Tomato Mistakes That Sabotage Your Harvest

[@CaliKim29]

Which of these tomato mistakes have you made? Thanks for gardening with us! -CaliKim & CameraGuy 🇺🇸Memorial Day sale starts now! 25% off CaliKim Seed Collections, CK Smart Pots and garden kits with code “MAY”, calikimgardenandhome.com. Ends 5.28.24. *May “Power Producer” Grow Your Groceries w/ CaliKim Subscription Box: bit.ly/CaliKimGrowYourGroceriesConnectPlusSubscriptionBox. $20 off 1st box w/code “CONNECTMAY”. Ends 5/22/224

[@darlenewilson9095]

Putting two plants in that 10 gallon pot and they never do very good don’t seem like. Not much fruit do they make. My brother said put one the other day. When you put two together one robs the other of all the nutrients. You were saying the same as he was telling me. I was putting too many I guess. I thought the pot looked better looking fuller. I ain’t planting my tomatoes this year like that. Hope they will do better for me. Thanks for your videos. Your plants and garden always looks so beautiful.

[@santaanaroadwildman3614]

Finally got my small 3" indeterminate tomatoes transplanted yesterday! All from seed

[@CaliKim29]

Wow, after work? That's committment, great job, Jeff! Best, CaliKim

[@brichter4669]

I am in zone 9 in TX, and the heat is already 90°+. I only do container gardening. I make my own potting mix with plenty of amendments, and add bone meal and blood meal in the hole prior to transplanting my tomato plants. I use a moisture meter to monitor moisture consistency. I have a large outdoor pergola with an open slat covering. When the heat is over 85°, I roll my tomato plants under the pergola where it's cooler, and they get diffused sunlight. I've already done that. The plants do much better being out of the direct sunlight. I would definitely use a shade cloth if I didn't have the pergola. I recently learned about using calcium nitrate for tomato plants. I mixed the calcium nitrate and water to make a water soluble solution. I did that a week ago, and I've already noticed an improvement with more flowering and hoping to avoid BER. Can't use fish fertilizers because of the squirrels and cats. They smell it and dig into the soil. For a water soluble fertilizer, I use Medina HastaGro plant food. It is a 6-12-6 NPK. Works great for tomatoes. It contains high-quality N-P-K plant food plus Medina Soil Activator to stimulate biological activity, and HuMate humic acid to improve the soil structure by improving nutrient uptake, and seaweed extracts to stimulate fruiting and blooming. It is ideal for foliar applications where nutrients are absorbed directly by the plant. Low-salt, low chemical formulation prevents leaf burn. Nitrogen is derived from clean urea sources and is complexed with humic acid. If not available at Lowes or Home Depot in your area, Amazon carries it. With regard to pruning my indeterminate tomato plants, I only remove the bottom stems. I don't prune the suckers because they can produce a stem that flowers. I have several tomato plants that have sucker stems with flowers. For plants that can grow over 6 feet, I prune them at the top before they get too tall to better manage the height. The plant puts energy into developing lower stems and flowers. I enjoy watching your videos, Kim. Thank you for sharing your gardening tips with us. Happy gardening.

[@CaliKim29]

Thank YOU @brichter4669 for sharing this valuable insight! You are right on the point. You have found a system that works for you and that's what matters most!!! Great, great insight here! CaliKim

[@crypticsoul]

AWWWW! Max is so precious... I just love him! Btw, I love your videos too! They are so informative!

[@CaliKim29]

Aww, great to hear ! Mac is getting up there - 13 years old this year. Where are you and what are you growing? CaliKim

[@angelspodcast1111]

Thank u ❤

[@anselb2000]

One of the very best tomato gardening videos ever produced. Following you is a very wise decision!

[@CaliKim29]

Wow, thank you so much, Anselb!!!! Please thumbs up the video and subscribe if you have not already (I can't always tell who has subscribed)! CaliKim Where are you and what are you growing? CaliKim

[@jackiehorsley9263]

Kim sounds awesome I well definitely be following your schedule because there Is no time for disappointment because you don't get any fruit

[@CaliKim29]

Yes, you are correct, Jackie, absolutely! Appreciate you! CK

[@pattyfitz317]

I will be working on mine this weekend!!! Love you and your DIY ideas!!!

[@CaliKim29]

Yay! Thank you! Sounds like a fun weekend to me! CG and I are hanging out in the backyard..piddling around....Thanks, Patty. Kim

[@Fred.pSonic]

Man this episode is packed with good info. Guilty as charged on too many plants in one pot. One of my 7 gal fabric pots has 3 cherry tomatoes going, I had extra plants so I thought why not? But after CK's caution on overcrowding it looks like I have to move one, maybe two? Do they re-transplant well? Help me Cali-Kim!

