In search of the perfect tomato

What is it about tomatoes that makes growing a plump, juicy, sweet tomato proof of garden mastery? Every year millions of people plant tomato seeds knowing that this year will be different, or better, or perfection.

Along with the search for the supreme Solanum lycopersicum come suggested amendments that many people believe will bring this season’s success. Some are familiar, such as putting eggshells in planting holes. Others are less known, such as incorporating multi-vitamins. Just because someone believes their solution is “the one” doesn’t make it so.

Before trying anything, test your soil. Providing good soil is the first step toward tomato success. Now that you have your test results, let’s take a look at some highly touted tomato growing amendments:

Eggshells: It’s a common belief among gardeners that adding eggshells to your planting hole will forestall blossom end rot. Blossom end rot reflects a calcium deficiency, and eggshells are full of calcium.

Bring on the eggshells? Not so fast. Did your soil test show your garden is calcium-deficient? Most soils have enough calcium, so adding more is wasteful. Also, anyone with a compost pile knows that eggshells don’t break down quickly.

The issue of calcium deficiency is likely more of a watering problem than a lack of calcium. Calcium enters the plant through the roots, so making sure the roots have consistent moisture will go farther to prevent blossom end rot than adding calcium.

The good news is that eggshells won’t hurt the plant and they add organic matter to the soil. Why not put them in your compost pile? Learn more HERE.

Aspirin: Sounds far-fetched, right? Tomatoes don’t get headaches. However, salicylic acid, derived from willow bark, can keep tomatoes from being infected with potato purple top phytoplasma, a bacterial disease that can affect tomatoes and other members of the solanaceae family.

Research from the U.S. Department of Agriculture found that tomato plants sprayed with a solution of salicylic acid or having the soil drenched with the same solution either prevented the phytoplasma from infecting the plant or greatly diminished its effects. Learn more HERE.

Bonemeal: As its name suggests, bonemeal comes from dried ground bones. Bonemeal is a good source of phosphorus and calcium. Still, what does your soil test show? It will give you recommendations for phosphorus. 

This element is beneficial in the correct ratio to other elements and breaks down slowly in the soil. An excess of phosphorus is a major culprit in toxic algae blooms, which use up available oxygen and kill other life in the waterways. Learn more HERE.

Fish: Using fish as a fertilizer has a history dating over millennia. Indigenous peoples understood the benefits of adding fish amendments, planting the three sisters — corn, bean and squash — in a hole fertilized by a fish head. Many people tout fish emulsion as an effective, organic fertilizer.

Research bears this out, showing fish emulsion usually has the right balance of N-P-K and several micronutrients, including calcium. The main drawback is the odor. There have been cases of plants treated with fish emulsion being dug up by hungry raccoons in search of a meal. Learn more HERE.

Epsom salts: For whatever reason, many people swear by adding Epsom salts to their garden. Again, (I know, broken record here) check the results of your soil test.

Epsom salts is magnesium sulfate, a secondary nutrient essential for plant growth. However, unless your test shows a magnesium deficiency, adding Epsom salts is likely to do more harm than good. A magnesium deficiency most often occurs in intensely cropped fields, not in home gardens. Learn more HERE.

Multi-vitamins: Plants need minerals and other chemicals found in soil or soil supplements. They are not human and so don’t need human-targeted multi-vitamins for nutrients.

An interesting experiment reported from the 2004 California State Science Fair compared parsley plants that were watered with plain water to plants watered with solutions of four different nutrients: calcium, iron, Vitamin D and Vitamin C. This experiment concluded that the plants grown in Vitamin D and calcium showed the most benefit while Vitamin C and iron affected the plants negatively.

There is other research that suggests some benefit of vitamins but no conclusion. In this case, more research is needed. Learn more HERE.

And let us not forget coffee grounds, purported to make soil more acidic, and banana peels, which contain a variety of beneficial elements. Rather than burying them with your tomato seedlings, why not add the grounds and peels to your compost pile, or simply bury them in the garden. As they break down their organic matter will enrich the soil.

There are many myths about what’s good for your tomatoes specifically or your garden in general. The bottom line is that there is no quick or easy way to grow spectacular, juicy tomatoes.

Use the essential tools of a soil test and healthy skepticism when deciding what to put in your soil or feed your plants. When in doubt, call your local extension office, where the information is research-based. Facts never fail.