Tomatoes are picky about where they grow so avoid planting them in these less than ideal spots.
Choose a poor planting spot and you’ll end up with spindly, weak plants lacking fruit.
In the Shade
Tomatoes demand 8 hours or more of direct sunlighta day.
Credit:Michael Hanson
Optimally, the plant is bathed in sunlight from morning to night.
Beware of nearby buildings, fences, and plants that can cast a shadow on plants.
Tomatoes stressed by lack of sunlight have spindly, weak stems and minimal fruit.
Sunlight is critical to plant growth and fruiting.
In Soggy Soil
Slow-draining soil presents a host of problems for tomato plants.
Root growth is comprised in the dense soil which leads to limited shoot growth and fruit.
Soggy soil is a breeding ground fordestructive pestsand diseases.
The best soil for tomatoes is dark brown in color and crumbles easily when gathered in your hands.
Or plant your favorite varieties in a container.
Incorporate a thick layer of compost annually to improve the soil structure over time.
Close to a Building or Fence
Still, stagnant spaces are breeding grounds for disease infestations.
Tomato plants rely on continuous, gentle air movement to dry foliage.
Choose a planting spot that is exposed to wind.
Dont be afraid of too much wind.
Tomato plants are amazingly resilient and can withstand strong gusts whenstaked properly.
Andthe more space you could give a plant, the better, in many cases.
For full, lush growth, plant tomatoes about 2 feet apart and 2 feet away from nearby plants.
In a Small Container
Dont planttomatoes in potsless than 10 inches in diameter.
The larger the diameter and soil volume of the container, the healthier and more productive the tomato plant.
Drainage is also key to growing tomatoes in containersmake sure the pot has drainage holes in the bottom.
Fusarium wilt and bacterial spot are two destructive diseases that build up in the soil.
In the Path of Herbicides
Curled, twisted, and distorted tomato plant leaves are signs of herbicide damage.
Plants are impacted when nearby areas aretreated with weed killerand the chemical drifts onto the plants.
Some herbicides can drift many feet from the software site, even when air conditions are calm.
The best way to avoid herbicide damage is to skip using these chemicals anywhere near your tomato plants.
Where Water is Not Available
Ideally tomatoes need about 1 inch of rainfall a week to thrive.
Avoid getting the plants foliage wet to prevent disease.
