The tomato plant is an annual plant and like many other annuals needs a lot of nutrients to grow healthy fruits and produce a good harvest. Good compost or soil is essential, and it’s a great start, but it’s tomato fertilizers and feeds that can help to deliver the nutrients needed for quick tomato growth. You can make your own tomato fertilizer and we’ll cover the basics of that too. In this guide to the best tomato feeds, we’ll cover the different options – from chemical tomato fertilizer to organic tomato feed. I’ll also go through the best brands of tomato feed and whether liquid tomato feed or dry tomato fertilizer is better.
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Easy to use (and not just for tomatoes!), this fabulous feed is for tomatoes and flowering pot plants. With seaweed extract for maximum growth and better crops, it helps produce high quality, full-flavoured tomatoes
Selecting the Best Tomato Feed and Fertilizer for Tomatoes
Tomatoes are one of our favourite vegetables to grow, but making sure you get the tastiest and biggest crop means you’ll need to feed your plants. Even the BEST tomato grow bags (like these) provide nutrients that will only last 4 to 6 weeks. So picking a great tomato fertiliser is key to getting a great crop from your tomato plants. There are heaps of general vegetable fertilizers, but for the biggest and tastiest fruits selecting the best tomato feed and best tomato fertilizer for your tomatoes is key. I really do recommend using a specialist tomato feed because they contain a high level of potassium and lasts longer than the controlled release type of fertilizers. I’ll cut to the chase – here’s my most recommended tomato feed – Levington Tomorite Concentrated Tomato Food.
I recommend liquid tomato feeds because they are easy to use and can be easily diluted. However, there are also pellet and powder tomato fertilizers available too. What is key in looking after your tomato plants is how you use the tomato feed, giving the correct amount of fertilizer regularly and avoiding overfeeding the tomato plant.
Regardless of where you grow your tomatoes – in the ground, in the greenhouse, in containers – or my favourite in tomato growing bags – you’ll need to ensure they get the right nutrients to grow.
While ideally, you should carry out a soil test to find out what nutrients are lacking them you can most effectively select the best fertilizer that will supply the missing nutrients to your plant. However, we recognise that’s not always possible and to be fair, ALL tomatoes will benefit from some additional food.
The (mini) Technical Details of Tomato Feed and Fertilizer
When selecting the best tomato fertilizer, you’ll want to make sure that it contains both macro and micronutrients. The macronutrients in tomato feed are; nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium while the micronutrients include magnesium, calcium, boron, and zinc. While each growth stage of the tomato plant requires different nutrients, they can all be provided by the specialist tomato feeds available – you don’t need to buy lots of different ones!
The Basics of Feeding Tomatoes
For the highest yield from your tomato plants, you need to use the best tomato feed to supply nutrients at all stages of growth. However, the type of soil you have will determine how you are going to fertilize your tomato plant. Some soils may require the necessary nutrients right from transplanting, during flowering and after fruiting, that’s why a soil test is best to help you know the missing nutrients. However, if you’re like me, you’re growing your tomatoes in compost – so let’s make this easy and focus on the basics.
When to Feed Tomatoes
You should start feeding tomatoes when the first truss of tomatoes sets. A truss on a tomato plant is a cluster or group of small stems where the flowers and fruits grow. They usually start where one of the main stems meets a secondary stem. These trusses produce yellow flowers. When one of your trusses forms little green tomatoes behind the flowers is the right time to start feeding your tomato plants.
How Often to Feed Tomatoes
You should feed your tomatoes at least once a week once the first truss has set. When you have the second truss set you’ll probably want to feed more often. Check the instructions on the tomato feed that you buy. I regularly feed my tomatoes every two days once there are two trusses set.
The Different Types of Tomato Feed
In this section, I’ll cover the different types of tomato feed necessary that you can use to maximise the growth of a healthy and high-yielding tomato plant. The first differences between tomato feed are whether it contains natural or man-made elements.
Organic Tomato Feed
Organic tomato fertilizers are made up of materials that are naturally-occurring plant or mineral matter, they contain no man-made materials. An organic tomato feed is made up of raw materials and ensures a continuous supply of nutrients to the tomato plant at every stage of growth. The best organic tomato feed will not only improve the yield of your tomato plants but also the taste of your tomatoes. It might contain seaweed extract, bone meal, amino acids and other naturally occurring contents. Maxicrop organic tomato food is our highest recommended organic tomato food.
Inorganic or Chemical Tomato Feed
Chemical tomato feed is a fertilizer that mainly contains nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium. Commercially available tomato feed manufacturers produce this in the best ratios for tomato growth and taste, so you don’t need to worry about what your tomato plant requires at every stage of growth.
Nitrogen is an essential nutrient to help increase your tomato plant foliage. Just before your tomato plant begins to flower, additional potassium makes them strong and additional phosphorous gives big and juicy fruits.
What’s the Best Format for Tomato Feed?
Tomato feed comes in three basic forms – granular, liquid or water-soluble.
