Do Tomatoes Like Sweet or Acidic Soil?

Soil pH

• The ideal soil pH for growing tomatoes is between 5.5 and 6.8. Soil in this range is mildly acidic. Testing your soil before planting tomatoes is a good idea, to make sure the soil is within this range. Purchase an at-home testing kit or contact your local extension office to perform a soil analysis.

Benefits

• Tomatoes need nutrients such as potassium, nitrogen and phosphorus in order to produce abundant fruit. They can absorb these nutrients best when the soil is acidic rather than sweet. Add fertilizer if your plants seem to droop or begin producing smaller than average fruits.

Sunshine

• Tomatoes actually become sweet because of receiving adequate sunlight. Sunlight causes a chemical reaction to occur that produces natural sugars. At least six hours of full sun are needed each day for most varieties; however, some varieties of cherry tomato can produce fruit with only four hours of sunlight each day.