7 Ways To Get More Flavorful Tomatoes

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This guide will help you discover effective ways to improve the flavor of your homegrown tomatoes. I have tried and tested some of these tips in my tomato garden

Are you ready to find out the tips to get flavorful tomatoes?

Ways To Get Flavorful Tomatoes?

Tomatoes require the right amount of sun, water, and fertilizers. It needs a balance between acids, sugars, and gassy chemicals to achieve the right flavor.

There is nothing better than flavorful, home-grown tomatoes for my salads and sandwiches.

But sometimes many gardeners complain that their tomatoes lack flavor.

Why is it so?

The experts mention that good tomato flavor depends on a complex mixture of sugars, acids, and gassy chemicals. It also depends on the genetics of the tomato variety and the environment it is grown. Rain, sun, water, and fertilizers all play a significant role.

Tomatoes are relatively an easy plant to grow but may require a few tips to get a good flavor.

You may watch this video for useful information on why modern tomatoes have no taste:

I will discuss a few steps to maximize the flavors of tomatoes.

1. Choose Tomato Varieties Best Suited For Your Region

You may choose varieties that are guaranteed to grow well in your region. Also, consider the different factors, including rain, wind, temperature, and humidity while choosing a tomato type.

The first step in growing flavorful tomatoes is choosing a variety that grows well in your area.

Check out our guides on growing tomatoes in various US states>

For example, a tomato variety grown in a particular region may taste different in another area.

If you live in an area with a tricky climate, you may grow varieties that tolerate extreme weather conditions.

You may also consider soil pH, amount of rainfall, humidity, and wind conditions that may impact the fruit quality.

2. Choose Suitable Varieties

You may choose varieties that have a proven flavor profile. Red-colored tomatoes are acidic with high sugar content. Heirloom varieties are tastier than hybrid. Also, smaller tomatoes are more flavorful due to higher sugar concentrations.

The next tip is to choose the right varieties with a proven flavor.

There are many varieties of tomatoes available with different flavor profiles.

Store-bought tomatoes are not flavorful as homegrown ones as it is bred with an intention of longer shelf-life and higher yield. It has thick skin with a waxy feel.

In the case of homegrown tomatoes, you may choose varieties best suited to your taste.

It is believed that red tomatoes have a higher percentage of acid to sugar than other colored ones. On the other hand, yellow or orange tomatoes are mildly flavored. It may be because different pigments may affect the balance between acids and sugars.

Also, you may choose varieties with more foliage as it may capture more sunlight that helps in converting carbohydrates into sugars.  

Heirloom and potato leaf tomatoes have a higher percentage of foliage than the hybrid. They produce flavorful fruits with little maintenance. 

In general, smaller-sized varieties, including cherry and patio tomatoes are sweeter than larger beefsteak varieties due to higher sugar concentrations.

Here is a quick guide on heirloom tomatoes –

3. Provide Good Amount Of Sunlight

Tomatoes require ample sunlight to grow. It facilitates the conversion of carbohydrates into sugars which makes the fruits sweeter and more flavorful.

One of the important factors that may improve tomatoes’ flavor is sunlight.

Tomatoes require a minimum of six hours of direct sunlight per day. If the plants receive more sunlight, they may produce more fruits with a nice flavor. It is because sunlight helps in converting carbohydrates into sugars, making the tomatoes sweeter.

The greenhouse tomatoes are not flavorful as it does not get much sunlight than the ones grown in the field.

The more direct sunlight you give to tomatoes, the sweeter they may taste.

 So, find a spot where the tomato plants receive a lot of sunlight. You may use artificial lighting if you don’t have sufficient sunlight.

You may adjust the light source regularly according to the growth of the plants.

4. Provide The Soil With Nutrients

Soil fertility and application of organic matter may influence the quality of tomatoes. You may provide the soil with the right balance of nutrients, including boron, sodium, chlorine, potassium to improve the flavor of tomatoes.

The care you provide while growing tomatoes is vital to boost their flavor and yield.

You may need to work on the foundation for flavorful tomatoes. If the soil is lacking in nutrients, tomatoes may lack their unique taste.

Harry Klee at the University of Florida recommends planting tomato seedlings in soil packed with organic matter.

I use a steady slow-release fertilizer for flavorful tomatoes.

Research shows that potassium help with tomato quality by moving water into the cell of developing fruits. Likewise, sulfur helps in the formation of compounds that gives flavor to the tomatoes. Sodium, chlorine, and boron also influence the taste of the fruits.

I observed that adding the right balance of nutrients to the soil may help in allowing flavors to develop in tomatoes.

Also, you may spread a two to three-inch layer of mulch around the tomato plants to block the weeds and keep the soil moist.

You may use soil high in clay content as it tends to hold nutrients better and give the tomatoes more flavor.

How often should you do it? Here is a quick video on it –

5. Water As Required

You may check the topsoil of tomato plants and water the plants if it is completely dried out. Overwatering may dilute the flavor of tomatoes.

The way you water your tomatoes may affect their flavor. I prefer to water the tomato plants on a regular schedule.

Also, take care to water at the base of the plants and keep the soil moist during the growing season.

You may need to water daily when the plants are young. You may water the plants in the early morning and dusk for maturing plants to keep them moisturized. Moisten the soil and take care not to drown them.

You may reduce the water supply after the tomatoes have formed. The slight water stress may help in avoiding fruit split and increased flavor.

Experts recommend watering the tomato plants two to three times a week during hotter summer.

Too much water may dilute the flavor of tomatoes.

Agricultural experts in New Jersey reported that using seawater yielded better-flavored tomatoes. Studies have shown that tomatoes grown with salty, brackish water may taste better.

6. Grow In Ideal Temperatures 

Tomatoes don’t prefer prolonged high or lower temperatures. It may affect the taste and flavor of the fruits.

The tomato plants require ideal temperatures to produce flavorful fruits.

Lower temperatures may not be apt to create flavor compounds. The fruits may start showing cracks and scarring.

On the other hand, higher temperatures may also affect the flavor of tomatoes.

You may want to cover the plants with a shade cloth if there is a prolonged period of high temperatures.

7. Trim Plants To Get Tastier Tomatoes

You may occasionally trim the indeterminate tomato variety to produce tastier and bigger tomatoes. It may be because the plant concentrates on fruit production and its flavor.

The indeterminate tomato varieties may grow to an indefinite height and develops many small branches.

You may trim the branches slightly so that the plant channelizes its resources to produce fruits.

As a result, you may achieve larger and tastier tomatoes.

In contrast, determinate plants have limited growth and do not require constant trimming.

Great Flavorful Tomato Varieties

You may choose cherry and heirloom varieties for flavorful tomatoes. You may read the description of the catalog and pick a suitable type.

Some of the recommended flavorful tomatoes are

• Cherry tomatoes, including Husky Cherry red, Sun sugar, Black cherry, and Super sweet 100
• Heirloom varieties, including Bonnie original, Big beef, Red beefsteak, Better boy, Cherokee Purple, and All America winner
• Full-sized tomatoes with a sweet flavor profile, including Lemon boy, Mr.Stripey,  Bush Goliath, and Black Prince

FAQ’s

Summary

I hope this guide will help you grow some amazing flavorful tomatoes!

I am interested to hear about your experiences in getting flavorful tomatoes.

Do share the article with your friends and family if you find it useful!