Grow & Tell is IPR’s biweekly gardening segment to guide you through the growing season. In each episode, I’ll walk you through gardening tasks tailored for northern Michigan’s climate and soils — whether you're working with raised beds or patio pots.
Have gardening questions you want Grow & Tell to answer? Email me at dylan.kulik@interlochen.org.
Today’s tip: Help your tomatoes thrive during blossom season 🌸🍅
It’s summertime in the garden, and that means your tomato plants are likely entering their reproductive phase. This is when those yellow blossoms start to appear — our cue to shift gears from supporting foliage to supporting fruit production.
In today’s episode, I’m surrounded by chirping students fresh from a nature walk and the regular peeping of our resident chickens. But our tomatoes? Silent — and ready to get to work. Let’s talk about how we can help them succeed.
Step 1: Trim away weak or diseased leaves
Before anything else, give your plants a quick check-up. Look for:
- Yellowing leaves
- Spotted or dusty foliage
- Any leaf that just looks “off”
Don’t be afraid to pinch or cut these off. At this stage, we want only the cleanest, greenest, healthiest leaves left on the plant. Just be sure to leave any stems or branches that are actively producing blossoms or fruit.
Step 2: Shift the nutrients to support reproduction
Earlier in the season, we focused on nutrients that help build strong stems and leafy growth. But now, it’s time to feed for fruiting.
Here are two DIY nutrient boosts you can try at home:
Epsom Salt Spray
Magnesium sulfate (Epsom salt) is a simple, effective way to support flowering and fruit development.
- Dissolve in water
- Apply directly to the roots with a watering can or spray onto the leaves
I like to use a foliar spray bottle — it’s quick and the plants respond well. (Just try to avoid the blossoms and early fruits themselves.)
Eggshell Tea
- Boil crushed eggshells in water for 20 minutes
- Strain the liquid through a coffee filter
- Use the resulting calcium-rich “tea” as a root drench or foliar spray
Both of these support reproductive growth and help lead to more fruit and a bigger harvest. I like to come out and spray these solutions once a week to add that nutrient burst to my plants.
(Bonus tip: If you're still dealing with pest insects, you can add foliar insecticidal treatments to the solution. Things like neem oil and B.T., or bacillus thuringiensis, work well for killing larval stage insects and soft-bodied caterpillars.)
Step 3: Modify watering and watch your pollinators
As blossoms appear and fruit begins to form, there are two more things to keep in mind:
1. Pollinators are your friends
You may notice bees and other insects buzzing around your plants — leave them be! They're doing important work helping pollinate those tomato flowers.
2. Dial back your watering — just a little
Reducing water slightly can:
- Help strengthen your plants
- Encourage better fruit production
- Prevent common issues like fruit splitting
Too much water can cause your tomatoes to swell and crack. Less water encourages a bit of natural stress, which improves nutrient density and flavor.
Look ahead: The harvest is coming
Buds, blossoms and little green fruit are the early signs of a tomato explosion. Soon we’ll be flush with tomatoes. So make sure:
- Your plant is trimmed and healthy
- You’ve fed it the right nutrients
- You’re not overwatering
- And most importantly, you’re ready for harvest season
We’re about to get lost in the sauce — literally. Make sure you, and your tomato plants, are ready. Until next time, happy growing — and may your tomatoes be sweet, sturdy and plentiful.
