vegetables are struggling and I had to use cardboard over the top to shade them. I must water every 2 days in this heat. Oh, nice tomato flower/ pollen pollinating tip w/ an electric toothbrush

[@beckymartinez9926]

It will be interesting to see how your over wintered tomato performs. I’ve also heard you can let a tomato plant die where it does get frost and light freeze and it will regrow the next spring. I am testing that theory this year. Also, Texas 8a The sun is brutal! I use 40% shade cloth over my tomatoes and peppers and add an extra layer of 30% shade cloth on the SW side. They do well and my peppers never stop producing.

[@sourgummiez]

Brian you are changing the world by teaching us how to grow our own food!!!! It's so punk rock!! 😎

[@bclarkquilts]

My tomatoes have exploded this year in Texas. Those sungolds are the best!!! We had a much cooler Spring with lots of rain. Then last week we had a rainy day with a high of 72!!! Tomorrow the high is expected to be 79. In JULY! Unheard of here!!! I'm loving it. And I'm in tomato heaven. I have also pruned a lot more this year, removing any branches with leaves turning yellow or brown. Air flow makes a huge difference. Easier to harvest too! We also have 7 garden spiders in our small section of raised beds. I am attributing a much smaller grasshopper infestation to those spiders. Nice! By the way, I LOVE Kellog's Breakfast tomatoes but have only gotten 3 tomatoes from my plant. Huge, juicy tomatoes but only 3. Wish it produced more.

[@ruthfurlow5468]

I live in southern Illinois and have crop covers and had to use them for the strawberries and cucumbers when it got so hot during the spring and I built frames and bought cheap king sized white sheets and stapled them on the frame to cover my tomatoes.

[@theamateurbackyardgardener543]

Absolutely correct about the hornworm. He ate the pepper leaves, but didn’t touch the tomatoes and because bird food.

[@KellieDTravis]

I had one last year that ate up my jalapeños and didn't bother my tomatoes. I was shocked that it could handle eating the jalapeños lol I kept finding half eaten peppers until I found the sucker munching on one

[@vickieboley9452]

Brian, Huge Congratulations on attaining over 1M subscribers! I readily refer your advice and information to anyone who admires my garden and give you the credit for why my tomatoes or peppers don't have insect damage! My flowers are on the job working, not just looking pretty! Your advice is sound and readily given. Celebrate!! 😄

[@KEALOHA669]

Thanks Brian! Excellent info throughout the video. Have always planted these two together, basil is my tomato plants best friend and are healthy for it.

[@languagelynnie]

I really should have watched this BEFORE I pruned all my tomatoes. And I was so proud of myself...

[@Merrayle]

Hello! I'm on your Facebook page. I'm sorry I haven't been actively watching BUT I have a good excuse!! I finally was able to buy my land!! After several years of waiting and growing microgreens, my dream has FINALLY transpired!

[@ianbutler1983]

Congratulations. There is no better feeling than working your own land.

[@Merrayle]

@@ianbutler1983 Thank you so much! I can't wait to start!

[@poodledaddles1091]

Good tips, now do a follow-up at the end of the season to show us what to do with all the tomato vines:)

[@mrwhitten7704]

HEAT!! We're in Virginia and the heat has been ridiculous. Today's heat index is set for 108. I've had shade cloth over my tomatoes for a month. They just started blushing last week. We grow everything you mentioned except cherry. We're at the stage where we must water everything daily. Great video as always.

[@RobCardIV]

todays top ten ten year time tested tomato tips today

[@racebiketuner]

1M subscribers! YAY!

