- 1). Stake your tomatoes up immediately. Tomatoes require support to get them off the ground and increase air and sun exposure. Tomatoes that are yellowing or dying at the ground may not be receiving enough air or sun to photosynthesize. Place veggie cages around the tomatoes and tie the main stems with soft felt ties to get them off the ground. Never tie flowering stems or fruit to the cages, as they'll break.
- 2). Water tomatoes well and more consistently. If tomatoes aren't getting enough water, they'll die back and fail at their tomato harvest. Give tomatoes at least 1 to 2 inches of water a week, and watch the soil to make sure that it stays consistently moist. Tomato plants should never dry out.
- 3). Add several inches of organic compost to the soil around the tomato plants. Tomatoes prefer rich, acidic growing foundations and may be missing vitamins and minerals. Spread 2 inches of organic compost on top of the soil and turn it into the top 2 inches. This boosts the tomato's nutrition and the long-term nutrition of the soil.
- 4). Feed tomatoes using 10-10-10, 20-20-20, tomato or nitrogen fertilizer. Yellow leaves are a sign of lack of nitrogen, while dying leaves are a sign of lack of nutrition. Apply the fertilizer per the directions on the package, and put the tomatoes on a regular schedule of monthly feedings.
- 5). Mulch the soil around the tomatoes with 2 to 3 inches of organic mulch like grass clippings or wood shavings. The mulch will help to maintain soil moisture and warmth, and will protect tomatoes from weeds and soil-borne diseases. This mulch also adds nutrition to the soil as it breaks down.
- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -