My TOP 10 TOMATO Growing Tips from 20 Years of Experience

In this video I'll condense 20 years of tomato growing experience into 10 tips.

MENTIONED PRODUCTS
Use Code NLG05 at checkout for discount.

MENTIONED VIDEOS

DIGITAL TABLE OF CONTENTS
00:17 - What TYPE of tomato are you growing?
03:03 - How much sun do tomatoes need WHERE YOU LIVE?
04:26 - How deep to plant tomatoes
05:16 - Use companion planting for tomatoes
06:17 - How to fertilize tomatoes
07:22 - How far apart to plant tomatoes
09:07 - Tomato hooks (lower and lean method)
10:39 - How to prune tomato plants for better harvest
12:06 - How to water tomatoes, best way to water tomatoes
14:20 - BONUS! How to hand pollinate tomatoes if tomato flowers are falling off

------------------------------
Hey Guys, I’m Brian from Next Level Gardening
Welcome to our online community! A place to be educated, inspired and hopefully entertained at the same time! A place where you can learn to grow your own food and become a better organic gardener. At the same time, a place to grow the beauty around you and stretch that imagination (that sometimes lies dormant, deep inside) through gardening.

I’m so glad you’re here!

(Some of the links here are affiliate links. If you purchase through our links we'll receive a small commission that helps support our channel, but the price remains the same, or better for you!)

WHERE TO FIND ME

[jennwatson]

Being up north and with many years of experience, when I’d plant my tomatoes deep it would set them back a few weeks. I find that planting at soil level gives me a better harvest during my short growing season.

[vickieboley]

Brian, Huge Congratulations on attaining over 1M subscribers! I readily refer your advice and information to anyone who admires my garden and give you the credit for why my tomatoes or peppers don't have insect damage! My flowers are on the job working, not just looking pretty! Your advice is sound and readily given. Celebrate!! 😄

[badjansykes]

I've got to tell you that the basil trick works. I've had a bad case of horn worms when I first planted my tomatoes. I pruned them well and was able to get rid of a bunch but I could tell that I'd not gotten all. I finally was able to plant my basil. I just noticed that I have new growth that is not being eaten. Thanks so much for the information.

[job]

I live in St Louis and I had big oak trees in my yard. So I always had some shade in backyard. But this year no trees and no shade and I used shade cloth starting in June since the heat has gotten to near 100°. They are doing great. I also put basil and marigolds around the bottom and no insects.

[Jennifermcintyre]

I’ve over wintered tomato plants by making cuttings which have produced fruit even in the dead of winter. Freezing cold weather outside but still doing well indoors!

[bethsands]

Great gardening tips for happy tomatoes. The harsh summer heat this year is extreme as it has been 100 degrees and over for 3 weeks now !! Yesterday was 113 and today 110 !! I have many tomatoes growing everywhere as I tried to save every volunteer . The plants doing the best are shaded by the house and sunflowers during the hottest part of the day. All vegetables are struggling and I had to use cardboard over the top to shade them. I must water every 2 days in this heat. Oh, nice tomato flower/ pollen pollinating tip w/ an electric toothbrush

[beckymartinez]

It will be interesting to see how your over wintered tomato performs. I’ve also heard you can let a tomato plant die where it does get frost and light freeze and it will regrow the next spring. I am testing that theory this year.
Also, Texas 8a The sun is brutal! I use 40% shade cloth over my tomatoes and peppers and add an extra layer of 30% shade cloth on the SW side. They do well and my peppers never stop producing.

[bclarkquilts]

My tomatoes have exploded this year in Texas. Those sungolds are the best!!! We had a much cooler Spring with lots of rain. Then last week we had a rainy day with a high of 72!!! Tomorrow the high is expected to be 79. In JULY! Unheard of here!!! I'm loving it. And I'm in tomato heaven. I have also pruned a lot more this year, removing any branches with leaves turning yellow or brown. Air flow makes a huge difference. Easier to harvest too! We also have 7 garden spiders in our small section of raised beds. I am attributing a much smaller grasshopper infestation to those spiders. Nice! By the way, I LOVE Kellog's Breakfast tomatoes but have only gotten 3 tomatoes from my plant. Huge, juicy tomatoes but only 3. Wish it produced more.

[theamateurbackyardgardener]

Absolutely correct about the hornworm. He ate the pepper leaves, but didn’t touch the tomatoes and because bird food.

[ruthfurlow]

I live in southern Illinois and have crop covers and had to use them for the strawberries and cucumbers when it got so hot during the spring and I built frames and bought cheap king sized white sheets and stapled them on the frame to cover my tomatoes.

[mrwhitten]

HEAT!! We're in Virginia and the heat has been ridiculous. Today's heat index is set for 108. I've had shade cloth over my tomatoes for a month. They just started blushing last week. We grow everything you mentioned except cherry. We're at the stage where we must water everything daily. Great video as always.

[languagelynnie]

I really should have watched this BEFORE I pruned all my tomatoes. And I was so proud of myself...

[loki]

Congrats on the 1 million subscribers Brian. Tomato's a bit slow across the Atlantic this year, so I planted most of mine in my poly tunnel and they are growing quickly.
I was watching a homestead video from a month back when you were weeding and gofer hunting. The felco pruner probably gets a lot of use and needs sharpening a bit. They're the best, I have a cable cutter by them for years. So something to try if you wish, get yourself a Trend credit card sharpening card. Amazon do them and they are quite cheap $10 maybe. Its credit card size diamond coated with two different grit sizes. I origionally bought it for wood working tools, but its used for sharpening my secaturs and pruning knives now. Great for kitchen knives too. Ps. I bought you companion planting book. Excellent.

[poodledaddles]

Good tips, now do a follow-up at the end of the season to show us what to do with all the tomato vines:)

[Eric-gikg]

HUGE Fan of the string/hook trellis. Tried it last year for both tomatoes and cucumbers.
Absolute Game Changer!!
My cherry tomatoes grew 12 feet, and the cuc's 13+ feet.
And it's super easy to take down and store.
Thanks for sharing the knowledge

[franksmith]

Love this channel with in 2 minutes of watching i learn something new brilliant communicator👍👍👍

[patwatersvlogs]

Your absolutely right i got a late start on mine this year like 2 months and the heat is brutal here in Florida my tomato plants are healthy but flowers keep falling off so i put a 20×20 greenhouse clear mesh tarp over top and on the front side where the sun hits the most i put up shade cloth 40% now we are starting to set some tomatoes finally

[jennyerickson]

Thank you so much for the advice. I’ve been gardening for yrs, but since moving to our new home I seem to only find success in potted plants. The soil, the different environment and what ever! But it has shot my confidence and ability to try. I started up again this year, still in pots, however now using the tips and tricks you’ve
provided, I have seen
growth. . . . Send me good vibes!
- thank you for the detailed explanation and points for optimizing my fruiting season. ! 👍

[michellepaulsen]

Excellent info throughout the video. Thank you for covering so much !

[Merrayle]

Hello! I'm on your Facebook page. I'm sorry I haven't been actively watching BUT I have a good excuse!! I finally was able to buy my land!!
After several years of waiting and growing microgreens, my dream has FINALLY transpired!