1. Choose a Sunny Spot: Tomato plants need lots of sun 6-7 hours/ day minimum.
2. Use well amended soil: Compost, bone meal, egg shells, aged manure and sand (in clay conditions). In sandy conditions add extra organic matter to hold the water (leaves, grass clippings, compost). Once again be carful of purchasing compost by the yard.
3. Soil pH Level: Try to obtain a pH level of 6 - 6.8. Tomatoes like slightly acidic soil. If your soil is too acidic, add lime to bring the pH up. If the soil is too alkaline you can add sulphur, cottonseed meal, peat moss, or iron sulphate (be carful not to get it on anything like your cloths or sidewalk). Many municipalities buffer their water supply up to a ph of 8, to increase the the life of the water pipe infrastructure (Including London see water quality report).
5. Soil Temperature: Try to make sure the soil temperature is close 62 degrees Fahrenheit or 17 degrees Celsius. If you do not obtain this temperature your heirloom will struggle to uptake vital nutrients including phosphorous, which is key for root growth. Use a digital cooking thermometer to test the temp of the soil. Remember to the dig the hole before you do this. Keep in mind, the deeper you dig, the cooler it will be. If you have raised beds or are container planting you have a distinctive advantage in the spring soil warm up. If your soil is too cold, leave the hole exposed for a few sunny days. You can also poor some warm water in on a daily basis... be sure not to use hot water as it will kill the biological microbes that your soil is teaming with. If you have a frost protector, set it up over the hole for a few days prior to planting. It will quickly warm up the soil below.
5. Harden off your Heirlooms: If you have had your heirlooms inside in a window, you will need get them outside to acclimatize them back to outside conditions. For more informations on hardening off your heirlooms... Click Here
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