Tips for a productive harvest this summer

Tomatoes and chillies (peppers and hot peppers) are the fruits of greedy plants; that is, they need a lot of nutrients to produce a good yield. Here are some tips on how to take good care of your plants during the summer. 

When planting :

  • If you are planting in a pot: 1/3 of the pot should be compost and 2/3 should be a potting soil for containers (e.g. Potager Urbain de Fafard); 
  • In the planting hole, incorporate marine compost with a calcium supplement (e.g. Bionik Marine Calcium) and granulated chicken manure (e.g. Passion Jardin Vegetable Garden Fertilizer);
  • Place this mixture on the bottom (of the pot or planting hole) but also on the sides of the planting bed.
  • Use mycorrhiza (Mike) to help root establishment (Myke must touch the roots).

Fertilisation :

  • Water your plants normally with liquid seaweed (e.g. Acadia or Bionik) every fortnight. Dilute according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Once a month in JUNE, JULY and AUGUST :

  • Add granulated chicken manure (e.g. Passion Jardin's Flower and Vegetable Garden Fertiliser) which you incorporate into the first 5 cm of soil around the plants.

MID-SEASON (end of July):

  • Add compost at the foot of your plants.

Watering :

  • Be regular in your watering;
  • If there has been rain, check that the water has penetrated the soil;
  • The soil should be dry to the depth of your index finger before watering; also, after watering, the soil should be moist to the depth of your index finger.
  • Check the condition of your plant's leaves: let them wither slightly between waterings.

General for tomatoes :

  • Cut off the heads of indeterminate plants in mid-August to help the tomatoes ripen;
  • It is not necessary to cut the gourmands;
  • When planting: plant the plant in the ground up to the first leaves.

Generalities for chillies :

  • Chillies need a lot of heat to produce, so it is best to grow them in a pot (container).
  • It is not necessary to cut off the head of the plant. If the peppers are not ripe at the time of the first frost, it is possible to bring the plant inside the house to finish its production. Beware of insect pests!

Enjoy the season!