10 Tomato Plant Hacks for a Bigger, Healthier Harvest

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Tomatoes are one of the most rewarding crops to grow, but they can also be a bit tricky. From pest control to maximizing fruit production, a few simple tomato-growing hacks can make all the difference. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned gardener, these 10 tomato plant hacks will help you grow stronger plants, increase yields, and enjoy the best homegrown tomatoes.

Table of Contents

What You Might Need

Tomato seeds or starter plants
Well-draining soil and compost
Tomato cages, stakes, or trellises
Mulch (straw, wood chips, or grass clippings)
Epsom salt, baking soda, and coffee grounds
Watering can or drip irrigation system

1. Start Tomatoes Indoors for a Stronger Head Start

Four small tomato plants in black pots are placed on a wooden tray by a sunny window. The text reads, Tomato Plant Hacks • Start Indoors. The window lets in natural light, illuminating the green leaves.

Tomato plants thrive when given an early start, especially in cooler climates.

Step-by-Step Idea: Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost. Use a seed-starting mix and keep them in a warm, sunny spot.
Pro Tip: Brush your hands gently over the seedlings daily to simulate wind and encourage stronger stems.

Picture This: Healthy tomato seedlings growing in small pots, ready to be transplanted into the garden.

2. Plant Tomatoes Deep for a Strong Root System

Tomato plants with exposed roots are shown beside a gardening trowel. Above, text reads: Tomato Plant Hacks – Plant Deep. The plants have both green and ripe red tomatoes.

Tomatoes develop roots along their stems, so planting them deep leads to stronger, healthier plants.

Step-by-Step Idea: Bury two-thirds of the tomato plant stem when transplanting. Remove the lower leaves before planting.
Pro Tip: Dig a trench instead of a deep hole for leggy tomato plants—this encourages more roots without stressing the plant.

Picture This: A tomato plant thriving with a deep, well-established root system, soaking up nutrients from the soil.

3. Use Epsom Salt for Better Growth and Sweeter Tomatoes

Close-up of a tomato plant with green leaves beside a bowl of Epsom salt. Text overlay reads, Tomato plant hacks > Epsom salt for growth.

Epsom salt is rich in magnesium, which helps boost tomato plant growth and improves fruit sweetness.

Step-by-Step Idea: Mix one tablespoon of Epsom salt per gallon of water and spray on leaves once a month. You can also sprinkle a teaspoon in the planting hole.
Pro Tip: If tomato leaves turn yellow between the veins, it’s a sign of magnesium deficiency—Epsom salt can help correct this.

Picture This: Lush green tomato plants producing vibrant, flavorful tomatoes with the help of Epsom salt.

4. Mulch Around the Base to Retain Moisture

A lush garden with rows of tomato plants mulched with straw. Text overlay reads, Tomato plant Hacks. Mulch Benefits. The background shows trees and garden structures under an overcast sky.

Mulching helps conserve moisture, regulate soil temperature, and prevent diseases like blight.

Step-by-Step Idea: Spread a 2-3 inch layer of mulch (straw, wood chips, or grass clippings) around the base of your tomato plants.
Pro Tip: Keep mulch a few inches away from the stem to prevent rot.

Picture This: A well-mulched tomato garden, with healthy plants and fewer weeds competing for nutrients.

5. Water Tomatoes Deeply but Less Frequently

A tomato plant with ripe red and green tomatoes is placed beside a watering can and a bundle of sticks. A sign above reads, Tomato Plant Hacks - Watering Techniques.

Tomatoes hate inconsistent watering, which can cause cracked fruit and blossom-end rot.

Step-by-Step Idea: Water deeply (about 1-2 inches per week) in the morning, so roots grow downward rather than staying near the surface.
Pro Tip: Drip irrigation or soaker hoses work best to provide steady, deep watering without wetting the leaves.

Picture This: Tomato plants with strong, deep roots, thriving with perfectly hydrated soil.

6. Prune Suckers for Bigger Tomatoes

Hands pruning a tomato plant with several ripe and unripe tomatoes. The text overlay reads Tomato Plant Hacks - Prune for Size. The background shows more greenery and soil.

Suckers are the small shoots that grow between the main stem and branches, and removing them helps direct energy toward fruit production.

Step-by-Step Idea: Pinch off small suckers by hand or cut larger ones with pruning shears to encourage bigger, tastier tomatoes.
Pro Tip: If you want bushier plants instead, leave a few suckers to grow into additional fruiting branches.

Picture This: A neatly pruned tomato plant, focusing its energy on producing large, juicy tomatoes.

7. Add Crushed Eggshells for Calcium Boost

Two tomato plants with ripe red and green tomatoes are in front of a wooden fence. Broken eggshells cover the ground beneath them. A text overlay reads, Tomato plant hacks ▸ Eggshell Calcium Boost.

Eggshells help prevent blossom-end rot, a common issue caused by calcium deficiency.

Step-by-Step Idea: Crush eggshells and mix them into the soil at planting time or sprinkle around the base of plants as they grow.
Pro Tip: Soak crushed eggshells in water overnight to make a calcium-rich tea for watering tomatoes.

Picture This: Healthy tomato plants thriving with strong stems and perfectly shaped, rot-free fruit.

8. Use a Baking Soda Spray to Prevent Fungal Diseases

A spray bottle filled with a white liquid sits on a wooden surface next to a tomato plant with ripening tomatoes. Text at the bottom reads, Tomato Plant Hacks - Baking Soda Spray.

Baking soda is a natural antifungal that helps prevent diseases like powdery mildew and blight.

Step-by-Step Idea: Mix one teaspoon of baking soda with one quart of water and spray leaves lightly once a week.
Pro Tip: Always spray in the morning so leaves dry before nighttime, reducing the risk of mold growth.

Picture This: Tomato plants with spotless, green leaves, free from fungal spots and blight.

9. Companion Plant with Basil for Pest Control and Better Flavor

Tomato plant and basil growing together in a garden setting, illustrating companion planting. Text overlay reads, Tomato plant hacks – Companion planting.

Certain plants help repel pests and enhance tomato growth when planted nearby.

Best Companions: Basil, marigolds, chives, and nasturtiums help deter aphids, whiteflies, and hornworms.
Pro Tip: Avoid planting tomatoes near cabbage or potatoes, as they compete for nutrients and attract similar pests.

Picture This: A tomato plant growing next to basil, benefiting from natural pest control and improved flavor.

10. Pick Tomatoes at the Right Time for Best Flavor

A wicker basket filled with ripe and unripe tomatoes sits on a wooden bench outdoors. There is a fabric underneath the basket. The background features green plants and blurred wildflowers. A sign above reads, Tomato plant hacks · Pick at right time.

Contrary to popular belief, tomatoes ripen better off the vine once they reach their mature color.

Step-by-Step Idea: Pick tomatoes when they’re slightly under-ripe (light red or orange) and allow them to ripen indoors in a warm spot.
Pro Tip: Store tomatoes stem-side down to slow moisture loss and preserve freshness.

Picture This: A basket full of perfectly ripened, deep red tomatoes bursting with garden-fresh flavor.

Final Thoughts

Growing tomatoes successfully doesn’t have to be a challenge. By following these simple tomato-growing hacks, you can boost plant health, increase yields, and prevent common gardening problems.

With deep planting, proper pruning, and natural pest control, your tomato plants will thrive all season long—giving you delicious, homegrown tomatoes that taste better than anything from the store.

Which tomato hack will you try first? Start using these tips today and enjoy a bumper crop of juicy, flavorful tomatoes!