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Prep for planting tomatoes using fish, aspirin & water tubes
For the rest of your garden, you may want to install drip irrigation. There are tons to choose from but this is the kit we have and have gotten numerous years use from.
Why you should plant tomatoes on their side.
We pinched the yellowed leaves off the bottom half of the stem to increase the stem length as tomatoes need to get buried very deep.
Now the stem portion that is buried will form roots, giving the plant the best foundation possible and allowing the plant a greater ability to absorb these nutrients and water.
Plus a larger root system near the soil surface will mean that more heat will be available to the plant, producing earlier tomatoes.
Place your plants on their sides for a day or two prior to planting so they naturally bend towards the sun.
How-to use PVC tubes to water and fertilize your tomatoes
I don’t like to get wet.
But when I’m thirsty, I want a big drink of water to hydrate me. No need to get wet.
Tomatoes feel this way too. Their leaves and branches shudder at water touching them but their root systems are thirsty and desire to be quenched.
Enter PVC tubing!
After drilling holes into the PVC tubes for drainage purposes, you will bury these tubes into the ground and plant your tomatoes around them.
Water will be poured into the top. But first, compost is added directly into these tubes not only to slow the release of the water, but to feed the plants with compost tea.
As water is poured into these tubes, it absorbs these nutrients from the compost to feed your plants.
Insider tip: You don’t have to use 4-inch diameter tubes as we did, you could use 6 or 8-inch tubes. Then you wouldn’t have to water as frequently.
We redid our ditch and had leftover drain line. And Tom doesn’t let anything go to waste!
So each plant gets ten holes each.
You can adjust this number based on how big your holes are (Tom drilled with a 1/4″ drill bit) and how much water you want to leak out.
Obviously, the bigger the hole, the faster the water will seep out of the tube.
Most plants don’t like just sitting in standing water and once your tomato roots get deep enough they will absorb this water as well.
Twelve plants in total will thrive in this trench.
They are tightly packed so hopefully we will be able to encourage upward growth!
Why use fish to grow bigger tomatoes?
The more fertilizer love they get, the more flowers they produce and the more fruit you’ll get in the form of big, luscious tomatoes.
Fish has loads of nitrogen which encourages lots of leaf and branch growth making the plant flourish. Of course you don’t want too much nitrogen as that could result in large beefy plants with no flowers to form tomatoes.
But fish parts seem to strike the perfect nitrogen balance as it also provides lots of minerals and vitamins, too.
Plus, tomatoes need lots of water. Adding tons of water depletes soil nutrients so we’re putting them back in using various amendments.
The various fish parts like the bones, heads and guts (sorry, this is grossing even me out) contain lots of these beneficial nutrients that decay fast for a quick boost of nitrogen, phosphorus and calcium for your plants.
As the protein of the fish breaks down all these super nutrients are released into the soil directly to your plants supporting root and foliage growth.
Insider tip: If you freeze the fish before using, you won’t have to deal with any unpleasant smells!
Tom and family are big into fishing as are his co-workers so getting fish was a breeze for us.
But you could contact your local restaurant and ask what they do with their leftover fish parts. Most are happy to oblige after a few blank stares!
Why use crushed eggshells to grow bigger tomatoes?
Eggshells provide this boost of calcium to the soil to be soaked up by your plants as well as helping level off your soil pH.
Eggshells do not break down well on their own so use your hands to crumble them first and spread around the tubes.
They also help fend off blossom-end rot in tomatoes and other nightshade fruits! Here’s another fantastic way to use eggshells.
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Why use aspirin to grow disease-free tomatoes?
Except the tomatoes are keeping leaf spot and blight at bay.
The salicylic acid of aspirin mimics a hormone in tomato plants. The hormone naturally triggers a defense response in tomatoes.
So you are tricking your tomatoes into triggering a defense response by giving it aspirin before diseases arrive.
There are two basic ways to use aspirin
1.) Put them whole down your tubes (or place a few whole in your tomato/nightshade hole prior to planting)
2.) Make an aspirin spray to squirt on your tomato plants 2-3 times monthly. We use 1 (325 mg.) aspirin per 1 gallon of water. {You will need to grind them up first for the spray}
End result:
Bigger yield due to stronger, thicker tomato leaves that are less susceptible to the spores of diseases.
Salicylic acid encourages plants into releasing their natural defenses against harmful fungi, bacteria and viruses.
When added to your garden, leaves feed earthworms and beneficial microbes. They also lighten heavy soils and help sandy soils retain moisture.
A fabulous source of carbon, leaves balance the nitrogen in the compost pile around your tubes.
We got lazy and dumped them in whole, but ideally they should be chopped first. The more rotten…the better!
We typically chop ours by riding them over with the lawn mower and then dumping them into the garden.
You’ll want to add some topsoil to cover your amendments and then plant your tomatoes. The topsoil will also help stabilize those pipes prior to planting.
We want those roots to grow strong and deep first! Those lower leaves would have gotten buried sapping strength from the plant that now we’re forcing to the roots.