[@kurtarron6482]

And thanks for the fertilizer tip. I wondered why not much fruit. Mine is 18-18-21...and it SAYS tomato and veggies. Baloney I guess. Thanks a bunch. So much to remember

[@loki7441]

Congrats on the 1 million subscribers Brian. Tomato's a bit slow across the Atlantic this year, so I planted most of mine in my poly tunnel and they are growing quickly. I was watching a homestead video from a month back when you were weeding and gofer hunting. The felco pruner probably gets a lot of use and needs sharpening a bit. They're the best, I have a cable cutter by them for years. So something to try if you wish, get yourself a Trend credit card sharpening card. Amazon do them and they are quite cheap $10 maybe. Its credit card size diamond coated with two different grit sizes. I origionally bought it for wood working tools, but its used for sharpening my secaturs and pruning knives now. Great for kitchen knives too. Ps. I bought you companion planting book. Excellent.

[@sourgummiez]

It's been 113 here the last week and somehow my tomato and pepper flowers are still attached 😍😍😍 ive got them under shade cloth! I'm in far northern california where it's SOO HOT AND DRY!

[@franksmith6637]

Love this channel with in 2 minutes of watching i learn something new brilliant communicator👍👍👍

[@trishkcmo3683]

I brought in my cherry tomatoes. Last year I got 8 pints of tomatoe scauce from their second year of growth. Way better than first year.

[@patwatersvlogs859]

Your absolutely right i got a late start on mine this year like 2 months and the heat is brutal here in Florida my tomato plants are healthy but flowers keep falling off so i put a 20×20 greenhouse clear mesh tarp over top and on the front side where the sun hits the most i put up shade cloth 40% now we are starting to set some tomatoes finally

[@michellepaulsen2751]

Excellent info throughout the video. Thank you for covering so much !

[@candyboyer]

The last 2 summers have been so hot & dry in West Texas that this year i grew determinate tomatoes in pots. First time for both. I now know I didn't use big enough pots but lesson learned. Good thing is, I have been able to move the pots into shade when sun is too hot, and I am getting fruit! My celebrity plant is already done & tossed. I have 2 better bush varieties left that are blooming & making tomatoes. However, I DID prune my determinates & it seems to be working well. Thanks for all the info!

[@Eric-gi9kg]

HUGE Fan of the string/hook trellis. Tried it last year for both tomatoes and cucumbers. Absolute Game Changer!! My cherry tomatoes grew 12 feet, and the cuc's 13+ feet. And it's super easy to take down and store. Thanks for sharing the knowledge

[@nancyvonseggern1280]

You put out the best videos! Thank you

[@tracyzimmerman5663]

Thank you for all your tips! My tomato game is much better since I found your channel! I just harvested a 1.5 pound tomato!

[@karenmckay75]

Brian, I use the paint brush method on my tomatoes and had great results. However, I do get end rot on my tomatoes and didn't know why, now thanks to your advice I'll try to keep them watered. Thanks for all you information.

[@racebiketuner]

No problem using the finger method for shallow-rooted plants. For tomatoes, a moisture meter with a long probe is much better. The goal is consistent moisture 12 inches deep. It's not as easy as many people think! 😉

[@AjArpopP52]

I’m wondering your thoughts but I never prune. I have beefsteak and determinate tomatoes. I often wonder if you prune does that stress out the plants. When my tomatoes are seedlings, that just start, and they are in my house, I will prune off the bottom leaves but when I plant them in my garden I don’t prune. I have never had any pests or diseases on my plants. I’m wondering if when you prune it sends the plants scent out which attracts pests. I really enjoy your channel and have been following you for quite awhile. Your thoughts?

[@RobCardIV]

top ten time tested tomato tips

[@Haley-hz9gj]

Sooooo informative! Thanks

[@mariaelenar9764]

Great information! Thank you.

[@dawninthemountains]

I am going to go shake my tomato flowers right now. Thank you.

[@angelaschettino1327]

Great tips! Congrats on your 1million subscribers!

[@LazeeLoper]

Thanks for another informative video. 😃

[@camicri4263]

Blessings! Thanks Brian!

[@user-wn1gk2kg1w]

Hello, that was SO helpful I grew two tomato plants from a tomato from the grocery store. I know that it wasn't any kind of determinate plant so that is helpful, which i learned from you. I have one that is being grown hydroponically and the other is in soil. I was worried that they would not have flowers but have started producing flowers so i am very excited! I do think i may have to prune them as you suggested and buy some stakes. Thank you ever so much for all your tips. I may bring out the basil i have on my window sill and put them outside. Thank you i hope you and your family have a lovely evening.

[@mickeymcdoogle119]

Just wondering.... Another video from someone different was saying NOT to prune plants because we are doing more harm than good, im confused to prune or not to prune that is the question lol..... love these videos!!!

[@jenniferhenderson4674]

My rule: prune indeterminate, light prune semi determinate, no prune determinate. I also prune bottom leaves up to first set of fruit. Hope this helps

[@jstins]

@@jenniferhenderson4674also depends how you’re supporting the plants. If in a cage you can not prune indeterminate plants. If you’re growing on a string trellis having too many leaders is a problem.

[@alysonbaker939]

Before Brian, I used to have problems with early blight, often losing my whole tomato crop. After Brian, I prune all the lower leaves on all my tomatoes. I have my indeterminates on strings, and have not lost an indeterminate to blight since. I grow my romas and cherry tomatoes along a fence. I prune the bottom leaves to keep them off the ground. Once the branches/leaves don’t touch the ground, I intertwine in the fence. My blight on these plants have all but gone. I also do the baking soda/aspirin washes, use mulch, do a better job of watering and fertilizing with Neptune Harvest. I’m in west central MN, on the edge of the Red River valley near Fargo so a drier climate. Good luck!

[@poodledaddles1091]

Disease usually starts on the bottom leaves. Over pruning can cause the tomatoes to get sunburned…

[@WinsomeWinslet]

The Millennial Gardener was saying that if you live in a hot and humid climate like the south, then pruning does more harm than good. I live in 7b and we never prune our tomatoes and they go crazy and give us hundreds of lbs of fruit.

[@donnaheath7258]

THANK YOU SO MUCH for this review of all the tips that will make our tomatoes happy. We've been having over 100º temps with no rain in sight till late September if we're lucky [Springfield-Eugene area, zone 8b]. Setting up the watering system and shade but forgot the mulch, so again, thanks for the reminders and I won't panic if the flowers fall off ... but I may cry a little.

[@tambarb8235]

I always learn something new and get reminders, too. Thanks to you my tomatoes this year in all my gardens are doing fantastic feeding lots of people who need nutritious food. I've been using your tips, but I admit that I have not planted basil with the tomatoes, and I did have to pick off two hornworms, this week. I have basil seeds and I have planted nasturtiums, mint, thyme and marigolds. I heard you say it before, but neglected to do it and one of those worms had a nice feast before I stopped him. So, Ill be sprinkling basil seeds tomorrow.. Thanks for the reminder.

[@gardenfreshtotable]

Great tips on growing tomatoes, I have used these and had great success growing tomatoes. I use a Qtip for pollinating many of my plants.

[@lylacrawford1827]

I have learned so much from you. Thanks.

[@achang8599]

Great tips! I accidentally let a cherry tomato (Rosella) roam last year. The vines created a forest but the yield wasn't impressive though the fruit was tasty. This year I grow them double -leader and pruned the suckers. I'm getting better yield and maintenance is much easier. Not ripe enough to pluck yet but it seems to prefer being trained

[@stevesmith3556]

Some good info as always Brian!❤ I use a trench irrigation method for my tomatoes without mulching. I have to water every day, but it's consistent. I just dig a shallow circular trench outside the plant and fill it twice a day. Have to fertilize a little more because of leaching, but it's worked well for about 20 yrs. I start prunning when the fruit comes and leave mainly the branches with those little fuzzy guys on them. They explode😊

[@splinterheaddrummer]

It seems like shallow planting is as efficient if not more and definitely simpler to do from the experiments and advice I’ve gotten from experts. The main argument against deep planting seems to be colder temperatures deeper. Obviously soil types local weather and how deep matters.

