Boost your tomato growth with ‘best’ homemade fertiliser made from kitchen scraps

Tomato plants can benefit significantly from the right fertiliser, which can lead to larger and healthier fruits – and it’s possible to make your own cheap and easy feed from kitchen scraps

Tomatoes plants will start to flourish at this time of year (Image: undefined via Getty Images )

Tomatoes are notorious for being heavy feeders, needing a rich supply of nutrients to thrive. But the right fertiliser can significantly boost their growth, yielding larger and healthier fruits and it can be found using scraps from your kitchen.

It’s vital to consistently feed tomatoes during their growth period, as under-nourished plants may display yellowing leaves, stunted growth and produce smaller or poor quality fruit. For optimal tomato cultivation, they require a fertiliser rich in nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.

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It’s possible to create an economical homemade feed from kitchen waste that delivers the same benefits as commercial fertilisers.

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Feeding your tomatoes banana skins can provide a burst of potassium and phosphorus, while coffee grounds are the secret ingredient for growing larger and more abundant tomato plants.

Gardening expert and co-founder of I Grow Tomatoes, Jim Competti, has revealed that one of the most effective natural fertilisers for tomato plants is used coffee grounds, reports the Mirror.

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He explained: “Did you know that one of the best ways to naturally fertilise your tomato plants is by using spent coffee grounds?

“Not only can the grounds be used to power plants at the time of planting, but they can also be used throughout the entire growing season as well!

“Coffee grounds are full of the vital nutrients that tomato plants need in order to grow healthy and productive.

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Rather than throwing your banana peels in the bin, you can use them to feed you tomato plants (Image: Getty Images )

“Tomato plants need a fair amount of nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorous – which, of course, are key nutrients found in commercial fertiliser products. But they also happen to be in coffee grounds too!”

Creating a liquid feed from coffee grounds is hailed as one of the superior techniques for nourishing tomatoes – you simply need to keep your surplus coffee grounds each time you make a cup.

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Jim explained: “After you make an initial pot of coffee, all that remains are the weak grounds.

“If you simply run an additional pot of water through the maker, just like that, you have a perfect, all-purpose fertilising tea.

Old coffee grounds can be used to give tomato plants a hit of nutrients (Image: All Nea/500px via Getty Images )

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“Once cool, you can then use this tea to water your tomato plants to provide them with a quick boost of nutrients. You can even do the same with any leftover plain coffee. Just dilute it with equal parts water and your tea is ready to power your plants.”

Another approach is to scatter a modest amount of coffee grounds at the foot of your tomato plant before watering, which The Express notes could assist in bolstering its nitrogen levels.

Jim added: “Every three to four weeks, sprinkle on a few tablespoons around the base of each tomato plant.

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“This helps to provide plants with a low and steady stream of nutrients every time it rains or you water.”

Not only will this leftover kitchen scrap help feed your tomato plant to help grow bigger fruit, but coffee grounds are also a natural way to keep slugs and snails out of your garden, so you can save money and deter pests with this simple gardening trick.

Celebrate a year of Slimming World Kitchen with 100 boxes to be won

Win a Slimming World Kitchen Box packed with fresh, filling food for delicious dinners that make healthy eating easier than ever before

To celebrate a year of Slimming World Kitchen this week, we’re giving away a free recipe box to 100 Mirror readers.

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Recipes this week include Steak fajitas with sweet potato wedges, Chocka chicken chow mein and Summer garden risotto with mint pesto.

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Slimming World Kitchen Salt & Pepper Chicken Chow Mein

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How to enter:

Enter your details in the form below and you will be entered into our competition. This competition closes at 23:59 on Monday June 30, 2025. Any entries received after this date will not be counted.

