Good tomato care starts with the right position: sunny, sheltered from rain where possible, with even moisture and enough airflow between the leaves. Water directly at the roots, tie in tall-growing varieties early, and tailor feeding and pruning to the variety and its position.
Care calendar at a glance
| Phase | Task |
|---|---|
| after planting | water in, protect, check the support system |
| growth | check water, ties and leaf health |
| flowering and fruit set | water evenly, feed as needed |
| midsummer | check pots daily, avoid heat build-up |
| end of season | encourage ripening, watch the frost forecast, harvest green fruit |
The right position for your tomatoes
Look for a warm, sunny spot with good air circulation. Rain shelter helps, since the leaves then don't stay wet as long - but it doesn't replace good general care around the plant. In a greenhouse, ventilate regularly or heat will build up. On a balcony, wind, heated walls and small pots add extra challenges.
Watering tomatoes correctly
- Water in the morning, straight onto the soil.
- Try to keep the leaves as dry as possible while doing so.
- Water thoroughly once rather than topping up small amounts constantly.
- Avoid waterlogging.
- In hot weather, check container plants daily.
If the soil keeps swinging between bone dry and soaking wet, fruit splits more easily and blossom end rot becomes more likely. Mulch helps against evaporation - just keep it away from direct contact with the stem, or it will rot there.
Feeding tomatoes and choosing the right soil
If your compost is already pre-fertilised, you won't need to add anything extra at first. Later on, the right amount depends on pot size or bed, the fertiliser you're using, and how your plant responds. You'll find more on this in our articles Feeding Tomatoes and Choosing Tomato Compost.
Pot, raised bed, open ground and greenhouse
| Growing location | What to watch for |
|---|---|
| Pot | large swings in water and nutrients, drainage holes must stay clear |
| Raised bed | dries out faster, the filling settles over time, anchor the support well |
| Open ground | keep an eye on weather and leaf wetness, allow enough spacing |
| Greenhouse | watch for heat build-up, humidity and pests |
For small spaces, we've put together suitable varieties and containers in Patio Tomatoes in Pots.
Supporting and tying in
Cordon tomatoes need a sturdy support system right from the start. Tie them in loosely and keep checking that everything still fits. Bush and patio tomatoes get by with a cage or a small stake, depending on fruit weight. You'll find a comparison of all the systems in Supporting & Training Tomatoes.
Pinching out and pruning
Depending on the training method, you pinch out side shoots on cordon tomatoes - bush, patio and wild tomatoes usually don't need it. Remove diseased or ground-level leaves in a targeted way, but don't strip too much foliage off the plant at once. You'll find all the details in Pinching Out Tomato Side Shoots and Pruning Tomatoes.
Spotting problems early
- Check the undersides of leaves regularly for signs of pests.
- Take a photo of any spots and track how they develop.
- Check first whether watering or feeding could be the cause.
- Remove diseased material with clean tools.
- If something spreads quickly, a second opinion from someone experienced nearby often helps.
Our diagnostic article Identifying Tomato Diseases helps you tell infections, pests and care mistakes apart.
Common mistakes
- irregular watering
- pots too small with no water reserve
- too much nitrogen
- planting too close together, leading to wet foliage
- removing too many leaves at once
- putting the support in only once the roots have already grown strong
From care to harvest
Pick ripe tomatoes regularly. Before cold nights, green fruit will often still ripen further. Harvesting and Ripening Tomatoes explains exactly when the right time is, and in our hub Making the Most of Your Tomato Harvest we've gathered ten ideas for your harvest.
Our young tomato plants from Illmitz are available seasonally with us in spring.