High-quality tomato soil provides your tomato plants with all the important nutrients for healthy growth and a rich tomato harvest. In our guide you can find out why it is advisable to rely on special soil and what you should definitely pay attention to when buying. We also recommend three convincing tomato soils to make your decision-making easier.
Tomatoes need a lot of nutrients
Our recommendations
our recommendation
Kleeschulte organic tomato and vegetable soil 20 liters - peat-free - 65% CO2 savings - for all leafy and fruit vegetables in the field, room or greenhouse, organically fertilized
8.99 EUR To the product| purpose of use | adult tomatoes |
|---|---|
| nutrient density | high |
| peat free | Yes |
| PH value | 6,2 |
| organic quality | Yes |
| contents | 20L |
| price/l | approx. EUR {PRICE/20} |
The tomato soil from Kleeschulte consists of the company's own substrate fiber topora(R)-bio as well as coconut fibres, bark humus and green compost. With 80 milligrams per liter of nitrogen, 250 milligrams per liter of phosphorus, 800 milligrams per liter of potassium and 120 milligrams per liter of magnesium, the substrate is rich in important nutrients for thriving tomatoes. It should be nice and fluffy, smell pleasant and produce the most beautiful vegetables. Given these descriptions, Earth is the clear, deserved winner in our comparative test.
our recommendation
Florissa tomato and vegetable soil 18 l
6.79 EUR To the product| purpose of use | adult tomatoes |
|---|---|
| nutrient density | high to very high |
| peat free | Yes |
| PH value | 5,0-7,5 |
| organic quality | no |
| contents | 18L |
| price/l | about {PRICE/18} EUR |
The high to very high nutrient density of the tomato soil from Florissa is particularly impressive. It contains 200 to 500 milligrams per liter of nitrogen, 200 to 2000 milligrams per liter of phosphorus and 400 to 3000 milligrams per liter of potassium. Bark humus, wood fibres, coconut fibres, quartz sand (€15.85) and organic fertilizer act as starting materials. Although the earth is not explicitly designated as an organic substrate, it is made exclusively from natural ingredients.
our recommendation
Florissa tomato and vegetable soil 18 l
6.79 EUR To the product| purpose of use | adult tomatoes |
|---|---|
| nutrient density | high |
| peat free | Yes |
| PH value | 6,5 |
| organic quality | Yes |
| contents | 40L |
| price/l | approx. EUR {PRICE/40} |
Plantura's tomato soil is recommended for all hobby gardeners who want to buy a large supply right away. This substrate contains plant substances from the food, beverage and animal feed production, from forestry and from gardening and landscaping as well as carbonate of lime and rock phosphate. This results in 100 milligrams per liter of nitrogen, 400 milligrams per liter of phosphorus, 1800 milligrams per liter of potassium, 50 milligrams per liter of magnesium and 510 milligrams per liter of sulfur. Most reviewers on Amazon are very happy with the Earth. It is designed to make tomato plants (and their growers) happy.
Purchase Criteria
purpose of use
Depending on the stage of development your tomato plants are in, you need different substrates:
- potting soil
- pricking out/rearing soil
- Soil for adult plants
In contrast to pricking soil and "adult substrate" growing soil must be lean and low in nutrients. When purchasing, make sure that the selected soil is really intended for your intended use.
composition
As heavy consumers, adult tomatoes need a lot of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. In general, the nutrient concentration should be as high as possible. Otherwise you would have to use all the more fertilizer, which would be more expensive in the long run. It is therefore worth investing in high-quality tomato soil right away in order to provide the plant with the best possible basis.
Signs of rather inferior quality: pure peat soils, often treated with lime and mineral fertilizers. Aside from the "environmental hostility" common to all substrates containing peat, plants in these soils are often more susceptible to disease.
Signs of high quality: additives such as perlite, (37.51 €) clay components, certain humus substances (such as bark humus) and organic long-term fertilizer. Such a composition forms the ideal total package for your tomatoes.
peat-free
Why is peat a popular additive in tomato soil (and also in other vegetable and potting soil)? It quickly absorbs a lot of water and loosens the soil. However, we advise against buying substrate with peat - not because there is anything to be said against peat, but simply to protect the environment.
