Growing Tomatoes in Raised Beds (Houston)

Growing tomatoes in raised beds is a great way to harvest a large batch of fresh tomatoes year-round. Homegrown tomatoes are juicy, full of flavors, and so much better than the store brought ones. And growing them in your kitchen garden is easier than you think. You may grow tomatoes in containers or raised beds, depending upon the available space and size of your garden. I always prefer growing tomatoes in my raised garden beds. Raised beds also allow you to grow other vegetable or herb plants such as peppers, cucumbers, and basil. Let’s dig deeper into this and see how you can grow tomatoes in raised beds to get the best harvest.

What is a Raised Bed?

Raised beds are garden boxes placed on top of soil or gravel. Unlike containers, raised garden beds have an open bottom. They simulate similar root growth as in-ground gardening and provide extra growing space even though plants grow closely together. Using wood planks, bricks, concrete blocks, or even old tires, you can build your own raised bed. Or, you can buy garden beds from stores. The key is to ensure that the raised garden bed has good drainage to prevent root rot. Also, make sure to choose a garden bed with at least 12-inches of depth. That offers good space for root growth too. 

How to Grow Tomatoes in Raised Beds?

In Houston, tomatoes are one of the easiest plants to grow. And, you can grow them from seed indoors or outdoors. They require little maintenance and produce abundant fruit throughout the growing season. 

Raised beds are great for growing tomatoes because they allow the soil to drain away easily, keeping roots cool and moist. Raised beds also provide better air circulation, allowing plants to receive more sunlight.

Here is your fail-proof guide of growing tomatoes in raised beds.

Starting From Seeds:

Starting your tomatoes from seed is a fun way to get started. However, if you want to grow tomatoes, you’ll need to start them indoors at least six weeks before your garden zone’s last frost. You can always buy saplings at a nursery. Growing tomato from a transplant is usually the most popular choice among novice gardeners since it takes less time and effort. Since tomatoes require a long growing season, plan accordingly. 

TIPS: For Houston and Cypress gardeners, it is advised to start tomatoes indoors by December or January to plant them outside by spring. 

You can plant them directly outside in late spring or early summer if you live in a cold climate. In warmer climates like Houston’s, you can start seeds indoors in January/February and transplant them into the garden after the last frost.

Plant Seeds Indoors

• If you’re starting seeds indoors, use small pots (about 4-inch diameter) filled with potting or seed starter mix. You’ll need about 1/2 cup of potting mix per plant.
• To germinate seeds, place them on damp paper towels in an area where temperatures range between 65°F and 75°F.
• Keep them there for five days. Remove the paper towel when the seeds have sprouted.
• Plant them in those pots and place the pots under a grow light or near a sunny window. For some reason, my tomato saplings get leggy near a sunny window. That’s why I prefer a grow light setup. 
• The seedlings should be kept moist until they sprout roots. Once the seedlings begin to grow and show true leaves, they should be transplanted into individual pots or raised beds.

Prepare the Site

• Start by digging out a hole for each bed at least two feet wide and four feet long.
• Ensure there is enough room for the tomato plants to spread their roots without touching other plants. Dig holes deep enough so that the bottom of the bed sits about three inches below ground level.
• Fill each hole with composted manure or peat moss. The top layer should be about six inches thick.
• Water thoroughly. An appropriate location is essential to a good tomato crop. Like most vegetables, tomatoes thrive with abundant sun, so make sure you choose a sunny spot for your raised bed garden.
• Ensure the total sun hours are adequate throughout the growing season by avoiding sites shaded during portions of the day. Ensure the area you are planting your tomatoes in gets at least 8-10 hours of sunlight per day and has good drainage.

How do you prepare the soil for tomato plants?

• Tomato plants require lots of water and nutrients to thrive. For the maximum yield from your garden, start preparing the soil now. Here’s how to prepare the ground for tomatoes. 
• The first step of preparing the soil for growing tomatoes in raised beds is to check your raised bed soil. 
• After knowing the quality of the soil, you can decide what amendments you will need.
• Since tomatoes are heavy feeders, it is highly recommended to use two- to three-inch layers of compost and cow manure in your raised garden bed. A rich organic soil will increase your yield.
• To calculate the estimated volume of soil required for the project, measure the length (L) times the width (W) times the depth (D). The bed should be 12 inches deep to give the roots space to grow and allow for good drainage.
• Most master gardeners in Houston suggest this.

