Why Are My Tomatoes Cracking and Splitting?
Tomatoes splitting after rain? Find out why the skin cracks, whether the fruit is safe to eat and how to protect the next harvest.
How to Change Soil pH for Tomato Plants the Right Way
Tomatoes can sit in nutrient-rich soil and still turn yellow when the pH blocks access to it. Test for the 6.0 to 6.8 sweet spot, then adjust with lime or sulfur slowly instead of guessing.
What to Spray on Tomato Plants When Bugs Start Chewing
Hornworms can strip a tomato plant overnight, while aphids, whiteflies, and spider mites quietly weaken it. Learn when to spray, why morning is safer than midday, and how to choose an insect control product made for edible gardens.
The Best Fertilizer for Tomatoes That Actually Works
Tomatoes in pots often need feeding every week or 10 days because watering washes nutrients away. This guide explains how to read NPK numbers, when calcium and iron matter, and why liquid fertilizer can beat granular in containers.
Tomato Plant Stages Week by Week — What to Expect and What to Do
Every week of the tomato growing season looks different — and knowing what your plant is doing changes everything. Here is what to expect at each stage and exactly what to do.
Best Soil Mixture for Growing Tomatoes in Containers
Container tomatoes can drown in the best soil if the pot cannot drain. Get the homemade mix right with potting soil, compost, perlite or coarse sand, aged manure, and a tomato-friendly pH between 6.2 and 6.8.
Early Blight on Tomato Plants: How to Stop It
Spotted lower leaves may signal early blight. Learn how I identify it, slow the spread and protect my tomato harvest.
What You Should Know About Tomato Soil pH Before You Plant
Tomatoes can struggle even when they have plenty of fertilizer, because the wrong soil pH locks out nutrients the roots need. Test before planting, aim for 6.0 to 6.8, and make careful adjustments with lime or sulfur.
Do Deer Eat Tomatoes Off the Vine? You Bet—Here’s What to Do
Clean bites, hoof prints and overnight damage point to deer, not hornworms or rabbits. Learn which barriers, repellents and companion plants protect tomato vines, plus how to help a partly damaged plant recover.
Best Containers for Tomatoes That Actually Help Them Thrive
A 5-gallon bucket can grow a tomato, but it usually means more watering and extra support. For most varieties, especially indeterminate ones, 10 gallons is the practical sweet spot, with fabric bags winning for drainage, portability, and cooler roots.
How to Get Rid of Hornworms on My Tomato Plants Without Losing My Mind
One fat hornworm can strip a tomato branch overnight, hiding in plain sight while leaving black frass behind. Evening flashlight checks, attention to chewed leaves, and reapplication after rain form the practical routine this gardener uses to stop an invasion.
Best Organic Insecticidal Soap for Tomato Plant Pests
Aphids, whiteflies, and spider mites can curl tomato leaves before you realize pests are the problem. This review explains why Safer insecticidal soap works on contact, where to spray, when to avoid heat, and why hornworms need a different treatment.