Complete Tomato Growing Guide
If your tomatoes are flowering but not setting, dropping leaves, or splitting at the top — this guide fixes all of that. I've grown 14 tomato varieties on my Bengaluru terrace; here's what actually works.
Pick the right variety
For Indian summers: Pusa Ruby (open), Arka Rakshak (disease-resistant), and Cherry Sweet 100 (containers). Avoid European beefsteak varieties — they crack.
Container and soil
Minimum 15-litre grow bag. Mix in a fistful of bone meal for slow calcium — this prevents blossom-end rot.
Staking and pruning
Use a 5-foot bamboo stake from day one. Pinch suckers (the shoots between stem and leaf) every Sunday. One main stem outperforms a bush every time.
Feeding schedule
Week 1-3: nitrogen tea (banana peel + water). Week 4 onward: switch to potassium (mustard cake) every 10 days. Flowering = magnesium spray.
Common mistakes
- Overwatering (cracks fruit)
- No mulch (roots cook in May)
- Missing calcium (black bottoms)
- Picking too late (birds win)
📌 Next steps: Try the Autonomy Simulator or browse crop guides.