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If you cannot see the entry form above CLICK HERE

Terms and Conditions: This competition is open to anyone 18+ who is a resident of the United Kingdom except employees of Reach PLC and their immediate families. The competition closes at 23:59 on Monday, June 30, 2025. One Hundred (100) winners will be randomly selected from all eligible entries after the closing date. This prize cannot be exchanged, it is also non-transferable and no cashback alternative will be offered. The winner will be notified within a week of the competition closing via the email address they have provided. The winner has 72 hours from the date of the notification email to claim their prize, failure to respond within 72 hours will result in forfeiture of the prize and another winner will be selected. The winners’ details will be used to administer the competition and will be shared with the company’s prize fulfilment partner Slimming World Kitchen to fulfil the prize. Slimming World Kitchen will contact the winner to further liaise on the fulfilment of the prize (please make sure all details provided are correct). The prize is: a £50 voucher to spend on Slimming World Kitchen. Upon entering this competition there is an option to opt in to receive various newsletters sent via email. If you do opt in, you will receive these newsletters in accordance with their sending schedule. For those who do not opt in to receive any email newsletters, your data will be solely used for administration of this competition. Entry to the competition is restricted to one entry per person. Multiple entries will be disqualified. Automated entries, or third party entries will be disqualified. By entering a competition, an entrant is indicating his/her agreement to be bound by these terms and conditions. Entry implies acceptance of these rules. These terms and conditions shall be governed by English law and the courts of England and Wales shall have exclusive jurisdiction to settle any disputes arising under these terms and conditions. Standard competition rules apply, For more information go to www.mirror.co.uk/rules

Tomato plants grow ‘best ever fruit’ with homemade fertiliser ‘like liquid gold’

Tomato plants need a lot of nutrients to grow healthily and produce fruit compared to other crops – and it turns out that the main ingredient to make the best fertiliser is hiding in your garden

Get your tomatoes blooming with this ‘genius’ fertiliser (Image: Getty Images )

Tomato plants are notoriously nutrient-hungry, requiring a level of sustenance far beyond what even the richest potting soils can offer, prompting growers to regularly fertilise these voracious veggies. Neglecting their dietary needs leaves plants malnourished and flaunting nutrient deficiency symptoms, such as leaves yellowing – a clear distress signal from underfed tomatoes.

While commercial plant food options abound, garden enthusiasts are whipping up homegrown nourishment concoctions, using ingredients that may be lurking in the back garden. In a social media revelation, Lewis took to the Gardening UK – Hints, Tips and Advice Facebook group with a snapshot of a homemade nettle-based fertilizer gifted by his neighbour.

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It prompted him to inquire: “My neighbour gave me this today and said it’s nettles fertiliser that he’s made.” He continued, expressing his doubts due to the stench: “He said to use it in my tomato plants. Is this ok? It absolutely stinks which really puts me off using it.”

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Green-thumbed followers were quick to sing praises for the pungent potion, touting its virtues for bolstering tomato health, reports the Express.

Claire Ross advocated for the homebrew’s olfactory assault, commenting: “Stinkier the better. We’ve made this fertiliser and it smells awful but it’s amazing for plants. Tomatoes love the stuff.”

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Sarah Baker extolled its fruit-boosting properties: “This stuff grows the best ever fruit. What a thoughtful neighbour.” Alison Moore agreed, albeit not without grimacing at the potent whiff: “Oh it stinks to the high heaven but it’s the best there is.”

Lynne Taylor advised: “Dilute it in water before using it. It does smell god awful but it’s like liquid gold to tomatoes.” Dee Mosley revealed: “I used to soak nettles in water, stinky but absolutely fantastic fertiliser.”

Nettle garden fertiliser is also dubbed stinging nettle manure, owing to its nourishing properties for plants and likely a nod to its pungent aroma as it brews.

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To concoct your own nettle fertiliser, immerse 28g of nettles in 240ml of boiling water for 20 minutes to an hour, then sieve out the nettles and consign them to the compost heap. Conclude by diluting the concoction one part fertiliser to 10 parts water, and it’s primed for application.