[@jaytoney3007]

Tomato plants transplant very well. Pot size is important. For a determanent variety, or a cherry tomato (which is indeterminent, but has smaller fruit, so you can get away with a smaller pot), ten gallons is the minimum size for a single plant. For an indeterminent varieties, excluding cherry tomatoes, twenty gallons is the minimum size for a single plant. They will need regular watering-daily, sometimes twice a day for the ten gallon pots in the summer heat, and don't forget to fertalize. I recommend using a slow release granular fertilizer, 10-10-10 is okay, when transplanting, and top dress when setting fruit, or two months. When you water the plant in, do it with half strength water soulable fertilizer, your choice, miracle grow, or other. It doesn't matter.

[@CaliKim29]

Appreciate the honesty. But I commend you on the changes that you have embraced and will be making. Transplanting tomatoes is common, as it helps the plants establish a strong root system and thrive in their new location. Same steps as before, making sure holes are deep and wide enough. Make sure to wait until after last frost! CK

[@esthersdaughterlong8149]

Great information Kim. I'm following your guidance as I watch my tomato plant grow. Thank you.

[@CaliKim29]

Wonderful! Great job!Where are you and what are you growing? CaliKim

[@JameyReads]

Very helpful! Thank you!

[@CaliKim29]

Glad it was helpful! Thank you for watching and commenting, Jamey. CaliKim

[@jberge58]

Excellent video. Thanks!

[@CaliKim29]

Glad you liked it and I hope that it helps you going forward in your garden journey. Where are you and what are you growing?

[@winniejack2492]

I don’t use much fertilizers except for veggie grow which I sprinkle and add compose from my compose bin and my garden gives me.produce loads. I just gave an entire 1/2 gal zip lock bag of peppers to my neighbor.

[@CaliKim29]

Excellent, @winniejack2492 sounds like you have a great protocol to follow and, I just LOVE how you are sharing with your neighbors!!! That is great! I am lucky to have gardeners like you following! Nice job - CaliKim

[@rock5138]

Great info Kim

[@CaliKim29]

Thanks, Rock, I hope it was helpful - CK

[@josephbaumann292]

Learned alot today. Thank you so much!

[@CaliKim29]

So glad to hear Joseph. You've been following a long time, nice to hear that something resonated with you . Thank you!!! Kim

[@darlenewilson9095]

Thank you Kim. Loved the video.

[@CaliKim29]

You are so welcome! Thank you for watching and commenting - CaliKim

[@barbaracarbone4658]

Great tips. Thanks🎉🎉

[@CaliKim29]

Hi Barbara. You are so welcome! Thank you for watching and commenting. Please thumbs up the video and subscribe if you have not already (I can't always tell who has subscribed) ! CaliKim

[@Patricia-v7z]

Great video. Thanks for the information.

[@CaliKim29]

Glad it was helpful! Thank you for watching - CK

[@lovemytide45]

Excellent as always. Bare handing the worm poo earned huge respect from me 😂😂. I bet you would have no problem putting a worm on a fish hook 😂

[@CaliKim29]

I can clean a fish, too! LOL. thanks for watching and commenting! CaliKIm

[@olafroinnson3573]

That pup!

[@CaliKim29]

yah, he's adorable. Just turned 13 this month. For a border collie he's pretty chill. Are you gardening right now? If so, what are you growing and where? Thank you for watching and thumbs up'ing the video! CaliKim

[@danielleosentoski520]

I had to wait to plant my Tomatoe plants it took a couple weeks in their pots before I put them in the ground after I bought them. Now some of them look purple and have spots on their leaves.. do you think these fertilizers would help this issue?

[@CaliKim29]

Sorry to hear that, Danielle. It sounds like your tomato plants might be experiencing stress or nutrient deficiencies, which can manifest as purple leaves and spots. Tomato plants can develop a purple hue on their leaves if they are not getting enough phosphorus, especially if the soil is cold or the roots are not well established. Spots could be due to deficiencies in other nutrients such as magnesium or potassium. Try the following: Apply a Balanced Fertilizer: A balanced fertilizer provides equal parts of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K), which can help overall plant health and development . Look for 10-10-10 or 14-14-14 on the packaging. Apply a High Phosphorus Fertilizer, for example, Bone Meal or Superphosphate: These fertilizers are high in phosphorus and can help if the purple leaves are due to phosphorus deficiency. A Tomato-Specific Fertilizer is Tomato Tone by Espoma: This is an organic option that is well-balanced and also contains beneficial microbes. Disease Management: If the spots on the leaves are due to disease, consider using a fungicide or practicing good garden hygiene by removing affected leaves. I hope this helps - keep us posted. Please thumbs up the video and subscribe to my channel if you have not already ! CK

[@savorit3807]

Suckers do produce tomatoes. I kept mine, and i have tons of harvest. Also,you can let it grow and transplant it ,stick it to the soil by one week, and you have one healthy tomatoe.❤

[@CaliKim29]

You are correct, it's all in how you prune them or not. Thanks for pointing that out! Whether to prune them or not depends on your specific gardening goals, the type of tomato plant you are growing, and your local growing conditions. Thank you!!! CaliKim

[@mplslawnguy3389]

There’s no wrong method. Prune or don’t prune to your needs and space. A good way to still get production is prune to 2 or maybe even three main stems and remove the other suckers. Keeps it manageable but gets a bit more production than if you had removed every sucker on the plant.

