Question
Hi Mike

We have a lovely new vegetable garden.  Unfortunately the tomatoes, whilst still appearing very healthy, are not growing.  There are no yellow leaves or leaf wilting, so I'm a bit stumped as to how to treat them.  We have grown them from seed, and transplanted them several weeks ago since which time they have just not grown much at all. We left one plant in a large pot which it was originally planted in (at the same time as the others) and it is at least 8-10 times the size of the ones which were transplanted at and has now started flowering.

Is there anything we can do to help our little tomatoes??

Any help greatly appreciated.

Many thanks, Alicia.

Answer
Alicia, the difference is probably the soil. Whereas the potted plant most likely is grown in a fertile potting soil, the garden bed may lack some nutrients.

I always recommend amending the soil with organic matter prior to planting. Composted soil gets the plants off to a healthy start. If this was not done, you can still mulch the area with compost and peat moss. You can also apply a granular fertilizer with a nutrient ratio of 12-12-12 to give the plants a boost.

The good news is that tomatoes really take off around the Fourth of July. Many factors, including soil and weather, can impact them early. But once they begin to grow, they will catch up in a hurry. Just be patient and follow the steps I've outlined. I'm sure that within the next three weeks you will see dramatic improvement.

Good luck, and please write again if I can ever provide assistance.

Regards,

Mike