Gardeners with tomato plants urged to sprinkle 59p ingredient to make them sweeter

If you’re growing tomatoes in your garden this summer then don’t miss out on this one easy hack to make them even juicier and tastier – plus you probably have it at home

This one ingredient can sweeten your tomatoes (Image: Getty Images )

If you’re growing your own tomatoes this summer, don’t miss out on this cheap trick to make them as tasty as possible. Even better, you likely have the magic ingredient in your kitchen.

With the sun finally appearing and longer days on the horizon, many of us are trying our hand at gardening. And there are few better plants to start growing than tomatoes. Not only are they easy to cultivate, they make a versatile and delicious food source which can be used in multiple kinds of cuisines.

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Tomatoes hail from South America – but they have cemented themselves as one of the globe’s most beloved fruits. Known for their meaty, tart taste, they make an excellent base for stews, curries, pasta sauces and salads (just to name a few).

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Tomatoes are native to South America (Image: Getty Images/500px )

Alan Titchmarsh urges gardeners to buy two plants every month for crucial reason READ MORE:

Plus, they’re filled with essential nutrients to keep you energised and healthy. Tomatoes contain high levels of vitamin C, which is known for boosting immunity and protecting your skin.

While tomatoes are best-suited to warmer climates, they can be a great addition to a UK garden. If you’re growing them in winter, best to keep them in a greenhouse. However, as we come into spring and summer, you can grow them outside.

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Another incentive to grow them at home is that they will likely taste better than the ones you find in the supermarket aisle. This is because the long time it takes to cart them over to Britain from warmer climates can hugely affect the fruit’s quality.

Of course, if you’re putting effort into growing your tomatoes, you want to guarantee that they’re as tasty as possible. After all, there’s nothing worse than biting into a bitter tomato.

The quality of the soil has a direct impact on its taste and quality. This is because the wrong soil won’t allow it to absorb all the nutrients it needs to grow to its potential.

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However, this doesn’t mean you need to run out and buy an expensive fertiliser. It might sound strange, but adding baking soda to the soil can make tomatoes sweeter.

This is because it reduces soil acidity and makes it easier for tomatoes to absorb nutrients. It also works to prevent common fungal infections, like powdered mildew.

Baking soda can help sweeten tomatoes (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto )

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The best way to carry out this hack is to sprinkle a pinch of baking soda around each tomato plant once they begin to appear. Then repeat this process once they are halfway grown.

Although, be advised to be careful with how much baking soda you use. Adding too much may inadvertently poison your tomato plant, ruining all your hard work.

If you don’t have any baking soda lying around in your cupboard, don’t worry. You can pick up a packet from Sainsbury’s for just 59p.

Growing tomatoes remains hugely popular worldwide as gardeners relish those summer harvests of juicy and delicious homegrown tomatoes. Every grower sets out at the start of each season with aspirations of lots of fruit to pick, and for that, you need healthy, thriving, and pest-free plants. It is always troubling when things go awry, but often such issues can be easily avoided.

Picking the right crops for tomato companion planting can help solve many potential problems, but it is also important to know what vegetables are best kept away from tomatoes. Some crops will rob nutrients, deprive tomato plants of sunlight, and increase the risk of plants succumbing to pest and disease problems.

I have been growing tomatoes for many years, ranging from a few plants in my backyard to a greenhouse full of a hundred-plus plants to crop for restaurants. I have used companion planting effectively and also seen a myriad of issues affect tomato plants. I want to help you avoid falling foul of any mistakes, so here I reveal those plants to never grow with tomatoes so your plants remain healthy and super-productive.

(Image credit: Peter Cade / Stone / Getty Images)

Plants not to grow with tomatoes

Many vegetables, flowers, and herbs are great for companion planting with tomatoes. They can repel pests, attract pollinators to boost the yield, and even help with the flavor.

However, there are also those aforementioned ‘enemies’ you want to avoid that are plants to never grow with tomatoes. It would be a companion planting mistake to have any of the following crops nearby, as they can actively impair the development of your tomatoes.

