I Planted My Tomatoes Near 1 Flower That’s Like ‘Pure Gold’
To Grow The ‘Best Ever’ Fruit
By Angela Patrone, Senior Lifestyle Reporter
From Express UK
Tomatoes are something I love to grow every year, but it can be difficult to keep them healthy. Having heard many gardeners speak about the benefits of planting tomatoes with one particular flower, I thought I'd give it a go in my garden.
Growing Marigolds With Tomatoes Helps
(Image: Angela Patrone)
Growing tomatoes is something I find very rewarding, as it results in masses of fresh, nutritious fruits at the best of times that taste better than anything you can buy in the supermarkets. A few weeks ago, I planted some tomatoes alongside basil plants in hopes of a tastier harvest. The plant has already begun to fruit impressively and shows no signs of damage.
Eager to grow some more of this delicious fruit in my garden and with June being the last chance to plant tomatoes, I headed down to my local garden centre to get my hands on another one. However, this time I decided to pick up some marigolds too, as they are known to be one of the best companion plants for tomatoes, particularly when it comes to warding off pests.
Not only do marigolds offer prolific flowering and add colour wherever they grow, but they also bring huge benefits along with them. And when it comes to helping tomatoes, they are “pure gold” and help you “grow your best crop of tomatoes ever”, according to gardening experts Jim and Mary Competti of This Is My Garden.
Growing Impressive Tomatoes With Marigolds
(Image: Angela Patrone)
Marigolds are one of the most drought, pest and heat-resistant flowers you can grow. They bring in helpful insects for tomato plants to make them taste better while keeping a few bad insects far away.
The strong scent of marigolds is well known to repel whiteflies. Even better, they also repel mosquitoes, helping to keep you safe as well when working in the garden.
Article Source HERE
Keep Your Tomatoes From Cracking And Splitting
With A Simple Watering Tip
By Charlotte D. Miller
Is there anything more frustrating than patiently waiting for tomatoes to ripen, only to find them cracked or split right before they're ready to harvest and enjoy? If you keep finding your beautiful tomatoes with a slit or crack in their skin, you might be wondering what the issue is and whether there's anything you can do about it. The good news is that, yes, you can prevent cracking and splitting tomatoes with easy methods. One way to keep tomatoes looking perfect is through a thoughtful and consistent approach to watering.
Tomatoes tend to split and crack because of changes in their watering levels. If you're planting tomatoes out in the open, they're more likely to crack if a heavy rain is followed by a drought, or vice versa. In greenhouses, where tomatoes tend to thrive, you can better control the moisture level of the soil. If you don't already have one, you can DIY a greenhouse out of a shade tent or other items you already have at home. Either way, being on a consistent watering schedule and routine is your best line of defense against split tomatoes.
And the issue with split tomatoes isn't just aesthetics. Once a tomato cracks, some nasty bugs can start to feast on the interior flesh. Soon enough, there could be mold and fungus growing and spreading inside the split tomato, even as it starts to repair itself. If you're dealing with a cracked tomato that's not quite ripe yet, consider picking it and letting it ripen off the vine. If the tomato is ready to be eaten, simply cut the split part off, and you will be able to eat the rest safely.
How to water tomato plants to avoid splitting
Following a strict and consistent watering routine is one of the handiest hacks to remember when growing tomatoes. You want to avoid tomatoes having inconsistent access to water, which is what may cause them to split and crack. The simplest way to do this is to follow a regular schedule and make sure that there are no extreme fluctuations in watering from one week to the next.
The ideal amount is one inch of water each week or slightly more, though you can adapt based on the weather using a simple trick: the finger test. If you're not sure whether to water yet, stick your finger about an inch into the soil where the tomato plant grows. If the soil is still damp, you should be safe to wait and repeat the test the following day. If the soil feels dry to the touch, it means you should go ahead and water. This is a great way to make sure that tomato plants have access to consistent moisture and prevent the fruits from splitting and cracking. This is particularly helpful during hot summer months, when the soil might dry faster than you realize.
And when watering tomato plants, focus only on the soil. The water should penetrate the ground's deeper layers, too, and there is no need to wet the leaves, vines, and fruit (actually, it's best to avoid it). Therefore, stay away from sprinklers and use a hose or narrow-neck watering can where you can direct all of the water straight towards the roots.
Article Source HERE
How To Use Baking Soda On Tomato Plants For A Healthier, Tastier Harvest
Please READ CAREFULLY Before Applying This!!!
Key Takeaways
- Baking soda can sweeten tomatoes and deter pests, but must be used sparingly to avoid harming plants.