[@denisekoenig9479]

Can I use the water from my fish tank to water my tomatoes and watermelon when I clean my tank

[@CaliKim29]

Fish tank water contains nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, which are beneficial for plant growth. Using fish tank water is a great way to recycle resources and provide your garden plants with beneficial nutrients and microorganisms (aquaponics) With CAREFUL (do more research) application, it can enhance the growth and productivity of your tomatoes and watermelons. CK

[@robinmorthland2023]

Hi, Kim. Trying container gardening for yhe first time. Question. Does your nutrient rich solution have to only be for tomatoes or dies it work for all your garden plants.

[@CaliKim29]

Hi Robin, I use them for all of my plants. How exciting that you are trying container gardening. You'll be fine, remember to keep it fun. Something dying or not going as planned is COMPLETELY okay. Let me know where you are from and what you are growing. I am excited for you. I hope that you have thumbs up the video and have subscribed (if you have not already)! CaliKim I'll be dropping a video later this morning (Sat. 6/1) CaliKim

[@robinmorthland2023]

Kim, I am from Colorado. My father had a green thumb and growing up had a 3-5 acre garden. He is no longer here to advise me, but I am trying. I planted tomatoes, pepper, cucumber, squash (zucchini and yellow), basil and onions. I did a watering system and fingers crossed, I will be able to enjoy my efforts. Have a good day, I will keep watching. 🙂

[@CaliKim29]

Wow! I grew up in Sedalia, had a garden and as a kid, part of my job was helping with harvesting the longgggg rows of beans - I wasn't happy about that...but the gardening stuck with me. Finally, 12 years ago, we were able to move into our own home and start my own garden in a yard, as opposed to growing on the patio of our townhome rentals. My parents are now in the Denver area and my dad and I go out to his garden and I help with stuff he can no longer do, etc. Nice to chat with you. To our fathers.... CaliKim.

[@hoarmike1]

Thx for the great video. I cannot get drip system but have started using terracotta spikes. I’ve been told they work very well to keep the roosts moist. Do you have any knowledge of these?

[@CaliKim29]

I've not used them but are know of them , and all of it good. Some tips: Place the spikes close to the plant's root zone but not directly against the stem to avoid potential root rot. For larger plants or plants with extensive root systems, you may need multiple spikes. Also, Soil Preparation , loosen the soil to ensure the soil around the spikes is well-loosened and not compacted. This helps the water distribute evenly. Can't wait to hear how this works for you! Please keep me posted - thank you for watching and subscribing, if you have not. CaliKim

[@hoarmike1]

@@CaliKim29 thank you so much. I will let you know for sure

[@Laura-524]

What are those black spots on the bottom of the tomatoes?

[@vetgirl71]

Bottom end rot, from not watering the tomatoes properly .

[@CaliKim29]

Thank you, @vetgirl71

[@mcgritty8842]

I have a Sweet 100 growing in a self-watering container that is approximately 10 gal with straw as mulch. Didn’t realize until today that it’s an indeterminate and needs more space. 😅 Should I just continue & check water often, or is it a lost cause in that container? Also, I after my plant got about 6” I puned the lowest couple leaves… did I start pruning too soon? 😅😅 1st time gardener on the East Coast and I’m trying to grow 20 various fruits, vegetables and flowers, oh and converted back of yard into garden area 😅😅😅 TLDR: I make mistakes with everything I do, but I’m trying to learn from them and get educated while improving my life. Thank you for everything you do ❤❤❤❤❤

[@CaliKim29]

10 gal. should be fine, leave it, keep watering and feeding them, and it should do great! Rewatch the video, you may pick up additional insights watching a 2nd time through - CK

[@mcgritty8842]

⁠@@CaliKim29thanks Kim! Def will re-watch and take more notes! ❤❤❤❤❤

[@CaliKim29]

McGritty you are a blast, I love it! CK

[@jericox1813]

Those hairs are not what turns into roots. It’s the nodes along the stem.

[@wotilivin53179]

I came to say the same thing. The hairs turning into roots has to be the most common piece of misinformation about tomatoes.

[@CaliKim29]

Yes you are correct - I got that wrong! Thank you! CK

[@carolehart2424]

Vine ripening is not necessary and actually shouldn't let them rupen on the vine ..once a tomatoe starts to ripen it no longer needs the plant . At this point the tomatoe is just hanging around putting weight and stress on the plant . This is when the will crack , split and start to soften. Picking them when they are around 70% to 80 % ripe and putting them in a cool dark location to fully ripen is best. When you let them ripen this way the also taste best and contain all nutrients and vitamins that can.be lost from letting them ripen on the vine . Space the picked tomatoes 1 to 2 inches of space between them while the finish ripening . Enjoy 😊

[@helenmcclellan452]

Great tips, thank you!

[@CaliKim29]

You are so welcome! CaliKim