Insider tip: Before dropping the plant into the hole, first gently loosen the root ball with your hands untangling a few roots if possible. This gets the plants acclimated and ready to grow quicker!
This first gets added directly into the tubes. Then pour water into the tubes. As the water funnels through the tubes and leaks into the holes, it absorbs much of the nutrients from this compost.
Essentially, you are watering with compost tea! Are you ready to grow the biggest and best tomatoes ever?
The shots after the tomatoes get the royal treatment!
And those plants produced lots of big, bold and beautiful tomatoes for my family, neighbors and friends!
Love to see this every day !
great
hello. this such valuable info. one question can i use salt water fish or should i use fresh water fish heads. thanks
Great article for growing lots of tomatoes! Thanks!
Love this site.
I love growing tomatoes.
A little bit of work to get better tomatoes, but it would be worth it!
Love your tips
Wow that’s weird with the fish heads
thanks, I needed another excuse to go fishing! for tomato fertilizer!
In credibly interesting method of growing beautiful tomatoes.
Thank You for the Info and Tips on having the Biggest & best tomatoes using fish heads, aspirin & water tubes!
You have the best tips ever in an easy to read & follow format! And, we have a wonderful neighbor and provider of fish heads! Thank you!
I read this a couple years ago, and have tried it- it works very very well. I love the tube method!
Great natural tips!
thanks for the tips
I had fresh tomatoes from our garden last night
I grow the best NJ tomatoes.
What a great way to grow tomatoes!! I haven’t grown any in years. But I plan on having a garden next Summer:)
That’s a lot of great tips for growing bigger, stronger tomatoes. Thanks!
I certainly needed tomato tips. Thank you!
I love vine-riped tomatoes.
Love this idea the Tomatoes look great
These are some great tips to help gardeners have the very biggest tomatoes in the neighborhood!
Your garden is lovely and thanks for the tips. My Dad has a vegetable garden that takes up half the backyard too.
What a great idea. I live by a lake and love to go fishing and homegrown tomatoes so I will definitely be trying this in the spring.
Awesome tips!
I actually just harvested 2 big buckets of tomatoes, and I’m in Central Texas. They just kept growing after the summer, and I threw some fertilizer on them when I was fertilizing my pumpkins!
It is way to late for us to plant tomatoes in Colorado.. I’ll have to remember aspirin for the spring.
I love fresh garden tomatoes, great info!
I’VE LEARNED HOW TO GROW GOOD TOMATOES !!!THANKS
I am a huge tomato lover, so I will surely be trying thee tips! Thank you!
wow lots of information! No clue about fish or aspirin. I knew about eggshells. Great article!
What a lot of great tips. I didn’t know about the aspirin. I can’t wait to try them out in the Spring.
Lots of great info! Thanks for sharing!
I learn something new every day, love your blog
Nothing beats vine ripened tomatoes!
Interesting article. Too much much work for me. I’ll keep using my chicken poop.
Never knew about the aspirin. Thanks for the tip.
Lots of good advice for growing tomatoes!
Very good information
I never would have thought of using fish to grow tomatoes!
Super informative. I learned many things. Can’t wait til winter is over and planting season starts.
This is a must try.. my tomatoes never look like yours
Wow I will def have to look into this
I enjoy growing my own tomatoes, so I appreciate this article.
Great information love tomatoes thanks
Great tips! I had so many tomatoes this past season!
Looking good even though I only like Ketchup and not much into tomatoes 😀
I’m going to try some of this next year! I’ve only grown cherry tomatoes so far, but want to try larger ones in 2021.
Thanks for the tips, I do not know much about gardening other than the basic of getting potting soil and sticking it in the ground as well as watering so I do need these tips. I love fresh garden tomatoes, you can never get that taste from a grocery store tomatoe
Maybe we will try this next spring. Good idea!
I did not know about placing the plant on its side. Great to know.
My husband loves to garden and each summer we have a large garden. He loves reading all the tips and advice that you share TY !
Yes, I plan on growing lots of big tomatoes this year, got to canning more this summer!
Good Information, I’ll have to try it next spring.
I would eat these with mozzarella and oil and balsamic. Mmmmm
When my Dad used to grow tomatoes I believe he used to use fish heads. His tomatoes were always big and delicious.
Best method ever Native Americans have used fish for centuries like this .
Ooh, GREAT ideas! Can’t wait to try them all, come spring! Thanks!
Seems likea lot to add to get bigger tomatos. But if you fish thats free. and lot of the other stuff. SSince I don’t really grow any more. I will share this with my son who does garden.
I’ve never heard of using fish. Wow
WE always put our seafood rubbish around out plants..oyster shells and shrimp shell are great!
Those tomatoes 🍅 look so delicious can’t wait to start my own garden soon
I’m so excited for you Cathy!!!! You will quickly grow addicted to this fun hobby.
I have always used fish and egg shells and asprin in my planting medium. Works wonders also use coffee grounds and water sometimes with left over coffee when I have some…….
Since I moved to Florida all I do is feed aphids and horn worms nothing tomato like has grown a hard green marble rotted on vine once
Your tips for tomatoes are wonderful and so very helpful!
never have luck with tomatoes
My neighbor put decaying wet leaves in every hole she dug for plants.