[@terrivance8750]

Thank you, Brian. 😊

[@johnlord8337]

If you are able to overwinter, strip leaves, clip back branches, massively fertilize and irrigate, then put a bucket over the tomato and force dormancy on the plant. Otherwise, like a strawberry mother plant and its daughter plants, with the ability to put multiple tomato branches under the ground, or air-root the sucker plants, and you will be able to make further daughter plants from the (eventually dying) mother plant. One can then cut off the mother from the daughter plants. One can also pick off, rootone, and plant the suckers into newly separated daughter plants. So tomato succession can be continually achieved without new seed plantings. Tomato, and all solanide plants, are FERTILIZER VAMPIRES. Overwintering and keeping tomato plants turned into tomato shrubs, like Mexican poinsettas will turn into massive bush-shrubs, on the size of a fully adult rhododendron. Tomato plants with maximum fertilization will turn the soft main trunk into a woody trunk, and further stabilize and harden up the plant into a bush and shrub, and later have great succession seasonal productions. The only reason why most modern vegetable and garden plants die off in the Fall, after achieving fruiting and seeding production, is that they are literally dying to reproduce successional generations without adequate fertilization. Proper harvesting of sub-adult fruits, continually making the plant produce more flowers and more successional fruiting production, great and greater fertilization stops the dying process, and continues (and increases) the plant's life and health, and one will have a strong (and not dying off) mother plant. The same can apply to potatoes, sweet potatoes, yams, melon vines, squash, zucchini, gourd, cucumber, armenian vines (potentially kiwi, gooseberry, etc). They die off from lack of proper nutrition and final death throws yielding up their fruits and seeds. So keep proper fertilization and irrigation to these plants - and you have every opportunity with vertical gardening and overwintering in a hot house/grow house, or cut back and put into dormancy, ... your heirloom variety strong plants will continue with good productions.

[@sevendeadlychins]

So true, my tomatoes from last year overwintered beautifully!!

[@johnlord8337]

@@sevendeadlychins Intelligent Fall fertilize the garden for later Spring growth. Conventional Spring fertilize for increased Summer and Autumn plant growth and foliage - when you want flowering and fruit production !!! Deep and much fertilization under tomato plants, making roots dig down to nummies, making a stronger and stable plant. Topsoil fertilization is worthless. Put compost, manure tea, and fertilizer under the plants, and the water irrigation (underground drip or watering with introduced fertilizer or tea liquids will properly get back up to plant roots. Also know your zone of saturation (water level) in regards to the plants. Having no water level, you are the human watering the plants. A high water level allows the plants to gain their own level of proper hydration (just like humans). Deep fertilization in that water level then allows the zone of saturation to SEEP UPWARDS into the zone of aeration (airy soil with dry pockets allowing roots to both grow and breathe, but also drink from the deeper water. If needed (as said many times) put down a vertical PVC pipe next to the plant allowing for personal irrigation and fertilization, ... or use a " I_________I " style of PVC piping with drilled holes in the horizontal piping for irrigation. Putting these into a barrow-and-ditch mound garden style allows greater irrigation to the row of plants. The pipe also allows easy dipstick measuring of water/fertilizer levels in the piping for proper caretaking of plants.

[@lindaleckenby4886]

Yes I just shake my tomatos. Just gently shake the branch. Like the wind

[@korenlew4458]

Love your videos. Seen every one of them. Subscribed last year so binge watched all previous episodes. Question: how can you tell the difference between a beefsteak and indeterminate tomato. I haven't seen many seed companies list/describe tomatoes as beefsteak. So do I just assume unless stated they are not beefsteak and prune as indeterminate. I have varieties: chef's choice bicolor, Virginia sweets, buffalosun, Hawaiian pineapple, pineapple, gold medal, big rainbow, Kellogg's breakfast, old German, Caspian pink, pink delicious, big brandy, Mariana's peace and pink brandywine. I assume big beef is a beefsteak because it's in the name. Thank you. Any information would be appreciated.