- A light sprinkle around the base wards off slugs, ants, and aphids, and a diluted spray mix helps prevent fungus.
- Since it raises soil pH, overuse can backfire—so test soil and consider lime or neem oil as gentler alternatives.
What Is Baking Soda?
Baking soda is sodium bicarbonate, a type of acidic salt. It’s a leavening agent in baking, and it has numerous uses around the house, from eliminating odors to scrubbing surfaces. It’s also beneficial in the garden as a natural way to control weeds, pests, and disease.
Did You Know About This Trick
For Growing Sweet Tomatoes?
What Are The Effects Of Baking Soda On Tomato Plants?
Baking soda should be used with caution since it can be beneficial to some plants, including tomato plants, but not all. Since it’s a salt, it can cause wilting and stunted growth on any plant it comes in contact with, so apply small amounts only near the plants you are treating. Since it’s not a long-term treatment, other options may be more beneficial.
Sweeter Fruit
Baking soda is an alkaline that helps lower soil acidity. Tomatoes prefer soil that is slightly acidic to neutral (6.2 to 6.8), so adjusting the soil pH can improve absorption of nutrients and may result in sweeter fruit. However, too much baking soda may increase alkaline, which tomatoes don’t like, and it needs to be applied frequently.
Lime is an alternative that raises the pH of acidic soil, is a good source of calcium, and helps prevent blossom end rot.
Pest Control
Baking soda acts as a barrier that dehydrates slugs, causes ants to lose their scent trail, and keeps aphids away. Sprinkle it around the base of tomato plants to deter these pests. Neem oil is an alternative that impacts a wider range of pests.
Disease Control
The U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends using baking soda to prevent fungal diseases in tomato plants. Mix 1 tablespoon of baking soda, 1 teaspoon of vegetable oil, a small amount of dish soap, and a gallon of water to make a solution to spray on the plants throughout the season. Neem oil is better at killing fungal spores.
Weed Killer
Just as baking soda can harm tomato plants if used incorrectly, it works the same way to get rid of weeds. It should be used with caution, though, to avoid altering the soil pH too much. To use, sprinkle directly on weeds, taking care around tomato plants.
Baking soda may not seem like an obvious choice when you’re looking to nurture the tomato plants in your garden, but it has some potential to help grow sweeter and healthier tomatoes. While tomatoes need water, well-draining soil, and plentiful sun to grow, they can also benefit from disease and pest control, weed killer, and less acidic soil to produce fruit that tastes better. That’s where baking soda comes in, but it must be used correctly to avoid causing other problems. Here’s how and when to use baking soda to help your tomato plants thrive.
Article Source HERE
Grow Lots of Tomatoes... Not Leaves // Complete Growing Guide
By Next Level Gardening 22 Mins
This ONE Spray is Every Smart Gardener's Secret Weapon
Google AI Tells Us These Things About Marigolds!
Marigolds protect gardens by repelling certain insects and attracting beneficial ones. Their strong, pungent scent confuses flying insects, deterring pests like whiteflies, aphids, and cabbage worms, according to Sustainable Gardening Australia and Garden Design. They also produce chemicals that can kill harmful nematodes in the soil. Additionally, marigolds attract beneficial insects like ladybugs and hoverflies, which prey on common garden pests.
Here's a more detailed explanation:
Repelling Pests:
Marigolds release a strong, distinctive odor that disrupts the senses of many common garden pests. This can make it harder for pests to find and feed on desirable plants.
Nematode Control:
Marigolds produce chemicals that can kill or inhibit the growth of nematodes, which are microscopic worms that can damage plant roots. French marigolds (Tagetes patula) are particularly effective against root-knot nematodes.
Beneficial Insect Attraction:
Marigolds attract beneficial insects like ladybugs and hoverflies, which are natural predators of aphids, mites, and other garden pests.
Trap Cropping:
Marigolds can be used as trap crops, meaning they attract pests away from other plants. For example, slugs are attracted to marigolds, which can help protect other plants in the garden.
Companion Planting:
Planting marigolds alongside other vegetables, like tomatoes and beans, can provide natural pest control for those crops.
Marigolds Repel Tomato Hornworms –
And Attract Their Beneficial Predators
Marigolds are the quintessential companion plant, said to keep any number of pests at bay. Their strong aroma repels the five-spotted hawk moths that lay the tomato hornworm eggs.
For a lovely mix of blooms as well as protection against tomato hornworms, try 'Disco' marigolds from the Gardening Know How Shop that come in a fun combination of colors, ranging from bright yellow to deep red. Source HERE