Tomatoes are all the rage this spring! More people than ever are growing them in their home gardens, and rightly so. They’re delicious, practical, and easy to maintain once you learn how. Imagine it, getting to walk out into your outdoor space and picking these fresh savoury fruits right off the bush. Small pleasures like this are what make life so much more enjoyable.

Tomatoes are fast-growing plants that need nutrient-rich soil or compost to produce a good crop. Considering that an average tomato plant can produce up to 30 pounds of tomatoes, it is easy to see why this high-yielding crop needs the very best soil and compost!

The hardest part though, for many new tomato enthusiasts is knowing what is the best soil to plant their seedlings in. Today, let’s talk about how to create the best soil for homegrown tomatoes. 

What Makes a Healthy Growing Bed for Your Tomatoes?

Tomatoes grow best in a loamy soil full of nutrient-rich organic material. So, what is loam soil? Essentially, loam soil is one that incorporates, in equal proportions, sand, silt, and clay. Loam soil is ideal for tomato plants as a base soil because it balances moisture. In other words, this type of soil simultaneously drains water away but retains some water too. The idea is to keep your tomato roots moist while also preventing them from drying out.

Soil Testing

If you really want to know what your tomato plants need for the season, consider doing a soil test. Do this especially if you are using soil from your own yard and are not really sure about its composition. A soil test will provide you with data about its nutrient profile, pH level, and any amendments you need to make.

Soil pH Scale

Soil composition exists within a spectrum between acidic and alkaline. Generally, we measure the variances of this spectrum with the numbers 1 through 10. The lower the number, the more acidic the soil is, and the higher the number, the more alkaline it is, with 7 being neutral or right in between. Tomato plants like slightly acidic soil. In order to thrive, they need to grow in a medium that ranges between 6.0 to 6.8.

What is the best soil for growing tomatoes?

The optimum soil for growing tomatoes is loam, as this contains the ideal balance of organic and inorganic matter for tomato plants to thrive. Loam soil contains an equal mix of sand, silt, and clay, creating a perfect crumbly texture that retains water well without becoming waterlogged and compacted.

Tomato plants also grow well in sandy soil but will need watering more frequently as this soil type is free-draining and prone to drying out rapidly during periods of warmer weather. Sandy soil is also often low in nutrients, but adding some well-rotted compost can help solve both these issues.

Tomatoes love the high nutrient content of clay soil but its heavy, dense structure can be hard for plant roots to penetrate. This soil type can also become too waterlogged for tomato plants, but adding organic matter such as compost will improve drainage and loosen the soil structure.

Crop Rotation

Using the same soil from last year is a “big no-no,” if that soil housed any plants from the nightshade family. This is because spores from late blight could be present within the soil and infect your healthy tomato plants. To learn more about blight, read this article about it. [Add Link]

Mulching Around the Base of Your Tomato Plant

Providing mulch for your tomato plants has four functions. It helps prevent weeds, keeps any pathogens within the soil from splattering up onto the leaves of your plants, moderates temperature, and locks in soil moisture. As a bonus, mulch releases nitrogen over time as it breaks down.

The Best Soil Additives for Tomato Plants

For your tomato plants, you want to mix together a rich black soil that is soft and breaks apart easily. Even if you’re buying store-bought soil, it’s still a good idea to consider adding some of the following ingredients to make sure it is of the best consistency.

Loamy Garden Soil

Your base potting soil should be comprised of equal parts of the following:

Sand not only helps keep your soil soft and fluffy but allows for good aeration within the soil. It also holds little water and facilitates improved water drainage. By itself though, it has few if any nutrients.

Clay soil is comprised of very fine particles that clump together. On its own, it does not drain well and tends to cut off air supply to plant roots. However, it is useful for holding soil together when mixed with other elements. Think of clay as an additive that offers structural integrity and cohesion to your soil.

Silt is coarser than clay and yet smaller than sand. Therefore, it will help your soil remain malleable and loose.

How do you prepare soil for tomatoes?

When preparing garden beds for tomatoes, first remove any large weeds with a hand trowel then hoe any smaller weed seedlings. Remove larger stones and rocks from the soil surface and rake gently to create a smooth, even surface. Creating narrow trenches along the planting lines can help to improve water retention.

Traditionally, the standard method for preparing soil for tomatoes was to dig generous amounts of well-rotted manure or compost into the ground. However, many gardeners now use the ‘no dig’ approach, as this helps to improve the soil structure and protects microorganisms that boost plant growth. Instead of digging compost into the ground, a layer is spread on the soil surface at the start of every growing season. This is gradually incorporated into the soil below, and tomato plants can be planted directly into the ground without any prior preparation.

How to make the best soil for tomatoes

When filling new garden beds to grow tomatoes, the ideal soil mix is 40% topsoil, 40% well-rotted compost, and 20% horticultural or coarse sand. To supercharge the compost with extra nutrients, add worm castings or composted chicken or rabbit manure. Coconut coir will help improve water retention and prevent soil compaction, and biochar can be added to improve soil aeration and nutrient uptake.