Granular Tomato Feed
Granular or pelletised tomato fertiliser is easy to use. It stores for a long time and is applied most usually by adding it to the compost or soil before you plant your tomato plants. You can also spread it over the compost while they are growing. Most of this type of tomato feed tends to be slow release. At least much slower than liquid or soluble based tomato feeds. Granular tomato feed can be organic or inorganic and they release as they dissolve into the soil or compost.
Liquid Tomato Feed
The liquid tomato feed that you’ll buy – my favourite liquid tomato feed is this one – comes as a concentrated liquid that you need to dilute with water. The exact proportions will be detailed on each tomato feed brands labels. You can get organic liquid tomato feed and inorganic or chemical liquid tomato feed. The benefit of using liquid tomato feed is that it is delivered STRAIGHT to the tomato plant. This is my most highly recommended liquid tomato feed.
You can apply liquid tomato fertilizer by using a watering can and it lasts for a long time if you ensure the lid is securely fastened and stored in a cool, dry place avoiding direct sunlight. So don’t leave it on the shelf in the greenhouse!
Liquid fertilizer for tomatoes usually gives quicker and better results than pellets or powder.
Water Soluble Tomato Fertilizer
Tomato feed that is in the format of granules or powder dissolves easily in water. The primary benefits are that it’s easy to store (cool, dry places and avoid direct sunlight) and that it’s cheaper to transport. Once you’ve dissolved the granules or powder it acts in the same way as liquid tomato fertilizer. Granule and powdered tomato feed is available as both organic or inorganic tomato feed.
The Best Tomato Food Brands
It’s easy to get confused by the many tomato brands in the market today. I’ve listed a number of the best tomato food brands to help you save time and get value for your money. I do think that all the brands that I mention are great brands. I wouldn’t skimp and buy an “own” brand of tomato feed that I hadn’t heard off – unless I saw it was getting great reviews from other gardeners. Levington Tomorite, Chempak, Maxicrop and Vitax are some of the well-known brands for producing liquid tomato food.
Making your own tomato food
You can easily make your own tomato food at home using food remains, dried vegetables, ground eggshells and even rabbit, hamster or chicken manure. (BUT, if you use this you absolutely must compost it first. Raw manure will kill your tomatoes). You can also add ash from your fireplace and add it to the mixture. (so long as it’s wood and natural) This is a good source of potassium. Once you have blended the mixture well, seal it in an airtight container and use it after a month.
Levington Tomorite Tomato Food
Tomorite is the best tomato feed that is soluble in water and easy to use. It’s most suitable for flowering tomato plants. It contains seaweed extract that promotes growth, high quality, and tasty tomatoes. This is both my favourite tomato feed and also the UK’s favourite tomato food too! Buy Levington Tomorite here.
Vitax Tomato Feed
Vitax is a high potash (potassium) liquid tomato feed, it comes in a great pack with clear instructions on how to apply it to individual tomato plants. You can use it for your tomato plants either indoors or outdoors. Vitax comes from a fourth-generation family-owned company of the same name and has a great heritage. Buy Vitax tomato feed here.
Chempak Soluble Tomato Feed
Chempak soluble tomato food is one of the best tomato soluble fertilizers. Their products are fully soluble and they begin to work instantly. They’ll supply your tomato plant with the essential macronutrients to produce high-quality fruit. All of the Chempak Soluble Plant Fertilizers contain seven essential trace elements, which is more than regular soluble fertiliser. Buy Chempak soluble tomato food here.
Maxicrop Organic Tomato Feed
Maxicrop is an organic natural fertilizer that will make your tomatoes to be the most delicious and healthy. Maxicrop is formulated with a higher level of potash and is made with sustainable raw materials including seaweed extract. It is approved for organic growing and is also a Soil Association Certified Product. Buy Maxicrop Organic Tomato Feed here
Reviews of the Best Tomato Feed and Fertilizer
Want to know more about the best tomato fertilizers? Here’s my guide to the best UK tomato foods and fertilizers.
Best Overall Tomato Feed and Fertilizer – Levington Tomorite Concentrated Tomato Feed
I am a huge Levington Tomorite Tomato feed fan. They have, in my opinion, the best tomato feed, a high rated product, and it’s easy to use. Simply mix Levington Tomorite Tomato Feed with water in a watering can – following the manufacturer instructions and then water as normal. Tomorite is great for tomatoes, peppers, aubergines and flowers as well. Levington Tomorite contains seaweed extract which provides for maximum growth and much better tasting fruit. Levington Tomorite comes in different sized packs, I tend to buy the 1-litre bottles. Check out more information on Levington Tomorite Tomato feed here.
Key Features of Levington Tomorite Tomato Feed
- Easy to apply simply mix with water in a watering can according to instructions
- For tomatoes and flowering pot plants
- With seaweed extract for maximum growth and better crops
- Produces high quality, full-flavoured tomatoes
- Can also be used with crops such as peppers and aubergines
Buy Concentrated Levington Tomorite Tomato Feed Here
Best Organic Tomato Fertilizer – Maxicrop Organic Natural Fertilizer
For the fully organic gardeners in our midst, Maxicrop organic natural fertiliser is the best. . When compared with other organic tomato fertilizers, Maxicrop is highly rated as the best organic natural fertilizer, a multipurpose fertilizer and quite easy to use. Maxicrop will help your tomatoes, flowering plants and any other greenhouse crop to be healthy and delicious. To have a bumper yield and tasty tomatoes in your next harvest, grab a 1-litre pack of Maxicrop here.