[@delanaespinoza]

Great video! Gosh I wish you could do a video about growing blueberries and soil pH. I’ve just about had it with my blueberries. They are all in container so it will be expensive to test all the containers. The meters don’t work. I’m at a loss and would love to hear your experience with blueberries.

[@melissakarner6707]

First round of tomatoes are done for me in the desert. I have my late summer/fall planted and covered with 60% shade cloth. We are at 110 so just keeping them healthy until it cools in September God willing.

[@venidamcdaniel1913]

Can you do a video on what to do to discourage squirrels raccoons and groundhogs. Took a bite out of every watermelon squash n pumpkin I had growing. Grrrrrr

[@DebRoo11]

Only thing that actually works is a caged garden. It's a pain, I know.

[@racebiketuner]

I have a big problem with small critters and have tried a lot of different things. By far the best is complete coverage with chain link fence. Can't speak about groundhogs, but it's 100% effective on raccoons, possums and skunks. For squirrels you need to set three Conibear 110 traps on an inclined 4 x 4 (aka squirrel pole). kzbin.info/www/bejne/mni0q4B7rqeFhNU

[@venidamcdaniel1913]

@@racebiketuner I have raised beds everywhere I have a space which is very small. Live inside city with no space. Making do with what I have surprised to have such a wide variety of animals. Never seen a raccoon around before. Impossible to fence each bed.

[@DebRoo11]

@@venidamcdaniel1913 same with me. I can't cage in 8 huge raised beds. I do have a live trap and have caught many squirrels. The mother rabbits can jump up in to make babies but when the babies jump out they can't get back up at night. Lots of dead bunnies in the morning 😔 now i lay chicken wire between my plants. They feel it when they jump in and jump back out.

[@venidamcdaniel1913]

@@DebRoo11 😢

[@gardeningtroutmaster]

good info thx

[@smb123211]

Based on your advice (direct sun) I actually transplanted some tomatoes that started off terrific then, as the heat rose (direct sunlight) began to wither. Not sure they will live but roots were healthy and they went into a huge semi-shaded container of rich soil. Down here, we still have atg least 3 more months of growing.

[@AdamJensenReal]

Great video all in 1, the best tips. I was wandering why my tomato flowers are dry and fall and now I know. Thank you

[@abereket7255]

Thank you for the video. What do you think about the tomato Roma? To grow them in Africa (The Gambia). Thank you

[@beverlyboyce1041]

Tomatoes are wind pollinated for the most part, but u can increase yield with manually pollinating them. In high temps the pollen can dry up in a few hours. Humid days it clumps. Both of these leave the pollen useless.

[@julseabate4173]

whoo hoo!!! thanks B, my kelloggs breakfast are doing great!!! btw the basil never helped me, I still grow it but the marigolds are keeping the worms away!!

[@davidlares989]

Beef steak and cherry tomatoes are a variety not a type. Indeterminate and determinate are types.

[@antondavidoff150]

also dwarf and semi determinate... that makes the only 4 types ... while cherry and currant and spoon tinatoes are variety like you said.. and they are the indeterninate types

[@skiddledede8885]

Thank you Mr Wordsmith….😏

[@OwnedbyaGolden]

I loved the special guest appearance!

[@lindy404]

Hi Bryan…I planted basil around my tomatoes and have a ton of hornworms…I’m here in San Diego. So frustrating!😠

[@regi985]

glad I saw this, I had pruning my tomatos on my todo list, but I think it´s all cherry tomtoes, at least all with small fruits. So I only gonna do it for shaping :D

[@mneraasen224]

Best hooks, I bought some on amazon and had to replace the string after one season.

[@watrgrl2]

I can’t find an answer to this tomato problem anywhere online. Several of my tomato plants have leaf stems growing from the end of the fruiting stems. Some of these continued to produce more leaves and more flowers just like a sucker but these are absolutely not suckers they are the flowering/ fruiting stems growing from the main stem, that at first produce flowers but even before the fruit sets the stem begins producing more leaf stems from the end like its a new growing stem then more flowers and more leaves. Some got so long I had to stake them up like the main leader. Should I prune off these leaves when they appear on the flower/fruit stems? Ive never seen this issue on tomatoes I’ve grown in the past. These are all happening on my indeterminate tomatoes. Thank you, anyone, for helping answer my question.