Compost – The Best Source of Organic Matter

Tomato plants need nutrient-rich compost or soil that retains water well without becoming waterlogged. Provided these conditions are met, tomatoes will grow well whether planted directly into the soil or in compost-filled containers. Most garden soils are perfect for growing tomatoes, but adding a little extra organic matter such as compost can help to boost nutrient levels, improve the soil structure, and maintain the perfect moisture levels for optimum growth.

Compost offers a 2-for-1 benefit. It’s not only a fabulous soil additive that improves texture, but it is also a type of fertiliser. Compost helps your soil retain the right amount of water, it holds nutrients, and it provides improved aeration. You can add compost to your base soil at a 1:1 or 1:2 ratio, with your base soil being the larger amount.

What kind of compost is best for tomato plants?

Tomatoes grow best in nutrient-rich compost that is well-aerated and retains moisture well without becoming waterlogged. The aim is to create a sponge-like growing medium in which the roots can access the necessary water and nutrients for strong, vigorous growth. Composts containing a high proportion of well-rotted organic matter are ideal for growing tomatoes.

Is compost enough fertiliser for tomatoes?

During the first growing season, good-quality compost can provide all the nutrients tomato plants need, but extra fertiliser will boost growth and result in a larger crop of tomatoes. Tomato plants grown in compost do not need any additional fertiliser until the first trusses of flowers have set fruit. At this point, slow-release granular organic fertiliser can be sprinkled on the soil surface to provide a boost of nutrients.

Composts that have been formulated specifically for growing tomatoes are often already enhanced with slow-release fertiliser and other added extras that help to provide all the nutrients your plants need throughout the growing season. If unsure, check the manufacturer’s guidelines before applying extra fertiliser, as too much nutrition can be as detrimental as too little.

Is multi-purpose compost OK for tomatoes?

Multi-purpose compost contains enough nutrients to support tomato plant growth for the first 2-3 months. Once the first tiny tomatoes appear, apply a phosphorus-rich fertiliser to boost fruit development and ripening. Alternatively, mix homemade compost or slow-release organic fertiliser granules with multi-purpose compost when filling pots and containers at the start of the growing season.

What is the best potting soil for growing tomatoes in containers?

When growing tomatoes in containers, it is better to use good-quality potting soil rather than topsoil or garden soil. Potting soil, also known as potting mix or potting compost, contains a high proportion of organic matter, creating a sponge-like texture that is ideal for tomato plants. Commercially-produced potting soils have normally been sterilised to ensure any weed seeds can no longer germinate

Traditionally, the best potting soil for growing tomatoes in containers was a blend of peat moss with vermiculite or perlite. However, many gardeners now try to avoid these ingredients, particularly peat moss, due to the negative environmental impact of harvesting them. But what is the alternative?

Compost manufacturers are developing innovative and more sustainable alternatives to peat moss, and you will now find products containing ingredients such as coconut coir, wood fibre, rice hulls, tree bark, and shredded bracken. These are normally mixed with composted animal manure and green waste compost to give the perfect texture and nutrient blend.

Coconut Coir vs Peat Moss

Both of these soil additives are excellent for providing moisture retention. Coconut coir is the more sustainable resource of the two because it is a byproduct of the coconut industry and does not harm natural habitats. Peat Moss (Sphagnum Moss) on the other hand, is a limited resource. Plus, the sourcing of peat moss requires destructive industrial activities that involve the destruction of wilderness bogs. For this reason, it’s better to use coconut coir since it is easily renewable and does not contribute to the destruction of wild ecosystems. Additionally, coconut coir has a neutral pH and can be used in numerous soil mixtures around the garden.

Perlite

Made in nature from expanded volcanic glass, perlite is covered in microscopic holes that can hold both water and air respectively. Perlite makes a great soil additive because it helps moderate soil moisture while simultaneously providing aeration for optimal oxygen uptake via the roots.

How to Make Your Own Compost Throughout the Year

Compost is a soil additive that is full of nutritious organic matter and is most often made from yard waste like leaves, fallen branches, and other dead plant material. Compost can also be derived from kitchen discards and often includes eggshells, coffee grounds, vegetable waste, banana peels, and various other kitchen scraps. Other sources of compost can come from agricultural waste.

All of these elements are placed in a large heap or compost pile. Over the course of time, all of these elements break down to create a rich dark soil that is ideal for growing edible food plants like tomatoes. Compost is nutritionally-packed with essential nutrients that your tomato plants will love. In fact, compost provides nearly all the nutrients your tomato plants will need, and there may not be a need to apply additional fertiliser during the rest of the growing season. This is because compost releases nutrients over time. If you don’t have a compost pile ready from last year, you can always buy some already prepared compost from a local supplier for use this spring.

Conclusion

Mixing your own soil is both super easy and enjoyable. Right now, just before the full launch of spring, it’s the perfect time to prepare your garden beds and patio pots. By mixing your soil early, moving your seedlings outside will be a breeze when the time comes.

By following the instructions we’ve outlined above, you’ll be all set to provide your tomato plants with the right foundation they’ll need to thrive during this year’s growing season. With optimally mixed soil and compost, your tomato plants are sure to grow to their fullest potential!

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