Tomato Season Is Here: 5 Beginner-Friendly Tips for a Flourishing Harvest

1. Tomatoes Are Self-Pollinating - But You Can Boost Their Yield

Tomatoes contain both male and female parts within the same flower, which means they can pollinate themselves. However, a little encouragement can significantly improve fruit set.

Try this:
Gently tap or shake the flowering truss. This helps release pollen onto the stamen, improving fertilisation and boosting your overall yield.

This small action mimics natural movement from bees and wind - perfect for patio, balcony, or greenhouse growers.

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2. Use Potash to Encourage Better Flowering

For strong flowering and fruiting, tomatoes love potassium. Applying a potash-rich bloom booster like Searles Liquid Potash - Fruit & Bloom Booster before and during flowering supports:

• Larger blossom production
• Stronger fruit development
• Improved resistance to stress

A potassium boost ensures your plant can transition from leafy growth to fruiting mode efficiently.

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3. Feed Regularly With a Balanced Fertiliser

Tomatoes are famously heavy feeders. To keep up with their vigorous growth, they need consistent nutrition throughout the season.

Two beginner-friendly options include:

• Searles Seamax Organic Liquid Fertiliser – great for fast nutrient uptake
• Searles 5IN1 Pellets – ideal for long-lasting organic soil health

This combination of quick-release and slow-release nutrition helps support leafy growth, flowering, and fruit set, all while preventing nutrient deficiencies.

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4. Water Consistently to Prevent Common Fruit Problems

Irregular watering is one of the biggest causes of tomato dramas like:

• Blossom end rot
• Fruit splitting
• Poor nutrient uptake (especially calcium)

Tomatoes prefer deep, regular watering to keep soil moisture stable. When the soil dries out too much, roots struggle to absorb nutrients - including calcium - which is essential for forming healthy, firm fruit.

Tip: Mulch around the base with Searles Sugar Cane Mulch to improve moisture retention and temperature stability.

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5. Stake Your Tomatoes Early

Tomatoes grow fast - much faster than new gardeners expect. Install a stake or tomato cage at planting time so you don’t disturb the root system later.

Early support helps:

• Keep plants upright and tidy
• Reduce disease by improving airflow
• Prevent stems from snapping under fruit weight
• Make harvesting easier

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Ready to Grow a Great Crop This Season?

With the right feed, steady watering, and a little pollination know-how, tomatoes will reward you with an abundant summer harvest.

For more gardening tips, and to pick up Searles Seamax Organic Liquid Fertiliser or Searles 5IN1 Pellets, visit your local garden centre.

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