The Best Tomato Fertilizers Available for Gardeners

I love tomatoes - - as a child I would eat slices of tomatoes on saltine crackers. My husband cannot stand them but he grows them for me each year so that I can enjoy delicious, ripe homegrown tomatoes rather than those so-called fresh tomatoes at our grocery store. An essential item for growing great-tasting tomatoes is the proper tomato fertilizer. Fertilizer for tomatoes must contain essential nutrients to encourage growth but not burn the plant roots. Furthermore, the best tomato fertilizers have calcium and potassium too. If you are shopping for the best tomato fertilizer, look no further than these five products.

Espoma Tomato-tone is an excellent fertilizer for tomatoes. This formula does not force growth, which can be unhealthy for plants, but provides the nutrients needed for healthy tomato plants. By not forcing growth, this fertilizer allows the tomato plants to produce fully developed and ripened fruit. Application is easy - - the powder is applied about two weeks after planting and then twice a month during the growing season.

Many gardeners prefer to use organic fertilizers for their tomato plants. Gardener's Supply has a great organic tomato fertilizer ($6.95 for 1 pound) that will feed tomato plants all season long. This all-natural, slow-release granular fertilizer (5-6-5) has the best combination of nutrients combined with phosphorus for big, ripe tomatoes. Based on customer reviews, this organic tomato fertilizer gives immediate results and is very easy to use.

I do not have a green thumb and I tend to over-fertilize at times. This is why premeasured tomato fertilizer spikes are the best fertilizer for me to use in my garden. Gurney's Seed & Nursery Co. has the Jobes Tomato Fertilizer Spikes in packs of 18 spikes for $3.95 (you save by ordering three or more packs at a time). These spikes are the easiest fertilizer to use - - simply place the spikes into the ground near the plants and they work for up to eight weeks. The package instructions are great and easy to understand. I have had great results with these fertilizer spikes and I do not end up burning the roots when I use this method of fertilizing.

My father swears by Garden Solutions Tomato Food, which is also available at Gurney's for $7.95 for two pounds, for big, delicious tomatoes. This plant food has both slow and fast release nutrients to keep the tomato plants growing healthy all season long. Application is simple and only has to be done twice during the growing season.

PERFECTLY Natural Tomato & Vegetable Fertilizer is a great tomato fertilizer too. It is organic and promotes healthy tomato growth with a combination of calcium, potassium and essential nutrients. Application is easy (dry, granular spreads easy) and the five-pound bag (about $10) will last all season for most gardens.