[@kurtarron6482]

Dang it!!! I have my tomatoes in pots, (but the bottom goes directly into the ground), and this year i tried the basil in with it to deter the horn worm but it didn't work! I was so shocked! I used mint last 2 years and it worked but is soooo invasive! Man! I killed them all but not before their terrible damage. This is just not my year

[@christinakindler9112]

I have a bunch of leftover calcium powder with D3 (reptical). Would this work to up the levels for the tomatoes??

[@jenniferjsaracino]

I had a nursery fail this year. I purchased 8 sauce tomatoes, and then 6 of them ended up being purple cherries! Didn’t figure that out till after the first pruning 😂

[@eunicedeleon630]

Here in so cal hornworms prefer my pepper leaves. This is the first year I've had them in my garden that I know of....

[@beverlyboyce1041]

I live in Texas and i don't prune much to prevent sunscald. I do use 40 % shade cloth. Indeterminate varieties of tomatoes don't do well in my area.

[@sparkleflair]

Thanks for the tips. I have 2 cherry tomato plants...I JUST pinched off some leaves in the armpit of the branches! Oops!

[@marthakratz7877]

You probably will have to do at least some of that with them just to increase the airflow.

[@ediehouston2138]

I'm growing beefsteak tomatoes. Should I continue to cut out the suckers, or just leave them? Thank you for all of the great tips and tricks!

[@elizabethbosch6352]

Brian, should we place the irrigation tub on top of the mulch or underneath the mulch? I have been using grass clippings and have been placing the irrigation tub underneath.

[@Kristengs]

Good morning. I had listened to your previous videos as I am gardening for the 1st time this year. I had bought a beefsteak plant or so I thought from a local nursery. It was labeled as such and I was looking forward to cheese and tomato sandwiches all summer long. I pruned the plant as it grew and was super proud that the plant grew. Much to my dismay, the plant grew Roma tomatoes😭 I was wondering why the tomatoes was growing long instead of outward. Talk about total disappointment.... I pruned and now am not getting as much of a crop if I wouldn't have pruned. Total shocker. Unfortunately, I had only bought 1 plant so it's all I get🙈🙈🙈 Anyway, thanks for listening as I was totally in amazement this happened yesterday.

[@patriciamoran9143]

I'm so sorry! But romas are wonderful in salad and spaghetti sauce. I hope you find a way to enjoy them

[@Kristengs]

@@patriciamoran9143 Thank you for the encouragement. I'm looking up salsa recipes to try with the Romas. I hadn't thought of spaghetti sauce!

[@juliehorney995]

Gee, just slice them longways, close your eyes, and take a bite! Yum!

[@steveanimatrix3887]

Had that happen multiple times. Now I only buy seeds from reputable seed companies except my blueberries I get from a large local blueberry farm. Surprising that happened at a "nursery" unless it was actually a garden dept at a big box store.

[@Kristengs]

@steveanimatrix3887 It was at a local nursery where I buy honey and such they also sell from surrounding farms. It was surprising but I told my family that we are all human and I will give them benefit of doubt as they could've picked up wrong labels. I just wonder how many other people bought from them and had the same surprise! I will try to start from seed next year.

[@beckymartinez9926]

Check out Kevin’s (Epic gardening) new experiment on different methods of planting tomatoes including planting deep, planting on an angle trench, planting at soil level. VERY interesting results.

[@smilie422]

I thought beefsteak referred to the size of tomato. If Kellogg’s breakfast is a beefsteak, should I not prune to one leader?

[@Gr8fullyDeadHead]

If you have room and a big cage let them bush. I grow one foot apart and fla. weave so I keep them to a single or a couple leaders.

[@PrincessTS01]

@epicgardening debunked the deep tomato myth and the trench tomato. both versions failed to produce as much as the shallow.

