- 1). Plant tomatoes in the late spring to mid-summer for fall harvesting. The exact planting date depends on the length of the growing season for the particular type of tomatoes. Time it to ensure maximum yield before harsh frost arrives.
- 2). Prepare a planting area that offers at last eight hours of full sun daily. Tomatoes may not produce fruit if planted in the shade. Instead, they may have a spindly form. Work slow-release fertilizer into the soil -- a formulation, for tomatoes, that's low in nitrogen (N), high in phosphorous (P) and fairly high in potassium (K). Also add compost, to improve soil quality.
- 3). Plant transplant-ready tomato plants, selecting varieties that are successful in the fall. Buy larger specimens of Merced, Bingo and Celebrity tomatoes, for example; well started young plants have larger root systems. They are available at nurseries in mid- to late August.
- 4). Space plants 12 inches apart if they are dwarf varieties and about 24 inches apart for other types. Very vigorous tomato species may need to be spaced 4 feet apart.
- 5). Break up the soil to loosen it, using a garden tiller or hoe. Spread a starter fertilizer, per label instructions, to help the tomatoes survive the transplanting process.
- 6). Dig holes large enough to accommodate the plants' root masses, using a garden space or shovel. Place the transplants in the holes and cover with soil. Spread organic material such as peat moss, well-rotted manure, leaf mold or compost around the base of the tomato plants as mulch. This will retain soil moisture and keep weeds at bay. Make the layer 2 inches deep and wide enough to cover the particular plant's root system underneath.
- 7). Water the transplants daily, in hot weather, to assure rapid root development -- the key issue in successfully establishing fall tomatoes. Then give plants deep, long waterings as needed. Tomatoes are 95 percent water and need lots of moisture to grow and develop. Make sure the plants get 1 to 2 inches of water per week, either through rain or manual irrigation.
- 8). Wait until the tomatoes are firm and fully colored to harvest them. If there is a killing freeze expected in the fall, pick all the green mature fruit. Wrap them in paper individually and store them somewhere with a temperature of 60 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit. They will ripen slowly over the next few weeks.
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