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9/Compost
Put These 12 Surprising Things in Your TOMATO Planting Hole For The Best Tomatoes Ever
Compost is an essential component that should not be overlooked in any garden. Compost is essentially an organic matter that has been decomposed using various methods (check out my composting guide).
By incorporating compost into your garden, you are creating a rich humus that can benefit your tomato plants. Adding compost to the planting hole is one of the most effective ways to provide nutrients to your tomatoes and give them a natural growth boost.
In addition, compost can help the soil retain moisture, prevent soil compaction, and improve oxygenation at the root level. I always add a bit of compost to the planting hole of my tomato plants to help them thrive.
10. Banana Peels
Put These 12 Surprising Things in Your TOMATO Planting Hole For The Best Tomatoes Ever
I enjoy the taste of bananas, and they are always present in my fruit basket at home. As a result, I often have a surplus of banana peels that I would typically throw away.
However, why waste something that could be so valuable for my garden?
Similar to bone meal, banana peels are a good source of phosphorous, a nutrient that is essential for tomato plants.
If you don’t use banana peels in composting, you can still use them undecomposed in your garden.
Every time you eat a banana or use it in a recipe, save the peel and add it to a planting hole.
You can even freeze banana peels and store them in the refrigerator until you need them.
When I transplant my tomato seedlings into the garden, I usually add two banana peels per planting hole.
11. Organic tomato fertilizer
Because the soil in my garden lacks natural fertility, I always give my tomato seedlings a boost by adding some organic fertilizer to the planting hole. I prefer using Espoma’s Tomato-tone fertilizer, which I purchase from Amazon, and I have consistently achieved excellent tomato harvests since I started using it.
Tomato-tone is a complete plant food that contains 15 essential nutrients. However, be mindful not to leave the container around your pets since they find the smell attractive and may chew on the bag. While this fertilizer is organic and does not contain any harmful ingredients, it is still best to keep it away from your pets.
Other excellent brands of tomato fertilizer that I recommend are Jobe’s and Dr. Earth. For an effective start, I usually add a handful of fertilizer to each planting hole. Once the tomatoes start bearing fruits, you can side-dress with more fertilizer.
12. Earthworm castings
Another form of compost produced by earthworms is known as “earthworm castings”. This process is also called vermicomposting or vermiculture.
Earthworm castings are considered one of the most nutrient-rich natural fertilizers. This type of fertilizer is ideal for all types of plants, whether they are grown in hydroponics, raised beds, traditional gardens, or flower beds.
Despite being worm excrement, earthworm castings do not have a bad odor and are suitable for indoor plants.
The use of earthworm castings improves soil aeration and structure and does not harm plants due to an excess of nitrogen, even though it contains more nitrogen than regular garden soil.
While producing earthworm castings at home requires more attention than standard compost, they are readily available for purchase on Amazon (click here to see on Amazon).
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