To make it short: In order to extract peat, entire moor areas have to be drained and thus destroyed. Bogs grow extremely slowly (only about a millimeter per year!), which is why they cannot recover after external intervention. With every peat harvest, nature that has grown over thousands of years dies, which also deprives many animals of their habitat. Furthermore, the CO2 stored in peat is released during the removal, which is known to massively damage our climate.
Your tomatoes will also thrive without peat, you can be sure of that!
PH value
The pH of the substrate should be between 6.0 and 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral).
organic quality
If in doubt, organic tomato soil is preferable, as you can be sure that there are no chemical additives in the substrate. However, the basic composition of the earth is always in the foreground. Even non-organic substrates can convince in terms of quality. Conversely, there are also numerous organic tomato soils with peat, for example.
pack size
It often pays to buy a larger pack, as the price per liter generally becomes cheaper as the quantity increases.
youtubefrequently asked Questions
What is the difference between tomato soil and potting soil?
Tomato soil is a special substrate mix that aims to meet the increased needs of heavy consumers, which include tomatoes. Accordingly, it is usually more nutritious than conventional potting soil.
tips
Some other types of vegetables, such as chillies, peppers, leeks, cucumbers and potatoes, are also among the heavy consumers. You can also use tomato soil for these plants. It is not for nothing that this is often offered as "tomato and vegetable soil".
What distinguishes high-quality tomato soil?
High-quality tomato soil has a loose structure. It can store nutrients and deliver them to the tomato plant when needed. It also reveals a high level of soil vitality. That means it brings beneficial soil bacteria and fungi with it. These increase both the crumb structure and the water retention capacity. They also reduce the risk of plant diseases.
Which brands offer good tomato soil?
The best-known and most popular brands for specialized tomato soil include Neudorff, Compo Sana, Dehner and Floragard.
Where is the best place to buy tomato soil?
Tomato soil is available in hardware stores - for example at OBI, toom, hagebaumarkt, Bauhaus, Hornbach or Raiffeisen - and of course at Amazon.
Is tomato soil reusable?
Yes, as long as it is intact - i.e. free from pests - you can reuse tomato soil. However, you must then fertilize the substrate thoroughly, since the heavily consuming tomatoes that were previously in it certainly did not have many nutrients left.
What to do with insects in the tomato soil?
You see worms in the tomato soil? Then it is best to dispose of the soil and give your tomato plant fresh substrate. If it's earthworms, you can water the soil instead. Pick out the worms that come up and release them outdoors again. And: Make sure that the plant can dry off well afterwards.
Do you have ants in the tomato soil? Ants are not pests, they won't harm your tomatoes. If the small animals appear in large numbers and become too annoying for you, put a rosemary, a lavender and a thyme bush nearby. The smells of these herbs are very repulsive to ants, so they will likely flee quickly.
Fungus gnats in the tomato soil? The larvae of the dark mosquitoes, which are only a few millimeters in size and do not bite, can pose a threat to your tomatoes. Fight the pests with nematodes. These tiny beneficial insects feed on the larvae. As soon as there is no more food supply, they die too. Alternatively, poke a couple of matches upside down in the ground. Sulfur is toxic to the larvae.
tips
If you discover small black flies in the tomato soil that look confusingly like fruit flies, they are probably fungus gnats.
You notice maggots in the tomato soil? Like the larvae of the fungus gnat, these are classified as harmful. In this case, too, the use of nematodes proves to be a naturally effective solution.
General tip: Unwelcome insects are often included in the tomato soil when you buy it. In order to kill any populations directly, you should heat the soil briefly before planting your tomato plant. Spread the soil on a baking tray lined with baking paper and place in the oven at 150 degrees Celsius for about 30 minutes. Alternative: Slightly moisten the tomato soil and fill it in a cotton bag. Then tie the bag shut and leave it in the microwave at 800 watts for ten minutes.
Can I make tomato soil myself?
Yes. To make potting soil for your tomato plants, mix together a part each of sterilized garden soil, quartz sand and mature compost. The following mixing ratio has proven itself for pricking out: 25 percent compost, 15 percent garden soil, 40 percent coconut fibers/perlite, ten percent bark humus and ten percent quartz sand. If you want to use home-made tomato soil for adult plants in tubs, a mix of high-quality vegetable or potting soil with mature garden compost is suitable.
tips
Coconut soil is becoming increasingly popular for growing tomatoes and also for adult tomato plants.
our recommendation