Key Features of Maxicrop organic natural fertilizer
- Easy to use
- The pack comes with clear instructions
- All-purpose organic garden natural fertilizer
- Contains seaweed extracts
- Makes your tomatoes and glasshouse crops healthy and delicious
Buy Maxicrop organic natural fertilizer here
Best Soluble Tomato Feed – Chempak Soluble Tomato food
If your penchant is for soluble tomato food, then I highly recommend Chempak soluble food tomato. It has a high potash content which promotes high crop yield and quality. Chempak is a very affordable choice and contains calcium that helps in preventing blossom end rot.
Chempak dissolves easily in water and is highly rated as the best soluble tomato. Additionally, Chempak can be used for other crops such as peppers, chillies, and cucumbers. Check out more information about Chempak soluble tomato food here.
Key Features of Chempak soluble tomato food
- Promotes high crop yield and quality
- Highly soluble tomato food
- Very affordable
- Contains calcium that will help prevent blossom end rot
- Can be used for other crops such as peppers, chillies and cucumbers. (our guide to growing cucumbers is here.)
Buy Chempak soluble food tomato here
FAQ’s on the Best Tomato Feed
Got questions about feeding tomatoes? Or want to know more about tomato feed and we haven’t answered your questions? Check out our frequently asked questions about tomato fertilizer below, or ask us yours in the comments.
What’s the best fertilizer for tomatoes?
The best fertilizer for tomatoes is the one that will supply your soil with the missing nutrients. Liquid Tomato feed tends to be absorbed quicker than dry format tomato food – and my favourite tomato feed is Levington Tomorite Concentrated Tomato Feed. Buy Tomorite Tomato feed here.
When should I apply fertilizer to my tomatoes?
It’s best to fertilize tomatoes once the first truss has set. If you feed before this, then you’re likely to get a lot of leaves! Focus on the fruit. Read more of our tomato growing secrets here.
Can I use Epsom Salts to feed tomatoes?
Yes. Kind of. Epsom Salts is the name for the chemical compound “Magnesium Sulfate” – and you’ll find it recommended by many gardeners for a whole host of different things. Epsom Salts are useful when growing tomatoes to help with several problems. First of all, if your tomato plants have yellow leaves, then this usually means that the plant has a magnesium deficiency – and so Epsom salts will help. Epsom salts also help deliver flavour to your tomatoes and can help with growth. They’re not a be-all and end-all though. Deliver too much to your tomato plants and you’ll possibly cause root problems with your tomato plant.
However, back to the question – is Epsom Salts a tomato feed? No. They’re not. Magnesium Sulphate is just two micronutrients required by tomatoes for growth and flavour. While I recommend Epsom Salts for – primarily the issue of yellow leaves I wouldn’t use it in place of a specialist tomato food, like Levington Tomorite Concentrated Tomato Food.
How can I get my tomato plants to produce more fruit?
Use the best tomato feed and fertilizer, in the correct amount and frequency.
What does “when the first truss has set” mean?
Tomatoes grow on trusses. A tomato plant truss is a group of small stems where the tomatoes grow. The trusses first produce flowers and the tomatoes begin to form behind those tomatoes. When you see the little tiny green tomatoes forming behind those flowers is when the first truss has set. And that’s when you should start feeding your tomato plant.
Will coffee grounds help my tomatoes grow?
Yes, coffee grounds can be used to make homemade tomato feed and are classified as organic fertilizer. They contain about 2% nitrogen as well as some phosphorus and potassium. These nutrients will be released slowly as the grounds decompose. So while adding coffee grounds will help. They don’t provide the full amount of nutrients that tomato plants need. They will, however, keep cats away from your tomatoes too. (there’s a random fact for you!)
Can I use worm pee on my tomatoes?
Yes! If you’ve got a wormery, then just add 1 part worm pee to 10 parts water and feed it to your tomatoes. They’ll LOVE it.
Can I use tomato feed for other vegetables and plants?
Absolutely. I’m not going quite so far as to say that tomato fertilizer is the holy grail, but I do use it for feeding other plants and herbs – my coriander and basil have benefited magnificently in the past from tomato food, as have broad beans and chilli plants. And yes, I feed my lavender and hanging baskets too. Anything that’s in a pot, basket or bucket gets fed once a week. On a Sunday.
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Final Words on the Best Tomato Feed and Fertilizer
Tomatoes are a thirsty and hungry plant and need lots of nutrients to deliver the best fruits to your table. While using the best compost or soil is key, so too is ensuring that you continue to deliver nutrients regularly. Whether you decide to opt for organic or chemical tomato fertilizer, picking the best tomato feed will improve your crop yield, quality and taste. I hope you’ve found this guide to the UK’s best tomato fertilisers and foods useful, let me know what your favourite is!
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