Why Garden Tomatoes Taste Bland

Overwatering

• Overwatering is the main culprit behind watery or bland-tasting tomatoes. Although tomatoes need a regular supply of water, they only need an inch per plant per week. This amount includes rainfall, so if it's been raining, don't water your tomatoes. Providing a deep watering once a week and keeping your tomatoes mulched is better than watering every day. The less water used on a tomato plant means a tastier tomato. Another strategy is to not water your plant a couple days prior to picking a tomato to eat.

Not Enough Sun

• Tomatoes need full sun. This requirement means six to eight hours of sun a day, every day during the growing season. Without this amount of sun, the tomato puts more energy into growing (trying to get to the light) than into sugars to make your tomatoes taste good. If you don't have a sunny spot in your garden, plant your tomatoes in a pot and put that in the sunniest spot you have.

Feed Me

• Tomatoes like a nutritious meal as they grow. However, they must be fed properly to develop fruit. A fertilizer that is high in nitrogen will give you a tall and leafy plant, but it won't bloom or set fruit. The best fertilizer for tomatoes has low nitrogen and higher phosphorous and potassium content -- look for a fertilizer with 5-10-10 on the label. Feed your tomato when it begins to flower and then every two weeks until the harvest is over.

What to Do with a Bland Tomato

• Heat brings out the best flavor in tomatoes. Instead of tossing out flavorless tomatoes, brush them with a coat of olive oil and balsamic vinegar and grill them in wedges. You can also stew them for a batch of soup or chili, or roast them in the oven to bring out the flavor.