15 Tomato Growing Tips for Bigger Harvests

There’s nothing quite like picking a ripe tomato straight from the garden. I grow tomatoes every year, and even after all this time, I still get excited when those first fruits start turning red.

Some years I’ve ended up with more tomatoes than I knew what to do with. Other years, I’ve learned a few lessons the hard way.

The good news is that growing bigger, healthier tomato plants doesn’t require fancy equipment or expert gardening skills.

A few simple habits can make a huge difference in how many tomatoes you harvest by the end of the season.

1. Start With Plenty of Sun

Tomatoes love sunshine. The more direct sunlight they receive, the more energy they have to produce flowers and fruit.

Aim for at least six to eight hours of full sun every day. If you’re choosing between a few spots in the garden, always pick the sunniest one.

2. Plant Tomatoes Deep

One of the best tricks I ever learned was planting tomatoes deeper than most other vegetables.

Bury part of the stem when planting. Tiny roots will form along the buried stem, creating a stronger root system that can absorb more water and nutrients.

A strong root system often means a much larger harvest later on.

3. Improve Your Soil First

Healthy soil grows healthy tomatoes.

Before planting, mix compost, aged manure, or organic matter into the soil. Tomatoes are heavy feeders, and rich soil gives them a great start.

Whenever I skip this step, I usually notice the difference by midsummer.

4. Give Plants Plenty of Space

It’s tempting to squeeze extra plants into a garden bed, but overcrowding can reduce harvests.

Good spacing improves airflow, helps prevent disease, and allows sunlight to reach more leaves.

Most tomato varieties benefit from at least 45 to 60 cm of space between plants.

5. Water Deeply Instead of Frequently

Tomatoes prefer deep watering rather than small daily sprinkles.

A thorough watering encourages roots to grow deeper into the soil. Plants with deeper roots are often more productive and handle hot weather better.

Try watering at the base of the plant rather than wetting the leaves.

6. Add Mulch Around Plants

Mulch is one of those simple things that pays off all season long.

A layer of straw, shredded leaves, or untreated grass clippings helps retain moisture, suppress weeds, and keep soil temperatures stable.

It also reduces soil splashing onto leaves during rain, which can help prevent disease.

7. Feed Tomatoes Regularly

As tomato plants grow, they use a lot of nutrients.

I like to add a balanced tomato fertilizer every few weeks once plants begin flowering.

Too much nitrogen can create huge leafy plants with fewer tomatoes, so follow the label instructions carefully.

8. Support Plants Early

Don’t wait until plants are falling over.

Install cages, stakes, or trellises soon after planting. Supported plants stay healthier, receive better airflow, and make harvesting much easier.

Plus, ripe tomatoes are less likely to sit on damp soil where they can rot.

9. Remove Lower Leaves

As plants get taller, remove leaves touching the soil.

This simple step helps improve airflow and reduces the risk of common fungal diseases.

I usually remove the lowest leaves once the plant becomes well established.

10. Prune Indeterminate Varieties

Not every tomato needs pruning, but indeterminate varieties can benefit from it.

Removing some suckers helps direct energy into fruit production rather than excessive leafy growth.

Don’t go overboard though. A little pruning goes a long way.

11. Encourage Pollination

Tomatoes are self-pollinating, but they still benefit from movement.

A gentle breeze usually does the job outdoors. In greenhouses, lightly shaking flowering stems can help improve pollination and fruit set.

More pollinated flowers often means more tomatoes.

12. Watch for Early Pests

A healthy plant can handle some insect activity, but large infestations can quickly reduce production.

Check leaves regularly for aphids, caterpillars, and other common pests. Catching problems early is much easier than fixing them later.

13. Harvest Frequently

The more tomatoes you pick, the more the plant focuses on producing new fruit.

Once tomatoes begin ripening, check plants every few days.

Regular harvesting also helps prevent fruit from splitting or becoming overripe on the vine.

14. Grow Companion Plants Nearby

Some flowers and herbs can benefit your tomato patch.

Marigolds, basil, nasturtiums, and sweet alyssum attract pollinators and beneficial insects while helping create a healthier garden ecosystem.

Plus, they make the vegetable garden look beautiful.

15. Choose the Right Variety

One of the biggest factors in harvest size is simply growing a variety suited to your climate.

Some tomatoes produce huge yields in cooler areas, while others thrive in hot conditions.

If a variety performed well for you this year, make a note of it. I keep a small garden journal, and it has saved me from repeating mistakes more than once.

Final Thoughts

Growing a bumper tomato harvest isn’t about doing one big thing perfectly. It’s usually the result of lots of small habits that add up throughout the season.

Give your plants plenty of sun, healthy soil, consistent watering, and a little attention each week.

Before long, you’ll be carrying baskets of fresh tomatoes back to the kitchen and wondering what to do with them all.

And honestly, that’s a pretty great problem to have.