How to Grow Tomatoes: Tips, Troubleshooting, and Harvesting

Why Tomatoes Deserve a Spot in Your Garden

If you’re curious about how to grow tomatoes successfully in your own backyard, you’re in good company. These juicy, sun-ripened fruits are a highlight of summer gardening, prized for their flavor, versatility, and the pride they bring when you pluck one fresh from the vine. Whether you’re a seasoned green thumb or just getting your hands dirty for the first time, growing tomatoes is both a joy and a bit of a puzzle. This guide will help you navigate the entire tomato-growing journey—from selecting your first seedlings to solving the mystery of curling leaves and mushy bottoms. Let’s get planting.

Pick Your Players – Choosing the Right Tomato Varieties

Tomatoes come in a dizzying array of sizes, shapes, colors, and growth habits. Choosing the right type is your first step to success.

Determinate vs. Indeterminate:
Determinate varieties (like 'Roma' or 'Celebrity') grow to a certain height and then stop, setting all their fruit in a short period—great for small spaces and canning. Indeterminate varieties (like 'Sungold' or 'Brandywine') grow and produce fruit continuously until frost—ideal if you want fresh tomatoes all season.

Cherry, Plum, Slicer, or Beefsteak:
Cherry tomatoes like ‘Sweet Million’ are beginner-friendly, prolific, and fast. Plum tomatoes (like ‘San Marzano’) are meatier, making them perfect for sauces. Beefsteak varieties are large and juicy—ideal for sandwiches.

Heirloom vs. Hybrid:
Heirlooms offer incredible flavor and unique looks, but are more disease-prone. Hybrids are bred for disease resistance, productivity, and uniformity.

For container gardening or small spaces:
Try patio-specific varieties like ‘Tiny Tim’ or ‘Bush Early Girl.’ These compact plants are perfect for balconies and raised beds.

Setting the Stage – Planting and Spacing Tips

Tomatoes love heat and light. In Iowa’s growing zone, don’t plant them outdoors until the danger of frost has passed—typically mid-May.

Sun:
At least 6–8 hours of direct sunlight daily is non-negotiable. Without it, your plants will be leggy and low-yielding.

Soil:
Use rich, well-draining soil amended with compost or aged manure. The best soil for tomatoes in raised beds is a mix that retains moisture but doesn’t get soggy—loamy with added organic matter.

Spacing:
Give your tomatoes room to breathe. Plant determinate types 18–24 inches apart and indeterminates 24–36 inches apart. Crowding leads to poor air circulation and increases disease risk.

Containers & Raised Beds:
Perfect for beginners and renters. Use a 5-gallon container minimum per plant, with drainage holes. Raised beds warm up faster in spring, giving your tomatoes a head start.

Help Them Stand Tall – Staking, Pruning, and Support

Tomatoes need a little help staying upright, especially indeterminate varieties.

Staking Options:

• Cages: Easiest for beginners. Just plop them over young plants and adjust as they grow.
  

• Single Stake: Tie the plant to a sturdy wooden or metal stake as it grows.
  

• Trellises: Ideal for square-foot gardens or when growing up a wall.
  
  

Pruning Tips:
Remove the “suckers”—those little shoots that appear in the joint between the stem and a branch. This improves airflow, reduces disease risk, and encourages the plant to put more energy into fruit.

Don’t over-prune; a little foliage is necessary for sun protection.

Keep Them Happy – Watering and Fertilizing Tips

Tomatoes are thirsty—but not too thirsty. We’ll show you the sweet spot.

Watering:

• Water deeply and consistently. Tomatoes need 1–2 inches per week.
  

• Water at the base of the plant to keep leaves dry and prevent fungal diseases.
  

• Inconsistent watering = cracked fruit and blossom end rot.
  

Mulching:
Add a 2–3 inch layer of straw or shredded leaves around the base to retain moisture and prevent weeds.

Fertilizing:

• Use a balanced fertilizer (10-10-10) at planting.
  

• Once the plants start flowering, switch to one higher in phosphorus and potassium.
  

• Organic gardeners can use fish emulsion, kelp, or compost tea.
  
  

Troubleshooting Time – Common Tomato Problems and Fixes

Even the healthiest tomato plants hit a bump or two. Here are common culprits and how to fix them:

Blossom End Rot:
Brown, sunken spots on the bottom of fruit. Caused by calcium deficiency and inconsistent watering. Fix with proper watering and a calcium-rich soil amendment.

Leaf Curl:
Leaves curl upward or inward, often from stress due to heat, overwatering, or transplant shock. Usually not harmful, just give it time.

Blight (Early or Late):
Fungal disease that causes dark spots on leaves and stems. Remove affected parts, don’t compost them, and rotate your crops yearly.

Cracking:
Cracks on the fruit come from irregular watering. Again—consistency is key.

Yellowing Leaves:
Could mean nutrient deficiency, overwatering, or a disease. Rule out overwatering first, then consider a gentle fertilizer boost.

When and How to Harvest

Tomatoes are at their tastiest when picked just right.

• Ripe tomatoes will be firm but give slightly when squeezed, and their color will be rich and even.
  

• Harvest in the morning when sugar content is highest.
  

• Snip rather than yank to avoid damaging the vine.
  

Storing Tips:
Keep fresh-picked tomatoes on the counter, out of direct sunlight. Refrigeration dulls their flavor.

From Your Garden to Your Plate

Whether you're growing tomatoes in Bettendorf, Iowa, or testing your green thumb on a sunny apartment balcony, the secret to success is consistent care, a little planning, and learning from nature’s curveballs. Knowing how to grow tomatoes means fewer frustrations and more sun-warmed, juicy rewards. Don't be discouraged by the occasional leaf curl or spotted fruit—it happens to the best of us. With the right techniques, your tomato patch can become the highlight of your garden, your dinner table, and your summer.

Gardening ties into a larger world of ecological awareness, too. Tomatoes attract pollinators, and when planted thoughtfully, can complement wildlife-friendly landscaping Bettendorf, Iowa gardeners are increasingly embracing.

Ready to grow the juiciest tomatoes in the neighborhood? Visit Wallace's Garden Center for supplies.