[@susanblauss5829]

I love Eric. But he literally tried it once with three plants. Not exactly scientific

[@jackitobin4747]

@@susanblauss5829 check out "gardening in Canada" Ashley is a soil scientist - has told us that planting deep sets the plants back, and the roots that grow on the stem are for stability, not feeding.

[@flybananas]

Wait. Didn't you lose a tomato growing contest this year? 😂😅 I jest, I wouldn't have a bumper crop this year without YOU!!!! ❤ THANK YOU for all your tips!!!!

[@NextLevelGardening]

Nooo.. Chad's losing!

[@flybananas]

​@@NextLevelGardeningoh, yeah that's right, that Texas heat!

[@karenwagner6880]

Oops. First year growing Romas. Started out pruning. Stopping that nonsense - thanks!

[@patwagner9308]

I have 2 heirloom Cherokee purple tomato plants. Every tomato on them so far has developed blossom rot right away. I've been vigilant about keeping the soil watered. So maddening !

[@craigdennarde]

Hi, I have a question. They say when the temperature is over 90 degrees to put a shade cloth over the tomatoes, so hear in Geargia we have the temperature, and since we are humid, we have a "feels like" temperature and they can vary greatly. In determining if we should shade the plants or not should we go by the actual temperature or " feels like" temperature?

[@oldschooljack3479]

Question about spacing: Is the measurement provided a "stem to stem" measurement... Or the distance from the edge of one plant to the next?

[@MrSark77]

Awesome tomato tip video! Would like to purchase some of your tomato hooks for the garden I’m looking at setting up; but noticed that you aren’t shipping internationally right now. I live in Canada and was wondering if your getting closer to solving this shipping problem? Love the channel!

[@wallymarcel1]

Yes, would love to know how to deter the one-bite-out-of-the-tomato critters. They’re assaulting my Purple cherokees.

[@jstins]

The critters are looking for moisture. They’re thirsty. Provide them with clean water and it should reduce the attacks. It’s worked very well for me. I have a few large (24”) saucers meant to go under some large flower pots spaced around my garden area that I refill everyday.

[@lauriegelman4328]

@@jstins okay. will try, but then I have to worry about the ankle mosquitos breeding.:)

[@jstins]

@@lauriegelman4328 you should be dumping and refilling everyday. That won’t allow skeeters to breed.

[@lorece94]

After a week of 100°+ weather, it's cooling down, but the few beefsteak tomato flowers I had are gone. Plus, I'm a novice and started growing about 3 weeks after everyone else. Is there any way to force blooms, or should I just wait and pray?

[@marlenepopos12]

@next level gardening I got thiemen tomatoes from Australia. Are they determinate or indeterminate?

[@SarahBahou]

What do you think of making a new tomato plant from a cutting once the plant starts to stop producing during the summer? Can i try this or plant seeds for tge second half of summer in Houston?

[@sharibc3597]

My beefsteak tomatoes turned out to be large cherry tomatoes! Also the rainbow mix tomato turned out to a cherry, too! So 9 plants, a few cherry varieties then a few that were supposed to be cherry varieties and 3 that were what the packet stated! 🤦🏼‍♀️ I have cherry tomatoes by the tons!

[@mb129]

yep…i live in south texas…cant grow tomatoes once june hits…all my blossoms drop and nothing will help😢

[@erin723]

Just starting this video (for reference). I have watched countless hours of tomato videos across many channels. I understand what is a determinate v indeterminate, but I’m hearing exceptions beyond just cherry tomatoes. And what about grape tomatoes? I don’t hear anything about them. And while I can appreciate that some great tips can be gleaned across many videos but it now seems like videos are on repeat even on the same channel.

[@lyndabuchholz1216]

I have no idea if y tomatoes are determinate or indeterminate will it hurt to prune either if I don't know?

[@sevendeadlychins]

Hilarious. Practically every KZbin gardener has been suggesting pruning cherry tomatoes for YEARS. Just this year - they are all pretending that the no-pruning method is what was promoted all along.