Brassicas

(Image credit: Future)

This is less about growing tomatoes alongside one particular plant, but rather an entire family to avoid. And that is brassicas, in particular larger brassicas like cabbages, cauliflower, broccoli, kale, and Brussels sprouts.

These large brassica plants are heavy feeders that take vast amounts of water and nutrients out of the soil. They are capable of robbing nutrients away from tomato plants, which also need lots of them to grow healthily as well as develop and ripen fruits.

A lack of nutrients will seriously affect the size of plants and any potential tomato harvest. As brassicas are greedy vegetables that will dominate the space and hog those nutrients, they will usually leave tomatoes wanting.

Potatoes

(Image credit: GettyImages/Grahamphoto23)

Potatoes are in the same nightshade family as tomatoes, but that doesn’t make them good companions. They want the same nutrients and will compete against each other for what they desire, and often it’ll be the tomatoes that are left short.

Also, growing potatoes and tomatoes together is inadvisable as both crops are susceptible to the same diseases. That includes tomato diseases like bacterial wilt and blight (both early and late blight). Keep a safe distance when planting potatoes to avoid fungal diseases spreading between the two popular crops.

Corn

(Image credit: Future)

Corn and tomatoes both love sun, protection, and fertile soil, but three potential issues can arise from growing them together in a vegetable garden. These include both being heavy feeders that will compete over nutrients, and the potential for tall-growing corn to shade smaller tomato plants and hamper their development.

If you grow corn and tomatoes nearby, it can double the potential for pest problems. A species of moths known as the tomato fruitworm, or corn earworm, targets the two crops and is a major pest for corn and tomatoes.

The troublesome corn and tomato pests breed quickly, and there can be multiple generations per year, with the larvae and caterpillars eating foliage and damaging the tomatoes or cobs. It is better to plant corn or tomatoes with good companions, like alliums, nasturtiums, or aromatic herbs, to deter the pests.

Fennel

(Image credit: Shutterstock / nnattalli)

There is no hiding away from the fact that when you grow fennel, there are limited options for what you can grow near it.

Fennel may look great in a kitchen garden, but it is a notorious allelopathic plant that releases chemicals into the soil to actively inhibit the growth of other plants. This defence mechanism helps the fennel prosper at the expense of nearby plants.

Tomatoes are one of those plants to never grow next to fennel. If you plant fennel nearby, your tomato plants will be stunted and struggle to give you much of a crop, if any.

Eggplant

(Image credit: Future)

Eggplant is another crop in the nightshade family to never be grown with tomatoes. The reasons not to grow eggplant with tomatoes mirror those mentioned above with potatoes, namely that the two crops are both heavy feeders and compete for nutrients, and they both share the same pests.

One particular fungal disease that can all-to-easily transfer from tomatoes to eggplants is blight. This troublesome issue can be spread by wind, water, or insects, and one infected nightshade plant will often spread it to others. That is why it is an eggplant growing mistake to have your crops next to other plants in the nightshade family, such as tomatoes.

FAQs

Can cucumbers and tomatoes be planted together?

Growing cucumbers and tomatoes together is possible, as they do like the same growing conditions and have similar growing habits. However, there are issues of both plants being heavy feeders and both being susceptible to mosaic virus.

It will be important to regularly water and feed both crops if they are grown together, and provide the right spacing to allow air circulation between plants.

Can peppers be planted next to tomatoes?

Peppers are another crop in the nightshade family. In the same way as both potatoes and eggplant (two other nightshade crops mentioned earlier), peppers are heavy feeders and attract the same pests and diseases as tomatoes. They do like the same warmth and light levels as tomatoes, but there are risks if you plant the two side by side.

Keeping plants healthy and well-fed are essential components of how to grow bigger tomatoes. For the best results, fertilize tomatoes with a balanced feed at the time of planting and then with a fertilizer higher in phosphorus and potassium once the plants start to flower. Such a feeding regime will encourage the development of lots of fantastic fruits to harvest.

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