TIP: Mix pine bark fines, peat, and compost with dolomite lime and green matters and add to the raised bed while prepping up the soil. 

Transplanting Tomatoes

When your tomatoes begin to flower, carefully remove the plant from its container and gently loosen the roots with your fingers. Place the plant in a new hole, making sure that the crown of the root ball rests just above the surface of the soil. The stem should point down into the center of the hole. Fill the garden bed with an equal part mixture of compost and sand. Water well.

After planting, cover the emerging stems with plastic wrap or row cover, and leave it over the tops of the plants while they develop leaves. Once the foliage reaches eight inches tall, remove the plastic. This step is essential if your area gets frequent spring frosts.

How often to water tomato plants?

Tomatoes are hands-down easiest vegetable plants to grow at home. They require little maintenance and produce delicious fruits year-round. Regular watering of your plants is essential to ensure they receive enough moisture. Deepwater the tomato plants to help them develop a strong root system. Make sure that your tomatoes don’t wilt severely, or yields and fruit quality will be low. Constantly water the plants when the topsoil layer looks dry. Tomato plants don’t like wet leaves, so ensure to water the roots, not the leaves. 

How many tomato plants can I put into my 4×4 raised bed?

While the amount of space you have available will determine the number of plants you can grow, expert gardeners always recommend spacing your tomato plants for the best yield. Ideally, a 4×4 raised bed equivalent to 16 square feet of growing space can accommodate 16 tomato plants. However, I always prefer to plant a maximum of four indeterminate varieties or six bush varieties in a single 4X4 raised bed. If you don’t have enough room, consider using deep containers to grow tomatoes. While spacing your tomato plants, you need to space them out evenly with one square ft of garden space for every plant.

How deep should my raised bed for tomatoes be?

While an 8″ deep raised bed is enough for most veggies, I always go for 12″ or higher depth while selecting a raised bed for tomatoes. Consider a raised bed of at least 18″ wide and probably 6′- 8′ long if you plan to put a lot of big, bushy tomato varieties. 

What Tomato Varieties Should You Grow in Houston?

Tomatoes are one of our favorite fruits. But even though we love them so much, we don’t always know what kind of variety we should buy.

There are different varieties of tomatoes available today, but not all of them will perform equally well in your garden. So before you purchase any tomato varieties, here are some top ones that grow well in Houston.

Texas gardeners can grow both small- and large-fruited tomatoes:

 Small fruit varieties are:

 Baxter’s Early Bush, Cherry Grande, Juliet, Red Cherry, Small Fry, and Sweet Million Cherry Tomatoes

 Large fruit varieties are:

 Better Boy, Big Beef, Big Box, Bush Beefsteak, Carnival, Celebrity, and Homestead

My newest favorite is San Marzano and locally grown heirloom tomatoes. I am not a big fan of hybrid tomatoes of any kind. Most local varieties are disease-resistant and not very heat sensitive. 

Fertilizing

To help determine whether your soil needs additional nutrients, test its pH level. Proper fertilizing will help tomatoes grow bigger and produce more fruits. Earthworm castings, bone meals, and compost work best for tomato plants.

If doing non-organic, add 2 to 3 pounds of fertilizer such as 10-10-10 for every 100 square feet of garden area. Spread the fertilizer evenly over the site and then mix it into the top 3 to 4 inches of soil.

Tomato Growing Tips in Houston

Tomatoes don’t do well in the summer heat. Summer heat causes them to stop flowering and fruiting. Watering is important during this period. Tomatoes are susceptible to changes in temperature and humidity levels. The ideal conditions for growing tomatoes are between 65°F and 75°F (18°C and 24°C) and 70% to 80% relative humidity. Spring and fall are ideal times to grow these beauties if you are in Houston.

When is the best time to harvest tomatoes?

The best time to harvest tomatoes is when they reach 6 inches long. As soon as the first ripe fruit appears, pick them immediately. This way, you won’t lose any of the flavors. It’s important to remember that different varieties of tomatoes take longer to mature.

How Should You Stake Tomato Plants in Raised Bed? 

If you grow indeterminate tomatoes, you will need to install a good, tall stake (6′ feet or more) or a trellis for support. For determinate tomatoes growing to a pre-specified height, provide a tomato cage of the right size. Remember that most indeterminate tomatoes need a sturdy stake or a trellis. Determinate tomatoes need a cage to grow, whereas indeterminate thrive well with trellis support.