[@sevendeadlychins]

I'm not saying this creator did incidentally, I have to go back and look but tons of creators did.

[@Ksantipacat]

Yes. I just watched a video from the millennial Gardener, who is suggesting that you should never prune any of your plants. That is new information for me

[@aprilmortensen5491]

Yeah, he's always said no to pruning cherry tomatoes. And Millenial gardener is now saying, after experimentation, use shade cloth and not to prune at all because it sets the plant back during recovery, attracts pests to the smell of a fresh cut and spreads disease because no one takes the time to disinfect pruners as long as it requires to kill the disease transferred from the plant to the instrument. This all makes sense, but he also said some things they made no sense, like comparing sun exposure of plants to naked human skin...as if it were the same...it's not.

[@Ksantipacat]

Yeah, I understand the need to be ultra vigilant when you live in a extremely hot climate like many parts of the South. I'm just not sure about not pruning at all. I remove the lower branches up to the first set of fruits on all my tomato plants. Just to prevent the disease. We get tons of rain in New Jersey, and my plants don't seem to have a problem with the pruning. I do that way. Also, my beef steak tomatoes would be ridiculously out of control if I didn't cut out the suckers. I guess I'm willing to take the risk in order to get bigger beef steak tomatoes. I definitely let my determinants and Cherry tomatoes grow their hearts out.

[@mneraasen224]

I don’t prune cherry tomatoes but I do single or double stem my indeterminate slicers. I get a lot of rain and heat and humidity. I’ve tried not pruning for many years. It depends on where you live. I do the Florida weave with a tpost every 3 plants. I get a cherry tomato wall. I grow two rows in a 4 ft wide bed. I do offset the rows for more airflow.

[@angelabryant2169]

I am growing tomatoes in large containers and temps are daily in the 90’s. My plants are experiencing leaf curl and flowers are dropping. Should I move my containers to the shade? Thanks, Angie SW Virginia

[@wendykudronowicz4592]

I do need some advice on tomatoes , ok I have a San Marano tomato plant that has 11 tomatoes definitely growing and one beefsteak that has split into three different ways and has one tomato growing any advice would appreciate it thank you

[@arubaguy2733]

Greetings from Central Florida. I'm visiting from mid Michigan, where I have been growing from seed, huge quantities of beautiful tomatoes and hot peppers in bags, thanks in no small part to your tips and advice. Anyway, my daughter-in-law here in Ocala desperately wants a garden and knows nothing about the art/science of successful planting. I tried to help by implementing the techniques I use in Michigan, but everything is a dismal failure due to high heat, humidity, and fungal infestation. Other than the obvious fixes like shade cloth, intelligent watering, judicious pruning, natural fertilizer (Tomato Tone + calcium and dilute 10-10-10 liquid), baking soda spraying, and even outdoor fans, is there anything you would recommend? I've invested no small amount of money and heavy labor in amending the horrible Florida "dirt" (read: sand). Now the soil is rich in composted cow and chicken and fish waste and well-drained, but with the exception of Serrano peppers, Basil, and Zinnias, everything is sickly, non-productive, and under constant assault from various fungus nasties.

[@janinesmith720]

Here in Florida we have Floradade tomatoes. They were developed here in Florida to withstand out heat and humidity. A medium size tomato with real tomato taste. There are also Everglade tomatoes with have native. Tiny cherry tomato with a big tomato sweet taste. They've both have done really well for me here in Jacksonville.

[@anneturner2018]

What about horizontally placed cattle panels that are staked up?

[@ganymededarling]

Do you mean vertically? That's what we do and we love that method. I picked it because it seemed like the most secure trellising method for the strong winds we get.

[@DebRoo11]

This is what I have. I have T posts on either side. Very sturdy. I use them for my melons, cukes,squash, pumpkins, beans... Lobe cattle panels!

[@teresaoconnor1601]

* consistent 🤗

[@marilyn6468]

❤