I planted crushed egg shells with my tomatoes this year and when I went to the garden the next day, some critter had dug up the plants to get to the eggshells! Thanks!
Thank you for the great ideas!!! I already trench and plant tomato on their sides but never thought to keep them on their side for a couple days before planting. the pvc is an awesome idea. I will be implementing these next season.
We love growing tomatoes every year. I’ll have to try some of your tips!
This sounds like a really good idea. AND I want tomatoes as big as Tom’s – or bigger. Ha ha.
mmm tomatoes
Home grown tomatoes are the best!!
A lot of work but with great results!
I wish we had a spot to grow tomatoes. This is great info and I would like to try your tips. Not sure I could stomach the fish heads though!
Love the fresh vibes y’all bring!
I never knew about planting tomatoes on their sides. That’s a great tip. I have heard about using fish parts. I always heard that was something Native Americans did. Aspirin is something I did not know was good for tomato plants, however.
These are some great tips! I’ve never heard of using aspirin, I will have to remember that.
Excellent gardening tips! Thanks!
I have been growing tomatos for 40 years and am excited to try a new fertilizer. Fish heads sound great. I do use organic compost and will try your ideas. Thanks.
i wish i had found your site years ago. you have the best tips ad information ever!
Interesting articles!! thumbs up!
Great info. Especially about aspirin and tomatoes !
Fantastic love everything gardening! Love it great tips hi! From NJ
Great ideas!i will share these with my husband.I know this may sound strange to some people but I had a friend who said he tried an experiment. He feed some of his tomatoes with urine because it is high in nitrogen. The tomatoes he did this with grew better than those untreated. I guess it is not that different than using manure.
wow!! My dad fishes all the time and he grows tomatoes. I will have to pass this along
Tomatoes are so good. love the Blog
Hmmm, Now I know. I will share this with my husband who does most of the prep work.
These are great tips and just in time. We have an early planting season in the South. Thank you for all the information.
Love growing tomatoes and canning them. Taste so much better than the store tomatoes.
wow these are some good tips! gotta get my garden in gear next year!
I couldn’t deal with fish heads but would love great tomatoes.
These are some very great ideas that we will want to put to use in our little garden.
That is really interesting – appreciate the tips
Great tips. I will be visiting your blog more often.
Holy buckets that is a lot of great information! Some I have used (fish) and most I have not. I’ll be using these tips next spring when I plant my garden again. Thanks for the detailed info and pictures too!
Lots of great growing tips here! Thank you!
Wow I have to save this article for next year and my tomato garden. Thank you for the helpful hints to make my tomatoes the best.
Tomatoes are my favourite food.
Great tips thanks
Thanks for the info. definitely helpful.
My honey loves his tomatoes! Heirloom tomatoes are his absolute favorite! Great information for his next grow!
I use to have another brand of trash can like this and it never worked.
This would be perfect for my apartment due to my limitations.
Good information. Much I didn’t know about. I’m new to gardening. This will help out a lot.
I interesting articles!
We do love tomatoes fresh out of the garden!
I love growing home grown tomatoes and I am always looking for helpful hints to make the process better.
I wish I could grow tomatoes!!
makes sense to put the plants on the side! Great ideas, ty!
Wow These tomatoes are certainly heavy feeders. Thanks for the tips.
Tomatoes have to be my favorite summer produce. I eat all kinds in many different ways, but nothing beats just cold raw tomatoes.
Great tips! I have issues with squirrels and feral cats digging into my raised beds. I feel the added fish may make it worse.
I didn’t know about this
Very thorough, I have never used all of these ideas at the same time, but never had great success either, I will give it a try!
Thanks so much for your helpful tips! Your tomatoes look super yummy!
Love these ideas. Love the idea to lay plants on their sides for a couple of days. Going to implement these ideas next spring.
Great tips and tricks… thank you
You are an amazing gardner. Those tomatoes are beautiful.
I’ll try aspirin next summer
Didn’t get any fishing in this year but great info for growing tomatoes.
Who would have guessed, fish heads. I learn something new every day.
What a surprising article!
Thanks for the wonderful tips; I’ll put them to use during the next growing season!
Great info. I’ll keep this in mind for next time.
Thanks for the detailed guide. This will be a big help this spring.
Lots of great tips for growing tomatoes.
Love the tips!
Thank you for these amazing tips to grow tomatoes that look so good. I didn’t know about doing the fish either. Will have to do the laying on there side and share this post with my family and friends so they can do it too.
Thanks for the info!
Fascinating tips! I’ve never heard about the fish.
Yes I am ready! I love your trellis idea, it looks great. Thank you!
Our son always brings us fresh tomatoes-great tips
This is such a great idea! Way easier than lugging two hoses across the yard.
Never heard of some of these tips. Thanks they really are great.
Thanks for these tomato growing techniques. I will definitely try the aspirin and fish head tips next tomato season!
My son is the gardener in our family. I will share this with him.
I bookmarked this so I can show it to my husband. I would like to try this.