Fertilizer

• A soil test offers valuable information regarding the existing health of your soil. Soils that are deficient in certain nutrients require special fertilizers to bring them into a healthy range. Tomatoes that grow in average soils require applications of fertilizer to replenish the soil and keep it healthy as the tomato plants mature and begin producing fruit.
  
  

Nutrients

• Blended fertilizers contain three numbers that represent the ratio of specific nutrients. Nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium are the main ingredients in blended fertilizers. Nitrogen is the main ingredient in many lawn fertilizers and foliage plant foods. While this nutrient helps encourage healthy stem and foliage growth, high amounts can lead to bushy tomato plants with few fruits. While balanced fertilizers improve the overall health of tomato plants, the best fertilizer ratios for tomato plants are 6-24-24 and 8-32-16. These formulations limit the amount of nitrogen while providing healthy doses of both phosphorus and potassium, nutrients necessary for optimal fruit production.
  
  

Feeding Schedule

• The best time to improve the soil is immediately before planting the tomatoes. Fertilizers come in both liquid and solid form. Working a time-release granular fertilizer into the top 6 inches of soil will encourage a slow, steady release of nutrients into the soil during the establishment period.
  
  

Considerations

• Along with fertilizer, tomato plants require other elements that encourage optimal health. Tomatoes are sun-loving plants that grow poorly in filtered light and shady locations. These fruiting plants prefer loose, loamy soil with good drainage. Regular watering helps provide even moisture around the roots. Extended droughts and dehydration can lead to wilting and increase the risk of disease. Weeding is important to the health of tomato plants. Excessive weed growth competes with tomatoes for available soil nutrients and moisture.